Library Gems

I went off to my local library today, in search of literary gems suggested in the spiritual section of Gladys Hunt's Honey For A Child's Heart, The Imaginative Use of Books in Family Life. With my two-year-old in tow, looking for a specific book proved quite challenging. Instead, I grabbed a handful of books that looked interesting, happening to find two of Ms. Hunt's suggestions, quite by accident. She suggests Prayer For A Child, featured below, as well as Psalm Twenty-Three, also featured below. All the others are wonderful too, though not mentioned in her book! Enjoy!

The Ancient World Of The Bible, by Malcolm Day

This is a wonderful Bible companion!  It shows artifacts, ancient maps, detailed time lines, and interesting facts revealing the customs and daily lives of various people of ancient times. Truly fascinating for ages 6 to adult. (14 x 9, 76 pages)

The Illustrated Children's Old Testament, Paintings by Bill Farnsworth, 1993.

Written in fairly large print at about a third- or fourth-grade level, this beautifully illustrated book serves as a read aloud, or as a devotional tool for young readers. (Big and heavy, with171 pages)

Daniel in the Lion's Den, Retold and Illustrated by Jean Marzollo, author of 130 books, including the award-winning I Spy series. Her Amazon author's page is here. She's written several Bible story books, including David and Goliath, Ruth and Naomi, Jonah and the Whale, and Miriam and Her Brother Moses.

When Jean Marzollo heard this story as a child, she wondered how the angel shut the lions' mouths so that they couldn't harm Daniel. She uses her imagination to retell the story to include what she thinks happened in the cave. Delightful retelling!

Prayer For A Child, By Rachel Field, Illustrated by Elizabeth Orton Jones

Written in 1941, this precious book won The Caldecott Medal for its illustrations. One look inside and you'll fall in love! I swooned over every picture. And the prayer is quite a gem too.  A few sentences a page, appropriate for ages 3-7.

Psalm Twenty-Three, Illustrated by Tim Ladwig

Against the backdrop of an inner city, Tim Ladwig makes this Psalm come alive with rich illustrations, providing children insight into the meaning

.

The Lord's Prayer, Illustrated by Tim Ladwig

A young girl and her father help an elderly neighbor, illustrating the meaning of the Lord's Prayer as they love her with their actions. I loved the sweetness, the simplicity, the truth....made me get tears in my eyes.

A New Pasttime Around Here

Can you guess where my kids have been spending a lot of time lately? Remember my curriculum selling venture?

Hints:
~ Their recent playtime has included the phrases listed below.
~ My new scotch tape is long gone.
~ The Christmas wrap left over from last December is also long gone.
~ Their Little Tykes shopping cart now delivers packages.

New Lingo:

"Can I help the next person?"
"How are you today?"
"Anything perishable or flammable?"
"Do you need a book of stamps?"
"Credit or debit?"

Journaling Notes, Matthew 9-14

It was ten o'clock at night and my two year old awoke with loud cries, it being time for her next ibuprofen dose. I gave her the medicine and nursed her, promptly falling asleep myself. Nursing always makes me so sleepy.

But I hadn't finished reading my fourteen chapters of Matthew, and it was already Wednesday night! If I give you homework, I surely must complete it myself.

So, the Lord brought on the loudest thunderstorm I've ever heard.

I awoke with a start at 1:30 AM.

A bad headache drove me to take two Excedrin Tension Headache tablets, which kept me awake long enough to finish off my study of Matthew, through chapter 14. They contain caffeine, so I try to avoid them at night when possible.

I love the Gospels! So much meat there....so many wonderful reminders. What struck me the most in my wee-hours study was this:


We must be sincere in our faith. Jesus always had very harsh words for the Pharisees and Teachers of the Law. His disgust with them knew no bounds.With his own disciples he was firm but gentle. Among the sick and the poor, he showed only compassion. But oh, how he abhored the hypocrites. Ouch!

