Extra Yarn

Title:  Extra Yarn

Author:  Mac Barnett

Illustrator: Jon Klassen

Publisher: Balzr + Bray

Publication Date: 2012

ISBN: 9780061953385

Audience: 4-8 years

Summary: One cold afternoon in a colorless town covered with white snow and black soot a little girl named Annabelle found a box full of colorful yarn.  Annabelle went home and knit herself a sweater; extra yarn was left.  So she knit a sweater for Mars, her dog and still there was extra yarn. She knit a sweater for a boy who made fun of her and for his dog.  Again extra yarn. She knit sweaters for all of her school class and the teacher so they wouldn’t be distracted by the bright colors she wore.  Soon all the animals in town wore sweaters as well as the buildings, the mailboxes, and a truck.  The town was changed.  Word of Annabelle and her endless supply of yarn spread and reached an archduke who was very fond of clothes.  He tried to buy the box of yarn and when Annabelle refused, he stole it.  When he opened it at home, he found it empty so he threw the box into the sea uttering his family curse on Annabelle, “You will never be happy again.”  But the box floated home to Annabelle, full of yarn once more, and she was.

Literary elements at work in the story: The wonder of this story is not the words but the pictures as Annabelle’s knitting clothes the town with color.  The brief text is just enough.  The book has the feel of an uncomplicated fairy story.

How does the perspective on gender/race/culture/economics/ability make a difference to the story? These perspectives intrude very little in a story of magic.  Annabelle is a girl and the dominant figure.  One man stands in the snow with few clothes and will only accept a hat so some difference is celebrated.  The villainous duke is rich, casting a shadow on wealth. There is no ethnic diversity.

Theological Conversation Partners: This is a book to read for fun; don’t immediately try to extract a moral from it. Any adult will recognize in this story unexpected bounty, a generous spirit, the effect of beauty and the sterility of greed, all important topics in the Christian life. This book will be read many times and some of these observations may emerge in discussion.  Annabelle is a model of good stewardship as she shares the gift that has come her way and makes her surroundings beautiful. John the Baptists reminds us of what to do with extra gifts in Luke 3:10.  Selfish greed cannot receive such a gift. We are, of course, recipients of such bounty every day, not by magic but by God’s providence. Psalm 104 and Matthew 6:26-30, Genesis 1 may help readers to name some of these gifts. Beyond material gifts we have spiritual gifts.  John 14:2-27; Galatians 5:22.  The story of Elijah and the widow of Zarephath is a similar story in the Bible. I Kings 17:8-18.

Faith Talk Questions:

1. How did Annabelle get the box of yarn.  Where did it come from?
2. How did Annabelle’s knitting help the town?
3. Why did the Duke want the yarn?
4. Why was the yarn gone when the Duke opened the box?
5. Have you ever received an unexpected gift? What did you do with it?
6. What gift or gifts have you received that you can share without having any less?

This review was written by graduate and regular contributor Virginia Thomas.

Happy

Title of Book: Happy

Author: Mies Van Hout

Illustrator: Mies Van Hout

Publisher: Lemniscaat USA

ISBN: 9781935954149

Audience: Ages 2 and up

Summary: Happy is a picture book that illustrates various emotions.  The story takes you through various emotions such as happy, sad, curious and nervous.  The emotions are expressed by colorful fish.

Literary elements at work in the story: This is a picture book therefore, the illustrations are essential to the telling of the story.  The end pages are bright yellow, presenting an uplifting feeling at the beginning and end.  The fish illustrations are drawn with chalk on a black background, making the emotion central to the viewer.  The illustrations bring out the emotion written on the joining page, which pairs well with highlighting the emotion.  Finally, the illustrations are very colorful and inviting for the reader.

Perspective on gender/race/culture/abilities/disabilities/economic:  This book is  inclusive of all races, gender, cultures, abilities, disabilities, and economic status.  People of all walks of life can relate to experiencing the emotions highlighted in this book.

Theological Conversation Parnters:  Ecclesiastes 3; Philippians 4:6-20.  God is concerned with our emotional wellbeing. As we seek God in prayer with every concern God will “guard our hearts and minds” and provide peace in every situation.

Faith Talk Questions:

1. Which fish do you like the most? Why?
2. What time or situation does this fish remind you of?
3. What happened?
4. How did this make you feel?
5. Which fish do you dislike the most? Why?
6. What time or situation does this fish remind you of?
7. What happened?
8. How did this make you feel?
9. Did you know God is concerned with your feelings?
10. How do you tell God how you feel?

