It’s
National Grandparents Day here in the states. On the website, the folks at www.grandparentsday.org encourage everyone
to “Do something GRAND!” Today I have a blogpost for you that celebrates
grandparents, including details on 2 very different books about grandmothers.
If you want more picture book options featuring grandparents, go to the list of
green search words and click on “grandparents.” You’ll be taken to 36 different
picture books I’ve featured on this blog!
What
grand thing have I done today? I’ve designed and taught an adult Sunday School
lesson. I’ve invited and welcomed a family to my church’s worship service where
the praise was mighty and authentic. I’ve tutored a child. And I’ve visited my
local library where I complimented the librarians on the grand work they do for
me. Then I left with my usual big stack of picture books. Oh boy!
Look
for more grand possibilities as I expand and diversify my work here at PBT.
Details to come soon. Meanwhile, enjoy all the picture books I have already
offered you and the many possibilities they hold for ministry, teaching, therapy,
or especially for today, family time with a child or grandchild where you can
talk about your values and your legacy.
Picture Book: A Special Gift for Grammy
Author: Jean
Craighead George
Illustrator:
Steve Johnson and Lou Fancher
Summary: At
the end of a visit, Hunter gives his grandmother a pile of stones on the front
porch, near her front door.
What will I do with a pile
of stones?” she asked Hunter.
“What everyone does with a
pile of stones,” he answered.
Her
simple response is, “Of course,” a response that is repeated time and time
again as various passersby use the stones for various purposes. Some are used
to mark the grave of a much-love dog. Three are used to give directions to a
couple of Girl Scouts. Hunter himself finds that 5 of the stones serve as important
symbols of his identity so they are strung on a necklace for Grammy. The last
stone is found to be perfect for skipping lightly across a nearby lake.
Hanna’s Comments: There are many things I love about this book. It emphasizes
generosity, creativity, and memory while offering a nature story. Too many
children are not able to see the bounty that is in their back yard or a nearby
park. Stones, like many other gifts of the natural world, offer great potential
for marking, adorning, and remembering. Offer your children a lesson on the qualities
and possibilities of a pile of stones or one remarkable rock.
There
are many places in scripture where stones or rocks are mentioned either
concretely or metaphorically. The old hymn Come,
Thou Fount of Every Blessing has had
generations singing, “Here I raise mine Ebenezer.” That’s a reference to a
biblical story of thanksgiving in 1st Samuel. Do you know what a cairn is? Cairns
are piles of stones used for marking a place of memory. Jacob built such a
cairn to witness his and Laban’s covenant. Peter is called the rock, and we are
instructed to build our house on stone, not sand.
Original Publisher & Date of Publication: Harper, 2013
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: Fresh
off the Press
Scripture Connections: Jacob places his pillow stone as an altar (Genesis
28:18-22); Joshua instructs them to take 12 stones from the Jordan River (Joshua
4); Then Samuel took a stone (1 Samuel 7); a wise one build a house upon the
rock (Matthew 7: 24-27); you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church
(Matthew 16:18); yourselves, like living stones, are being built up as a
spiritual house (1 Peter 2:5)
Idea(s) for Application: Consider a series of lessons on how stones are
used in scripture. Let this story be your starting point, emphasizing that, of
course, a pile of stones has so much potential for enriching our lives.
Picture Book: Grandma in Blue with Red Hat
Author: Scott
Menchin
Illustrator:
Harry Bliss
Summary: From
a young artist’s point of view, this book celebrates the potential of art to
honor and commemorate the love a grandson has for his grandmother. The unnamed
protagonist attends art lessons at his city’s art museum. There he learns that
art is beautiful, different, funny, tells stories, comes from far away, and
makes others feel good. When he realizes that all of these qualities are also
true of his grandmother, he decides he must give his grandmother to the museum.
Once the museum curator gets involved, the narrator has a more practical idea.
He studies the styles of various artists, is inspired by them, and creates a
one-boy exhibition. The theme? Grandma. Many come, including the museum curator
who acquires a piece for the museum: Grandma
in Blue with Red Hat.
Hanna’s Comments: This is such a fun book. It teaches a great deal about art
while celebrating an extraordinary cross-generational relationship. Encourage
discussion about the nature of art and God’s role in artistic endeavors and the
creative spirit of humans. Emphasize how the love of these family members
inspires and enriches the beauty of the boy’s art. Look for evidence of loving
art in your family or family of faith. Talk about how
God and scripture have been the subject of artists throughout history.
Original Publisher & Date of Publication: Abrams, 2015
Age & Grade Appropriateness: 4 and up, Pre and up
# of Pages: 32
Available in Spanish? Not at present
Formats other than Book: Tablet
PBT Category: Fresh
off the Press
Scripture Connections: The skills of artists (Exodus 35); but now, O
Lord, you are our God, we are the clay (Isaiah 64:8)
Idea(s) for Application: Use this book as a discussion starter for
considering how God has created humans to be both artists and art, creators and
creations, inspired by God and for God.
