Best this month
By Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat We Bought a Zoo
Benjamin (Matt Damon; in photo), a single parent of two children, is still mourning his wife’s death. Want- ing something new and completely different from the past, he purchases a house on 18 acres of land that includes the Rosemoor Animal Park, closed to the public but maintained for the 200 animals that live there. His brother can’t believe this move and neither can Kelly (Scarlett Johansson; in photo), the zookeeper. With his enthusiasm and high energy, however, Ben-
jamin reopens the park after handling one catastrophe after another, including a shortage of money, a tough inspector, an escape of a bear and an ailing tiger. We Bought a Zoo is a fine family film that shows how
a family deals with its grief by making another dream a reality. Some of the animals are spiritual teachers for Benjamin on the difficulty of letting go (20th Century Fox, PG).
Picture My Day
Here is the perfect gift for children ages 2 to 4 that just may spark some early scrapbooking. Created by Severine Cordier and Cyn- thia Lacroix, this picture book gathers together the adventures of three children over the course of a single day. They wake up, eat breakfast and get dressed.
These activities involve pillows, blankets, pajamas, nightgowns, cups, glasses, bowls, toast, jam, overalls, socks and more. Objects are hung out on the laundry line so we can see how much stuff we all have and use during one 24-hour period. As the children play, take baths, eat again, go out in
The Brussats pub- lish the website www. SpiritualityandPractice. com where you can find more information about the items reviewed in this column.
nature and encounter nightfall, the book’s illustrations show hundreds of objects and their names, as well as introduce concepts such as colors, seasons and time. Picture My Day is the kind of book that will inspire young and old alike to keep better track of who we are, what we do and how much we possess. Even better, it will encourage families to be more grateful for what they have (Owlkids Books, www.
owlkids.com).
42 The Lutheran •
www.thelutheran.org
Small Mercies: Glimpses of God in
Everyday Life “God is our ultimate security system. Unlike an alarm which can lose its power or a dog that can be distracted, the Lord keeps a constant vigil over our lives,” writes Nancy Jo Sullivan,
an inspirational writer and speaker. Now in the second half of her life,
Sullivan sees signs of God’s presence and grace all around her.
Foremost in her heart and mind is Sarah, a
daughter with Down syndrome who died at age 20. Two other children are away from home, and her marriage ended 10 years ago. Feeling the strain of an empty nest, she becomes much more attentive to epiphanies of everyday spirituality, such as date cookies, smoothies, teddy bears and more. Sullivan practices gratitude and makes it very clear to us that God’s mercies shine through our loved ones, pets, homes and communities (Loyola Press, www.
loyolapress.com).
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