A Picture Book a Day for a Year: Day 332

Picture Book: The Hare and the Tortoise

Author: Based on a fable by La Fontaine

Illustrator: Brian Wildsmith

Summary: This is a classic version of a well-known fable. In this version, the tortoise challenges the hare to a race. Other animals gather round to see the race. They expect it to be over quickly with the hare winning easily. Only the wise owl suspects they might be surprised. Once the rooster starts the race, the hare takes off and the tortoise moves slowly and steadily. The hare becomes too confident and is easily side-tracked by stuffing himself with food and then taking a nap. The tortoise is steadfast and committed, despite being worn out, and passes the sleeping hare. The hare wakes just as the tortoise is about to cross the finish line. Once he wins, the tortoise explains how his slow and steady pace had won the race despite the hare’s superior speed.  

Hanna’s Comments: There are multiple versions of this fable in picture book form. I like this book because it is big and illustrations are vibrant. If you need to choose another version, note that sometimes the tortoise is listed first in the title. How does this relate to spirituality or our Holy Scriptures? Think of verses about patience or perseverance. Another angle is to use this book to help your children explore how we each have individual strengths that are blessed by God and intended for good work. You could also use this book in a lesson on Paul, focusing on the race he writes about it 2^nd Timothy 4:7.

Original Publisher & Date of Publication: Oxford University Press, 1966 

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

# of Pages: 32

Available in Spanish? There are Spanish versions of this fable, but I couldn’t find any of this particular picture book.

Formats other than Book: There are videos of this fable, but I couldn’t find any of this particular picture book.

PBT Category: Traditional Tale and Classic

PBT Topics this Book connects with: abilities, challenges, commitment, competition, confidence, differences, difficulties, hope, individuality/uniqueness, labor/work, patience, perseverance, steadfastness, surprise, underdogs

Scripture Connections: Suffering produces endurance and endurance produces character… (Romans 5: 3-5); rejoice in hope; be patient in tribulation… (Romans 12:12); let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. (Galatians 6:9); I have fought the good fight. I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. (2 Timothy 4:7); blessed is the one who remains steadfast under trial (James 1:12)

Idea(s) for Application: Read this book to a group of children who are learning about patience, perseverance, being steadfast, or human individuality.

A Picture Book a Day for a Year: Day 331

Picture Book: A Bucket of Blessings

Author: Kabir Sehgal & Surishtha Sehgal

Illustrator: Jing Jing Tsong

Summary:  Due to drought, the village well and pond have gone dry so the animals are suffering as they look for water. Monkey remembers a story about how peacock dancing can bring on rain. He climbs the mountain to request this of Peacock, but Peacock needs some water to make it rain. Monkey continues searching for water. In a cave, he finds a hidden spring. He fills a bucket, but he doesn’t realize it leaks. As Monkey climbs to Peacock, he is greeted by animals who are excited about the water he has found. They do not tell him of the leak, but they enjoy the water trail he leaves behind. Upon reaching Peacock, Monkey is surprised and disappointed to see that the bucket is almost empty. “This leaky bucket is cursed!” he says. Peacock tells him to look behind him. Monkey sees that the water has transformed the path he has trod. Peacock believes that if Monkey can make flowers bloom with just a few drops, then a rain dance just might work. Monkey pours the drops of water on Peacock’s head. Peacock dances. Monkey hopes. Then clouds form and rain begins to fall. Peacock exclaims, “That leaky bucket of yours… it was a blessing to us all!”

