Biblical Integration with Children’s Books, 3 inspiring ideas for Harry, the Dirty Dog

Biblical integration can be done through any story. I love helping children discover spiritual truths in children’s literature. God is the author of the story. Therefore, regardless of the intent of the author, Christ can be found within the plot of any book. You can read more about story writing here.

I used to have a little white dog with black spots. Therefore, one of my favorite stories as a child was Harry, the Dirty Dog by Gene Zion and Margaret Bloy Graham.

a summary of the story

Harry is a very happy dog except for one thing. He hates baths. He hates baths so much that he buries the scrub bush in the yard and then runs away from home. While away, he has a lot of fun exploring new roads, railroads, and coal chutes. His adventures cause him to get very dirty. Eventually, he is no longer a white dog with black spots. He is now a black dog with white spots.

Harry misses his family and wonders if they know that he has run away. Therefore, he returns home. However, his family does not recognize him. Harry tries to show them who he is. Just when it seems he’ll never be able to convince them, he remembers the scrub brush he buried. He digs it up and runs to the bathtub. When his family washes this stray puppy, they realize that it is Harry after all. Here are a few great teaching tips to use with this book.

Harry, the dog runs away. Then becomes dirty. Eventually, he returns home for his bath.biblical integration, when we feel like running

Harry is not the only one who runs from the things that he does not like. How often do you and I do the same? There may be things that we know are good for us, but they make us uncomfortable. Therefore, we avoid them just like Harry avoids taking a bath.

In Luke 15:11-32, Jesus tells us a story about a son who ran away. He has fun with his friends for a time. However, he runs out of money and misses his family just like Harry. He decides to return home as a servant instead of a son. However, unlike Harry, his father recognizes him immediately. He welcomes him home, hugs him, and does not make him a servant. This story illustrates how when we leave or wander away from our heavenly father, He welcomes us home with open arms. God knows us and loves us. He welcomes us into His family.

We all feel like running away at times. Just like Harry, we run away from the things that do not feel good to us.biblical integration, getting dirty

Harry gets dirty on his adventures. Likewise, when we travel away from God, we become “dirty” too. Sin is compared to wearing filthy rags in Isaiah 64:6. The Bible says that we are unclean because we sin. In Ephesians 5:27, Paul further illustrates this point by describing how Christ loves the church and removes the blemishes and spots from us. Therefore, if our sin is represented by dirt, we can relate to Harry when the dirt made him unrecognizable. Our sin will turn us into someone we do not want to be. Therefore, the next idea of biblical integration is that Harry needs a bath.

When we sin, we are left feeling dirty, alone, and sad. Like Harry we miss home.integrating biblical truths with washing off the dirt

Harry needed a bath. Since the Bible describes our sins as dirt and something that needs to be washed away, we can continue to learn biblical truths. The Tea Pot picture book also uses this illustration. You can read more about God washing away our sins here. In Psalm 51:7, David asks God to remove his sins and wash him so that he is as white as the snow. The New Testament speaks of washing our sins away too. Paul is told by Ananias to be baptized and wash away his sins (Acts 22:16). Everyone needs this washing. We all have sinned (Romans 3:23). 

The Bible explains that Jesus washes our sins away.

I hope this post gave you ideas on how biblical truths can be integrated in children’s books. Corduroy by Don Freeman is also a book I have used to share the gospel. You can read that post here.

more biblical truths integrated through stories

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