This review was written by Union Presbyterian Seminary student Phanta Lansden.

Bad Apple: A Tale of Friendship

Title:  Bad Apple: A Tale of Friendship

Author:  Edward Hemmingway

Publisher:  Putnam Juvenile (2012)

Audience:  Ages 3-5

Summary:  This picture book tells the story of an apple named Mac.  Mac was a good apple doing things and associating with those that a good apple would.  However, one day during an afternoon sleep during a rain shower Mac awoke to find that he was not alone.  A worm named Will had attached himself to Mac.  Mac, being a good apple, befriended Will, but this friendship would lead the other apples to cast Mac off as  a bad apple.  Through his journey, Mac realizes what true friendship is.

Literary elements at work in the story:  The story is told in third person.  Through the telling of Mac’s story in the third person, one is faced with tough questions and may even have old wounds reopened.  One may even find him/herself starring into a mirror from several points of views: (1) as the other apples who picked on Mac for befriending Will, (2) as Mac and/or Will who were the recipients of ridicule, and (3) as Mac who was courageous enough to befriend Will regardless of what the other apples thought.

The illustrations support the story well.  The pictures are very detailed and colorful adding to the ease of following the story.  Though the story could be told effectively without the pictures, I still find the pictures a necessity to the hearing of the story via the visual cues the pictures establish.

How does the book present gender, race, culture, economic status, abilities/disabilities, age, etc. in the story:  Through the art of using apples to represent the characters the book does a wonderful job of establishing inclusivity.  It crosses all ages, genders, races, economic status, etc.  The book speaks volume to issues that divide us like color, economic status, education, disabilities, etc.  It challenges us not to define friendship by our differences but rather by the character of the person.  It also pushes us to be courageous by foregoing acceptance by our on community by daring to be a friend to those who our immediate community has cast off.

Theological Conversation Partners:  The Gospel of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ lives in this story of friendship.  As we encounter Mac’s story and his willingness to be cast off by his community for friendship with one deemed unworthy we encounter Jesus’ story.  We encounter Mary Magdalene, we encounter Zacharias, we encounter the women at the well, we encounter Jesus, we encounter the Gospel!

Faith Talk Questions:

1. Can you recall a time when someone was unwilling to be your friend because others picked on that person for doing so?
2. How did it make you feel?
3. Can you recall a time when you were willing to be someone’s friend when others were not?  Why?
4. What does it mean to be a friend?
5. How has Jesus fulfilled your definition?
6. Share the story of Zacharias.  Why do you believe Jesus was willing to befriend Zacharias.
7. Why did this have such a profound effect on Zacharias.
8. Think about your best friend.  Do you see the Gospel in this friendship?  Why?

This review was written by Union Presbyterian Seminary student Lorenzo Small.

Llama Llama Red Pajama

Title: Llama Llama Red Pajama

Author: Anna Dewdney

Illustrator: Anna Dewdney

Publisher: Viking

Publication date: 2005

ISBN number: 0-670-05983-8

Audience: 3 – 5 years

Summary of book:  When Little Llama is trying to get to sleep, he decides he’s thirsty.  Mama Llama says that she’ll bring him some water soon, but the phone rings.  Little Llama lets himself get really scared and upset.  Mama Llama comes up to calm him down and reminds him she is always near and loves him a lot.

Literary elements at work in the book (genre, characters, plot, language, illustrations, dialogue, repetitions, etc.):    Repetitive rhyming patterns tell the story and the expressiveness of the images, particularly of baby llama, will resonate with young children.

How the book presents gender, race, culture, economic status, abilities/disabilities, age, etc.: There are no human characters in this book.

Theological partners for conversation (may be specific scripture, confessions, doctrines, theologians, etc.): Mark 4:35-40 (Jesus Calms the Storm)

Faith Talk Questions:

1. Why does Little Llama get so scared?
2. What does Mama Llama tell Little Llama when she gets upstairs?
3. In the story in Mark, why are the disciples so scared?
4. What does Jesus say to them?
5. Describe a time you were really scared.  What helped calm you down?

This review was written by Union Presbyterian Seminary student Jessie Smith.

