priest, speaker, author
Anna's mostly monthly recommendations of picture books exploring Christian sacred stories, faith and God at home. Picture books are accessible, inspire imagination, powerful and often already a part of family life.
"Jesus, the Word," by Episcopal priest Mark Francisco Bozzuti-Jones and Shelley Hehenberger, shares the basics of the Christian story in a way that invites wonder and curiosity. As we approach Holy Week and Easter, this book encourages conversations around the questions “Who is Jesus?” and “Why do we celebrate Easter?” Its lyrical words, bright illustrations, and inviting theology make it a bookshelf essential for me for any season.
Read More“Make Space for Jesus: Learning about Lent and Easter” by Laura Alary and Ann Boyajian is one of the ways I am entering into Lent at home. Alary’s words are beautifully simple and accessible for children. They are clear and invite mystery. They touch on the traditions of observing Lent and tell how Jesus’s life connects to those practices. They help me find the language to share this season with my child.
Read More“More Precious Than Gold” by Gillian Lobel and Julie Monks steps into this space of wonder. Lobel uses the names that tradition has given the wise men: Caspar, Melchior, and Balthazar. Her words invite us to imagine their journey to Jesus as slower than the traditional Nativity play trip down the center aisle of church. She gives the three distinct characteristics and gifts and introduces animals that Caspar met and cared for along the way.
Read MoreAs we move into the relatively short seasons of Advent and Christmas, I often struggle to narrow down which books to recommend. Both seasons offer us gifts on how to spend our time and so many good books. As someone who is a minimalist in decorating, one of my favorite ways to decorate is to display these beautiful books around my home. Two of the books that will be displayed this year are “Waiting Is Not Easy” by Mo Willems for Advent and for “Silent Night” illuminated by Lara Hawthorne for Christmas.
Read MoreIf, like me, you've ever wondered why Francis of Assisi is associated with animals, I highly recommend "The Song of Francis and the Animals" by Pat Mora and David Frampton. Mora's words and Frampton's woodcuts invite the reader into a glimpse of St. Francis's peaceful relationship with the world around him, including the Wolf of Gubbio.
Read More“Miriam at the River” by Jane Yolen and Khoa Le explore this story from Miriam’s perspective. Yolen’s words and Le’s illustrations create a colorful backdrop to engage this sacred story. What was Miriam thinking and feeling as she watched her baby brother float along the river? What did she see? What did she fear? And what did she hope?
Read More“Hats of Faith” by Medeia Cohan and Sarah Walsh is July’s picture book and toddler endorsed – my toddler asks for over, over, and over again… It is an introduction to the shared religious custom by many of covering their heads. The board book’s rhythmic format is simple, teaching in both word and image. Although targeted at children, my vocabulary of religious headwear has increased.
Read More“Dear Mama God” is both simple and revolutionary. The words are simple, and I can imagine a child praying them. It is revolutionary in teaching the often-overlooked feminine images of God from an early age.
Read MorePentecost is not just an ancient story, it is about us, here and now. It is about the ongoing life of the followers of Jesus. As a part observing this Feast Day and season, I am re-reading a favorite Pentecost picture book, "The Day When God Made Church," by Rebekah McLeod Hutto and Stephanie Haig.
Read MoreOne of my joys this year is remembering that Easter is a whole season and that the good news of Jesus’ resurrection does not need to be crammed into only Easter Sunday. For the season, one of the books my family is reading is "This is the Mystery of Easter" by Amelia Richardson Dress and Lilly J. Moore. The strength of the book is the text. In the author’s notes, Dress shares that when writing, she considered all of the questions children (and adults) have asked her about Easter like: why did Jesus die? Did God want Jesus to die?
Read MoreFrazee’s adaptation and illumination of this prayer is just that: a prayer for all ages that engages sight and sound. My toddler, husband, and I all sit and wonder about the moments in life and relationships that she captures… When I look at Frazee’s illustrations, I glimpse different everyday moments: blowing bubbles, playing with a friend, tears, an arm around another, potty training. I see the ordinary and I see the Holy in these moments and the relationships she has captured.
Read More“How We Eat,” written by Shuli de la Fuente-Lau… is not religious and yet I notice images of the Holy within it. I notice in the book’s photos the magnificent diversity of God’s people. I notice the joy of eating and sharing. It is a starting point to talk about similarities and differences.
Read More“The Worried Wiseman” by Susan Eaddy is a beautiful way to enter the story of Epiphany. It invites the reader to wonder about the wisemen. What was their journey like? How does their story speak to ours?
Read MoreI believe the shattering of that meekly perfect portrayal of Mary is part of our call as followers of Jesus. This month’s book, “The Nativity,” illustrated by Julie Vivas, does this shattering with so much charm.. Vivas’s illustrations show everyday, imperfect people, living their lives when angels disrupt it.
Read MoreAs much as I considered other books for November, my heart kept returning to my toddler’s baptism and therefore my own book, “Today Is a Baptism Day,” written for families like mine. Although not perfect, it is a starting point for wondering about baptism as a family. Right now we play “find Mommy” in the book. And what struck me this time was the space to personalize your family’s baptism story. Family and friends wrote and drew hopes, memories, and prayers for my toddler on the blank pages in back for him to return to over and over again. The above photo will be glued along with baptism cards within the covers. His book is becoming more than my words and Peter Kruger’s illustrations; it is becoming my toddler’s baptism story.
Read MoreIn “Our Little Kitchen” by Jillian Tamaki, a group of neighbors come together to create a meal for their community with the resources they have. There’s a chaotic intimacy among those who come together to dine that to me is a glimpse of the Holy. Tamaki’s illustrations draw me in from page one. Each time I read I find a new character or scene to wonder about. This time, it’s the character who says, “Well, it’s not perfect but it’s the best I could do…”
Read MoreWe remain in the season after Pentecost, a season that is often associated with green and growth. One of the ways I have heard the Holy Spirit move and encourage growth within me is in the question: How do we listen to and lift up sacred stories that are often ignored? "Let the Children March" by Monica Clark-Robinson and Frank Morrison is one of my answers to that question. It tells the story Birmingham Children's Crusade of 1963.
Read More“Loved: The Lord’s Prayer” by Sally Lloyd-Jones and Jago invites you to ponder the words you pray in language that is accessible for all ages. Jago’s illustrations keep my toddler pulling this book from his bookshelf to explore the pages without me.
Read MoreGrowing up, my ideas of what happened after Jesus’ crucifixion were fuzzy. What did all of the big words mean: resurrection? ascension? Pentecost? When did they happen? Why? I did like picturing tongues of fire. What I appreciate about “Jesus is Risen!” is that it tells Jesus’ story as a single narrative from the empty tomb to Pentecost, rather than as disconnected events remembered on different days of the liturgical year.
Read MoreI read hundreds of picture books a year. Right now, at my toddler's request, I read some books hundreds of times. "Mother God" by Teresa Kim Pecinvosky and Khoa Le stands out among them all as one of my favorites. I am thrilled to add it to our family book basket and share it with you. Words and images can limit our understanding of God or help us near God. We limit God by only having a few ways to describe God. And we can near God through multiple words and images. Reading "Mother God" helps me expand my own images and understanding of God. It gives me hope in knowing that my child will grow up with feminine images in addition to the masculine images currently throughout my tradition's liturgical language.
Read MoreI am a priest, an author, a wife, a daughter, and an expectant adoptive mother. Welcome to my website.
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