Brave Squish Rabbit

Title: Brave Squish Rabbit

Author:  Katherine Battersby

Illustrator:  Katherine Battersby

Publisher:  Viking, 2012

ISBN:  9780670012688

Audience:  Ages 2 and up

Summary:  Squish is a little stuffed rabbit who is afraid of many things, including storms, chickens, and most especially the dark.  Squish’s usual modus operandi is to hide from the dark as much as possible, but one day his best friend Twitch disappears, and he bravely sets out to find her.  Equipped only with a pot full of what must be lightning bugs, a helmet made from an acorn cap, and an even tinier toy bunny in a wagon, Squish must confront every one of his biggest fears.  In the middle of the darkest night, he finally finds Twitch, and they sit together under a starry sky.  Squish is still a little rabbit, “but being brave made him feel much bigger.”

Literary elements at work in the story:  Brave Squish Rabbit has only the barest of story lines, and Squish himself is created from only the barest of cartoon lines.  He is a white bunny with two ears, a round tail and two eyes.  Writer/illustrator Battersby portrays emotion with Squish’s physical responses to friends and to the fearful trifecta of lightning, massive yellow chickens, and the dark.  Even the youngest readers will be able to identify with Squish’s frightened paws to eyes at the sight of yellow feathers or wide-armed delight at the reappearance of a friend.

How does the perspective on gender/race/culture/economics/ability make a difference to the story?  Perspectives on gender and race take a backseat in this story of the power of friendship. However, since cultural stereotyping draws much power from running beneath the radar, it may be worth noting that the frightened bunny here is male, while his best (brave) friend is female.  This is also an inter-species friendship; Squish is a rabbit, and Twitch is a squirrel.

Theological Conversation Partners:  Human beings are an anxious lot, so Brave Squish Rabbit would be a good book to open up a discussion about worry with young children.  One of God’s most oft-repeated phrases is “Fear not!” (see Genesis 15:1, Isaiah 41:13, Isaiah 43:5, Matthew 1:20, Luke 2:10, Acts 27:24).  The point is that we are not alone when we call upon God.  Squish certainly does not talk about relying upon God, but he does give a loving adult an opportunity to help children talk about their fears and reassure them that God is always with them.

Faith Talk Questions:

1. What things scare Squish?
2. Do you ever get scared?  What sorts of things make you afraid?
3. Why do you think that Squish wanted to find his friend Twitch?
4. What did Squish have to do to find Twitch?
5. The Bible tells us that God loves each of us very much.  Who do you think will be with you when you are scared?

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

Light in the Darkness

Title:  Light in the Darkness

Author:  Lesa Cline-Ransome

Illustrator: James E. Ransome

Publisher: Disney Jump At The Sun Books

Publication Date: 2013

ISBN: 9781423134954

Audience: 5-8 years

Summary: Rosa’s mama wakens her in darkness and they slip out of the cabin quietly.  They are going to school, a pit school, a hole in the ground concealed by leaves and branches.  They are slaves, forbidden to read by their masters.  One girl who learned to read was whipped, a lash for each letter. Morris, the teacher, was taught by his mistress to read the Bible long ago and he has shared this knowledge with those brave enough to risk the danger. The pit is crowded with adults and children, all shaping letters with sticks and making their sounds. They don’t talk about the letters at work on the plantation.  One night patrollers come near the pit so school doesn’t meet for a while.  Two slaves are caught on another plantation and beaten and this nearly ends the school.  But Rosa won’t quit.  She wants the letters to make words.  Now she is the one to awaken her mother and insist they go to school.  At first they are the only two with the courage to come back; soon others return.  Rosa learns to spell her name then helps a new arrival learn letters.   “When we’re free,” says her mama, “We’re gonna need those letters.”

Literary elements at work in the story: The voice of the narrator is a young slave, possibly six or seven.  There is some attempt to use dialect-gonna, ain’t, alf-i-bet-but this slice of life is told primarily in a simple, almost poetic voice.  The illustrations convey darkness, points of light, confined spaces, fear.  The play of light on the faces of the learners is especially effective.  The author learned about pit schools when researching the life of Frederick Douglass.

How does the perspective on gender/race/culture/economics/ability make a difference to the story? Race dominates this story of slaves who are an economic resource to be used and controlled.

