“What Am I Doing to Make Malala Proud?”

Today my daughter Julianna graduates from college. You'll see below in the PBT post from 2015 that I reference how Malala Yousafzai has inspired her. Julianna has had a desire to teach urban children for a very long time. In a few weeks, she leaves her Alabama home to serve with Teach for America in Cleveland, OH. Posting this again serves as a little tribute to Julianna's passion and courage. Also, consider it a bit of gratitude for all who inspire our young people who are determined to make this world better for those living on the margins. More books about Malala have been published since this post. Check them out and choose your favorite to inspire the young people in your faith family.

The title of this post is the question my teenage daughter, Julianna, asked herself the spring before her senior year in high school. Her answer was to pay her way on a mission trip with a group of our church’s adults to teach English to Panamanian children. I think Malala would have been pleased!

When I first heard my daughter’s question, I thought of the WWJD? (What Would Jesus Do?) bracelets that were a fad with teens here in the states for a while. That fad is long gone; those teens have grown up. Ironically, my Christian daughter seems to have found a meaningful role-model in a Pakistani, Muslim girl near her own age. I hope Malala survives the continued threats to her life and lives a long life inspiring my daughter and others.

Malala Yousafzai, advocate for the education of Muslim girls, victim of an assassination attempt, and the youngest Nobel Peace Prize winner is only a few months younger than Julianna. When the already famous and outspoken 16-year-old Malala was called out and shot on her school bus by the Taliban in Pakistan, she became more famous. Julianna began to read articles about Malala’s advocacy, recovery, and amazing courage to continue speaking publicly for the rights of all girls to be educated. Like Malala, Julianna has a passion for education. She plans to be a teacher and has a heart for urban children. She was quick to read I am Malala, Yousafzai’s best-selling memoir, and we all enjoyed seeing Malala tease John Stewart on The Daily Show. I highly recommend the feature length film about her, He Named Me Malala.   

Above I’ve offered photos of 3 picture books about Malala Yousafzai. You’ll have no problem finding these and other picture books at your local library or on-line. Video content is easily found too. It’s important for young children and teens to have heroes, especially if the heroes are near their age. Your message can be that being a child/teen doesn’t give you an excuse for not doing justice or working for peace. Everyone can do something now.

There are other, less decorated and lesser-known teens and tweens in our world making it more just and loving. A little internet searching and some creativity on your part might lead to some very meaningful programming for the young people in your faith family. Be sure to identify the traits that your children can emulate from the heroes you offer. Point out when their passions are grounded in their faith. 

Your children and teens are going to have heroes. When the substance of their fandom can be about more than beauty, sports, or entertainment, then our world has better opportunities for God's desires. I believe Malala would be very proud of such changes. 

World Pray-ers

Today I continue my focus during Lent on picture books about prayer. This is a fabulous first book about prayer practices all over the world. Use in church or school settings for some great learning about faith all over the world! Such knowledge will help your young ones be more respectful and compassionate when they are teens and adults.

Picture Book: Everyone Prays:                                                                          Celebrating Faith Around the World

Author: Alexis York Lumbard 

Illustrator: Alireza Sadeghian

Summary: This book begins with "It's a wide world of faith." What wise words to enhance a child's journey into the meaning and value of prayer! Those who are young will find a rich vision of what prayer looks like beyond their own faith tradition. 

In the illustrations, they'll find a gorgeous array of prayer rituals across the globe. Christians, Jews, and Muslims get a first mention; 

 Hindus and Buddhists do too.

Prayer practices of other less common religions are mentioned as well. The images are beautifully rendered.  

Places of worship get a good deal of attention, particularly in the images. 

 These include praying outside in nature. 

A few prayer objects are listed such as books, beads, and candles. Look for others.  

The contrast is drawn between those who pray while still and those who pray via singing and dancing.

Water gets special attention here. It's used prayerfully in varying ways. 

Also, head coverings are mentioned. Some cover their heads when praying and some do not.

When a community or individual is likely to pray is also explored briefly. Baptism, perhaps the most joyful ritual for very young Christians, is depicted, 

but prayers for comfort and peace are mentioned as well. 

This last illustration is worth a conversation all on its own. Invite your children to talk about hypothetical whos, whys, whens, and wheres of this illustration and help them relate it to their own lives. 

Hanna’s Comments: I really like the simplicity of this book. You can tell this author understands the conceptual limits of young children. The illustrations are vibrant and will draw interest. Be sure all audience members can see the details. Bring with you to the lesson materials for some sensory experiences (incense, prayer rug, menorahs, crosses, etc.) and pass these around. Even better, invite a few people from other religions to talk personally about their own prayer practices and invite them to bring an object. Be sure to have a few people from your own tradition who will offer varying experiences. You don’t want the children thinking that everyone within a tradition prays in the same manner. Be sure to spend time beforehand with the information in the back of this book about the world's religions and these illustrations specifically. Then you'll be able to answer questions that might arise.