Green

Title:  Green

Author/Illustrator:  Laura Vacarro Seeger

Publisher: Roaring Brook Press

Publication Date: 2012

ISBN: 9781596433977

Audience: 2-6 years

Summary: This is a book showing seventeen shades of green.  That’s accurate but inadequate.  Enter the world of green-a tree, a turtle, a lime, a pea, a firefly, a fern, a lizard.  There is more. Die cut pages surprise and lead from one shade of green to the next.  A section of lime becomes a spoon of pea soup; two of the peas become a tiger’s eyes.  One double page includes all the shades of green in the book, inviting children to find matches.  There is one page with a bright red stop sign, one page of a snow covered world for contrast.  A young boy plants a seedling, a page with no words; the next page shows a large tree with adult and child beneath, “Forever green.”

Literary elements at work in the story: This is a concept book, one of several that have won Seeger Caldecott Honor awards. One color, many hues.   The double pages give a sense of the vast world in which these greens are seen. The rhyming text makes the shades easy to remember.  The intense colors and thickly painted pages are almost textured, inviting touch.

How does the perspective on gender/race/culture/economics/ability make a difference to the story? Not applicable.

Theological Conversation Partners: Look. See. Consider. Observe.  These are some of the words used to translate Matthew 6: 26, 28 as Jesus invites us to learn from God’s world. We are so frequently blind, indifferent, too busy to “hear” what God is saying to us.  One of the greatest gifts we can give to children or adults is to help them focus, to pay attention to the world around them. Green is the perfect guide for practicing this. The boy planting the seedling is a gentle reminder about our care for God’s world.  The symbol of the good, the righteous life in the Bible is a tree. Ps. 1, Ps. 92:12-15. This could be mentioned in connection with the last two pages. God could have created a monotone world.  Psalm 104:24 is an apt prayer of praise.  Add “color” after the word “creatures.”  For the adult: Chlorophyll, which gives plants their green color, is essential for photosynthesis, which is, in turn,   essential for our lives.  Plants change sunlight into energy and nutrients and release oxygen. Black is a more efficient color for photosynthesis but green does the job and colors our world.  Miraculous!

Faith Talk Questions and actions.

1.  Examining a box of crayons with several shades of green can assure that children understand “shades” or “hues.”
2.  Examine crayons of different shades.  Not all greens are alike. This can involve noticing clothes, hair ribbons, lunch boxes, etc.
3. Count the shades of green in the book.
4. Children will enjoy using the shapes as clues to the next page.
5. Green sometimes helps animals hide.  This is called camouflage. Find some animals that green helps to hide.
6. Some greens are found in places other than plants.  Find these.
7. Go for a looking walk.  Note where you see green.
8. Pick leaves, plants, (if possible), other objects and make a green display. Compare shades of green.
9. Plant a tree, a shrub, or a flower.

This review was written by Union Presbyterian Seminary graduate and regular contributor Virginia Thomas.

Am I Making God Smile?

Name of Book:  Am I Making God Smile?

Author:  Jeannie St. John Taylor

Illustrator:  Jeannie St. John Taylor

Publisher:  Kregel Kidzone

ISBN: 9780825437250

Audience:  Ages 4-8

Summary: Nothing is going right for Erik.  His breakfast milk is spoiled; he loses his perfectly polished rock for show-and-tell; and he has to be partners with the class dork, Chuck, for a class project.  But instead of getting mad, Erik learns how to make bad things good by keeping a good attitude and being kind to others.  He knows that his positive response to each difficult circumstance makes God smile.

Literary elements at work in the story (Genre/setting/characterization/plot/theme/point of view/style): The brightly colored quirky illustrations invite children to want to read this book.  Written from little Erik’s point of view, the reader can get inside his head and understand his thoughts and feelings throughout his day.  The reader can relate to the conflicts that this boy faces and can appreciate the good, even though difficult, decisions he makes along the way.

Theological conversation partners: Through the innocence of a child, the author demonstrates how God can permeate our lives, so everything we say and do can be done with intention to bring joy to God and others.  The book is about seeing the blessings in all of life’s situations.  What brings joy to God brings joy to the boy as he seeks to make God smile in everything he does.  The author concludes the book with a note for parents and references Zephaniah 3:17b, “He will rejoice over you with great gladness.  With his love, he calm all your fears.”

Faith Talk Questions

1. Think about a time when something didn’t go your way, maybe your breakfast milk was spoiled or you lost your favorite stone.  What happened and how did it make you feel?  How could you have handled the situation to make God smile?  If you didn’t handle the situation in this way, then know that God does forgive you and helps you learn from your mistakes.
2. God wants to be a part of our everyday lives.  God delights in every good decision we make, and loves us even when we stumble.  Make a list of things that delight God.

