A Picture Book a Day for a Year: Day 349

Picture Book: A Child’s Garden: A Story of Hope

Author & Illustrator: Michael Foreman 

Summary: A barbed wire fence divides a boy’s ruined community from a group of soldiers and their city. He finds a small plant emerging from the rubble and is determined to help it survive. It is a grape vine that thrives in his care, tendrils climbing the fence while the soldiers watch. Children begin playing there, as well as birds and butterflies. Once it’s large, the soldiers pull the vine out of the soil and leave it in a ditch on their side of the fence to rot. Winter comes; the boy and his family survive, and so does the vine, for it had scattered its seeds all along the fence, but the plants would have to survive on their own for the boy could not reach them. Soon he sees a young girl tending the shoots in the ditch. New shoots appear on his side too so he yells for the girl to come see. Each child tends their garden and soon their vines become entwined. Birds, butterflies, and children return and the boy concludes that despite the soldiers, the vine’s roots are deep, seeds will spread, hope remains, and the fence will eventually disappear so the children may play in freedom again.

Hanna’s Comments: This parable of war is about relationships built on hope and work. Metaphors abound here. Don’t limit your discussion to issues of war and peace, though they are prominent. Talk about how trust and civility, between two people or nations, is hard and easily deterred when circumstances are difficult. Consider how human relationships can survive despite the damage of selfishness, hurtful words, scarcity, and even violence. Connect this story to any verses in our Holy Scriptures having to do with forgiveness, grace, hope, faithfulness, freedom, resurrection, or even evangelism.

Original Publisher & Date of Publication: Candlewick Press, 2009

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

# of Pages: 32

Available in Spanish? Not at present 

Formats other than Book: Video on Youtube.com 

PBT Category: Post 2K

PBT Topics this Book connects with: abuse/abuse of power, action, adaptation/assimilation, babies/children, beauty, brokenness, bullying/martyrs/persecution/oppression, caring/tending, care of creation, commitment, conflict, enemies, the environment/nature, evangelism, exile/separation/walls, faith/faithfulness, forgiveness/mercy/redemption, freedom, fruit of the Spirit, gardening/planting/pruning/sowing, God’s nature, grace, harvest, home, hope, image of God, labor/work, land/mountains/soil, neighbors, nurturing, pacifism/peace/peacemakers, passion, steadfastness, transformation, violence, war/war veterans, water

Scripture Connections: … and a little child will lead them (Isaiah 11:6); for I know the plans I have for you…plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. (Jeremiah 29:11); the harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few (Matthew 9:37); one who is faithful in very little is also faithful in much (Luke 16:10)

Idea(s) for Application: Read this powerful parable to a group of children, youth, or adults who are talking about issues of peace, war, forgiveness, freedom, grace, hope, faithfulness, resurrection, or evangelism. 

A Picture Book a Day for a Year: Day 348

Picture Book: Albert

Author: Donna Jo Napoli

Illustrator: Jim LaMarche

Summary: Albert lives in a city apartment building. Each morning, he reaches out through the grill work of his window to feel the weather. Then he decides whether to venture out. More likely, he finds reasons to stay home. One morning, as Albert’s arm is beyond the grill, a cardinal places a twig in his hand. More twigs are added by the bird’s partner, and soon one of the birds is snuggled into a nest on Albert’s hand! There she lays 4 small eggs. Albert doesn’t want to bring in his hand. The result would be a tilt to the nest, and it would fall, eggs and all. Albert talks to the birds, but they are busy and ignore him. Days go by! Albert manages to sleep while standing, and eventually the birds begin feeding him berries. From his “perch” at the window, Albert discovers the city is not so threatening. Stories emerge as people pass by. He especially enjoys the day when he sees the cracks in the eggs and the baby birds emerge. He affirms their work in being born and welcomes them. Albert watches as the adult birds teach their fledglings new skills including flight. Ironically, one baby is reluctant, and must be encouraged by Albert to leave the nest. Once the nest is empty of eggs, Albert brings in his arm though the nest falls. Then Albert decides it is a perfect day to go for a walk.

