A Picture Book a Day for a Year: Day 198

Picture Book: Fu Finds the Way

Author & Illustrator: John Rocco

Summary: Fu is an inattentive and apathetic Chinese boy. While planting rice, he imagines himself battling dragons. His father tells him to re-plant the crooked rows and exhorts him to care more because that is ”the way.” Fu’s anger and impulsivity causes him to insult a Chinese warrior who then challenges Fu to a duel the next morning. Frantic, Fu grabs his father’s sword and goes to the Master, but he is confused by the Master’s methods. Instead of teaching Fu how to battle, he teaches him how to serve tea. The instructive tea ceremony is slow-paced, repetitive, and leads Fu into imaginative dreams that teach him to have purpose, flow, and patience. When morning comes, Fu grabs the tea set rather than the sword, meets the warrior, and serves him tea. The warrior is so moved by the beauty of Fu’s tea ceremony that he does not want to fight. Instead he says, “You have the way.”

Hanna’s Comments: This book reminds me of the movie, Karate Kid except for its setting and pace. Fu has only an evening to prepare for his confrontation. His anxiety lessens as he allows the Master to help him become more contemplative and fully present in the moment. This is a good lesson for all of us, particularly when caught up in the fast-pace of modern life or the inner world of our imaginations. Neither allows for self-contemplation and being fully present with others in our community who need us. I was also struck with the use of the phrase, “the way.” Early on, Christianity was referred to as “The Way.” Early Christians were “People of the Way.” Consider finding the connections between the 3 goals of the Master’s teaching (to acquire purpose, flow, and patience) and the ways of early Christians. See the Author’s Note for the inspiration for this book.

Publisher & Date of Publication: Hyperion Books, 2009

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

# of Pages: 40

Available in Spanish? Not at present

Formats other than Book: None at present

PBT Category: Post 2K

PBT Topics this Book Connects with: abilities, anxiety/worry, Asia, bravery/courage, challenges, commitment, conflict, consequences/punishment, disputes/fighting/opposition, doubt, drink/thirst, education/learning/school, encouragement, fear, gentleness/meekness, humility, mentors/teachers, mistakes, non-violence/peaceful resistance, pacifism/peace/peacemakers, patience, power, preparation, presence, pride, purpose, quiet/silence, reverence, risking, safety, at table, transformation, underdogs, waiting, water, wisdom

Scripture Connections: David and Goliath (1 Samuel 17:1-58)

Idea(s) for Application: Consider reading this book to a group of older kids when you are presenting a lesson on David and Goliath. Then talk about how David might have acted differently. 

A Picture Book a Day for a Year: Day 197

Picture Book: The Moon Over Star     

Author: Dianna Hutts Aston

Illustrator: Jerry Pinkney

Summary: The Apollo 11 mission is viewed through the eyes of Mae and experienced in her family in various ways in their little town of Star. Mae is inspired and hopes to go to space one day. In contrast, her Gramps thinks the space program is a waste of money, but he still prays for the astronauts. Along with her siblings and cousins, Mae helps build a wooden rocket for a reenactment of the launch which they saw on TV. Later the entire family watches as the announcer declares, “The Eagle has landed,” and Neil Armstrong walks on the moon. Mae begins to realize that her grandfather’s dreams have been stifled. Perhaps that is why he is lacking enthusiasm. The whole family gathers for a nighttime picnic to look at the moon. Gramps ends the evening admitting the significance of the events and encouraging Mae to keep on dreaming.

Hanna’s Comments: This is such a beautiful and intertwining story of history and family! As usual, Jerry Pinkney’s artistry is amazing. This time he alternates between depictions of the family and the space mission. I especially loved the way young Mae is so in tune with her grandfather and his lack of enthusiasm while also being very invested in the historic nature of the events happening so far away. This is a book about loving engagement with family and the world. There is also a church scene in which the congregants pray for the astronauts. Because there is no doctrine in this scene, I consider it still a secular book, but the intercessory prayers are a nice aspect of the plot. This is not about a real girl, and yet I categorize it here as Nonfiction because if offers insight into actual events and allows for lots of supplemental material when planning its use in your community of faith.  

Publisher & Date of Publication: Dial Books, 2008

Age & Grade Appropriateness: 6 and up, 1^st and up

# of Pages: 32

Available in Spanish? Not at present

Formats other than Book: Audio download, There is a video of the Apollo 11 lift off on Youtube.com  

PBT Category: Non-fiction, Post 2K

PBT Topics this Book Connects with: America, ancestors/patriarchs & matriarchs, aspirations/dreams, attentiveness/observation/seeing, awe, Earth/world, exploration, family, grandparents, heaven/sky, humanity, journeys/migrations/pilgrimages/quests, milestones, moon/space/stars/sun, prayer, presence, reverence

Scripture Connections: God created the heavens and the earth (Genesis 1:1); when I look at your heavens (Psalm 8:3)

Idea(s) for Application: Use this book when teaching children about the importance of praying about important issues and for those involved in current events. 

A Picture Book a Day for a Year: Day 196

Picture Book: Each Kindness               

Author: Jacqueline Woodson

Illustrator: E.B. Lewis

Summary: A new girl, Maya, enters school, but Chloe and her friends won’t play with her because of the way she’s dressed. Eventually Maya no longer comes to school, then she moves away, but she is remembered by Chloe when their teacher gives a lesson on how each kindness that is bestowed makes the world better. The teacher uses a bowl of water and stones to illustrate this concept, focusing on the water ripples that spread. Chloe reflects on this idea and realizes her lost opportunities for kindness toward Maya and for friendship.

Hanna’s Comments: Consider this book a hint of things to come. Within the pages of this book about shunning and cruelty is a subtle anti-bullying message. You might not recognize it as bullying since there is no physical aggression or obvious taunting, but girls often bully in different ways than boys. Bullying in the manner of boys gets the most media attention. Girls bully with deliberate and calculated alienation and subtle insults. That’s what happens in this story and too often in communities of faith, both at places of worship and in religious schools, where breaking down the barriers of cliques can be especially hard. This is true despite scriptural exhortations to be hospitable. If your faith community struggles with this issue, consider focusing on an anti-bullying message and how it is in conflict with your faith values. The week of November 16 is Anti-bullying month here in the USA. Look for a focus on that issue in the PBT offerings the week before (November 9/Day 204 through November 15/Day 210). Meanwhile, you can check out www.bullyingawarenessweek.org .

Publisher & Date of Publication: Penguin, 2012

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

# of Pages: 32

Available in Spanish? Not at present

Formats other than Book: Audio book

PBT Category: Award, Post 2K

PBT Topics this Book Connects with: aliens/immigrants/refugees/strangers, brokenness, choices/decisions, clothes/shoes, communication, community, confession, conformity, consequences/punishment, cruelty, differences, emotions/feelings, evangelism, exile/separation/walls, friends/friendship, golden rule/great commandment, greed/selfishness, guilt, hospitality, injustice, mistakes, new school, outsiders, peer pressure, poverty, power, prejudice, regret/repentance, relationships, sin, victims

Scripture Connections: Let the words of my mouth... be acceptable to Your heart (Psalm 19:14); death and life are in the power of the tongue (Proverbs 18:22); what comes out of the mouth defiles a person (Matthew 15:10)

Idea(s) for Application: Teach the children in your faith community the prayer usually attributed to King David (Psalm 19:14) and talk about how words can welcome, hurt, and heal in powerful ways.