Beautiful Praise

Here's a book similar in theme to last week's repost of a favorite PBT God Book. This book is for audiences who are a little older. There are many other books at PBT about praise and thanksgiving. Simply type those words into the search engine or click on those particular search words at the bottom of the page. If you're on your phone, you'll need to click on the "web version." 

Picture Book: Sing Praise

Authors: Rhonda Gowler Greene

Illustrator: Janet Broxton

Summary: In this gorgeous book, rhyming verse encourages songs of thanksgiving and praise to God as demonstrated by all sorts of God's creatures and even celestial beings. Singing and ...

dancing are given priority as these pages remind us that God wants to be worshiped by all that God has created. 

Our beauty and worthiness lie in the simple fact that we are creatures of God giving voice (and dance) to the glory of our uniqueness and diversity. 

Our various abilities, beautiful faces, and playful natures are celebrated here. 

From jungles to oceans, 

bird-filled skies to farmland, 

creatures great and small are shown delighting in their createdness and praising the One who is responsible for their joy. 

The variety of song and movement is celebrated 

and will surely delight God as it should delight and inspire us humans. 

Our world, which I have lately heard is the first of God's scriptures, is the backdrop of this book's lesson in two of the easiest spiritual practices to learn.    

Praise and thanksgiving are natural expressions of our humanness and should be encouraged, expected, and never judged in our places of worship. 

Seasons are celebrated here 

as are the collective ways we praise God in community. 

One benefit of these pages is the way in which they offer hope and courage to us all to do that which we were meant to do: Be who you were created to be 

while giving back the praise and gratitude that is due our Creator.

Hanna’s Comments: This book is sure to be a future entry in the PBT Grab & Go list. Simply read it and have your audience engage in some silly imitating of various creatures in these pages who scripture says are offering praise and gratitude to God simply by being who and what God created them to be. You might want to have some nature sounds playing as folks enter and play a guessing game about what they are hearing. What a great lesson for all those who doubt their worthiness! Children (and adults) need to be reminded that God mostly wants to be worshiped, not feared, and certainly not ignored. 

Original Publisher & Date: Augsburg Fortress, 2005

Age & Grade Appropriateness: 5 and up, K and up

Formats other than Book: Tablet

Scripture Connections: The Psalms have many examples of praise to God and exhortations to do so. This book is primarily inspired by Psalms 140 and 150.

Idea(s) for Application: Read this book to a group of elementary aged children who are learning about how all of nature, alongside human beings, can and do worship God through praise and thanksgiving. 

This author has another beautiful book (illustrated by Anne Wilson this time). It's about the story of creation in Genesis. Both man and woman are made in God’s image. It uses a repeated rhyme form like The House the Jack Built but does not build too much text so preschoolers can be attentive. The days are not numbered but the Genesis sequence is there. It is a big book with bold illustrations that reflect the spherical nature of Earth. 

PBT Series: God Book #13

This is a repeat of a post from the first year of PBT when I offered 1 picture book a day for a year. Spring has sprung here in Alabama so animals and plants are singing God’s praise all about me! Most of the 700 or so books at PBT are secular, but I have over 80 God books! This series has the best of them. I include God Books because they are treasures that would be hard for you to find if you didn’t know about them already. They are generally about the nature of God so applications in ministry are obvious. This one is particularly beautiful and perfect for young children. Enjoy!

Picture Book: Let the Whole Earth Sing Praise

Author & Illustrator: Tomie de Paola

Summary: Here is the text of this beautiful book:

Sun and Moon, Stars and Comets in the Heavens.

Praise God.

Light and Darkness, Day and Night, 

Showers and Frost, Ice and snow.

Bless God.

Fire, Heat, Lightning and Clouds, 

Mountains, Hills, Seas, Rivers, and Fountains,

Praise God.

Fruitful Trees, Cedars, and all that Sprout upon the Earth,

Whales, Fish, and all Creatures that Move in the Waters,

Bless God.

Birds, Everything that Flies in the Air,

Dogs, Cats, All Animals and Creeping Things on Earth,

Praise God.

