A Picture Book a Day for a Year: Day 235

Picture Book: I Know a Place

Author: Karen Ackerman

Illustrator: Deborah Kogan Ray

Summary: This book is from the point of view of a school age girl who tells the reader all about what her home uniquely represents to her and why it is so valuable. It’s an exploration of why her home (and the presence of her family) is so comforting and offers such security and stability. Habits, routines, and rituals are mentioned as she describes a typical school day in winter. The illustrations encapsulate a feeling of warmth, love, and coziness.

Hanna’s Comments: The desire, longing, and comforts of home and family are common themes in scripture and religious stories. This book, though its context is far removed from Bible stories, will offer your children the opportunity to consider why home is such an important place in scripture and in their own lives. Making these kinds of connections will help them be more empathetic with those Bible characters who are experiencing home or the longing for home. You can even use this conversation as a starting place before delving into other subjects such as ritual, tradition, homelessness, immigration, hospitality, etc.  

Publisher & Date of Publication: Houghton Mifflin, 1992

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: Pre 2K

PBT Topics this Book Connects with: abundance/bounty, attentiveness/observation/seeing, beauty, belonging, blessings, bonds/connections, comfort, family, gentleness/meekness, gladness/happiness, God’s care/providence, goodness, gratitude/thanksgiving, home, homelessness, love, memories/remembering/ritual/tradition, nurturing, parents/parental love, possessions, security, unity

Scripture Connections: As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord (Joshua 24:15); by wisdom a house is built, by understanding it is established, and by knowledge the rooms are filled with all precious and pleasant riches. (Proverbs 24:3-4); a house built on a rock shall stand (Matthew 7:24)

Idea(s) for Application: See my comments above regarding some ways you can use this book to explore the important, grounding concepts of home and family.  Then connect your conversation with Bible characters for whom these issues  are compelling such as the Prodigal Son, Mary and Joseph in Egypt, Ruth and Naomi, or those exiled to Babylon.