Why Christmas Trees Aren’t Perfect

Name of Book:  Why Christmas Trees Aren’t Perfect

Author:  Richard H. Schneider

Illustrator:  Elizabeth J. Miles

Publisher:  Abingdon Press

ISBN:  9780687453634

Audience:  Ages 5+

Summary:  Long, long ago in a land far away, lived a perfect little tree named Small Pine.  Small Pine hoped to maintain its perfect form and be selected by the Queen as her Christmas tree.  But as the warm-hearted little tree gave shelter to rabbits, birds, and deer in the forest, its branches became damaged.  The other pines mocked Small Pine, and it never thought that it would be eligible to be the Queen’s Christmas tree.  However, on the first Saturday of Advent when the Queen came into the forest with her woodsmen, she noticed Small Pine and all the animal tracks leading to and from the tree and she had compassion on it.  She claimed it to be the most beautiful tree of all and presented it as her Christmas tree to the rest of the kingdom.

Literary elements at work in the story (Genre/setting/characterization/plot/theme/point of view/style): This story is written in the third person and reads like a fairy tale of long ago with all the magic and wonder of far off places of kings and queens, and the main character is a simple small pine tree that offers love, warmth and compassion to all the wildlife in the forest.  It is through this love and compassion that the Queen offers the pine tree the most prominent place in the kingdom as her Christmas tree.  Each illustration consumes the page and invites you into the story of Small Pine.

(How) does the perspective on gender/race/culture/economics/ability make a difference to the story?  This story is not about a boy or a girl, black or white.  It is about a pine tree that offers support and shelter to the meek and lowly wildlife, even in the midst of ridicule from its friends, the other pine trees.  The perspective of the pine tree, then, is not tainted by one’s cultural biases.  Every reader can enter the story with their own experience and relate to the pine tree’s choices of helping others.

Theological conversation partners (scripture, confessions, doctrines, theologians, etc): The theology of this book comes explicitly from the author in the closing sentences: “living for the sake of others makes us most beautiful in the eyes of God.”  As the body of Christ, we are called to do the work of Christ, to get our hands dirty and reach out with compassion to help those in need with the gifts and talents that we have.  At the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus says, “Be perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect.” (Matthew 5:48)  To be perfect does not mean to be without blemishes or faults, rather it is to be complete and whole and to live  whole-heartedly for God and others.

Faith Talk Questions

1. The Small Pine made very difficult choices in this book.  It would have been very easy for it to turn away from the rabbits, the birds, and the deer, just like the other pine trees.  Have you ever needed to make a tough decision?  Did you talk to anybody to help you make the right decision?  Where can you go for advice on making good decisions?
2. The other pine trees made fun of Small Pine when its branches started to droop from helping the animals in the forest.  How do you think Small Pine felt?  What do you think of Small Pine for continuing to help the forsest animals, even though it meant that it would no longer have perfect branches?
3. What are some ways that you can live for the sake of others?

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

Everyone Knows What a Dragon Looks Like

Title: Everyone Knows What a Dragon Looks Like

Author: Jay Willliams

Illustrator: Mercer Meyer

Publisher: Four Winds Press

ISBN: 0590077511

Audience: Ages 4-8 years

Summary: Young Han, gate-sweeper for the city of Wu, lived in a humble hut by the city gate and received a bowl of rice and cup of wine each day for his work.  A messenger arrived to tell the Mandarin and his councilors that the Wild Horsemen of the north are coming to destroy the city.  The Mandarin and his councilors, Captain of the Army, Leader of the Merchants, the Wisest Wise Man, and the Chief of Workman, debated several options and decided their best action was to pray to the great Cloud Dragon, and so they did. The next morning a small, bald, fat old man arrived at the gate and asked Han to take him to the Mandarin as he was the Cloud Dragon for whom they were praying.  Han said, “You don’t look like a dragon.”  “Have you ever seen a dragon ?” asked the old man.  Han admitted that he hadn’t and politely accepted the old man’s word.  The Mandarin and his councilors rudely dismissed him so Han invited the old man in to his hut and gave him his bowl of rice and cup of wine.  Because of Han’s kindness the old man saved the city by creating  a terrific storm.  Then he changed into a beautiful and terrible dragon before Hans very eyes.

