I love the artwork!. The vibrancy, the fun, it simply jumps off the page. It's so colorful with so much energy. YES! I say. I love this.
The artwork iI love the artwork!. The vibrancy, the fun, it simply jumps off the page. It's so colorful with so much energy. YES! I say. I love this.
The artwork is done in watercolors. She did something to it and then did pencil drawings over it. It's layered. The effect is awesome.
The story is nice too. It's Sabbat for this Jewish household and then are walking to synagog with their newborn sister for her naming ceremony. They meet many people along the way asking the baby girls name. They don't tell them, only invite them to the ceremony. It's like an advertisement for the name. They name their baby on the 8th day.
Here's a hint, the title of the book is the meaning of the name, not the name itself.
This story is all about community. We see the community of different people who are still neighbors. We see them all come together in joy at their newest member....more
Another great Stillwater and Koo book. The art style is lovely. It's a little fuzzy around the edges and creates this dreamlike space. I love the Koo Another great Stillwater and Koo book. The art style is lovely. It's a little fuzzy around the edges and creates this dreamlike space. I love the Koo speaks in Haiku.
Koo wants to save the world. Stillwater thinks that is a great goal. They go about their day doing little things for the people in their path. Koo keeps asking how they can save the world. At the end of the day, Stillwater says that you can affect those around you. By doing good things for people around you, you make the world a better place.
I suppose that's about what most of us can do. I love the zen little stories. I don't know how a child might think of it, but I think it makes for a great story....more
Peter Reynolds does great artwork. I love all the energy and feeling in the artwork. Great colors and it supports the story.
There are about 4 yoga poPeter Reynolds does great artwork. I love all the energy and feeling in the artwork. Great colors and it supports the story.
There are about 4 yoga poses at the end she uses to enforce courage. I like that. Susan explain them well.
A book about finding courage within ourselves and dealing with feelings that make us want to shrink. It's a great book for any age. Lots of sage advice. I really love this series. So good. ...more
Interesting book. I knew nothing about Sikhs until I read this. Sikhs are a group that believes in the one God. They are not polytheistic. It sort of Interesting book. I knew nothing about Sikhs until I read this. Sikhs are a group that believes in the one God. They are not polytheistic. It sort of sounds like this person just woke up knowing god and Demi didn't make it sounds like he was raised in any prior religion. His father was sort of like the Buddhas. He wanted him to be a business man. He would just give the money away instead of investing it saying what better investment than helping people.
It's a very honorable religion, especially in that day with the punishing caste system in India. He believed you treat everyone equally, not matter their job, color or gender. Several miracles are recorded here.
Something was going on in the middle ages all over the world. Maybe they all needed miracles, but all over there are people, saints and gurus, etc that performed these miracles to help people. It's so interesting the 1000s to like the 1500s in the world. There is Theresa of Avilla and St Francis and just all sorts of people. Nanak was born in 1469 and lived until 1539 when his soul left his spirit and his body became flowers.
He traveled all over the middle east for miles and miles and he confronted many religions and their rules. Barbar the great was attacking and he went up to him to stop the war. He didn't stop the war and ended up in jail, bu the performed miracles and was freed.
He left his family behind while he was a wandering prophet. That must have been difficult on his wife. He had children. I wonder if is line still exists today.
Demi said that are 25 million follows of Sikhs. They seem very peaceful and sharing like monks and nuns.
The artwork here is all Demi and what we come to expect from her. There was one line where she talks about Barbar on his horse and yet she drew and elephant. I thought that odd.
Demi focuses on interesting people. I learned something....more
This is my first time learning anything concrete about Shiva that wasn't simply his name. Now, I'm more curious about Hindu mythology.
I think I undersThis is my first time learning anything concrete about Shiva that wasn't simply his name. Now, I'm more curious about Hindu mythology.
I think I understand why the art depicts Hindu gods with so many arms and legs. Shiva is a dancer and the arms are showing the movement. Shiva has a ton of symbols. I mean this guy is maxed out with symbolism.
He wears a tiger skin skirt as he defeated greed. He wears snakes around his neck and arms as sort of the same reason. He is the god of snakes. The Ganges river flows out of heaven through his crown into the world from the moon on his head. He is the destroyer and transformer of things. He has two brothers, one is the creator, one the preserver and Shiva is the destroyer, but he also has all three in him. He can also create and preserve.