Original Publisher & Date: Wisdom Tales, 2014

Age & Grade Appropriateness: 4 and up, Pre and up

Formats other than Book: None at present

Scripture Connections: Depending on the direction of your conversation, any scripture on prayer could be connected. Consider using these 3 from the Old Testament: Be still before the Lord and wait patiently… (Psalm 37:7); Be still and know that I am God. (Psalm 46:10); Create in me a clean heart O God… (Psalm 51:10) OR The Lord’s Prayer (Matthew 6:9-13).

Idea(s) for Application: Read this book to a group of young elementary-aged children to begin a rich conversation on general concepts and experiences of prayer. Later explore your church or church school’s specific theology and practices. 

 

Another Todd Parr Book!

Featured below is a quintessential PBT book. It's secular but full of sacred ideas and illustrations your audience will respond to. I've also given you PBT links to several other Todd Parr books which are so easy to use in ministry with young children!

Picture Book: Love the World

Author & Illustrator: Todd Parr

Summary: With simple rhymed verse, Todd Parr explores 2 kinds of love. He reminds us that loving yourself makes loving the world more fun. That's profound! Loving your face is a great way to begin.  

 Then there's loving your space,

  as well as other parts of your body. 

  Don't forget to love your walk 

 and talk. 

And everyone should love the skin they're in!

But then love the world by giving a hand, 

taking a stand, 

or using your mind. 

Every few pages, Parr reminds us that one way of loving leads to the other .... 

There's also a big wide world to love. It has bees 

 and trees,

land 

and seas too. 

 

 There's so much to love out there!

Parr's books usually end with a letter to the kids.

Hanna’s Comments: Here's an easy way to use this book. After reading (the rhymed verse means it's important to read somewhat uninterrupted), show each double page spread again and simply ask questions like... How is this loving the world? OR Does this remind you of a way someone you know loves the world? OR Do we love the world this way in our church? Tie this book to scripture by reading one of the scriptures listed below between these page turnings. Then help your children see Parr's subtle messages of love for diversity and care for nature. Tie these ideas to your theological values as well. Todd Parr has written and illustrated over 40 books. Several are here at PBT already. They are all of a similar style so very easy to teach. Here are the PBT links: 
The Thankful Book
It's Okay to Make Mistakes
The Peace Book
The Feelings Book
Original Publisher & Date: Little Brown, 2017

Age & Grade Appropriateness: 2 and up, Toddler and up

Formats other than Book: Tablet

Scripture Connections:  Love one another (John 13:34); Love is patient and kind… (1^st Corinthians 13: 4-8); Let all you do be done in love (1 Corinthians 16:14); God is love. (1 John 4:8); Above all these, put on love (Colossians 3:14); Above all, keep loving one another earnestly (1 Peter 4:8)

Idea(s) for Application: Read this book to a group of young children and talk about what love looks like at your faith family and in their homes. Then discuss how love can change the world for the better!

“What Am I Doing to Make Malala Proud?”

The title of this post is the question my teenage daughter, Julianna, asked herself the spring before her senior year in high school. Her answer was to pay her way on a mission trip with a group of our church’s adults to teach English to Panamanian children. I think Malala would have been pleased!

When I first heard my daughter’s question, I thought of the WWJD? (What Would Jesus Do?) bracelets that were a fad with teens here in the states for a while. That fad is long gone; those teens have grown up. Ironically, my Christian daughter seems to have found a meaningful role-model in a Pakistani, Muslim girl near her own age. I hope Malala survives the continued threats to her life and lives a long life inspiring my daughter and others.

Malala Yousafzai, advocate for the education of Muslim girls, victim of an assassination attempt, and the youngest Nobel Peace Prize winner is only a few months younger than Julianna. When the already famous and outspoken 16-year-old Malala was called out and shot on her school bus by the Taliban in Pakistan, she became more famous. Julianna began to read articles about Malala’s advocacy, recovery, and amazing courage to continue speaking publicly for the rights of all girls to be educated. Like Malala, Julianna has a passion for education. She plans to be a teacher and has a heart for urban children. She was quick to read I am Malala, Yousafzai’s best-selling memoir, and we all enjoyed seeing Malala tease John Stewart on The Daily Show. I highly recommend the feature length film about her, He Named Me Malala.   

Above I’ve offered photos of 3 picture books about Malala Yousafzai. You’ll have no problem finding these and other picture books at your local library or on-line. Video content is easily found too. It’s important for young children and teens to have heroes, especially if the heroes are near their age. Your message can be that being a child/teen doesn’t give you an excuse for not doing justice or working for peace. Everyone can do something now.

There are other, less decorated and lesser-known teens and tweens in our world making it more just and loving. A little internet searching and some creativity on your part might lead to some very meaningful programming for the young people in your faith family. Be sure to identify the traits that your children can emulate from the heroes you offer. Point out when their passions are grounded in their faith. 