Literary elements at work in the story: The book has the quality of a fable or folk tale out of ancient Asia.  It is simply and beautifully told and Mercer Meyer’s rich, exquisite illustrations bring the city of Wu  and its rulers to life. The facial expressions that he captures are marvelous. This gem has been around since 1975, winning many awards for its illustrations.  It stays in print.

How does the perspective on gender/race/culture/economics/ability make a difference to the story? The cast of characters is all male; the poor are good and the rich are bad.  This is, however, a fable from the ancient Orient.

Theological Conversation Partners: A number of themes are present in this brief tale: Kindness, generosity, hospitality, and unselfishness are rewarded; the openness of a young boy to the unknown; the blindness of those supposed to be wise and brave. This is readily accessible to young readers.  Yet the aspect that makes the most intriguing conversation: what does it take to recognize the Cloud Dragon?  Throughout Jesus’ life people refused to recognize him. Could the Messiah be found in a stable? Can anything good come out of Nazareth? Jesus told a parable about people who did not recognize him.  (Matt. 25:34-46). Our faith claims that God works in the world and it is our business to discern God at work.  We tend, as the leaders of Wu did, to think of God in our own image.  Jesus’s sobering parable reminds us that God looks like the prisoner, the sick, the hungry. God is free to surprise us.

Faith Talk Questions for children and youth.

1. What do the opening paragraphs tell you about Han?
2. Why do you think the leaders suggest prayer to the Cloud Dragon last?
3. Why do the leaders refuse to believe the old man is the Cloud Dragon?
4. Do you think, as the leaders did at the close of the story, that the Cloud Dragon has to look like a fat, old, man?
5. People did not recognize Jesus as God’s Son.  Think of some stories from Jesus’ life.  Why do you think this is true?
6. We cannot see God yet we know God is present and at work in the world.  Where should we look for God? How can we recognize God?

Review prepared by regular contributor Virginia Thomas

The Cool Cat

Name of Book:   The Cool Cat

Authors:   Merrill Farnsworth, Kami Winngham, and Mac Pirkle

Illustrator:  Brian Parker

Publisher:  Abington Press

Audience:  Ages 4-8

Summary:  Charlie is a “cool cat” living in the town of Catville.  One day he gets word that his country cousins have fallen on hard times.  Charlie buys a tuna and sets off for his cousins’ house.  The most direct route would be through Dogville, so Charlie decides to take a detour.  He is attacked by a mountain lion.  The mountain lion is scared off by Bubba Bulldog, the biggest, meanest dog in Dogville.  As Charlie lies on the ground, a white cat passes by but refuses to help.  An alley cat passes by and steals the tuna.  Bubba growls at the alley cat until he drops the tuna and runs off.  Bubba takes Charlie to the emergency room and pays for his treatment.  Then he delivers the tuna to Charlie’s cousins.  Charlie and Bubba become best friends.

Literary Elements at work in the story: The book is a retelling of the Good Samaritan.  The characters are cats and dogs.  Small children will understand that cats and dogs generally do not like each other.

Perspective on gender/race/culture/economic/ability:  The characters are cats and dogs.  There is no implicit or explicit perspective on gender/race/culture/economic ability.  All of the characters are referred to as “he,” although some could be female.

Scripture:  Luke 10:25-37

Theology:  Helping others, accepting differences

Faith Talk Questions:

1. Would Charlie usually ask a dog for help?  Why or why not?
2. Who would Charlie think would help him?  Why does the white cat refuse to help?  What does the alley cat do instead of helping Charlie?  Why would he do this?
3. Why would Bubba Bulldog help Charlie?  What are things Bubba did to help Charlie?
4. Who are some people you could help?  How could you help them?  (Lead the discussion to small kindnesses the child could do for others—family members, friends, classmates, grandparents, people at church, etc.)

