Title:

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.

Title:

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.

11th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Second Reading: Galatians 2:15-21

Gospel Reading: Luke 7:36-8:3

The Lectionary Links this week were written by regular contributor Noell Rathbun-Cook.

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.

Title:

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.

10th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Year C:  June 9, 2013

First Reading: 1 Kings 17:8-16, (17-24)

Mama Panya’s Pancakes by Mary and Rich Chamberlin

(Written for ages 5-9)

Comment:  We certainly can’t fault the widow for being concerned that there was not enough food for her family, let alone to share with Elijah. Yet, Elijah assures her not to fear, but to trust that God will make enough. “She went and did as Elijah said, so that she as well as he and her household ate for many days. The jar of meal was not emptied, neither did the jug of oil fail…” Mama Panya shares similar concerns when it comes to feeding her family on very little money. Yet her son Adika invites all of their friends to come share a meal, faithful that there will be enough. In both of these stories, the act of hospitality leads to miraculous abundance. Use these stories to explore you own congregation’s experiences of sharing and abundance.

Second Reading: Galatians1:11-24

Freaks and Revelations by Davida Wills Hurwin

(Written for ages 16+)

**This YA novel contains mature content including sex, drugs, and strong language.**

Comment: “You have heard, no doubt, of my earlier life… I was violently persecuting the church of God and was trying to destroy it.” In this text, Paul shares part of his story with the Galatians. Once he was a violent persecutor of Christians, now he proclaims the faith he once tried to destroy. In Freaks and Revelations, Jason, a gay teen living on the streets of LA, and Doug, a teenage skin head lock eyes during a violent encounter in an alley. Eighteen years later, they find themselves locking eyes again, this time to work together as employees of the Museum of Tolerance. Although it is disturbing and at times difficult to read, this book points to a powerful moment of transformation that follows a long journey of persecution. The program FROM HATE 2 HOPE shares more about the true story that inspired Hurwin’s novel.

Gospel Reading:  Luke 7:11-17

Square Cat by Elizabeth Schoonmaker

(Written for ages 4-8)

Comment: “When the Lord saw her, he had compassion for her…” In his commentary on this text, Gregory Anderson Love discusses the way compassion leads to action. “This scene reveals Jesus’ compassionate character and intent toward us. He meets our needs, even when we are too torn apart to ask for help.” (Feasting on the Word, Year C, Volume 3, p 118) Eula the square cat is so unhappy, she loses her purr. Her friends Patsy and Maude, both round cats, recognize her sorrow and work to figure out how to make her feel better, and eventually, regain her purr. Use this simple story to help young children explore the way our compassion stirs our actions.

The Lectionary Links this week were written by regular contributor Noell Rathbun.

Title of Book: 

Author:  R. J. Palacio

Publisher and Publication date:  Alfred A. Knopf, 2012

ISBN number:  978-0-375-86902-0

Audience: Ages 8 and up

Summary:  August Pullman is born with a severe facial deformity and is sheltered from the world and home schooled by his parents and sister until fifth grade when he begins middle school at a private school where he knows no one.  Making friends is hard enough in middle school, but when you look like Auggie, it’s nearly impossible.  He endures stares, ridicule, betrayal, loneliness and heartbreak before an overnight school field trip erupts in a group fight to protect him.  When the trip is over, most people at school realize he is just another kid like them and in fact a pretty terrific one.  This is a heartwarming story about courage and about judging people for who they are rather than what they look like.

Literary elements at work in the story:  This great story is broken into eight sections and told in first person from the view of six of the characters including Auggie, his sister, her former best friend, her boyfriend and two friends from his new school.  Each section has short easy to read chapters that express genuine feelings and allow the reader to experience the characters point of view and gain further insight into the story andits dynamics.  Each section of the story opens with a quote from a song, a movie or literature that relates to the section or character and ties into the story.  There is also mention of his English teacher’s precepts (defined as rules about really important things-like a motto) throughout the story and those are included at the end of the book in an appendix as well as those precepts written by the main characters.

Presentation of gender/race/culture/economic status/age/disabilities/etc:  The characters in this story are middle class and upper middle class white people living in New York City.  The main character is a 10 year old boy who has a severe facial deformity and a hearing disability.

Theological conversation partners:  1 Samuel 16:7-Humans looks at the outward appearance but the Lord looks on the heart, Parable of the Good Samaritan, Matthew 7:1 (Do not judge others), 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 (Love is…), Genesis 1-Created in God’s image-it is good, Shema/Mark 12:30-31 (Love your neighbor as yourself).  Karl Barth-The Judge who was judged in our place and was just.