Your children and teens are going to have heroes. When the substance of their fandom can be about more than beauty, sports, or entertainment, then our world has better opportunities for God's desires. I believe Malala would be very proud of such changes. 

A Picture Book a Day for a Year: Day 355

Picture Book: Above My Head, Beneath My Feet

Author & Illustrator: K. D. Plum

Summary: This is a cleverly designed book that demonstrates in several situations what can be found above a young boy’s head and beneath his feet. Each page has a flap to flip, revealing the boy’s discoveries. Some are cut-away illustrations and some are wide expanses in space. For example, he awakens and sees curtains, his window, and the sun above his head. His lost slipper and kitty are found underneath his feet in the bed covers. He goes outside and sees the city’s clock tower, flags, and leaves above his head while beneath his feet are sidewalk, grass, dirt, anthills, and ant tunnels.

Hanna’s Comments: There’s some great science in this fun flap book, but even better, you’ll be encouraging young children to be more observant and discover new aspects of God’s creation. While reading this book, be sure to ask them about other discoveries they can make on each page. Help them identify which of those discoveries are made by God and which are human-made. With observation comes wonder, and with wonder comes gratitude to God for making such an amazing world and giving humans the abilities to use our minds to invent things. All are celebrated here! Consider this book an invitation to go out and explore God’s world with a sense of wonder and gratitude.

Original Publisher & Date of Publication: Price, Stern, Sloan, Inc., 1997

Age & Grade Appropriateness: Toddler and up 

# of Pages: 14

Available in Spanish? Not at present

Formats other than Book: None at present

PBT Category: Rare but Worth the Search, Pre 2K

PBT Topics this Book connects with: abundance/bounty, animals, attentiveness/observation/seeing, awe, beauty, blessings, creation, discovery/invention, diversity, Earth/world, the environment/nature, exploration, found, gratitude/thanksgiving, heaven/sky, land/mountains/soil, moon/space/stars/sun, reverence, variety, wonder

Scripture Connections: In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth (Genesis 1:1); for by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible (Colossians 1:16); you, Lord, laid the foundations of the earth in the beginning, and the heavens are the work of your hands (Hebrews 1:10)

Idea(s) for Application: Read this book to a group of young children who are learning to explore and be grateful for God’s amazing world. 

A Picture Book a Day for a Year: Book 33

Picture Book: He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands
 
Illustrator: Kadir Nelson

Summary: This popular American spiritual and favorite song for children to sing is beautifully illustrated by one of my favorite picture book artists. He captures a loving family along with children’s drawings. This picture book celebrates God’s care and God's gift of the natural world. Nelson states that he wished to portray the world as a child might see it, vast and beautiful.

Hanna’s Comments: Kadir Nelson offers a historical note about this well-known spiritual and includes the score. The text is a little different from the words you may be used to singing which allows for some stunning illustrations. 
He includes:
He's got my brothers and my sisters...
He's got the rivers and the mountains...
He's got you and he's got me...

Publisher & Date of Publication: Dial, 2005 

Age and Grade Appropriateness: 4 and up, Pre and up 

# of Pages: 32 

Available in Spanish? Not at present 

Formats other than Book: Audible, Video, Youtube videos of other versions of this song  

PBT Category: Song Book

PBT Topics this Book Connects with: abundance/bounty, adoration, awe, babies/children, choir/music/singing/songs, comfort, confidence, covenant/promises, Earth/world, faith/faithfulness, God’s presence, hope, manna, reassurance, safety, safe place/sanctuary, security, strength/strength in God, trust/trustworthiness 

Scripture Connections: When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers (Psalm 8:3); The heavens declare the glory of God (Psalm 19:1); For those who love God all things work together for good (Romans 8:28); For by him all things were created (Colossians 1:16)

Idea(s) for Application: Read this book to accompany a lesson on God’s gift of creation, especially its diversity and God’s loving care.

A Picture Book a Day for a Year: Day 11

Picture Book: Whoever You Are

Author: Mem Fox

Illustrator: Leslie Staub

Summary: This book celebrates the diversity of the world’s human beings, while exploring the ways in which people are alike and different.

Hanna’s Comments: The affirming text and vibrant illustrations invite discussion of how the global community is connected yet beautifully diverse.

Publisher & Date of Publication: HMH Books for Young Readers, 2006

Age and Grade Appropriateness: 4 and up, Preschool and up

# of Pages: 32

Available in Spanish? yes

Formats other than Book: Youtube video

PBT Category: Non-fiction

PBT Topics this Book Connects with: beauty, body of Christ, community, differences, diversity, earth/world, family, humanity, image of God, pacifism/peace/peaceful/peacemakers/peaceable kingdom, unity, wonder

Scripture Connections: made in God’s image (Genesis 1), wonderfully made (Psalm 129), body of Christ (Corinthians 12, Ephesians 4)

Idea(s) for Application: This book would be a great gift from your faith community to families with new babies. It could also be used in a program for training foreign missionaries or a faith community that is serving or welcoming a group of refugees.