Review prepared by Mary Anne Welch

The Bully and Me: Stories that Break the Cycle of Torment

Name of Book:  The Bully and Me:  Stories That Break the Cycle of Torment

Author:  Helen Carmichael Porter

Publisher:  Northstone (an imprint of Woodlake Books, Inc.)

Audience:  Adults, teens

Summary:  The Bully and Me explores the many faces of bullying from the point of view of both the bully and the victim.  The bullying takes many forms: teasing, physical intimidation, taunts, gossip, e-mail, and shunning.  Little real violence is expressed, although some “off-stage” violence is reported in the stories (a bully learns that her victim attempted suicide, a victim engages in cutting, a group tackles a victim, a nose is bloodied, etc.)  The book explores the idea that victim and bully are opposite sides of the same coin.  Often the bully has been the victim.  Victims triumph by attempting to change the situation.  Not all victims succeed.  This book is NOT a self-help book.  It will, however, stimulate conversation between teens and the adults who care about them.  It will open the eyes of adults who may not be aware of the variety of forms bullying takes.  The book is accompanied by a CD containing three of the stories as the author would perform them before a live audience.

Literary Elements at work in the story:  The book is composed of ten stories told from the first-person point of view.  This lends a particular vividness and immediacy to the stories.

Perspective on gender/race/culture/economic/ability:  The teens telling the stories are boys and girls, middle school (junior high) age and high school age, rich and poor and from a variety of ethnicities—all to emphasize that bullies and victims can be anyone.

Scripture:  Genesis 1:27, Matthew 11:28-30, Zechariah 7:9, Colossians 3:12, Hebrews 10:34, 1 Peter 3:8

Theology:  Compassion, caring for others, acceptance of differences

Faith Talk Questions:  Each story ends with a commentary by the author and excellent follow-up questions and activities.  An additional question that could be added to each list:

1. Each person was created in the image of God.  Where do you see the image of God in the victim?  In the bully?  In the people in your group?  In yourself (for many people, this may be the most difficult)?

Review by Union-PSCE alumna Mary Anne Welch

Horton Hears a Who!

Name of Book: Horton Hears a Who!

Author: Dr. Seuss

Illustrator: Dr. Seuss

Publisher: Random House

Audience: Ages 3 and up

Summary: A story of an elephant, Horton, that hears a voice on a speck of dust and works to protect it. He learns that there is an entire town living on the speck of dust when he has a conversation with the Mayor of Whoville. His fellow jungle friends don’t believe him and work to destroy the speck of dust, and therefore all of the Whos. Horton encourages them all to shout for help so that the jungle mates will hear them and stop trying to harm them, and when it works, Horton is celebrated as a hero both in Whoville and also in the Jungle of Nool.

Literary elements at work in the story: A rhyming picture book set in the Jungle of Nool, told from the omniscient narrator point of view. Horton works to save the town of Who from the wrath of the unbelieving and mean-spirited jungle mates. The book carries a few themes, including: teamwork, perseverance, trust and care for creation. The theme of care strongly resonates with the line “A person’s a person, no matter how small.”

How does the perspective on gender/race/culture/economic/ability make a difference to the

story? The characters are either animals or fictional people, but gender is noticeable in both the jungle animals as well as the Whos. The small Whos show that no matter size, teamwork can be vital. The Whos were unable to protect themselves from outside danger, so a large protector had to step in and work to save them.

Scripture: I Timothy 4:9-10

Theology: In salvation, God makes the first move and reaches out because God loves us no matter how we respond to God. There is absolutely nothing that we can do to earn God’s love; God offers us love and right relationship as a free gift, not because it is earned by us and not even because we first ask for it. God also gives us the gift of faith so that we can trust that our relationships with God and one another are made right by Jesus Christ.

Faith Talk Questions:

1. What does Horton mean when he says that “a person’s a person no matter how small”?
2. Why do you think Horton risked himself to help the people that he did not even know?
3. Have you ever been “rescued” like Horton rescued the Whos? Tell us about it.
4. How can we, like Horton, reach out and help people how need our help?
5. Can you think of a time in your life when God has helped you or rescued you?