Faith Talk Questions:

1. What story or character in the Bible does Auggie’s story remind you of and why?
2. How would you line up the characters in this story with the parable of the Good Samaritan? Why?
3. Who in this book do you think is the Good Samaritan?
4. What do you think it means to be created in God’s image?  What does that mean for people with deformities and/or disabilities?
5. What does it mean to judge other people?  How do we judge people?  How does God judge people?
6. What does it mean for us to love our neighbor?
7. Think of the ‘Auggie’ that you go to school with-How is he/she treated by other?  By you?
8. What can you do to love the “Auggie’ at your school?
9. How is courage displayed in this story?
10. What is Auggie’s source of courage?  What is yours?

This review was written by Union Presbyterian Seminary student Lisa McLennan.

Title

Author:  Lisa Mann

Publisher :  Simon and Schuster, Inc, 2008

ISBN:  978-1-4169-7447-5

Audience:  Ages 14 – 18.   I would suggest that the target audience is older and more mature teens.  The main characters are teenagers from families that were drastically impacted and changed by traumatic events.  The issues raised in this novel can easily cross all racial and socio-economic lines.

Summary:  Wake is a novel that is centered on the “not-so” normal Janie Hannagan.  Janie is a typical high school junior whose sights are firmly set on attending college.  She works part-time, does well in school and spends time with her friends, as long as they are awake.  Janie avoids anyone who is sleeping because she can, against her will, be pulled into the sleeper’s dream.  While there, she is fully aware of everything that is going on, including experiencing everything the dreamer does.  Outside of the dream, however, her body is paralyzed, blind to anything that is happening around her.  The novel takes us through Janie’s struggles to maintain a normal life when everything around her is anything but normal.  Once she comes to grip with what makes her different, she begins to accept who she is a little more.

Central literary elements at work in the story:  Lisa Mann gives us multiple characters in this novel about whom we want to know more.  We have the most background information on Janie, though even that is incomplete.  We get a small glimpse of eight year old Janie, as she first learns what she can do; however, the major character  development for her is Janie as a teenager who is raising an alcoholic mother.  Through Janie’s relationships, we are introduced to Carrie and Cabel, whose stories are made more interesting by the secrets they are keeping.  Even the more minor characters of Melinda, Mrs. Hannagan and Miss Stubbins all have secrets, but they are secrets that are not fully revealed as the novel ends.  The entire book is written from Janie’s point of view and though it is not written in first-person, it has the feel of a personal narrative.  Written in the style of journal entries, we follow Janie from minute to minute, hour to hour, and day to day.  Even though we receive a few quick glimpses into the past, the bulk of the novel takes place over a period of one and a half years. Seeing the lives of the characters in what easily begins to feel like real-time makes the events of the book realistic and believable, even the most  bizarre elements of the story.

How the book presents gender, race, culture, economic status, age, etc:  Though Mann doesn’t seem to tackle race relations with this book, I think it is because the ethnicity of the characters is irrelevant.  They could really be anyone from anywhere.  Mann does, however, touch, only slightly, on the issues of the elderly, who happen to be Janie’s favorite people to be around because “they don’t sleep soundly”.  We get small glimpses into how a family handles the loss of a child, alcoholism and drug  abuse, division and prejudices that stem from economic difference and how a young  person deals with the possibility of being homosexual.  All of these issues are dealt with on a very surface level, some so slightly you might even miss them.  It almost seems that  any one of these things alone is too heavy to be fully handled alongside the challenge of  entering dreams; when all of them occur, it is impossible to address well.  What does partner well with the main plot of dream travel are the silent issues of emotional, physical and psychological abuse.  I referred to them as silent, because none of them are ever directly mentioned or addressed during the novel, but they all scream off the pages, almost from the very beginning.  They are played out in the actions and dialogue mainly between Janie and Cabel, and though neither of them talks about it (other than a small conversation near the end of the book) both characters wear the scars of their abuse.  The reader is also given this since that they both want to be anyplace other than where they are.

It also strikes me that the responsible authorities throughout this book, parents, teachers, even Janie’s co-workers and employer are largely absent.  They are present in that we hear their voices occasionally, see them in passing even; but they are all emotionally disconnected for the main characters, absent from their lives.  Although the parents are often not the primary focus of teen novels, it speaks loudly that the parents in this novel who are around seem to have checked out on their children.

Theological Conversation Partners:  One good partner for this novel could be Galatians 6:2 “Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.”  Janie spends a lot of time trying to isolate herself from people.  However, we see a change in both her and Cabel as they open up to each other, sharing their secrets and relying on one another.  This bond begins to be shared with Mrs. Stubbins and Janie as well.  But that is a story for another book, Fade, which is the sequel to Wake.