This review was written by Union Presbyterian Seminary graduate Amanda North.

hello! hello!

Title: hello! hello!

Author: Matthew Cordell

Illustrator: Matthew Cordell

Publisher: Hyperion Books

ISBN: 9781423159063

Audience: Ages 2-6

Summary: Young Lydia is completely surrounded by electronic devices as this story opens.  One by one, though, her hand-held game, computer, telephone, and television fail.  Her family members are too busy with their own electronics to even look up as they perfunctorily answer her “Hello’s.”  Drawn outside by a colorful leaf, Lydia discovers the beautiful full-color world, and she says “hello” to them all – leaf, flower, bug, horse, buffalo, gorilla, blue whale, tyrannosaurus rex, and on and on.  Eventually, Lydia convinces her family to put down their plugged-in devices and join her in the marvelous world.

Literary elements at work in the story: This story consists of seventy-four words, forty-five of which are “Hello.”  Cordell’s watercolor and ink illustrations speak volumes, however, and rarely are such exuberance and joy to be found in a children’s book.  The setting of the natural world actually serves as a protagonist, transforming Lydia and, in time, her family.

How does the perspective on gender/race/culture/economics/ability make a difference to the story? Lydia has a mother, father, and a younger brother, but the cartoon drawings of these relatives and their electronics appear on stark two-page spreads, showing only the distance between them and Lydia.  The abundance of electronics probably points to a middle-class family.

Theological Conversation Partners: Joy in God’s created world and our place in it is the most obvious conversation partner in hello! hello!  Genesis 1:20-25 is practically reenacted in front of the reader’s eyes.  As Lydia greets leaf, bug, and flower, she grows visibly happier, culminating in the overwhelming joy of “Hello, world!”  The even deeper joy of two-way conversation comes when Horse responds by calling Lydia’s name.  Here one is reminded of God’s intimate knowledge of each of us.  The Lord tells Jeremiah, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart…” (Jeremiah 1:4)  We also claim that gift of being a chosen child of God during the sacrament of baptism.

Faith Talk Questions:

1. Why do you think that Lydia’s family didn’t talk much to her in the beginning of the book?
2. Look at the page where Lydia says “Hello” to her mom.  Now look at the page where Lydia says “Hello” to the world. What are some of the differences you see?
3. Why do you think that Lydia is so happy when she is with all the flowers and animals?
4. How do you feel when you see all the things God has made in the world?
5. Horse knew Lydia’s name and said, “Hello, Lydia.”  God knows your name, too!  Imagine what it might be like to hear God say, “Hello!” to you.

This review was written by Union Presbyterian Seminary graduate Beth Lyon-Suhring.

Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus!

Title:  Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus

Author: Mo Willems

Illustrator: Mo Willems

Publisher: Hyperion Books for Children

Publication date: 2003

ISBN number: 978-078681988-1

Audience:  Ages 2 – 6

Summary of book:    The bus driver has left the reader in charge to make sure that the Pigeon doesn’t drive the bus.  No matter what excuses the pigeon comes up with, it is our job to tell the Pigeon, “No!”  When the Pigeon’s plan is foiled he comes up with a new dream, driving an 18 wheeler.

Central literary elements at work in the book (genre, characters, plot, language, illustrations, dialogue, repetitions, etc.):  The pigeon is a simple character that engages the kids.  The reader response in this book is a beautiful thing.  Kids can’t help, but yelling, “No” at the pigeon. Mo Willems creative illustrations and use of dialogue makes use of the entire book from the front inside cover to the back inside cover.  Be sure to start at the very beginning and go to the very end.

How the book presents gender, race, culture, economic status, abilities/disabilities, age, etc.: The bus driver is the only human character.  He is a middle age, Caucasian male.

Theological Conversation Partners: The Ten Commandments, and the Two Greatest Commandments, Golden Rule

Faith Talk Questions:

1. Why shouldn’t we let the Pigeon drive the bus?
2. Are there things we should or shouldn’t do?  Why do those rules exist?
3. What are some of the rules given to us by God?
4. Why should we try to follow those rules?

This review was written by Union Presbyterian Seminary student Jessie Smith.

