Title: Ms. Bixby’s Last Day Author: John David Anderson Publisher: Walden Pond Press ISBN:  9780062338174 Audience: Ages 8-12 Summary:  In the taxonomy of teachers devised by the sixth-grade protagonists of this novel, Ms. Bixby is one of the rare “Good Ones,” the kind that make...

Pentecost Year A:  June 4, 2017 First Reading: Numbers 11:24-30 Me, Too! by Annika Dunklee (Written for ages 4-8) Comment: In this text some of the people are jealous on Moses’ behalf, as if there is only room for God’s Spirit to rest upon one person. Often jealousy...

Pentecost Year 3: June 4, 2017 Preaching Texts: Acts 2:1-4 and Galatians 4:1-7 Radiant Child: The Story of Young Artist Jean-Michel Basquiat by Javaka Steptoe (Written for ages 4-8) Comment: These Pentecost texts touch on identity- who we are as Spirit-filled children of God. On...

Name of Book: The Youngest Marcher: The Story of Audrey Faye Hendricks, a Young Civil Rights Activist Author:  Cynthia Levinson Illustrator: Vanessa Brantley Newton Publisher: Atheneum Books for Young Readers (1/17/2017) ISBN: 978-1-4814-0070-1 Audience: 5-10 years old Summary:...

7th Sunday of Easter Year A:  May 28, 2017 First Reading: Acts 1:6-14 Knock Knock: My Dad’s Dream for Me by Daniel Beaty (Written for ages 5-9) Comment: “Despite Christ’s departure, there is no need, however, to speak of an “absentee Christology” in Acts. Though absent as a...

Seventh Sunday of Easter Year 3: May 28, 2017 Preaching Text: Galatians 3:1-9; 23-29 Lucía the Luchadora by Cynthia Leonor Garza (Written for ages 4-8) Comment: In her commentary on this text, Regina Langley emphasizes that “being clothed with Christ… ushers in a new way of...

6th Sunday of Easter Year A:  May 21, 2017 First Reading: Acts 17:22-31 The Rough-Face Girl by Rafe Martin (Written for ages 5-9) Comment:  “…they would search for God and perhaps grope for him and find him—though indeed he is not far from each one of us.” God’s...

Name of Book:  Horrible Bear! Author:  Ame Dyckman Illustrator: Zachariah OHora Publisher: Little, Brown and Company. ISBN: 978-0-316-28283-3 Audience:  Early primary (Would be appropriate for 4-5 year olds also.) Summary: A young girl finds herself feeling very angry when her...