Stepping Stones: Children's Books on Immigration and Refugees

"And whoever in the name of a disciple gives to one of these little ones even a cup of cold water to drink, truly I say to you, he shall not lose his reward."  Matthew 10:42

In keeping with my recent readings about the refugee crisis, I thought I would pass along a superb roundup of children's books about refugees. Jen Gann at NYMag.com's The Cut praises titles such as Stepping Stones: A Refugee Family's Journey by Margriet Ruurs for help with "explaining to children that the heart and soul of America is to welcome others to our country who need a safe place to make a home."

Stepping Stones

How can teachers use books like Stepping Stones in the classroom?

• Read aloud and notice how illustrations enhance the narrative
• Make predictions about what will happen after the end of the story
• Pair with art lessons; allow students to illustrate part of the story in a different art medium
• Conduct a Socratic seminar using the book and related texts to explore the facts and controversies of the refugee crisis
• Give an art show displaying student interpretations of the story in art and poetry
• Pair with current news articles and photos
• Create a classroom newspaper with students' articles about the refugee crisis
• Springboard to writing assignments like song lyrics, diary entries, letters, and research essays

From the blurb for Stepping Stones on Amazon.com: 

This unique picture book was inspired by the stone artwork of Syrian artist Nizar Ali Badr, discovered by chance by Canadian children’s writer Margriet Ruurs. The author was immediately impressed by the strong narrative quality of Mr. Badr’s work, and, using many of Mr. Badr’s already-created pieces, she set out to create a story about the Syrian refugee crisis. Stepping Stones tells the story of Rama and her family, who are forced to flee their once-peaceful village to escape the ravages of the civil war raging ever closer to their home. With only what they can carry on their backs, Rama and her mother, father, grandfather and brother, Sami, set out to walk to freedom in Europe. Nizar Ali Badr’s stunning stone images illustrate the story.

Know of a good book to help children understand current events? Have a strategy for teaching current events through nonfiction? Share!

New Kindle eBook: The Swans of Starlight Lake

The Swans of Starlight Lake

When my daughter was very small, she began drawing ducks and swans, teaching herself to draw by constant practice. We had printer paper all over the house—drafts of swan necks and wings, nests, eggs, swans in flight, nesting swans, swans on water, frightened swans, and proud mother swans with newly-hatched eggs.

Today I feel like one of those proud mother swans. My daughter and I have self-published a fairy tale we wrote together—about swans, of course. The Swans of Starlight Lake began as a bedtime story, evolved into an ebook typed and illustrated for our own enjoyment, and now comes into its own as a Kindle edition.

With fairy-tale tradition entwined throughout, this new story by a mother-daughter team is a classic tale of adventure and love.

Readers ages 5-10 will wonder what's going to happen next as Muriel, Leo, and their mother set out to rescue two stolen swan eggs from a reclusive noble who hides beneath a feathered cape. The kids work together to thwart the guards and bring their treasure safely home to Starlight Lake.

The Swans of Starlight Lake contains several vintage, color illustrations and has a 14-point font for little eyes. Get it for Kindle for .99¢, or free with Kindle Unlimited.

If you read the story, please consider leaving a review on Amazon.com and using social media buttons to share. Thanks for helping our story reach a wider audience!

Darkness and Light are Alike to God, at Christmas Time and Always

Giorgio Vasari

Christmas blessings from southern Idaho to all my fellow teachers and their families! I hope you have a little snow, or at least a poinsettia or some greenery to brighten up your home.

In my house, we don't a have a Christmas tree yet, but there's snow on the ground and it's ten below. We're cozy as can be with our wood fire and a few extra blankets. My daughter instigated cookie dough-making yesterday for baking and decorating today, and last night I sat down with the three kids to read some Christmas books. My five-year-old, being a bit bouncy, only sat still for A Charlie Brown Christmas, but my artist daughter enjoyed the second book, a telling of the Christmas story from the King James version of the Bible with illustrations from famous nativity paintings. Christianity Today offers a wonderful roundup of children's books to read aloud during the Christmas season.

I also showed the kids a couple of YouTube clips to teach them about the Mexican tradition of Las Posadas, a nativity celebration that commemorates Mary and Joseph's search for lodging in Bethlehem. Here's a great sing-along with the Posada song in Spanish and English. And the kids loved the "What's a Piñata?" scene from Disney's The Three Caballeros, which tells the Posada story sensitively to a typically antic Donald Duck.

It takes a bit of effort to find ways to teach our children about the Christ of Christmas, when the commercial and anti-religion culture of our day has us so entangled. A little thing like nativity scene cookie cutters or sending an inspirational eCard might seem futile against the tide of the World's cultural norms. But God is so good at taking small things and making them into great things.

I don't know why we watch TV. Now more than ever, commercials and programming proclaim the death of Christian morals. I've quit watching network television myself, but I happened to catch some last night when my husband was watching football. I had to leave the room. I've seen enough commercials this fall pushing the liberal agenda to know that TV is not for me. I applaud the Christians who remain in the entertainment industries, writing scripts, directing, acting, casting, and doing so many other jobs that have an influence on our culture in subtle and spectacular ways. God still has the power to use you for good in a dark world. But last night, I went to my room and opened my Bible in search of comfort after what I had seen. God led me to Psalm 139:11-12:

"If I say, 'Surely the darkness will overwhelm me, and the light around me will be night,' even the darkness is not dark to Thee, and the night is as bright as the day. Darkness and light are alike to Thee." (NASB)

It would be so easy to become depressed over the state of the world and the seeming futility of our efforts to raise our children to love God over video games and despite the messages all around that sin is good and self is god. This world is dark. Overwhelmingly so. But the Psalm says, "even the darkness is not dark to Thee." It's the same world to God, dark or light. He is no more distant from the Christian who calls on Him. As Psalm 145:18 says, "The LORD is near to all who call upon Him, To all who call upon Him in truth."

Let's call on Him in truth this Christmas season, since He is so near.

How do you teach your children that Jesus is near to them at Christmas? What Christ-centered traditions do you keep? Please share with us by leaving a comment below.

Further reading:
Herod--Alive and Well
Christmas Lights in My Classroom


Christian Teacher, Public School does not ask for your donations, but please consider clicking these links and shopping at our affiliates, Dayspring.com and Dover Publishing. Thank you for your readership and prayers as we enter 2017. Teachers need encouragement to shine as lights in a dark world!

Bring Your Bible To School Day 2016

If you have children of your own who attend public school, take a look at Focus on the Family's page on Bring Your Bible to School Day. This year's event falls on Thursday, October 6, which in Idaho is a teacher in-service day, meaning students aren't in school. Check your school calendar to find out if your child's school is in session, then see if the event is something you and your child want to participate in. So many teachers, parents and students are unaware that it's legal for kids to take a Bible to school. The Web site includes downloadable free speech tools to help raise awareness.