I chose three books by Carl R. Sams II and Jean Stoick as my winter picture books. Stranger in the Woods is my favorite. Two children build a snowman. They fill the hat with bird seed. Then they add a nose and features from foods animals enjoy. Finished with the work, they hide out of sight and wait. Timidly the birds and animals begin to gather and nibble. My children enjoy the imagined conversations going on between the birds and animals about who the stranger is and what they are finding to eat. All the while the children in hiding are full of giggles and amazement.

How can you use this book to help children understand more about the Lord of all Creation? You may want to ask the children some of the following questions to help them understand that the message of the gospel is often hidden in plain sight.

1. How many non-animal characters are in the story? It will be easy to name the boy and girl but also remind them the snowman plays a very important part.

2. What does the snowman offers the animals?

3. Do the animals run for the food or do they cautiously approach?

4. How will the food help the animals?

5. How do the children in hiding feel about what they see?

6. Do you notice the Trinity? Which part of the trinity is seen by the animals? How does the snowman offer life?

At this point, you may need to help the children relate the story of the snowman, the stranger, to that of Jesus sent from the Father to give life to those who are willing to come to Him. Just like the children watching the animals, the Father and Holy Spirit along with the angels in heaven rejoice over even one sinner who repents and comes to Jesus.

Tea with Lady Saphire can be used to help children understand that though there are many birds God cares about each one just as He cares about each one of us.

For the Love of Birds is a great book to use for bird identification. It helps children see the difference between the male and female birds. This could be expanded to explain their different roles in the family. Then the book can be related to our differences in male and female and the important roles each of us play in the family.

This type of study, using what’s available to explain God’s plan, reminds me of the verse from Deuteronomy 6:6,7 (NKJV)

And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart.  You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up.

These winter musings were written by Gail Cartee.

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