Review prepared by Katie Todd, MDiv/MACE, Entering cohort Fall 2005

Little Blue Truck

Name of Book: Little Blue Truck

Author: Alice Schertle

Illustrator: Jill McElmurry

Publisher: Harcourt Children’s Books, Inc.

Publisher’s Intended Audience: Preschool.  (Message is important for all ages but text is most appropriate for a very young audience. Would be a wonderful story to present as Reader’s Theater- different children could be assigned different parts in the story.)

Summary: Little Blue Truck tells the story of a friendly little truck who always says hello to the animals as he drives by and treats them with kindness and respect.  One day, Blue’s big brother, the Big Yellow Dump Truck, who is always rude and unfriendly to the animals, gets stuck in the mud and cries out for help.  All of the animals ignore him, but Blue tries to help and ends up stuck in the mud too.  When Blue yells for help, all of the animals come running. The Dump realizes how badly he has behaved and learns the importance of friends and help from others.

Literary elements at work in the story: This book features rhyming text, including a lot of fun sounds and animal noises that young children will love.  The illustrations are beautifully done and very funny in places-my daughter loves to spend time looking at all of the details contained in each picture.

The story is set in the countryside, where a little road winds past a big red barn.  It is told by a third-person narrator and teaches the reader that everyone has value and importance regardless of size, that it is okay to ask for help, and that we should be kind to one another.  The adult reader should be prepared to put on their best animal sounds and truck noises when reading aloud to children.  For example, one verxe reads, “’Cluck!’ said a chicken,and her chick said, ‘Peep!’ ‘Maaa!’ said a goat. Blue said, ‘Beep!’”

Perspective on gender/race/culture/economic/ability: One of the key takeaways from this book is the importance of treating everyone with kindness regardless of what they do, who they are, or their outward appearance.  The Big Yellow Dump is disrespectful to the animals and treats them like they do not matter.  He thinks he is too important for them and cannot possibly slow down to allow them to get out of the road when he is driving through.  The Little Blue Truck, on the other hand, is kind to everyone and rushes to the aid of the Dump even though he has been unfriendly.  When both the Dump and Blue end up stuck in the mud, the animals rush to help Blue, but are unable to move the trucks without the big green toad, the smallest of the animals, who proudly shows off his biceps and frees the trucks from the mud.

Scripture: 2 Peter 1:7, Ephesians 4:32, Matthew 7:12, 1 John 3:18, Philippians 2:1-4, Matthew 6:14

Theology: In Little Blue , we are reminded that we learn to be kind by receiving kindness from others.  The greatest kindness any of us has ever known or will ever know is the kindness of God through our Lord Jesus Christ.  When others are unkind, we are commanded to forgive them not once, but as many times as necessary.  Remember, Jesus said of forgiveness, “Jesus said, “Not…until seven times, but until seventy times seven” (Matthew 18:22).  But forgiveness is more than just saying, “I forgive you.”  We must hold no grudge against the one who harmed us- in this book, for example, the animals do not hesitate to forgive the Dump once he has learned his lesson.  Forgiveness also means looking out for the best for others.  When Blue asked the animals for help, they did not hesitate even though they knew they would be helping the Dump as well.  They chose to forgive and look out for both of them.

Faith Talk Questions (Intended for use with preschoolers):

1. How does the Little Blue Truck show kindness to others as he drives along the road?
2. Is the Big Yellow Dump kind?  Why do you think he is so unfriendly to others?
3. What happens when the Dump gets stuck in the mud?  Why do the animals ignore his cries for help?
4. Blue comes to help his big brother when he gets stuck in the mud, even though his brother has been unkind to others.  Why do you think Blue wanted to help him?
5. The animals come to Blue’s rescue but should they have come to the rescue of the Dump before Blue asked them to?  Why?
6. What did the Dump learn once he was rescued?
7. Why is it important for us to show kindness to others?
8. Why is important for us to forgive others when they do something wrong? Who shows forgiveness in this story?

Review prepared by Erin Mills, MA in Christian Education (MACE), Entering Cohort – 2007.