PBT Redux #21 Waiting for Spring & Easter

Today I post again about a picture book that is perfect for children just before spring and during the season of Lent, the liturgical season before Easter. 

Picture Book: Waiting for Wings

Author & Illustrator: Lois Ehlert

Summary: In clever verse, bold shapes, and interesting paper cuts, Lois Ehlert depicts the entire life cycle of 4 different kinds of butterflies. Beginning as tiny eggs hidden among the leaves of plants, these 4 creatures change form into caterpillars, build their cocoons, and become butterflies ready to lay eggs. This book may look simple (and sideways) from the cover, but the amount of information you'll find here is amazing! 

Hanna’s Comments: This picture book offers scientific concepts in an appealing context. Find in the back identifying tips for the 4 butterflies and the many flowers that star in this book, general butterfly information, and instructions on planting a butterfly garden. The butterfly has often been used as a metaphor for spiritual transformation. Even young children can begin to see the connections between changes over time in humans and how butterflies evolve. Because they are growing so rapidly and learning new skills, the idea of transformation is not foreign to young children. Also, the symbol of the cocoon and transformation to new life as a butterfly are natural metaphors for Lent (the 40 days before Easter). This book can help you explain to even the youngest children the symbolic darkness and ritual sacrifices of the Lenten season.

Publisher & Date of Publication: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, 2001

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

Formats other than Book: Audio, In the video collection: Click, Clack, Moo: Cows that Type and More Amusing Animal Tales.

Scripture Connections: In general, this book connects to any Bible character for which there is great transformation such as Joseph (in Genesis), disciples such as Matthew (in the Gospels), the woman at the well (in John), Saul/Paul (in Acts), and Jesus (in the Easter story). The way in which a caterpillar cocoons and then becomes a butterfly also connects metaphorically to the seasons of Lent and Easter.

Idea(s) for Application: Use the book above and the author’s partner book about a rainbow of plants [here] to celebrate God’s creative diversity by connecting the butterflies and plants to various people in your faith community. With permission, talk about transformations that person has experienced. Then have the children color or draw that butterfly/plant and present their depiction to the person.

PBT Question #4 to Ask about Any Secular Book

   

Does the book contain or encourage a spiritual practice? 

(Compassion, Generosity, Gratitude, Prayer, Praise, Hospitality, Peacemaking, Reconciliation…)

This PBT question is a little easier to grasp. Do keep an open mind about what defines a spiritual practice. These are not just spiritual disciplines, like praying or fasting, nor are they always specific behaviors such as peacemaking. A spiritual practice might be an orientation towards others as in the case of compassion. You may know someone who is very generous of spirit, but they have little money to give.

When approaching a picture book with this question, consider what in the picture book would please God. That question might help you focus on a spiritual practice. Then read the picture book to a group of children or adults and help them learn more about that practice in a context that is very real. Here’s an example: Contemplation is a fuzzy word. Contemplative prayer is hard to define and impossible to perfect. Contemplating God’s amazing world is a spiritual practice that we often engage in spontaneously and momentarily without identifying it as a spiritual practice. Think of when you arrive at the beach or when you see a full moon. Just because you don’t express your joy with words doesn’t mean you aren’t moved and thankful.

Contemplation is beautifully abundant in the title character of The Incredible Peepers of Penelope Budd. Check out that PBT post [here.] 

In these two illustrations, Penelope is being especially observant. First she delights in a butterfly.

Then she contemplates her own image in a puddle of water.

Tie her orientation to delighting in God's creation and you have a model of a spiritual practice that even the youngest child can relate to. Add gratitude to God to such experiences and you have an integrated practice that can be theologically sustaining and grounding throughout a lifetime. 

Here is a link to a PBT post that features another book about contemplative practices. This one has the children being more active and purposely going into nature to find the wonder of the world - the wonder of God.

Wonder Walkers

Helping children and adults identify what spiritual practices look like will affirm their good inclinations and behaviors while offering rich information for potential spiritual growth. 

Here are links to more books in the PBT archive that directly connect to spiritual practices:

Creation Care - Here: The Dot We Call Home

Praise - I Love Our Earth!

Lamentation - several books

Hospitality - Hello World

Fruits of the Spirit, Courage, & Confidence - 2 Hische books

Listening - The Man with the Violin

Generosity - Mama Panya's Pancakes

Love - Love the World

Prayer or Social Justice - Say Something!

Gratitude - The Happy Owls

In a week or so I’ll be wrapping up my explanation of the 5th question you can ask about a secular picture book. May your spiritual practices delight God!

PBT Series: God Book #9

Most of the books I feature at PBT are secular, but there are many books here that I call “God Books.” These are sacred picture books that aren’t so easy to find in libraries or bookstores. These may be the most valuable treasures I offer for ministry. This PBT series is a collection of re-posts of those God books. Want to see them all? Simply find the Search Word list at the bottom of the web version and click on "God Book." This treasure is both beautiful and full of potential for conversation about intercessory prayer. Consider it a God Book as well as a Grab & Go book (another PBT series) for there are lots of easy possibilities here!

Picture Book: Beautiful Moon: A Child’s Prayer
Author: Tonya Bolden

Illustrator: Eric Valasquez
Summary: One evening in a noisy city, a young boy hurries out of bed because he’s forgotten to say his prayers. As he kneels and prays, he notices a beautiful moon shining in his window. Others in the city are experiencing the rays of the moon, but those people are in distress. Then the author weaves and directs an aspect of the boy’s prayer to each of the other parties. A woman tries to sleep on a park bench; the boy prays for those who are homeless. A businessman reads a news headline about war and is worried for his soldier daughter; the boy prays for war to end. Two adults stare at an empty cupboard; the boy prays for people to have food. This continues as the beautiful moon shines on them all.

Hanna’s Comments: I don’t usually offer what I call “nighttime” books since my primary purpose at PBT is to provide ideas for ministry which usually occurs in daylight hours. I had to make an exception for this book! Help even your youngest listeners understand that the moon is a symbol for God in this story. Then expand on that idea. Be sure to talk about the feelings each scenario evokes. Ask... How might God feel about these situations? What might God be doing in this city to alleviate some of this suffering? Also, talk about this boy’s prayer practices and how they are a comfort to him and hopefully a lifelong practice. Mention that he was not "in trouble" for forgetting to pray early in the story. Invite your children (or adults) to share their experiences with prayer practices. If you get silence, there's your opportunity to instruct on the power of silent prayer. Offer a simple prayer ritual and then build on this instruction in future experiences. Throughout share the importance of intercessory prayer (prayer for others) in your own spiritual journey.

Thought not a PBT God Book, there is another extraordinary book that shares much with the book above. Max and the Tag-Along Moon by Floyd Cooper is a secular book about a grandfather who lovingly reassures his grandson "that ol' moon will always shine for you... on and on." Again, the moon is a beautiful metaphor for God, who is always present. The grandson tests this idea and finds it to be true.

Publisher & Date of Publication: Abrams, 2014
Age & Grade Appropriateness: 4 and up, Pre and up
Formats other than Book: Tablet
Scripture Connections: Love the Lord, your God with all your heart… (Deuteronomy 6:5 and Mark 12:30); when the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears (Psalm 34:17); in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let you requests be known to God (Philippians 4:6)
Idea(s) for Application: Read this book as a nighttime devotional at a church  family retreat or a camp program for children. OR Use this book as a tool to instruct children in the importance and comforting spiritual practice of intercessory prayer.