A Picture Book a Day for a Year: Day 358

Picture Book: A Single Pearl

Author: Donna Jo Napoli          

Illustrator: Jim LaMarche

Summary: From the point of view of a grain of sand transformed into a highly valued pearl, this story is a hypothetical account of the discovery of the first pearl. The natural process of pearl-making in an oyster is part of the narrative. What once had been an oyster’s irritation caused by the simple grain of sand becomes an object of luminescence and beauty, a treasure to be found. After the pearl is extracted by a diver, it is taken and sold to a Persian prince for a high price. The prince gives it to his wife who later passes it on to her daughter. Each owner prizes the pearl for its rare beauty. It was so admired that pearls became the jewels of the royalty in all of Persia.

Hanna’s Comments: The process of pearl creation is fascinating and so unique. Perhaps that’s why the “pearl of great price” is mentioned in our Holy Scriptures in the book of Matthew 13. There is potential here for conversation about many important concepts such as transformation, God’s creative spirit, beauty, generosity, and treasure.

Original Publisher & Date of Publication: Disney/Hyperion Books, 2013 

Age & Grade Appropriateness: 3 and up, Pre and up

# of Pages: 32 

Available in Spanish? Not at present 

Formats other than Book: None at present

PBT Category:  Fresh off the Press

PBT Topics this Book connects with: Asia, awe, beach/ocean/pond/river/sea/shore, beauty, blessings, consumerism/consumption/riches, creation, difficulties, discovery/invention, the environment/nature, family, found, parables/stories, parents/parental love, possessions, surprise, transformation, treasure, wonder

Scripture Connections: If you search for it as for hidden treasure, then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God (Proverbs 2:4-5); Parable of the pearl merchant (Matthew 13:45-46); for where your treasure is, there will your heart be also (Luke 12:34) 

Idea(s) for Application: Read this book to a group of tweens and talk about the parable of the pearl merchant in the book of Matthew. Discuss what counts as treasure today and how this can lead to greed or idolatry if not held in check.

A Picture Book a Day for a Year: Day 357

Picture Book: Only One You

Author & Illustrator: Linda Kranz

Summary: A mother and father fish decide it’s time to share some wisdom with Adri, their little fish. What follows is a series of guiding statements to encourage their little one to engage and make the world a better place. The first suggestion is to “always be on the lookout for a new friend.” Many others follow. The loving parents remind him that “there is only one you in this great big world.” The unique illustrations involve individually painted rocks on a backdrop of photographs of ocean currents. A Spanish translation is on each page.

Hanna’s Comments: Your audience will love these illustrations! You might want to encourage them to try rock painting after viewing. Though it is not a long book, there are so many good ideas to discuss here that you might want to read it several days in a row, focusing on a few ideas at a time. My favorite parental nugget (dare I say pebble!) of wisdom is “set aside some quiet time to relax and reflect every day.” This author has written a companion book to this one that has Adri exploring the beauty of his diverse world. Its title is You Be You.

Original Publisher & Date of Publication: Taylor Trade Publishing, 2006

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

# of Pages: 32

Available in Spanish? This book is subtitled in Spanish! 

Formats other than Book: Tablet, There is a video on Youtube.com.

PBT Category: Post 2K

PBT Topics this Book connects with: adventure, aspirations/dreams, babies/children, beach/ocean/pond/river/sea/shore, beauty, belonging, challenges, differences, diversity, Earth/world, encouragement, exploration, family, goodness, growing up/growth, individuality/uniqueness, nurturing, parents/parental love, preparation, problems/problem-solving, protecting/protection, rocks/shells/stones, travel, truth, wisdom, wonder

 

Scripture Connections: I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made (Psalm 139:14); train children in the ways they should go; even when they are old, they will not depart from them (Proverbs 22:6); build your house on a rock (Matthew 7:24-27)

Idea(s) for Application: Besides being a great book for exploring all sorts of wisdom with children, this book could be read to a faith-based parenting group to encourage a discussion of the values they want to pass on to their children. 

A Picture Book a Day for a Year: Day 356

Picture Book: Love is a Handful of Honey 

Author: Giles Andreae

Illustrator: Vanessa Cabban 

Summary: Aspects of love over the course of one day are imagined in rhyming verse from the point of view of a young bear and his family and friends. Loving actions vary from leaping out of bed to being tickled, playing hide and seek to watching a butterfly tap on a toe, and hearing a bedtime book to whispering good night to the stars.  

Hanna’s Comments: There’s a lot to talk about here with little ones. Helping them understand that love is a BIG CONCEPT is at the heart of this book. Understanding that loving words and actions are varied and bountiful is a crucial foundation for living in a community of faith. Claiming love in attitude, gratitude, and cooperative living helps children understand how many ways their own feelings and behavior can be loving to self and others. Be sure to talk about God’s love for us as demonstrated here and find examples in these pages of how we can, with all that we are, demonstrate our love for God and others. These are the great commandments we have been compelled to live!

Original Publisher & Date of Publication: Orchard Books, 1999

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

# of Pages: 24

Available in Spanish? Not at present

Formats other than Book: None at present 

PBT Category: Pre 2K

PBT Topics this Book connects with: abundance/bounty, action, affection, belonging, blessings, bonds/connections, caring/tending, communication, community, companions, cooperation, dependence/independence, encouragement, family, friends/friendship, God’s nature, gratitude/thanksgiving, helping, home, love, nurturing, parents/parental love, play, pleasing God/the Shema, presence, relationships, response to God, unity, wonder 

Scripture Connections: Love the Lord your God… (Deuteronomy 6:4-5); love your neighbor as yourself (Leviticus 19:18 & Matthew 7:12); love is patient and kind (1 Corinthians 13:4); let all you do be done in love (1 Corinthians 16:14); we love because he first loved us (1 John 4:19)

Idea(s) for Application: Read this book to a group of young children who are learning the many ways love for God, self, and others can be expressed and felt.