Picture Book: Me and Momma and Big John
Author: Mara
Rockcliff
Illustrator: William
Low
Summary:
The narrator of this stunning picture book is Little John who is proud of his Momma,
a stonecutter at Big John, aka the Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine in
New York City. Momma is fulfilled by the dusty, back-breaking skill she
recently learned. Little John is puzzled. For weeks Momma has worked on just
one stone. When the stone is finished, Momma takes the whole family to see it
and enormous Big John. Little John is awe-struck by the beauty of the cathedral,
but he is puzzled that Momma’s name is not on the piece of art she proudly
shows her family. When Momma shows them where her stone will be placed, Little
John begins to understand that his Momma and the other stonecutters have come
together not for an art to look at but “for an art to be.” And that art will “be”
for a very long time.
Hanna’s Comments: Be sure to read the section in the back, About Big John, which gives the factual basis of this picture book.
I was struck with not only the beautiful depiction of this massive cathedral
that is still being built, but the patience required for its builders and the
city that awaits its completion.
Publisher & Date of Publication: Candlewick, 2012
Age & Grade Appropriateness: 3 and up, Pre and up
# of Pages:
32
Available in Spanish? Not at present
Formats other than Book: None at present
PBT Category:
Non-fiction, Post 2K
PBT Topics this Book Connects with: abilities, America, art, awe,
babies/children, beauty, body of Christ, call/calling/vocation,
choir/music/singing/songs, church building/the Temple, commitment,
gifts/giftedness/talents, God’s presence, heritage, humanity, humility, image
of God, labor/work, mothers, participation, partners/teamwork, patience,
perseverance, pleasing God/the Shema, power, preparation/preparing, pride,
response to God, reverence, satisfaction, steadfastness, strength/strength in
God, time/timing/over time, unity, waiting, worship
Scripture Connections: Leaving an inheritance to your children (Proverbs
13:22); Commit your work to the Lord (Proverbs 16:3); Present your bodies as a
living sacrifice (Romans 12:1); Let us not grow weary of doing good (Galatians
6:9)
Idea(s) for Application: Use in a homeschool/private school lesson for a
study on various places of worship.
No comments:
Post a Comment