Faith Talk Questions:

1. As we enter the dreams with Janie, each dreamer asks Janie for help, regardless of the nature of the dream.  What could be the significance of the dreamer unconsciously asking for help?
2. Once, Janie enters her mother’s dream.  She seems to be aware of this when she wakes and leaves the room.  Why for you think this is?
3. Believing there are no coincidences, Janie enters Carrie and Cabel’s recurring dreams over and over again.  Why is she drawn to these two people and them to her?
4. If God gifted you with the ability to travel into people’s dreams, what might your purpose be?

This review was written by Union Presbyterian Seminary student LaDonna Harrison.

9th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Year C:  June 2, 2013

First Reading: 1 Kings 18:20-21, (22-29),30-39

Those Shoes by Maribeth Boelts

(Written for ages 5-9)

Comment: “Then Elijah said to the people, ‘I, even I only, am left a prophet of the Lord; but Baal’s prophets number four hundred fifty.’” The people of Israel were faced with a decision–follow Baal or follow YHWH. While kids might not completely understand the idea of idolatry, they will connect with the notion of following the crowd. It would have been difficult to listen to Elijah, prophet for God, when he was up against 450 other people. Often we find it easier to follow the crowd, than the smaller voices that are meant to guide us. It’s hard for Jeremy to listen to his grandma’s advice about getting what he needs when he wants so badly to blend in with the crowd at school. Just about everyone has a pair of Those Shoes, and he wants them too.  With these these stories, explore the ways personal experience, paired with the voice of a guide, can help people come to the right decision.

Second Reading: Galatians 1:1-12

What If? by Laura Vaccaro Seeger

(Written for ages 3-7)

Comment: “Am I now seeking human approval, or God’s approval?” In the introduction to Paul’s letter to the Galatians, we see that he is trying to help the people recognize that they are faced with a choice. Paul’s language suggests that he wants this community to recognize that all choices have consequences. To follow the gospel would lead to a life free from the present evil age, but to follow a false gospel would  lead to being accursed. Often in caring for children we talk about choice and natural consequences. If I choose to do abc, then naturally xyz will occur. What If? is a simple picture book that explores the consequences of three different choices made in a particular situation. Wonder together with the children of your church about the way our choices create different outcomes. How do we listen for God in the midst of our decision making?

Gospel Reading: Luke 7:1-10

Albert the Fix-it Man by Janet Lord

(Written for ages 4-8)

Comment: “…they appealed to him earnestly, saying, ‘He is worthy of having you do this for him, for he loves our people…’” It is especially interesting to note the role the community plays in this story. They go to Jesus and speak on behalf of the centurion because of their love for him and his love for them. If it’s important to the centurion that his servant be healed, it’s important to the community. Like the centurion, Albert the Fix-it Man cares for his community, building and repairing things. When he finds himself in need, the same community he has loved and cared for reaches out to love and care for him. Use these stories to explore the vital role community plays in the life and well being of people and talk about the ways this is particularly lived out in your church.

The Lectionary Links this week are written by regular contributor Noell Rathbun-Cook.

Title:

Author: John Himmelman

Illustrator: John Himmelman

Publisher: Scholastic Incorporation

Publication date: 2008

ISBN number: 978-0-545-22364-5

Audience:  Ages 4 – 8

Summary of book: Sara Ann brings home three new kittens.  Katie, her dog, couldn’t be happier.   Unfortunately, Katie’s uncontrollable joy causes her to unintentionally scare the new kittens.  Sara Ann reprimands her and Katie is very sad.  After a series of good intentioned episodes where Katie continues to unintentionally be unwelcoming.  Katie is very upset with herself.  She spends the entire day on her doggy bed.  When she wakes up the kittens have fallen asleep on top of her.  She wants to run around and chase them, but instead she controls herself and happily lays with them on top of her.

Literary elements at work in the book: Through the words and the illustrations, Katie comes to life.  She is an amazingly sweet and joyful character.

How the book presents gender, race, culture, economic status, abilities/disabilities, age, etc.: The only human character in the book is Sara Ann, a Caucasian girl with red hair and blue eyes.

Theological Conversation Partners: Galatians 5:22-23a

22 By contrast, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, ²³gentleness, and self-control.

Faith Talk Questions:

1. Which fruits (of the Spirit) does Katie have abundantly?  How do you know?
2. Which fruits (of the Spirit) does Katie need to practice?  How do you know?
3. Describe a time when you were like Katie and had good intentions that didn’t work out well.
4. Which fruits of the Spirit do you have abundantly?
5. Which fruits do you need to practice?

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