Hush Harbor

Title:  Hush Harbor:  Praying in Secret

Author: Freddi Williams Evans

Illustrator: Erin Bennett Banks

Publisher: Carolrhoda Books

ISBN: 9780822579056

Audience: Grades 2-4 (grades 4-5 in my opinion)

Summary: Before the war between the states slaves were generally forbidden to gather because owners feared that they might plot rebellion.  At work in the cotton fields the message would be whispered, “Meetin’ tonight” and passed along the rows of slaves who would then gather for prayer and worship that night in secret.  Hush Harbor is the account of such a meeting when slaves meet to pray for Mama Aku who is sick.  Simmy, a boy assigned the job of look-out, narrates the event.  Slaves at work in the field anticipate the secret meeting and begin to hum and sing, “Steal Away, Steal Away to Jesus.” Hush Harbor is a place deep in the woods where the slaves pray and worship in the way they want to, not as their white owners want them to.  Simmy, perched in a tree while the people sing and pray, hears hounds baying and knows trouble is near.  The paterollers and their dogs are out seeking a runaway slave but they are very near the meeting.  The slaves encounter the runaway and guide him to a safe hiding place, then return quietly and quickly to their cabins..

Literary elements at work in the story: This isn’t quite a story; it’s more of a slice of life told by a boy of perhaps eight or nine. And it’s not quite told in dialect but consonants are dropped and words are omitted.  The event is fully supported by strong, rather primitive art work that brings the night, the forest, the secret place and the worshipers to life. The author gives a brief history of religion among African-Americans in antebellum days at the conclusion of the book. The subject, the illustrations, and the text make this book appropriate for older children.

How does the perspective on gender/race/culture/economics/ability make a difference to the story?  Race dominates the story. The cultural differences in white and African-American worship are significant.

Theological Conversation Partners: Two facts stand out in this narrative: slavery was a cruel and oppressive evil and faith in Jesus, once adopted and adapted by slaves, was a source of joy and comfort to them. Jesus’ statement about worship (John 4:23-4) will inform any discussion of worship, in this case the Pentecostal aspects of the slave’s worship compared with the more liturgical worship of the white churches. The courage it took to worship God as they chose is a reminder of the courage it still takes today around the world to worship.  And scripture abounds with the promises of comfort and strength for those who follow Jesus: John 14:27, 16:23; Philippians 4:13; Psalm 23, 145:18,19.  Jesus’ admonition to “pray in secret” (Math. 6:5) doesn’t fit this situation but a profitable discussion of his meaning and the slave practice could arise. African slaves first heard the gospel through white people and slave owners, yet the truth of the gospel transcended this beginning.  What part did black churches and the gospel play in emancipation and in the Civil Rights movement?

Faith Talk Questions:

1. How did the slaves feel about going to a secret meeting? Do you or most of the people you know feel that way about going to worship?
2. What part did music play in the lives of the slaves?  Did you recognize any of the songs?
3. What facts tell you how hard the life of a slave was?
4. Why did the slaves have to meet in secret? What was the penalty if they were caught?
5. How was the worship of the slaves different from the worship in the white churches?  Is there one right way to worship God?  What did Jesus say about true worship?
6. African-American’s first heard the gospel through white people and slave owners. Why did they accept it?  How did it affect their lives?
7. What part did black churches play in the Civil Rights movement?

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

Naamah and the Ark at Night

Name of Book:  Naamah and the Ark at Night

Author:  Susan Campbell Bartoletti

Illustrator: Holly Meade

Publisher: Candlewick Press

ISBN: 978-0-7636-4242-6

Audience: 4 and up, intergenerational, women, new parents or mixed age choirs

Summary:  Noah’s wife, Naamah, sings all through the night to the animals of the ark.