All People, Young and Old, Let Everything in Heaven and on Earth

Bless and Praise God.

Hanna’s Comments: In the Authors Note, de Paola explains that his book was inspired by two pieces of Old Testament scripture: The Canticle of the Three Young Men from the Book of Daniel and Psalm 148. He has purposefully made it like a children’s song. The illustrations are inspired by folk art designs of the Otomi people of Puebla, Mexico. When presenting this book, consider the question of non-human entities being able to praise God. Have fun with the movement and sounds in nature. Delight in all the diversity God displays on our great Earth. Most importantly, have your kiddos engage in lots of praising of God during your lesson. 

Original Publisher & Date: G. P. Putnam’s Sons, 2011

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

Formats other than Book: Tablet

Scripture Connections: Praise the Lord…Praise him, sun and moon… (Psalm 148); let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name (Hebrews 13:15)

Idea(s) for Application: Read this book to children when teaching them about worship and praise to God. Consider presenting the ideas of this book to older children to consider in a lesson on praise in nature.

Sadness as a Companion

Today is Good Friday, the day we remember the crucifixion of Jesus. I've never understood why we call it good. It seems like a very sad day to me. This newly published book could be used throughout the year in your ministry or at your home or school, particularly when a sad event occurs and affects many. In American culture, we run from sadness. Today I want to feature this intriguing book that teaches us to acknowledge and befriend sadness. We might even need to invite sadness to stay for a while.

Picture Book: When Sadness is at Your Door
Authors  & Illustrator: Eva Eland
Summary: Striking illustrations of sadness personified are found immediately in the inside covers to begin and end Eland's book.

Sadness enters a child's home unexpectedly. At first the child is unsure and puzzled.

Sadness follows and seems to need comfort in a way that is uncomfortable and even scary.

Hiding it doesn't work,

because in some sense you've become sadness yourself.

Perhaps it is best to face it, name it, and listen. Ask it what it needs. It's okay if you don't understand or can't help it just now.

You might have to simply be a companion 

or sadness might just need time and beauty

and welcoming attention.

Someday it will be gone and you will have a new day.

Hanna’s Comments: During my 2 year Academy for Spiritual Formation, a book was assigned in which personification of personal issues - everything from emotions to addictions - was explained as a powerful tool for spiritual growth and healing. The question, "What does it need?" was crucial. Elizabeth Gilbert, author of Eat, Pray, Love speaks of such personification in a delightful TED talk and writes about it in her book on creativity Big Magic. I have experienced such healing myself. Social science has long said that emotional literacy is crucial for emotional development. Our places of worship and families of faith are important environments for this kind of learning and healing to occur, but they must be safe, trustworthy places. 
When might this book be appropriate? 

When a much-loved member or teacher dies

When a national tragedy occurs as in Paris this week

When a pastor struggles with clinical depression or terminal illness

When many in your church are near the end of their lives

When a global church makes a decision that shuts-out many

When much has been lost across a congregation as in a major change or disaster

When your client or spiritual directee is stuck and needing a creative invitation

When Good Friday is not really so good

Demystifying sadness can be a gift to your children and all members of your classroom or congregation if handled delicately and respectfully, with no judgement or impatience. Don't view this as a way to get over sadness but as a way to companion it and be mindful of it. Find personal connections in the loss, fear, and confusion. Offer hints of hope. For this book, I would simply read it and then listen. Some gentle questions and art supplies might be good to have handy too.

Original Publisher & Date: Random House, 2019

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

Formats other than Book: Tablet

Scripture Connections: There are many Bible stories that have elements of sadness besides those we hear in anticipation of Good Friday. Consider the sadness that must have been felt by Ruth, the friends of Tabitha/Dorcas, David at the death of Jonathan, and Martha, Mary, and Jesus upon Lazarus' death. Sparingly use scriptures about hope such as I am making all things new (Revelation 21:5) since this is a book about sadness being acknowledged and respected in the present.

Idea(s) for Application: Besides the ideas mentioned above, read this book to a group of children when learning about God's presence when we are sad.