Hanna’s Comments: While reading this book, I was struck by Albert’s gentle spirit. This would be a story to help the children in your faith community decipher the words “meek” and “humble.” If you were to read this story to a group of adults, you could guide them in a conversation about how our trials often teach us exactly what we need to learn. Any age group could talk about the contrast between being a watcher of the world’s stories and a participant who goes out to make the story their own, ready to face fear and failure. You’ll also find most of the fruits of the Spirit in this book. 

Update: While recently studying Celtic Spirituality, a passion of mine for decades, I learned of a Celtic myth similar to this book’s story. Perhaps the author knows it. Saint Kevin of Glendalough, Ireland is said to have supported a blackbird’s nest with his hand when a nest was begun while he extended his arms as on a cross.

Original Publisher & Date of Publication: Harcourt, 2011 

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

# of Pages: 32

Available in Spanish? Not at present 

Formats other than Book: None at present 

PBT Category: Post 2K

PBT Topics this Book connects with: acceptance, adaptation/assimilation, affection, animals, anxiety/worry, attentiveness/observation/seeing, awe, babies/children, bonds/connections, caring/tending, care of creation, challenges, chosen, commitment, dependence/interdependence, difficulties, eggs/seeds, encouragement, fear, freedom, fruit of the Spirit, gentleness/meekness, God’s nature, goodness, grace, heroes, hiding/isolation, home, hospitality, humility, life, loneliness, nurturing, openness, patience, perseverance, sacrifice, steadfastness, transformation, treasure, waiting, witness, wonder   

Scripture Connections: Even the sparrow finds a home… (Psalm 84:3); blessed are the meek for they shall inherit the Earth (Matthew 5:5); …look at the birds in the air, they neither sow nor reap… (Matthew 6:25-34); rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer (Romans 12:12); the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23); put on then…compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience… (Colossians 3:12)

Idea(s) for Application: Read this book to a group of children or adults and consider having participants hold out their arms, feel the pain in their arms, imagine holding an animal, and talk about God’s high value for all creatures and endurance. 

A Picture Book a Day for a Year: Day 347

Picture Book: Glory

Author: Nancy White

Illustrator: Debra Reid Jenkins 

Summary: Glory be to God! Creation is celebrated as an enormous variety of creatures praise God in this beautiful book. How does a butterfly, frog, fish, turtle, or rooster praise God? God is praised when God’s creatures do what they are created to do whether flying, wriggling, making a joyful noise, singing to God in silence, or in the case of the young costumed girl on these pages, pretending to be another of Earth’s marvelous creatures. Here’s a sample of the verse:

Glory be to God for friendly fur,

For wiggling nose and racing heart,

For twitching ears and throbbing purr,

Tails that stretch and tails that wag,

Tail buttons soft as cotton…

All creatures by their being praise their Creator’s name.

Hanna’s Comments: While reading this book to your audience, pause after each double page spread and encourage them to move their bodies, acting out the motions and voices of favorite animals on the pages. Afterwards, praise God for the abundance and beauty we see in animal life through writing a group poem or pantomime. Talk about how animal characteristics serve their survival and how that is true for humans too. Surely God’s creative love is at work in these creatures and each of your listeners. Ask them for some examples of God's creative love in them - some passions and gifts they treasure or favorite aspects of their glorious bodies. Talk about how God can be praised at church, home, and nature throughout their lives.

Original Publisher & Date of Publication: Eerdman’s Books, 2001

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

# of Pages: 32

Available in Spanish? Not at present

Formats other than Book: None at present

PBT Category: God Book, Post 2K

PBT Topics this Book connects with: abundance/bounty, affirmation, animals, art, authenticity, awe, beauty, creation, creativity/imagination/ingenuity, difference, diversity, Earth/world, the environment/nature, gifts/talents, gratitude/thanksgiving, play, pleasing God, prayer, purpose, response to God, reverence, variety, wonder, worship

Scripture Connections: Ascribe to the Lord the glory due God’s name; worship the Lord in the splendor of holiness (Psalm 29:2); let everything that has breath praise the Lord! (Psalm 150:6); for by God all things were created, in heaven and on Earth (Colossians 1:16)

Idea(s) for Application: Read this book to a group of children who are learning about God’s creativity, human creativity, or praise.