A Picture Book a Day for a Year: Day 175

Dynamic Duo: Book 2

Picture Book: Jubilee!

Author: Karyn W. Tunks

Illustrator: Julie Depre Buckner

Summary: In the summer of 1963 in Fairhope, AL (Mobile Bay), while visiting her grandmother, young Caroline hopes to witness the natural phenomenon she has heard about. At least once most summers in the early morning hours after a particularly hot day, large numbers of marine life mysteriously come to shore in Fairhope. They are dazed and easily caught. The community watches for the signs and then joyously reaps what the bay has bestowed. Caroline hears the commotion and takes her camera with her, snapping photographs of the Fairhope residents as they gather the bounty of fish, crabs, shrimp, stingrays, and more. The party lasts much of the night and the sea food is enjoyed for days.   

Hanna’s Comments: This picture book, Jubilee, is quite different from yesterday’s PBT Dynamic Duo offering with the same title, but it’s still influenced by the idea of God’s sudden blessings. Here you have a true, natural and mysterious phenomenon that brings joy and plenty of sea food. A map of the area and a glossary of terms are included.

Publisher & Date of Publication: Pelican Publishing Co., 2012

Age & Grade Appropriateness: 5 and up, K and up

# of Pages: 32

Available in Spanish? Not at present

Formats other than Book: None at present

PBT Category: Post 2K

PBT Topics this Book Connects with: abundance/bounty, America, animals, awe, beach/ocean/sea/shore, blessings, celebration/party, community, consumerism/consumption/riches, darkness/evening/night, the environment/nature, feasting/food/hunger/nutrition, fish/fishing, gladness/happiness, gratitude/thankfulness/thanksgiving, joy, jubilee, manna, miracles, mystery, North America, waiting, water, wonder

Scripture Connections: You shall hallow the fiftieth year and proclaim liberty throughout the land (Leviticus 25:8-13); God gives manna and quail to the Israelites (Exodus 16:4-8); nets of abundant fish (Luke 5:6 & John 21:6; there is a boy here with 5 barley loaves and two fish (John 6:1-14)

Idea(s) for Application: In addition to the biblical Jubilee, tie this story to the story of God giving manna and quail in the Old Testament or the loaves and fishes story in the gospels. In these stories, God provides food in mysterious and plentiful ways.