A Favorite PBT Series – 5 PBT Questions

I posted about picture books every day for a year in 2014 & 2015. Then I offered my first PBT series. Each explored a question to consider if you want to use a particular secular book in ministry. With each question, I offered 1 new book and linked you to a few previously featured books that fit well with that strategy. 

If you appreciate the work I do, please look right and demonstrate your gratitude with a PayPal donation. Here’s the introductory post in that series:

PBT Questions to Ask about Any Picture Book

Not all picture books have the potential for use in ministry, teaching, or bibliotherapy, but many do. For instance, ABC books are not usually helpful and books that are especially girly will not be well received my many who are turned off by such books.

Below you’ll find a list of questions to help you approach a picture book that you think might have potential. For the next few posts, I’ll expand on each question and offer some examples of picture books I have already featured here at PBT.

1. Is God, Jesus, or The Holy Spirit in the book? (Symbolically in characters/symbols? Influencing characters/events?)

2. Is there a sacred theme to the book? (such as Fruits of the Spirit, Light, Bread, Ritual, Creation, Righteousness, Ancestors, Justice, the Least…)

  

3. Does the book remind you of scripture? (a Story? a Character? a Verse?) 

4. Does the book contain or encourage a spiritual practice? (such as Compassion, Generosity, Gratitude, Prayer, Praise, Hospitality, Peacemaking, Reconciliation…)

5. Does this book have the potential to positively affect the behavior or future of those who experience it? (teach important Social Skills such as The Great Commandment or inspire with a connection to a Resilient or Creative Bible Character)