The Year of Mercy in Picture Books

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Pope Francis declared a Jubilee Year of Mercy that will wrap up in November.  In looking to ways to mark this special year, I know that my kids learn best through stories.  They have memorized the Corporal Works of Mercy (thanks to this CD), but I want them to internalize ways to LIVE these principles, not just LIST them.

 

The following books do not list the Works of Mercy; they are picture books (along with a couple honorable mention chapter books) that show the works in action or give deeper understanding into the situations which require mercy.  They are stories.  They are moving.  They present images of poverty and hurt in the world as delicately as possible.  I hope these books plant seeds of mercy and service in the hearts of my children as we read and re-read them together.

The Jubilee Year of Mercy in Picture Books

 

1. An Orange for Frankie by Patricia Polacco
   (feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, clothe the naked)
   Set during Christmas, this inspirational book shows the Corporal Works of Mercy in action. When Frankie gives a hobo his special Christmas sweater without counting the cost, it is difficult to hold back tears.  The best compliment I could give a book is that it makes me want to be a better person without the tiniest bit of preaching.  That’s exactly the power of this story.

 

 

 

2. Beatrice’s Goat by Page McBrier
   (feed the hungry, shelter the homeless, give drink to the thirsty)
   Don’t let the fact that the afterward of this book was written by a high profile politician keep you away from this gem.  Beatrice’s family is “gifted” a goat from someone overseas, and we are allowed to see the huge, lifelong impact one goat has on a family.  The illustrations are bright and beautiful, and the simple plot speaks right to children.  Although Heifer International is the organization mentioned in the book, Catholic Relief Services also offers options to buy animals, fund clean water initiatives, and support education.

Both of these organizations allow families to discern what they are able to send (Rabbits?  Bees?  Seeds?) to help a family overseas.

 

 

3. Nana Upstairs & Nana Downstairs by Tomie DePaola
   (visit the sick, bury the dead)
   Every week Tommy visits his elderly grandparents and great-grandma. I appreciate the way “Nana Upstairs” is treated with love and dignity, even though she is frail and can’t take care of herself.  When Nana Upstairs passes away, there is an opportunity to discuss death and praying for and remembering our deceased loved ones.

 

 

 

4. The Butterfly by Patricia Polacco
   (shelter the homeless)
   When a little girl sees a ghostly figure in the middle of the night, she eventually figures out her mother has been hiding Jews from the Nazis.  This is a story of courage and sacrifice–truly giving shelter to the homeless.

 

 

 

 

5. Four Feet Two Sandals by Karen Lynn Williams
   (clothe the naked)
   Two young Afghani refugee girls share a pair of sandals in this story that gives us a peek into a life after war.  Part of the reason this story makes the list is the insight it offers into the suffering of people half a world away.  I want my children to remember that we are to love and serve ALL God’s people, not just those that look like or agree with us.

 

 

 

6. The Lady in the Box by Ann McGovern
   (clothe the naked, feed the hungry)
   Two children secretly help a homeless woman by giving her things. Eventually they bring their mother into their plan, and together they work at a soup kitchen.  Although homelessness can’t be solved as neatly as the story ends, McGovern still offers insight into how children can make a difference.

 

 

 

7. The Quiltmaker’s Journey by Jeff Brumbeau
   (feed the hungry)
   “Just because we don’t notice poverty doesn’t mean it isn’t there” is the main theme of this fairy talesque story.  It also addresses using our unique gifts to help those around us.

 

 

 

 

8. Visiting Day by Jacqueline Woodson
   (visit the imprisoned)

Although this story doesn’t exactly show how we can show mercy by visiting the imprisoned, it does illustrate how one little girl and her grandmother visit her father in prison.  The idea of crime and incarceration are tricky to discuss with kids (the book leaves out all those details), but Visiting Day offers another opportunity to talk about how God loves everyone, even when they choose to do wrong.

Honorable Mention Books for the Year of Mercy

 

Please let me know if you gave additional recommendations, and I will update the list!

 

 

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