His wife is Parvati and he has two children. Ganesh is one son, he has the head of an elephant and he removes obstacles. That sounds awesome. Who doesn't have obstacles to remove and the other is wisdom and healing, Skanda. Skanda rides a peacock.
The artwork is so colorful and she goes into so many details about this religious system. Shiva seems to the the Zeus of the canon of gods. He's pretty amazing. I'm sure there is much more to learn. Now, I need more books about these characters. This was fun.
I love that Shiva is the god of dance. I think his blue skin is ashes. The last picture is of Shiva in his famous dancing pose with four arms and fire circling him. This is a great place for kids to learn and explore about Hindu religion....more
Another book on mindfulness. This one is about being present with the world around us and not just seeing it.
There are nice illustrations. The artworAnother book on mindfulness. This one is about being present with the world around us and not just seeing it.
There are nice illustrations. The artwork is colorful.
I think books like this are important. I see the cell phone generation suffer from Anxiety and feelings of being alone. They have to be on a screen. My niece and nephew are both this way. They rarely connect to things. I see this book as a real way of dealing with feelings of alienation. ...more
I felt this book about Solomon was sort of a miss by Demi. The artwork was the same excellent artwork we expect from Demi, but it just seemed like somI felt this book about Solomon was sort of a miss by Demi. The artwork was the same excellent artwork we expect from Demi, but it just seemed like some of the best parts of Solomon didn't make the story.
There were many quotes about life and wisdom Solomon made and those were awesome. It discussed the Queen of Sheba coming to learn from him. Yet, the story of the two mothers fighting over a baby and Solomon suggested to saw the baby in half. The real mother couldn't stand that thought, so Solomon knew who the mother was is left out of this book and it's the most famous story of Solomon. There were just things like that left out of the book altogether. I was a little disappointed.
It's still a good learning tool of this historical figure. He is known for being wise. Our country sure could use some of that wisdom today.
I was about to review this last night and our power went out. It was sort of eerie. So, I'm reviewing it this morning....more
Another great historical biography by Demi. She tells a great story of Joan of Arc. At the center of it, is Joan's faith. She is on a holy mission. ThAnother great historical biography by Demi. She tells a great story of Joan of Arc. At the center of it, is Joan's faith. She is on a holy mission. The problem comes when she loses her faith for a time. Things go wrong then.
What's so interesting is that people want to put this coward on the throne. Charles VII didn't want the throne. Over and over again, he just wouldn't take it. Joan risked her life to get this turkey on the throne. He was a very weak ruler.
In 1920, the Catholic church finally sainted Joan of Arc. My one question is does God really care who is on the throne. Why wouldn't God have cared if the English took the throne. I guess I'll never know.
The artwork is very medieval beautiful artwork. It's pure Demi. She has a gift with her brush. She doesn't always give a ground for people to stand on and so much of the time people float around in her paintings. It's just her style....more
I was a music student in College and that was my introduction to Hildegard of Bingen. She still one of the few female composers in classical music we I was a music student in College and that was my introduction to Hildegard of Bingen. She still one of the few female composers in classical music we have. Back in the mid 90s, there was also a revival of chants, Gregorian chants and so she was also back in certain circles nation wide. I very much enjoy her music and I have a Christmas album of hers I enjoy listening too.
Demi is great at this sort of thing. She takes the facts and lays them out as we know them. We know where she lived, when she was born and when she became a nun. I didn't know about the lights she saw as a child.
That light really makes me think of Donna Eden, the woman spreading energy medicine. Much of what Donna talks about sounds like what Hildegard mentions. I think this woman simply saw energies. That's how she could predict a baby and so forth. This gift is even teachable. When I was really doing my daily routine, I was able to see auras and other things. I rarely do any more.
Now, I want to know more about her and I want to read some of Hildegards works. I want to know what she saw in those lights. I think it's fascinating. This story doesn't go into the ecstasy of Hildegard she is so famous for and rightly so as this is a children's book.