Literary elements at work in the story:  In the opening double page illustration, the ark’s bow is heaving in storm churned waves. A mood of unease continues as Noah tosses in his sleep and “restless animals prowl…pace and roar and growl”.  Enter, in the first silvered background and cut out silhouette, Noah’s wife, Naamah and the refrain “sings all through the night”. Bright watercolor collage images are shown of Naamah soothing the animals, her sleeping sons and their wives. The beasts and birds fall asleep with necks and tails curled around each other and a quiet calm is established. In a story that takes place at night, there is never a sense of flat blackness. My daughter, an illustration student at University of Kansas, pointed out that the silhouettes, night sky, bears and ravens are cut from washes of India ink and texture and shading is evident. Such detail is engrossing.

The rhythmic text is like a song itself. The ending author’s note explains that, while unnamed in the Bible, legend calls Noah’s wife, Naamah, meaning “great singer” and “because her deeds were pleasant”. “The form of Naamah and the Ark at Night was inspired by a poetic structure called a ghazal. The ghazal is a very old and extremely disciplined Arabic form…that requires each couplet to end in the same word, preceded by a rhyming word.” I am glad that I did not see the author’s note until after my first reading because I enjoyed going back through the text noting the repeating end word “night” and seeing all the rhyming words in formation. The last illustration of the ark level in the calm sea and the final line “Cradled by the song of night. Hush hush hush, good night” is a peaceful end to this beautiful lullaby.

Theological conversation partners: A midrash of the biblical story, this book could be used as a companion to reading about Noah and the ark. I can imagine a survey of stories in the Hebrew Scripture and New Testament that involve stormy seas. What is revealed about the divine in these stories? Playing with an ark and animals toy is often a first memory of engaging in a Bible story through hands on experience. It is interesting that the ark is an iconic nursery image because what do we do when older children wonder about those left in the rising waters? A less complicated truth is evident in the theological circle of giving blessings through God’s first blessing us. Naamah is singing prayers.

Faith Talk Questions:

1. Looking at the first pages, what do you think it sounded like in the ark during the storm?
2. Which animals did you like best and why?
3. What do you do to feel calm at night?
4. What is a lullaby? Children might chuckle over the image of Naamah soothing her grown sons and adults might engage in a discussion of calming sleep rituals…
5. I think, as she sings, Naamah is blessing everything. What does it mean to give a blessing?
6. Who do you bless?
7. Who blesses you?
8. Where do you see God acting in the story?

This review was written by Union Presbyterian Seminary student Robin Crawford.

Faith

Name of Book: Faith

Author: Maya Ajmera, Magda Nakassis, Cynthia Pon

Illustrator: Various photographers

Publisher: Charlesbridge; Global Fund for Children

Audience: Ages 8 -12

Summary: A book of photographs of children from across the world, of various faiths, participating in elements of their particular faiths. The elements of faith included are: prayer, chanting and singing, reading holy books, listening and learning, cleansing, holy places, holidays and festivals, marking important life events, dress, food and drink, and caring for and helping others. There is also a glossary of terms at the end of the book.

Literary elements at work in the story: This is an informational, book of photographs that include images from settings and locations all over the world. The information about the photographs and events is told from the perspective of an omniscient narrator. All of the pictures include children engaging in the faith elements and events.

How does the perspective on gender/race/culture/economic/ability make a difference to the story? The book shows children of varied races, cultures and economic statuses and is very good to show both boys and girls involved in the activities. There are no photographs of physical abilities, but strong mental abilities are assumed based on some activities the children are engaging in.

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5:7

Theology: As loved children of God, we are created to enjoy the creation of God. We do this by living in community with one another; caring for, loving, living in faith with, and loving one another. We believe that we are a community of faith, called together by God, and that God calls us to live our lives by having faith, not by just relying on what we can see, touch and feel.

Faith Talk Questions:

1. What are some of the things the children are doing in the book?
2. Do you do any of those things?
3. What do you do that they are doing?
4. How is what we do different or the same as what the children in the book were doing?
5. Does God hear prayers from all children?
6. Can we still worship God even if we don’t go to this church or Sunday School?
7. Do you know anyone that has different beliefs than you?

Review prepared by Union Presbyterian Seminary student Mason Todd