8th Sunday after Pentecost 18th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A:  August 3, 2014 First Reading:  Genesis 32:22-31 Eric The Boy Who Lost His Gravity by Jenni Desmond (Written for ages 5-8) Comment:  Jacob wrestles with a man and refuses to let the man go. We don’t know exactly who...

Title: A Mother for Choco Author: Keiko Kasza Illustrator: Keiko Kasza Publisher: G. P. Putnam’s Sons ISBN: 0399218416 Audience: Ages 3-6 Summary: Choco is a little bird who lives all alone and who sets off one day to find his mother.  Though bits of him match other mothers in...

7th Sunday after Pentecost Year A:  July 27, 2014 First Reading:  Genesis 29:15-28 The Girl and the Bicycle by Mark Pett (Written for all ages) Comment:  Jacob’s love for Rachel made his seven years of service to Laban seem like just a few day. When talking about this text with...

Title: Three Bears in a Boat Author: David Soman Illustrator: David Soman Publisher:  Dial Books for Young Readers Publication Date:  May 2014 ISBN: 9780803739932 Audience:  Ages 3-5 Summary:  Three sibling bears break their mother’s favorite blue shell as they try to sneak a jar...

6th Sunday after Pentecost Year A:  July 20, 2014 First Reading:  Genesis 28:10-19a The Magic Pillow by Demi (Written for ages 5-9) Comment:  When Jacob lays his head on the stone, God comes to him in a dream revealing the future for he and his offspring. Through the dream he...

We have come to the end of our five session series on hymn texts in books for children.  Krista Lovell has done a wonderful job of sharing some great reviews and lesson plans that can form the basis of a summer church school series, or with expansion, even a Vacation Church...

Title: He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands Author: Kadir Nelson Illustrator: Kadir Nelson Publisher: Dial (September 8, 2005) ISBN: 978-0803728509 Audience: Ages 4 and up Summary: The American spiritual “He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands” is one of the best known songs of...

5th Sunday after Pentecost Year A:  July 13, 2014 First Reading:  Genesis 25:19-34 The Pain and the Great One by Judy Blume (Written for ages 5-9) Comment:  We encounter a classic case of sibling rivalry with the story of Esau and Jacob. Kids with siblings are likely to be able...