17 Kings and 42 Elephants

Title:  17 Kings and 42 Elephants

Author:  Margaret  Mahy

Illustrator:  Patricia MacCathy

Publisher:  Dial Books

Audience: Ages 4-8

Summary:  The book is the story of seventeen kings traveling on elephants through the wild.  As they travel they sing and their song has an effect on the wild.  During their travel we are introduced to all the other wild animals they encounter on this journey (crocodiles, crabs, cranes, pelicans, hippos, tigers, peacocks, flamingos, birds, baboons, and gorillas) and experience how these animals impact and/or interact with these traveling kings.

Literary elements at work in the story:  This book is a picture book.  As such, the telling of the story, though a rhyming scheme is employed, loses its effect and power without the illustrations.  Thus, it will be imperative that the pictures be visible to the listener.  The book is normal size so it will need to be used with small groups to ensure the audience can fully see the illustrations.

Children will identify with this artwork.  The colors are bright and loud.  The illustrations are beautiful and eye catching.  You could literally remove the words and the illustrations alone will draw a child in and cause the child to create a story.  The artwork is appropriate for a story set in the wild (jungle).  Simply, it is believable, though for the target age group that may not be a point of major consideration.

How does the book present gender, race, culture, economic status, abilities/disabilities, age, etc. in the story:  The book does a poor job on addressing diversity in race.  All seventeen kings are white males.  As such, the author and illustrator fail to produce a book that will cross ethnicities and identify with multiple audiences.

Theological patterns for conversation:  Pulling any theological perspective from this book will be a stretch, even for the best theologian.  However, apart from the words, one could use the illustrations to facilitate discussion around the creation story with kids; particularly the portion of the creation story where God creates animals and sends them before Adam for naming.

Faith Talk Questions:

1. Why do you think God created animals?
2. Tell me about your favorite animal.
3. If you could have been in the Garden and were given the chance to name the animals presented in this book, what would you have named each?  Why?

This review was written by Union Presbyterian Seminary student Lorenzo Small.

God’s Rainbow

Title:  God’s Rainbow

Author: Allia Zobel Nolan

Illustrator: Chi Chung

Publisher: Kregel Publications, 2007

ISBN: 978-0-8254-5537-7

Audience: Ages 3-6

Summary of Book:  God’s Rainbow is a picture book which tells the story of Noah building the ark.  God speaks to Noah and says “the world has forgotten about me, so I am starting over.  Here’s what I want you to do.”  Noah was obedient and he and his sons did just what God asked them to do and they built the ark.  Then God sent the rain.  It rained for forty days and forty nights but the ark sailed along and everyone and everything on board were safe and sound.  After the rain stopped the ark came to rest on a mountain top and Noah sent a raven out to find land but the raven came back.  A few days passed and Noah sent a dove out and it returned with an olive leaf in its beak.  This was a good sign for Noah.  A few days later and Noah sent the dove out again and it did not return.  Then God spoke to Noah and told him it was safe to come off the ark.  So everyone and every animal got off the boat and Noah and his family fell to their knees and thanked God for keeping them safe.  When they looked up they saw beautiful colors in the sky, the first rainbow.  The rainbow was a sign of God’s promise that he would never flood the whole earth again.

Literary Elements at Work: This book is a great teaching tool for young children.  The author does a good job of telling Noah’s story.  The author is assisted by the illustrator who does a very good job of helping to tell the story.  The illustrator does a masterful job of slowly phasing out the ark and bringing in the rainbow.  The pictures are bright and colorful and really enhance the story.  

(How) does the perspective on gender/race/culture/economics/ability make a difference to the story?  In this retelling of Noah and his family building the ark the perspective of race, culture, economics and ability really do not come into play.  Noah was obedient to God and God took care of him and his family.  The illustrator does show Noah and his wife working together as equals on several pages as well as his sons and their wives.  It also shows them all kneeling together in prayer to thank God for keeping them safe.

Theology: This book is a great way to introduce children to the biblical story of Noah and the ark.  It shows that God makes promises and he keeps them.  It shows that God wants a relationship with us and that he loves us.  Every time we see a rainbow we are reminded of this.

Faith Talk Questions:

1. After reading this story what will you think of the next time you see a rainbow?
2. Did you like the pictures in the book? Why or Why not?
3. Do the pictures in the book help tell the story? Why or Why not?
4. If God had spoken to you instead of Noah would you and your family have built the ark? Why or Why not?
5. How big do you think the ark was?
6. How long do you think it took Noah and his family to build the ark?
7. If God asks you to do something that is difficult or hard to do, what do you do?

This review was written by Union Presbyterian Seminary student Bob Martin.