If you are in ministry, then today
I’m giving you a holiday gift. I hope it blesses you in the years to come. In
this post, I’ll offer one of the simplest approaches to a successful PBT lesson.
Before reading one of these books
to your audience, give this simple instruction: As I am reading, imagine
you are the main character.
Suddenly,
what might have been viewed as a shallow book for toddlers or preschoolers, is
an opportunity to step into a personal story of faith. Here’s another little
trick. Before reading, tell your audience that no verbal sharing is required. This
dissolves the anxiety that true vulnerability brings while freeing them to dig
deeply and personally into their thoughts during the story.
After reading, offer
some silence for reflection, just a minute or two. Then some folks will likely share
their thoughts in response to questions you've prepared, but
expect many to just listen. A quiet response to a picture book can be a very good
sign that its story was particularly meaningful. My comments below will explore what
might be the responses to these three picture books.
Author & Illustrator: Anik McGrory
Summary: Throughout this delightful story, Fox is encouraged to come see a baby who will arrive soon. First Woodpecker says to come for there's work to be done and news to tell.
The story ends with contentment that Fox's presence mattered.
Hanna’s Comments: Encourage your audience to consider their personal distractions during Advent. Perhaps someone will realize that frantic shopping is never a good substitute for the truest gifts of the season: love, peace, and our presence before The Holy so that Jesus can delight in us.
Original Publisher & Date: Knopf, 2016
Age & Grade Appropriateness: 3 and up, Pre and up
Formats other than Book: Tablet
Scripture Connections: The nativity stories are found in the
gospels of Matthew and Luke.
Idea(s) for Application: Read this book to a group of adults to encourage them to "show up" during Advent. There is work to be done to prepare the way of The Lord.
Idea(s) for Application: Read this book to a group of adults to encourage them to "show up" during Advent. There is work to be done to prepare the way of The Lord.
Author & Illustrator: Salina Yoon
Summary: Pumpkin, who lives on the ice with Penguin, wishes for a Christmas tree.
When they arrive, Penguin is surprised by Pinecone's transformation. Pinecone is huge!
Hanna’s Comments: Salina Yoon’s Penguin series is a delight, a
little weird and a lot loving. In her first book, Penguin finds a friend in Pinecone, wraps him with a scarf, and then realizes Pinecone must be taken to a warmer climate to thrive, hence the journey
in this story. This is a board book, but it comes
in standard size too. Encourage your audience to consider what they really want for Christmas and how they respond when their true Christmas wishes are not received or when those they love are sad at Christmas.
Original Publisher & Date: 2 and up, Toddler and up
Age & Grade Appropriateness: Bloombury, 2017
Formats other than Book: Tablet
Scripture Connections: Grandpa’s wisdom is the
scripture connection here. Connect this story to any scripture that emphasizes
time with those we love.
Idea(s) for Application: Read this book to a group of older elementary children and talk about the things that matter most for them at Christmas and how they react to disappointment or sadness in December.
Idea(s) for Application: Read this book to a group of older elementary children and talk about the things that matter most for them at Christmas and how they react to disappointment or sadness in December.
Author & Illustrator: Olivier Dunrea
Summary: Tiny Pyn is devoted to the care and keeping of her hard, bear of a father.
Every morning she makes the mountain man breakfast and sees that their cabin and a bowl of soup is warm for him when he returns home.
When she calls him Papa, he always responds gruffly, "My name is Oother."
Oother loves little Pyn. She is so like her mother who is absent from the story and presumed dead. Despite his love, Oother refuses when Pyn pleads for her first Christmas tree. Pyn has seen a beautiful Christmas tree in the village and knows it will be exactly what their little cottage needs.
Despite her father’s refusal, Pyn sets out on her own to get a tree. She puts on her outdoor clothes that she can barely see and move in, but that doesn't stop her. The going is rough in the deep snow for a tiny girl. Before long, she is buried.
After trudging through the snow, they come upon a grove of fir trees. Pyn is delighted and spies the perfect tree for them.
Once they get it back to the cottage, Oother has the tree standing tall. He declares that Pyn has her Christmas tree and thinks the deed is done.
Pyn rushes to collect the tree decorations; she's been collecting and protecting these treasures all year.
Original Publisher & Date: Philomel, 2011
Age & Grade Appropriateness: 3
Formats other than Book: Tablet
Scripture Connections: Any scripture about God’s unconditional love, any scripture about serving others or generosity, and any scripture about wisdom
Idea(s) for Application: Read this book to a group of adults and talk about how difficult Advent and Christmas are for some people and how we can best respond to them with empathy while holding on to the rituals we find meaningful.
Idea(s) for Application: Read this book to a group of adults and talk about how difficult Advent and Christmas are for some people and how we can best respond to them with empathy while holding on to the rituals we find meaningful.
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