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.

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.

Book of the Week: Great Joy

Title: Great Joy

Author: Kate DiCamillo

Illustrator: Bagram Ibatoulline

What does it look like outside?

What does it look like inside?

What do I like about it?

This is a story about love and great joy at Christmas. It is about how everyone is important to God. The little girl in the story is the one who notices a homeless man who the adults have forgotten or ignored. She invites him to the Christmas Pageant at church. The joy is complete when all are together, warm and loved.

The 1940s pictures are beautiful!

Although the book does not mention Jesus, I would say that it is "Christ-centred" in that it is about how Jesus' birth means love for all. I think it would be suitable for reading at church, at home, or in a setting like a school.

Are there any drawbacks?

No!

Areas for further exploration with kids: How does Jesus relate to "Great joy"? How can we bring justice and care to people who are experiencing homelessness?

Where can it be purchased?

It is available at most local libraries.

There is a different edition available at Chapters: https://www.chapters.indigo.ca/en-ca/home/search/?keywords=great%20joy%20kate#internal=1

The version I have is available at Amazon: https://www.amazon.ca/Great-Joy-Kate-DiCamillo/dp/0763629200/ref=sr_1_14?crid=1O4R8P0UTA3P5&keywords=kate+dicamillo+books&qid=1574087513&sprefix=Kate+di%2Caps%2C154&sr=8-14

Book of the Week: "God's Dream"

Title: "God's Dream"

Authors: Archbishop Desmond Tutu and Douglas Carlton Abrams

Illustrator: LeUyen Pham

What does it look like outside?

What does it look like inside?

What do I like about it?

The word "dream" has been chosen to talk about God's vision and hopes for the world. This is very similar to the theology of the Kingdom of God. I like the repetition of "God dreams..." at the beginning of each page.

The illustrations and beautiful and tell interesting stories. The children featured in the illustrations are diverse.

The book gives concrete and simple ways in which children can love others and God, living out God's dream.

The book is simple and easy to read at church or home.

Are there any drawbacks?

I am always wary of children's books which talk about "being good." On the bright side, this book very clearly talks about forgiveness and how God loves us even when we do wrong. I wish that the book had talked a little more about grace and about how God's dream is not something we can "achieve" on our own. But maybe I'm asking too much of a picture book!

The book is very respectful of other religions - which is not a drawback but a plus! However, as a Christian, I would have appreciated if this book were a little more specific: How does Jesus fit into God's dream?

I would definitely recommend this book in any case!

Where can it be purchased?

It is widely available at Christian and secular bookstores.

At Chapters (in Canada): https://www.chapters.indigo.ca/en-ca/books/gods-dream/9780763633882-item.html?ikwid=god%27s+dream&ikwsec=Home&ikwidx=0

You can hear the book read here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rtmfEy5JXTo