Who (and Whose) Will You Be in 2018?

Picture Book: Winter Dance

Author: Marion Dane Bauer

Illustrator: Richard Jones

Summary: This beautiful picture book begins with a fox wondering what he should do after a snowflake falls. 

He seeks advice from his neighbors. When a caterpillar suggests building a cocoon so he can later fly, the fox says, "I'm not meant to fly." 

A turtle suggests that he go for a swim, 

and a bat suggests he check out a cave, but the fox isn't interested. 

When he is interrupted by an acorn, he finds a squirrel who strongly suggests some acorn gathering, 

but when you don't even like acorns, that doesn't make sense. 

This pattern continues with geese, 

a snowshoe hare, 

and a black bear.

The fox doesn't like any of their suggestions. 

When the wind hushes him, he settles in and listens. Snowflakes tickle his nose. Eventually he hears a whistle 

- a new friend with golden eyes. She knows just what he can do! 

When the world is full of falling snowflakes, 

a fox must join their tumbling and turning. Our fox agrees and dances with his new companion. 

Then they settle in together for some warm cuddling and sleep. 

Hanna’s Comments: At its center, this book is about discerning how to praise God authentically. Worship can be a very personal act, and here you have two foxes responding authentically to celebrate the beauty of the snow. In the author's byline, it explains that she was inspired to write this tale when she learned that foxes dance in the winter time. What fun! This book is also about finding a partner, someone who can help you discover who you are and what is yours to do, in essence how to respond to the world. Themes of change and the coming of a new year are here as well. A few weeks ago, I posted about a Christmas book with a lot of connections to this one. Check out that post [here].

Original Publisher & Date: HMH, 2017

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

Formats other than Book: Tablet

Scripture Connections: Miriam and other women dancing after the parting of the Red Sea (Exodus 15: 20); Let them praise God with dancing (Psalm 149:3); A time to weep… and a time to dance (Ecclesiastes 3:4); Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind (Romans 12:2a)

Idea(s) for Application: Read this book to a group of children, teens or adults during a lesson about worship, discernment, or authenticity. 

PBT Redux #18 A Perfect Book for Epiphany

January 6 begins the Epiphany Season when the church considers The Magi’s journey. These were gentiles, thought by Jews to be outsiders, and yet Matthew, a Jew, tells this story. The Magi followed the bright star and worshiped the babe despite their alienation. They were drawn to do so by hope grounded in their life’s work and their personal imagination.

Today's repost is a beautiful, classic picture book that offers a similar journey by a child. She is human, an outsider to the forest. Like The Magi, she has a companion and together they embark on a dark journey for that which (and who) is beautiful and mysterious. 

The spiritual aspects of Owl Moon are likely obvious, but there are also many applications to today’s political and social contexts. We know of many aliens in many situations. And we are aliens ourselves sometimes. 

Read the story of The Magi to a group of children or adults. Then read this story and ask them simply to find connections between the 2 stories. You will be amazed by the conversation! One reason why this picture book works so well is its first person point of view. Listeners will step inside the story and be the child. In the discussion, be sure to ask about personal hopes going forward and what (who?) they hope to find in 2018.  

 

Picture Book: Owl Moon

Author: Jane Yolen

Illustrator: John Schoenherr

Summary: The narrator, a girl it seems, embarks on a family rite of passage. She and her Pa go owling. She tells us she knows just what to do and has been waiting for this time with her Pa for a long time. Owling involves a silent walk into the woods the night of an “owl moon.” The sounds, sights, and mystery of the forest are explored and felt by the reader as Pa imitates the great horned owl’s call and they anticipate a sighting. An owl does call back. Pa shines his light upon the creature before it flies away. Pa and narrator walk home in silence when silence is no longer necessary but seems the right response to something so beautiful and rare.     

Hanna’s Comments: This beautiful picture book celebrates the quiet love of a father and child as well as the possibilities of darkness and God’s nature. It also offers an example of what patience and a little bravery in a new environment might offer those willing to explore, even while holding the hand of one who is more mature. The narrator explains:

When you go owling, you don’t need words or warm or anything but hope.

This quiet adventure can be a metaphor for many spiritual and theological explorations. I can’t help but recommend to you of one of my favorite spiritual writers, Barbara Brown Taylor, and her recent book, Learning to Walk in the Dark.

Publisher & Date of Publication: Philomel, 1987

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

Formats other than Book: Audio

Scripture Connections: Be still & know (Psalm 46:10), Treasures of Darkness (Isaiah 45:3), The journey of the Magi (Matthew 2:1-12); The many times Jesus prays apart from the disciples

Idea(s) for Application: Read this book and ask about connections to the journey of The Magi. This book would also be a great start to an adult small group’s study of Barbara Brown Taylor’s Learning to Walk in the Dark.

PBT Redux #17 A New Year's Hope & Prayer

Picture Book: Let There Be Peace on Earth                                                                  and Let It Begin with Me

Authors: Jill Jackson & Sy Miller

Illustrator: David Diaz

Summary: This picture book’s text is a song familiar to many. Written in 1955, the song has been recorded by many singers throughout the world. It is a clarion call for world peace and interpersonal peace. Besides the song lyrics, you’ll find an audio CD which includes 11 other songs by these writers. The illustrations feature international symbols of peace which are explained in the back of the book. Other features include historical aspects of the song and its writers as well as the musical score.

Hanna’s Comments: If you are bothered by the masculine terminology, particularly “With God as our Father, brothers all are we.” adapt to “With God, our creator, children all are we.” Change “Let me walk with my brother,” to “Let us walk with each other.” Use sticky notes to replace the words on the pages. Simply explain to your audience that the meaning and use of language changes sometimes. Then give your personal reasons for making the changes.

Publisher & Date of Publication: Tricycle Press, 2009

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

Formats other than Book: None at Present, On the internet, there are many videos of this song being performed.

Scripture Connections: Those who plan peace have joy (Proverbs 12:20); live peaceably with all (Romans 12:18); blessed are the peacemakers (Matthew 5:9); strive for peace with everyone (Hebrews 12:14)

Idea(s) for Application: Consider reading this book or singing along with it as a part of a lesson on the beatitudes in the Gospel of Matthew or as part of a lesson on issues of peace, conflict, and reconciliation.