She really helped changed the world and medicine as well back in that day. She was amazing. I didn't know she wrote a cookbook as well. She really was an incredible woman. I'm very interested in the Christian mystics. ...more
Wow! Just Wow! The poem was so simple and I'm not sure how it worked, but this poem spoke to me on a very deep level. It's a very simple poem about ouWow! Just Wow! The poem was so simple and I'm not sure how it worked, but this poem spoke to me on a very deep level. It's a very simple poem about our relationship to everything on earth. We are all one.
The artwork is on another level. This is my choice for 2024 Caldecott. This book is amazing. The artwork is dynamic, colorful and conveys more than just whats on the page. It's such a universal book. We are connected to the moon, to sunrise and sunset. We are connected to the animals. This book just hit something for me. It woke me right up.
I would like to own this one. Amazing poem. I need to look at Joy Harjo more....more
A really great message buried under some very bland and mediocre artwork. This is about that special spark in a person that makes each of us shine andA really great message buried under some very bland and mediocre artwork. This is about that special spark in a person that makes each of us shine and sparkle. It just doesn't come through the artwork. Very much a shame.
This girl is going to carnival or some festive parade and so she makes her own glasses to wear with wings. It's about letting your light shine.
A great book of positive affirmations for anyone. I could really use this one right now.
I enjoy the beginning. She has a negative mindset and the persA great book of positive affirmations for anyone. I could really use this one right now.
I enjoy the beginning. She has a negative mindset and the person looks like a shadow with no color on the page. Then she gives the affirmation and the person is active in something in full color. It only does that at the beginning, but it works really well.
Great artwork, so colorful.
We need tools to work with that inner negative voice inside our heads, we each have one. Mine has turned into a sociopath and is trying to kill me. I need some weapons against it....more
What a great book. It makes me realize how little I really knew about St Francis of Assisi. I love his poems and I loves his peaceful stance in life. What a great book. It makes me realize how little I really knew about St Francis of Assisi. I love his poems and I loves his peaceful stance in life. I know many of his works and some stories, but I really didn't know much about his life.
The man was very committed to poverty. I wouldn't want to live with him back then, but he created a third order for ordinary people that didn't have to take a vow of poverty and I would join that branch.
He was an amazing person. He reminds me a lot of Teresa of Avilla. They both have such complete faith in God. Francis also reminds so much of Buddhist doctrine. He apologized to rocks he accidentally stubbed and he moved worms out of his way. He roamed around like a buddhist monk does giving sermons. They philosophy is so close actually.
There are some beautiful stories in here about the man. I love the one he talks about being filled with fear and in a vision God forgave his sins and after that he lived a life of compassion and Love. He was quite a person and I admire him even more.
The artwork is very pretty. Many times Demi doesn't give us an actual background so our characters are flying in their window, but it's still beautifully.
Things I learned: Francis was a noble, very popular and dreamed of going off to war. He did and was captured for a year. He was about to join the pope's holy war when he got sick and couldn't go. Then he went into service for the lord. I guess war is just always popular. I guess it always will be.
There is one story, Francis went to North Africa during a war with the muslims and talked directly with the Sultan asking to stop the war. The Sultan didn't, but he was very impressed and gave Francis permission to travel anywhere he chose.
He certainly didn't have filial piety. His father got made when Francis gave all his father's money to the church to rebuild. The father was angry and tried to rage against Francis. Well, Francis stripped down to the skin, left his clothes and worldly goods to his father and said he wasn't his father any longer, his only father was God in Heaven. That seems a pretty sad story to me. There is no mention of him ever making up or forgiving his father. To me, that's sad. Again, very buddhist.
This is about Zen book with Stillwater. I've now read four of these and I enjoy them. This was a good story and it was my lest favorite of the series.This is about Zen book with Stillwater. I've now read four of these and I enjoy them. This was a good story and it was my lest favorite of the series.
I really enjoy the gentle slow pace and the way the story lets it unfold effortlessly. Things are just running.
The artwork is funny. Still water changes sizes all the time depending on the picture. His size can be huge or sort of normal. He's bigger than an elephant in one of them, he's double that. It's surreal. The watercolors are nice.
There is a thread of a spelling bee in here. I don't know that it was really developed. IT was more of a sketch of the idea. Koo is Stillwater's nephew and he's so cute. He speaks in Haiku which is a great idea for a character.