His keeping me up until the wee hours was a reminder. Be sincere in your faith. I was wrong to let school preparation and other things get in the way of my Bible study. With interruptions, it took three hours to finish the last six chapters of Matthew. Not reading them alone, but in studying commentary on the verses as well, because them parables 'ain't easy to figure. I would have been done in an hour or less, if I'd not left six chapters to do in one night.

We all have some Pharisee in us. I see clearly that to remain sincere in our faith, to keep our hearts pure, we need to reread the gospels frequently. Jesus' treatment of the Pharisees cuts right through us. Our own sin screams at us as we take in Jesus' harsh, uncompromising words.

The new homework, due next Wednesday:  Finish Matthew

Tell me, what have you learned this week?

Just a little note......I haven't abandoned my series on prayer....specifically, on the Lord's Prayer. I'll get to it, as well as to more Catherine Marshall. 

elevate it, he says

Does the hospital bracelet in the background, and the swollen toddler knee give you some hint about my morning?

A sprain, not a break. Elevate it, says the ER Doc. And put on Barney. Then he winks at me, knowing full well toddlers don't stand for elevation or bedrest.

Pray for a quick recovery, with no complications?  Thank you! I'm grateful it's not worse, and praying no infection develops in the joint, which can happen with trauma.

Miss Beth fell in the driveway in the late afternoon yesterday, and it was no big deal.....

....Until this morning, when she woke up limping, sporting a fat knee. Her doctor said to take her to the ER.

By the time the ibuprofen kicked in and the doctor came in to see us--one hour, four children, small examining room, ugh!--Miss Beth was all ready to prance around the examining room like a fashion model, smiling like a little flirt the whole while.

Enhancing Spiritual Growth Through Books

Ugh! I'm deep into selling and buying curriculum (less buying than selling at this point). Looks like the income from selling goes to smog repairs on the van, much to my frustration.

Anyhow, at our house school doesn't start until the end of September. The milder, beautiful September weather calls us to parks for hiking and exploring....this being one of my favorite months. Hints of fall color only enhance our joy!

Though there's little writing time in this curriculum-planning season, I did want to share a little from Gladys Hunt's Honey For A Child's Heart: The Imaginative Use of Books in Family Life.





Chapter 22, Nourishing your Child's Spiritual Life, gives us some gems to enjoy with our children. First, she suggests well-known and well-loved Bible Storybooks, but there's also a longer list of books to enhance Christian understanding. Let's look at the Bible Storybooks first, though I won't cover her entire list (she gives six suggestions).

Well-Known and Well-Loved Bible Storybooks: 

All book suggestions and text below taken from Honey For A Child's Heart, 2002, pg. 216.

1.  Mary Batchelor, The Children's Bible in 365 Stories
The stories are accurate, brief, and written in excellent prose. It's just right for ages 4 -12. A good book to establish family Bible reading.

2.  Karyn Henley, The Beginner's Bible, il. Dennas Davis
Written at second-grade level for kids to read on their own.

Following her six Bible Storybook suggestions, Gladys gives us 30 more book suggestions to enhance Christian understanding.  I'll list several here:

More Books For Christian Understanding: 

All text and book suggestions below taken from Honey For A Child's Heart, 2002, pgs. 217, 218.

1.  Nan Gurley, Twice Yours, A Parable of God's Gift, il. Bill Farnsworth
A gentle story of a grandfather telling his grandson the story of a boat he once made for himself. When he lost the boat, he bought it back again. The grandfather applies this to what God has done for us. Ages 4 -10

2. Dave and Neta Jackson, Hero Tales
Fifteen stories of Christian heroes. Ages 6 -10

3.  Paul Little, Know Why You Believe
Thoughtful answers to some difficult questions. Books for a thinking young person. Young adult.
By the same author: Know What You Believe


4. Helen L. Taylor, Little Pilgrim's Progress
Simplified version of the famous Bunyan classic that captures the essence of its spiritual truths without writing "down" to children. Ages 8 -12

That's all for today!  To start, we are definitely obtaining Little Pilgrim's Progress, Hero's Tales, and The Children's Bible in 365 Stories.