Tomorrow I’ll Be...

Two picture books from a lettering artist today!

Tomorrow I’ll Be Kind and

Tomorrow I’ll Be Brave

Author/Illustrator: Jessica Hische 

Summary: These books are very similar so I'll summarize both here. Each involve a rabbit whose sidekick is a cat. (Maybe younger sibling, not sure) Both live in a family of rabbits in a human-like community of various animals. There is an obvious rhythm to the pages. First the rabbit declares, "Tomorrow I'll be..." with a little explanation on a double page.

Then the next double-page spread gives more detail in context, usually with the cat involved. Here the rabbit is helpful with the cat who has made a mess.

That pattern repeats 7 times in both books. Here’s the same kind of pages from the blue book: "Tomorrow I'll be...

The rabbit is adventurous in several ways by trying new things/behaviors.

Each book ends with a summary page listing the 7 attributes. 

Then at bedtime…

the rabbit goes to bed, anticipating the possibilities of all those goals. 

Hanna’s Comments: These books are beautiful! Some of attributes will be a little difficult for early readers to read because they are in cursive, but that's okay. They are learning. Hische often answers the question I ask to ask when following up with a great but abstract idea from children (and sometimes adults), in a group discussion: "What does that look like?" Getting to the nitty-gritty of behaviors and application is what I'm hoping for. Hische shows details of behaviors and situations that your audience can build on in their conversation and applications in the real world. Some of her illustrations are whimsical, so this will take some grounding in reality. It is easy to connect these ideas to scripture. So many Bible characters have these attributes. Bible verses often encourage them. You might consider having those who can write, list the goals in a particular personal order (i.e., easiest to hardest). Then choose 1 goal for the  week.

Original Publisher: Penguin Random House, 2018 & 2020

Age Appropriateness: 4 and up

Formats other than Book: None at present

Scripture Connections: Any scripture story or verses about being brave, kind, or any of the other personal goals mentioned here. Many Bible characters, like Abraham and Sarah, are encouraged by God to have some or all of these attributes. 

Connections to The Revised Common Lectionary: In my Trinity Treasures preschool curriculum based on the RCL, I listed the orange book about kindness when teaching about Fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23) as a group and in lessons about specific fruits like goodness. I also listed it for a lesson on Micah 6:8, suggesting they find the justice, mercy, and humility. I listed the blue book about bravery in lessons about Esther, Ruth & Naomi, and having courage grounded in God, such as in the verses  declaring that God's perfect love works in us and through us to cast out fear (1 John 4:18) and Paul's instruction for putting on the armor of God (Ephesians 6:10-20). 

PBT Applications: If you would like to read either of these books to adults or youth but know the illustrations would be to immature for them, simply write all the text on an index card. But DO give the author credit for those words. Simply explain before reading that you read these words in a picture book by Jessica Hische. Then ask intriguing questions, such as which of these feelings/actions/orientations is hardest for you? Who do you know that does these really well? Is there a pop culture character who you think of when you think of one of these characteristics? What would this look like (there's my question) in your home/school/church/neighborhood/sport?

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!

Check out this video about PBT!

Interview of Hanna Schock

Click on the link above to see me discussing PBT at the 1st anniversary celebration of Faith. Family. Career with my friend and the group's creator Kanessa Miller Doss. My interview begins about 11 minutes in and lasts about a half hour. 

Below are the details of what I shared about PBT.

BOOKS THAT INSPIRED PBT:

The Giving Tree by Silverstein

The Amida Tree by Ferrante (inspired by The Giving Tree)

Old Turtle by Wood & Chee (3 book series)

Note: These 3 books are featured here. Others below will be featured in the future.

EXAMPLES OF PBT BOOKS BY AGE:

Infants/Toddlers: No Matter What by Dodd (many in this series)

Preschoolers: My Friend is Sad by Willems (Elephant & Piggie series)

Elementary-Aged: Tomorrow I’ll Be Kind by Hische

Tweens: I Am One: A Book of Action by Verde & Reynolds 

Teens: For Beautiful Black Boys Who Believe in a Better World 

                    by Waters & Morris

Adults: Is That Story True? by Alary & Kyle

FAVORITE AUTHORS: Use the search engine (upper right) to search by name. Those in bold are illustrators as well.                                                                                 

Amy Kraus Rosenthal        Marie-Helene Delval                          

Kadir Nelson                      Amy June Bates

Emma Dodd                       Matthew Paul Turner

Tim Ladwig                         Glenys Nellist

Mo Willems                        Laura Alary

Tim Ladwig                         Jacqueline Woodson

Todd Parr                            Karma Wilson                                                              

Barbara Kerley (National Geographic photos)           

Archbishop Desmond Tutu (excellent children’s Bible too)

   

FAVORITE PUBLISHER: Flyaway Books

HOW TO APPROACH SECULAR BOOKS: 

5 PBT QUESTIONS

In the search engine (upper right), type in “PBT Questions” for more info. and examples.

1.      Is God, Jesus, or The Holy Spirit in the story?           

            i.e., The Rabbit Listened by Doerrfeld

2.       Is there a sacred theme to the story? 

            i.e., Maybe Something Beautiful by Campoy, Howell, and Lopez 

3.    Does the story remind you of a scripture story, character, or verse?           

i.e., Little Elephant by Hoban & Ford 

4.      Does the story contain or encourage a spiritual practice?

i.e., Wonder Walkers by Archer         

5.       How might hearing this story positively affect behavior? 

i.e., Exclamation Mark by Rosenthal & Lichtenheld