I have been loving Demi's work, but not this one so much. I had a real problem with the artwork.
She used these beautifully painted people and set themI have been loving Demi's work, but not this one so much. I had a real problem with the artwork.
She used these beautifully painted people and set them on a plain watercolor background. I really didn't like the effect. I don't think it worked. It was very surreal, I suppose.
The story is about St. Bernadette who I've never heard of. Being raised baptist, we didn't talk about all the saints. It's too bad because it's sort of interesting.
Bernadette was a poor cheerful girl. One day at the river she sees a vision of Mary. As she prays to Mary in the 1860's, people notice her and they all start to show up. One day, Mary tells Bernadette to drink from a newly formed spring. She does and the spring flows forth. Later several people dip their bodies in the spring and are healed. The spring becomes important.
Today in Lourdes, there is a large Cathedral where that spring is and miracles still happen in it. Some people still see Mary to this day.
A nice story I didn't know. I simply wasn't impressed with the medium it was told in. I guess I expect more from Demi now. ...more
Demi, the author, is such an artist. Beautiful work in the Chinese style. I love her artwork.
This is a story told of the life of Confucius. She tells Demi, the author, is such an artist. Beautiful work in the Chinese style. I love her artwork.
This is a story told of the life of Confucius. She tells it as his story is told. It's obvious that many stories have been written to deify this person. They give an auspicious sign to the mother of said deity. The heavens give a sign at the birth of the deity and while they are children, they do great things. All these are in place to make Confucius a great person 2500 years ago.
He was born during the warring states period, a tumultuous time. He saw chaos all around him. Confucius loved ritual and right action. He became a teacher and formed a school. He wanted to be in a court and traveled all around, but all the corrupt emperors didn't want him around.
There are lots of great details in her about the man. He certainly has lasted. He is still revered to this day.
Anyone interested in the history of this man, I do recommend this book, it has some great facts....more
If kids feel othered and different at school, this could be the book they need to give them an inspirational lift.
This is about a family and a girl whIf kids feel othered and different at school, this could be the book they need to give them an inspirational lift.
This is about a family and a girl who is part American and part Chinese. She feels different from other kids. Yet, she has a rich heritage from her parents that give her the strength to go on. It's a great story.
I love the artwork in this story. Wow. The colors and the feelings it evokes opened my heart. Just a lovely book. A great book out there....more
This book is about filling in our image of god. We think about being made in the image of God the father, but we are also made in the image of God theThis book is about filling in our image of god. We think about being made in the image of God the father, but we are also made in the image of God the mother.
This shows all the ways mother's shape this world and that is also all an image of God. The Prose is lovely and all the images of mothers loving children are wonderful.
Khoa Le is the artist and her artwork is stellar here again. I love her stuff. I'm glad I'm following her.
This was a beautiful story. I don't know if kids in a group will enjoy it, but it's a good message to get at least once in your life....more
We have a boy trying to figure out three important questions in his life. His friends are a dog, monkey and crane, so he has unique friends.
When is thWe have a boy trying to figure out three important questions in his life. His friends are a dog, monkey and crane, so he has unique friends.
When is the best time to do things? Who is the most important one? What is the right thing to do?
His friends give their answer as they see life and the boy seeks out the wise sage, the turtle to ask the questions. Of course, while with the turtle, he finds his answers in a way.
Also, Jon Muth's famous Panda's make an appearance.
The artwork is lovely, very delicate and soft, etheral. Everything has just a big of fuzziness like nothing is set in stone. There are no hard answers. Life is always sort of fuzzy.
Great book. The last page from the author talks about this being based on Leo Tolstoy's short story of the same name. ...more
A great winter story. This focuses on this sad little ugly looking little candle. Over the course of a month of two, families in this apartment buildiA great winter story. This focuses on this sad little ugly looking little candle. Over the course of a month of two, families in this apartment building need to borrow a candle. They ask a neighbor to borrow on. When they see it, they are disappointed by it, but it works out well. Then it's passed on.
It's used for Thanksgiving, Havdalah, St Lucia's, Kwanzaa and a new home owner. Everyone sees the candle may be unsightly, but it burns brighter and more true than the other candles.
It's just a warm and cozy little story. Some neighbors come together. It's nice. ...more
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