Hanna’s Comments: I have heard the heart of this story used in a few sermons. It is a powerful message about the positive effects we can have even when we are broken and unaware of our influences. It is also a story of perseverance and hope that can be connected to many of our Holy Scriptures. In the back you’ll find an Afterward by Dr. Maya Angelou who states that in this book, “The reader is shown that it is a blessing to be a blessing.” In the Authors’ Note the symbolism of the peacock in India and Hindu mythology is explained. Below I connected this story to 2 Old Testament stories and the concept of baptism. I also thought of the story of Philip and the Ethiopian. One potentially powerful aspect of the Ethiopian story is that tradition holds (It may not be true but the story has been passed down over the centuries.) that the Ethiopian did take Christianity back to his home country where it flourished. It is fact that the Christian Church was established in Ethiopia relatively early, and the Ethiopian Christian Church’s official origin is grounded in this ancient story.

Original Publisher & Date of Publication: Beach Lane Books, 2014

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

# of Pages: 32

Available in Spanish? Not at present 

Formats other than Book: Tablet

PBT Category: Fresh off the Press, Traditional Tale

PBT Topics this Book connects with: action, Asia, baptism/cleanliness/washing, blessings, challenges, dance/dancing, difficulties, drink/thirst, drought, flowers/leaves/trees, found, goodness, harvest, helping, hope,  journeys/migrations/pilgrimages/quests, labor/work, legacies, legends/myths, miracles, perseverance, rain, survival, transformation, water, weather

Scripture Connections: Manna given to the Israelites in the desert (Exodus 16); Moses strikes a rock for water (Exodus 17:6); Philip transforms the life of the Ethiopian with scripture and baptism (Acts 8:26-39); the concept of baptism

Idea(s) for Application: Read this story to a group of children in a lesson about the concept of being blessed to be a blessing or the transformation that water can bring. 

A Picture Book a Day for a Year: Day 330

Picture Book: It Takes a Village

Author & Illustrator: Jane Cowen-Fletcher

Summary: It is market day in Yemi’s African village. Yemi’s mother, who will be busy selling mangos, has asked Yemi to look after Kokou, her little brother. Feeling very grown up, Yemi proclaims that she will look after Kokou “all by herself.” Her mother knows better as do the women of the market when this situation is explained to them. Kokou wanders off the first chance he gets. As she frantically searches for him, Yemi imagines the specific difficulties Kokou is having, but each time the reader sees that he is actually being tended to by various villagers at the market and having a great time. Finally Yemi yells out that Kokou is lost. Nearby a stranger asks, “Is this your Kokou?” Yemi thanks him, and he explains that others took care of Kokou while pointing to where Kokou came from. Yemi and Kokou retrace his steps and thank all the new friends in their village who helped Yemi take care of Kokou. Hurrying back to their mother, Yemi is anxious, for they have been gone a long time, but their mother hasn’t worried. She explains, “You weren’t alone today, Yemi. We don’t raise our children by ourselves. It takes a village to raise a child.”

Hanna’s Comments: The words of Yemi’s mother are a well-known African proverb that has seemed very true to me since long before I had my children. I think I agree with it so whole-heartedly because I had the privilege of growing up in a large extended family and a small church that was like family. Other important individuals in children’s lives make up their village: teachers, coaches, school counselors, neighbors, etc. Encourage this kind of investment in all the children in your faith community so that parents of young children can feel a little less daunted by the crucial and taxing task of raising children. Once grown, the children will look back on the many nurturing relationships they were blessed to have and just might be the adults your community needs to lead the next generation.

Original Publisher & Date of Publication: Scholastic, 1994

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

# of Pages: 32

Available in Spanish? Not at present

Formats other than Book: None at present 

PBT Category: Pre 2K

PBT Topics this Book connects with: abundance/bounty, affection, Africa, anxiety/worry, babies/children, belonging, body/body of Christ, caring/tending, community, dependence/interdependence, found, goodness, gratitude/thanksgiving, growing up/growth, helping, lost, love, mentors/teachers, mothers, neighbors, nurturing, parents/parental love, protecting/protection, relationships, safety, wisdom 

Scripture Connections: Bear one another’s burdens (Galatians 6:2); let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works (Hebrews 10:24)

Idea(s) for Application: Read this book at a parenting class in your religious community or when training a team of those who will care for children while parents are away.