Media Matters

 Picture book by Ann Jonas. A great introduction to color mixing. It would be fun to try re-creating this with sheer scarves (red, yellow, blue, white, gray, and black).

 Book by The Arbinger Institute. Rather than a typical nonfiction self-help book, this book teaches its principles through a fictional story where the characters then apply those principles to various situations in their lives. It made the book quite a fast read, and I absolutely felt the truth of what was being taught. Its basic premise is that more important than behavior is the motive or desire or “way of being” behind it. (Two people could do the same outward actions, but for very different reasons.) In any given moment we are seeing others either as people or as objects. And that way of seeing others affects how we view and react to everything else. There are countless applications for the principles in this book: marriage, parenting, community, business, politics, leadership, etc. As divisive and contemptuous as our current society is, these principles are sorely needed. This would be a good companion book to Arthur Brooks’ Love Your Enemies.

 Picture book by Sarah Weeks. The rhyme and rhythm are perfect, and the silliness is charming.

 Picture book by Kevin Henkes. A darling story about a little girl who does something mean in anger, then apologizes, asks forgiveness, and tries to make things right.

 Picture book by Rick Walton. This book takes the nursery rhyme of the woman who lived in a shoe and greatly improves upon it, portraying a loving mother rabbit tucking in her 26 bunnies. Each bunny’s name begins with a different letter of the alphabet, and is counted in alphabetical order. Detailed illustrations add to the fun of this rhyming bedtime story.

 Picture book by Maya Ajmera. What a lovely book! It introduces people of faith around the world based on what they have in common: praying, chanting and singing, reading holy books, listening and learning, cleansing, holy places, holidays and festivals, marking important events, religious clothing, food and drink, caring for and helping others, etc. The book features actual photographs of children practicing their various faiths. This would be a great way to both learn about other religions, and also a great discussion starter about how your religion practices these things. To that end, it would be fun to take pictures of your family members practicing their faith and insert them between the corresponding pages of your family’s copy of the book.

 Picture book by Susan Heyboer O’Keefe. I like that this is first and foremost a fun story that also happens to have some counting. Great illustrations and rhymes about rude and messy monsters begging for a little boy to feed them. Nothing spooky or scary about these monsters, so great for any age.

 Picture book by Audrey Wood. A delightful cumulative tale with evocative illustrations.

 Picture book by Dr. Seuss. I love this story about a foolish king and a brave boy and the magic inherent in owning your mistakes and apologizing. This is a longer Dr. Seuss story with no rhyming, and very well written. “If you won’t even say you’re sorry, you’re no sort of a king at all.”

 Picture book by Susan Wojciechowski. A story about grief and healing and kindness and of course Jesus. Definitely wordy and for older kids and adults.

 Picture book by Caralyn Beuhner. I liked that rather than just wishing, Dex acted and worked hard to make his dreams a reality. And I also liked that his desire was to help people, even those who had made fun of him. A fun nod to comic book heroes.

 Book by C.S. Lewis. This is an allegory, the story of people in hell boarding a bus and visiting heaven for the day to see if they want to stay. Unfortunately, most refuse to embrace the joy being offered because they are too focused on themselves (their perceived goodness, their unworthiness, their pride, their grudges they wouldn’t let go of, their fame, their intellect, their control, their relationships, their talents, etc.) to focus on God. So many profound insights that rang true! Some quotes: “There are only two kinds of people in the end: those who say to God, "Thy will be done," and those to whom God says, in the end, "Thy will be done." All that are in Hell, choose it. Without that self-choice there could be no Hell. No soul that seriously and constantly desires joy will ever miss it. Those who seek find. To those who knock it is opened.” “No natural feelings are high or low, holy or unholy, in themselves. They are all holy when God’s hand is on the rein....

 Picture book by Seth Meyers. Bear is scared of everything, and bunny is scared of nothing. Bear’s anxiety causes him to miss out on some safe and fun adventures, while Bunny’s fearlessness causes her to underestimate something that’s actually dangerous. Bear ends up conquering his fears to help rescue Bunny and they both hopefully end up wiser. A fun discussion starter!

 Picture book by Steph Williams. This is a picture book version of the parable of the wise man and the foolish man, with some fun onomatopoeia!

 Picture book by Dr. Seuss. A fabulous commentary on the arms race and war in general, with a cliffhanger ending where you don’t know if the bombs get dropped or not. This is obviously aimed at older readers.

Nonfiction narrative by Candice Millard. This book is proof that reality is stranger than fiction! What a fascinating account of a president I knew nothing about prior to reading this!  I was so impressed by James Garfield’s humility, integrity, and servant leadership. I was so angry at the pride of the doctor whose incompetence ended up killing him. I was astounded at how the assassin lived with such deep psychosis and extensive lawbreaking for so many years, yet was never caught or locked up. And I absolutely loved the vice president’s change of heart and the stranger who inspired him to be better! Note: there is brief mention of a free love commune where people have multiple sexual partners, but beyond that I can’t think of any adult content at all! Highly recommended for teens and adults.