A Picture Book a Day for a Year: Day 104

Picture Book: I Believe in Genevieve

Author: Jenny Craig

Illustrator: Wendy Edelson

Summary: Genevieve, aka Jenny, has decided to attend a horse riding camp so she works with the horses to earn tuition and use of a horse. She names the horse Candy Ride and hopes to compete well in the end of summer horse show. However, she and Candy Ride must get stronger and healthier. Jenny becomes inspired by an older girl, Olivia, who is a great rider and has a strong horse. She notices that Olivia doesn’t indulge in the junk food that is provided to the campers nor does she give her horse sugar cubes. Instead Olivia gives him grains, vegetables, and fruits, the same food Olivia prefers. Olivia motivates Jenny to eat more healthily and enjoy working hard at the barn. The girls even create an “ob-stable course” for working out. When Jenny does compete in the horse show, she and her horse win “Most Improved.”

Hanna’s Comments: From the diet, health, and fitness guru comes a story that seems to be somewhat autobiographical about her discovery that eating healthily and staying active can be fun and beneficial. Read the note from the author at the beginning of the book. In the back, you’ll find instructions for creating an “ob-stable course,” several healthy recipes, a list of healthy snacks to grab and go, and “Ten Fun Ways to Get Up and Go.”

Publisher & Date of Publication: Regnery Kids, 2013

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

# of Pages: 40

Available in Spanish? Not at present

Formats other than Book: Tablet

PBT Category: Fresh off the Press

PBT Topics this Book Connects with: animals, beginnings/morning, care of creation, change, choices/decisions, competition, change, consumerism/consumption/riches, feasting/food/hunger/nutrition, labor/work, perseverance, pets, preparation/preparing, righteousness, satisfaction, self-discovery, siblings/sibling rivalry, sports/sport stars, strength/strength in God, at table, transformation, wisdom

Scripture Connections: Daniel’s diet (Daniel 10:3); your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19)

Idea(s) for Application: The Justice & Mercy Team at my church chose to focus for 1 year on food issues in our community, particularly the food desert that surrounds our urban church. This book was used as part of a program for the children on healthy eating and the difficulty for some families in Birmingham to have access to healthy foods.