Theological Conversation Partners: This story is a good reminder of the wonder of reading and the value of education.  Pit schools are a historical fact that we do well to remember and they give additional weight to the evils of slavery and the tenacity of the human spirit.  Although historically churches have established schools wherever they go because, like Morris’s mistress, they want everyone to be able to read the Bible, the United States in the days of slavery proved the exception to the rule.  Literacy is surprisingly low in many countries still.  The Presbyterian Church (USA) Mission Year Book gives literacy percentages for foreign countries that are frequently sobering. (Ethiopia, 42.7 %, 2012)  The book offers occasion to give thanks for the courage of slaves, for differences now in law and culture, for the wonder of books and reading, for teachers, and to ponder the connection between freedom and literacy.   Jesus says, “I am the light of the world.” Psalm 36 reminds us, “In Your light we see light.” Light is a significant symbol for Christians.

Faith Talk Questions:

1. Examine a page of a book and try to imagine that you cannot read it.  What are some things you cannot do if you cannot read?
2. Why would slave owners forbid reading to their slaves?
3. Slave owners said that slaves didn’t want to read and weren’t smart enough to learn.  What evidence in this book do you see that this is false.
4. Why would the slaves need reading when they were free?
5. What tools did the slaves have for learning to read?
6. What was the light in the darkness of slavery to which the title refers.
7. Jesus said, “I am the light of the world.” What does light represent? What would the world be like without light.
8. When the Christians follow Jesus faithfully they always establish schools.  Why?
9. Everyone is required to go to school in the United States.  Is this true everywhere?  Find out about schools today in other countries.
10. Give thanks for your teacher by name.

This review was written by regular contributor Virginia Thomas.

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.

Nasreddine

Title: Nasreddine

Author: Odile Weulersse

Illustrator: Rebecca Dautremer

Publisher:  Eerdmans Books for Young Readers

ISBN:  9780802854162

Audience:  Ages 4-9

Summary:  When Mustafa needs to take a load of dates to the market, his young son Nasreddine willingly agrees to help.  Together they tie the load on the donkey, Mustafa climbs on, and Nasreddine follows along behind.  A grand vizier they meet along the road makes fun of a man who would be lazy enough to ride while his son walks, and young Nasreddine is full of shame.  The next week the little boy schemes to ride the donkey when they take wool to the weavers, but a new set of critics passes judgment on children who do not respect their elders.  Trip after trip finds Nasreddine responding to those who criticize him and his father: father and son ride the donkey with a huge basket full of chickens, both of them run behind the donkey loaded with watermelons, and, eventually, Nasreddine proposes that they carry the donkey to avoid censure. The usually calm Mustafa finally puts his foot down and helps his son decide the wisest course.

Literary elements at work in the story:  An historical note at the back of the book tells us that Nasreddine stories are told throughout the Middle East.  This book has the flavor of a folk tale, with its simple, plot-driven narrative and archetypal characters.  Dautremer’s lovely illustrations help flesh out the personalities of the patient, gentle father and the embarrassed, insecure son.

How does the perspective on gender/race/culture/economics/ability make a difference to the story?  The story is set in an unnamed Middle Eastern village at an indeterminate time.  While the two main characters, Nasreddine and Mustafa, are male, secondary characters are old and young, male and female, rich and not-so-rich.  The main perspective here centers on the insecurity of a child contrasted with the wisdom of his parent.  Rather than skewering Nasreddine’s lack of confidence, however, Mustafa patiently allows his son to accumulate enough experience to be able to make a wise choice on his own.

Theological Conversation Partners:  This story would work well with the scriptural references to persecution (e.g., John 15:19-21; 2 Corinthians 12:10; and the Beatitudes, Matthew 5:10-12).  Nasreddine is wounded to the quick each time someone disapproves of him, while Mustafa serves as a calm deflector of criticism.  Nasreddine would also do well to remember Paul’s admonition to the Romans (12:2) “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.”  Finally, Nasreddine might serve as a good way of talking about how God walks with us (just as Mustafa walked with Nasreddine) no matter how many mistakes we make, guiding us, protecting us, and giving us behavioral models to help us grow into wisdom.

Faith Talk Questions:

1. Why do you think that people criticized Nasreddine in this story?
2. How did their criticism make Nasreddine feel?
3. If you have ever been criticized for something you did, how did you feel about it?
4. Talk about a time when you did something you knew was right, even though other people made fun of you.
5. What do you think that Nasreddine will do the next time he and Mustafa have to take something to market?

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

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.