A Picture Book a Day for a Year: Day 281

Picture Book: The Boy on the Page

Author & Illustrator: Peter Carnavas

Summary: A boy lands on the first page of this clever picture book. He wonders, “Why am I here?” and “What does it mean?” At first there is nothing, Then a world begins to appear. Comically, he rides a horse, catches a fish, paints a picture, saves an animal, grows up, falls in love…. As his family grows, he looks at the moon sometimes and wonders why he landed on the page. In an attempt to answer this question, he jumps off the page. Again at first there is nothing, but then he tumbles back to the page where he finds “everything he had ever made, every animal he had ever cared for and every person he had ever loved.” Finally, he understands the meaning of his life.

Hanna’s Comments: These hilarious illustrations mask a picture book full of meaning and connections to our own questions about how and why our lives are meaningful and important and what happens when we exit. It’s a comforting thought to think that the end of our lives will have us surrounded by those we love and the fruits of our loves and labors.

Publisher & Date of Publication: Kane Miller, 2014

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: Fresh off the Press

PBT Topics this Book Connects with: abundance/bounty, afterlife/heaven, beginnings/morning, birth/birthday, blessings, bonds/connections, creation, family, God’s care/providence, gratitude/thanksgiving, humanity, life, manna, mystery, purpose, questioning/questions, relationships, time/over time

Scripture Connections: The creation of Adam and Eve (Genesis 1 & 2)

Idea(s) for Application: Read this book to children when studying the story of God creating Adam and Eve. This book would also be a fun read at a family retreat for a faith community.