A Picture Book a Day for a Year: Day 291

Terrific Trio: Book 2

Picture Book: Sorry

Author: Jean Van Leeuwen

Illustrator: Brad Sneed

Summary: Brothers Ebenezer and Obadiah are farmers who live happily together until Obadiah complains of lumps in the oatmeal that Ebenezer made. Ebenezer responds by putting his bowl of oatmeal over Obadiah’s head. The brothers never speak again. Obadiah moves half of the house to a nearby hill and starts a new farm. Each of the brothers marry and begin a family. Each family member learns not to speak to those neighbors though they are unsure why. Generations come and reasons for the feud are created. Eventually, great-grandsons from each family, Nathaniel and Luther, are sent to the shared fence to investigate missing crops. When Nathaniel begins to eat an apple that has fallen to his side, Luther accuses him of stealing apples. Nathaniel accuses his cousin of stealing corn. Then Nathaniel says a peculiar thing, perhaps because of loneliness, “Sorry.” Luther is astonished, but responds with a smile and a suggestion that they trade. Together the boys laugh and eat apples.

Hanna’s Comments: This second book in this PBT Terrific Trio of books with the same title is a little more complicated than yesterday’s offering. Here you have emphasized the sin of pride and its potential for long-term harm. Be sure to talk with your listeners about what these families have lost over the years because the two brothers refused to apologize. Talk about their loneliness and how awkward it must have been to live so long next to each other without speaking. Be sure to mention not only apologizing and confession, but the importance of forgiveness too. Tomorrow’s book emphasizes being authentic when you say you’re sorry.

Original Publisher & Date of Publication: Phyllis Fogelman Books, 2001

Age & Grade Appropriateness: 4 and up, Pre 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: anger, belonging, bonds/connections, brokenness, choices/decisions, communication, confession, conflict, death/loss/grief, discord, disputes/fighting/opposition, enemies, exile/separation, family, forgiveness/mercy/redemption, greed/selfishness, guilt, hatred, heritage, intolerance, legacies, loneliness, neighbors, pride, relationships, rocks/shells/stones, siblings/sibling rivalry

Scripture Connections: Cain and Abel (Genesis 4); how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity (Psalm 133:1); be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another (Ephesians 4:32); let brotherly love continue (Hebrews 13:1)

Idea(s) for Application: Read this book to a group of children who are learning about Cain and Abel or the importance of humility and forgiveness in relationships.