Book of the Week: "Refuge"

Title: Refuge: The Timeless Story of Christmas

Author: Anne Booth

Illustrator: Sam Usher

What does it look like outside?

What does it look like inside?

About the book...

After the stable and the shepherds, Mary and Joseph took Jesus and they fled to Egypt. They were refugees, protecting Jesus from King Herod, who wanted to kill him.

Refuge follows this part of the Christmas story. It reminds us of the millions of people who are refugees today. 

What do I like about it?

I think that the book is true to the biblical story. The words and illustrations speak powerfully of safety in a time of fear, and of hope in a time of darkness.

The book is told from the perspective of the donkey. I was surprised by this choice, but it was well done.

The story of one family can touch us in ways that statistics alone sometimes do not.

Are there any drawbacks?

My copy is a little on the small side - a shame because I would have loved to show everyone the pictures at church. But it would be great for home use.

Where can it be purchased?

https://www.chapters.indigo.ca/en-ca/books/refuge/9780316361729-item.html?ikwid=refuge&ikwsec=Home&ikwidx=1

https://www.amazon.ca/Refuge-Anne-Booth/dp/0316361720/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1575906260&sr=8-1-fkmr0

On Amazon, the Kindle version is only $2.99 (in Dec. 2019). There are also lots of gently used copies available.

Livre de la semaine: Les Psaumes pour les tout-petits

Titre: Les Psaumes pour les tout-petits

Auteur: Marie-Hélène Delval

Illustrateur: Arno

Voici l'extérieur du livre...

Voici l'intérieur du livre...

Qu'est-ce que j'aime dans le livre?

Le livre est paisible et exprime bien les émotions de la vie humaine. Les psaumes ne sont pas normalement dans les livres de récits bibliques, mais ils sont pourtant importants.

Dans les mots de l'auteur: "Pour prier avec les jeunes enfants, les mots des psaumes conviennent particulièrement: inventés par les croyants du fond des âges, ils disent encore aujourd'hui l'éloignement vertigineux et l'intime proximité de Dieu."

Les images sont créatives.

Est-ce qu'il y a des choses que je n'aime pas?

Non, je l'aime bien.

Où est-ce qu'on peut l'acheter? 

https://www.renaud-bray.com/Livres_Produit.aspx?id=1241203&def=Psaumes+pour+les+tout-petits,DELVAL,+MARIE-HÉLENE,9782747038188

https://www.archambault.ca/livres/psaumes-pour-les-tout-petits-les/marie-helene-delval/2747011291/?id=33190

https://www.amazon.ca/psaumes-pour-tout-petits-Marie-Hélène-Delval/dp/2747011291

Book of the Week: A Church for All

Title: A Church for All

Author: Gayle E Pitman

Illustrator: Laure Fournier

What does it look like outside?

What does it look like inside?

What is it about?

It is Sunday morning, and families of all kinds are coming to church. The book talks about the many ways people are different, and about how all of us are are an important part of the Church. 

We read this book at church and it was interesting to see how the kids interpreted it in different ways according to their experiences and ages.

What do I like about it?

At the most basic: It is a picture book about inclusion of people all across the LGBTQ2SIA+ spectrum! This already makes it an amazing book.

I loved the simple words about how all of us are welcome. I also loved the pictures, which have all of these little hidden gems. (Like the baby with jam on her face!)

I loved the way that it highlights how all of us are welcome at church. It doesn't matter if we are differently abled, or over-dressed, or a bit messy, or our kids are super loud. We are all welcome!

At the risk of offering book purists: We didn't need the dust jacket, so I cut out the picture from its front. It is now decorating my office door.

The book is going to have a prominent place in our bookshelf as one way of saying "Welcome!" to all kinds of families who visit our church.

Are there any drawbacks?

Nope! I only wish that this author and illustrator would team up for another book.

Where can it be purchased?

https://www.chapters.indigo.ca/en-ca/books/a-church-for-all/9780807511794-item.html?ikwid=a+church+for+all&ikwsec=Home&ikwidx=0

https://www.amazon.ca/Church-All-Gayle-Pitman/dp/080751179X/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=a+church+for+all&qid=1574797238&sr=8-1

And more...

The dust jacket of the book had some wonderful pictures. I cut the front and back of the dust jacket to  post on my office door. I hope that these decorations will help communicate to all people that they are welcome in the church.