Easter Books

Superbly written by Alexis Rae Weaver, Hunter Bunny Saves Easter is a charming picturebook colorfully illustrated by Jennifer M. Kohnke and is about a bunny and a duckling who are different from the rest of their siblings and neighbors. Hunter Bunny needs a motorized wheelchair to move about, and Clark the duckling needs glasses to see. They become friends and embark upon an adventure to help the Easter Bunny, in this remarkable story about the triumph of inner strength over external disabilities. Hunter Bunny Saves Easter is highly recommended for young readers and offers an entertaining and instructive message which will resonates with children the year-round.

Thank you for such a good book which teaches such good lessons.
My kids fell in love with Hunter and Clark and were instantly mesmerized by the story and the beautiful pictures. My children are five and seven years old and surprised me with their questions and comments about the obstacles each character overcame, such as being made fun of for being different. The happy ending had all of us tearing up and some of us cheering for the two "misfits" who became heroes.

My daughter says "if Hunter Bunny can do it so can I". She has some special needs but like Hunter is not Handicapped by them.
A very appropriate gift for any child or special person.

Happy Holidays and God bless.

When I read to a child, I am at peace in this crazy world. The well-illustrated board book If Jesus Came to Visit Me by Jill Roman Lord is a good choice to share with toddlers, preschoolers or early readers. Engaging drawings by Renee Graef shows the possibility of a visit with Jesus. As we take a walk with an approachable Jesus, questions flood out. Why does the ostrich have wings but can't fly? How's Grandma doing in heaven? This inviting story helps the reader to realize we all have something to give Jesus. Looking for an excellent way to introduce Jesus to a special child in your life? Try If Jesus Came to Visit Me by Jill Roman Lord.

IF JESUS CAME TO VISIT ME is a precious story in rhyme that tells how a child imagines a visit from Jesus. The lovely illustrations by Renee Graef expressively portray the life of a young child. I especially liked the one of a little boy lying on the ground watching a spider. The text teaches love, service, and gratitude in an appealing and unforgettable way. Making Jesus comfortable, asking curious questions, and sharing with Him are some of the highlights. Lords writes with awareness of the heart and mind of a child. This is a wonderful book which will teach even the youngest toddler about Jesus. It would make a wonderful gift and would be a great addition to any church nursery.

The book is as great as all his others, I'm a big fan of Nick Waplington, He can see things that looks hidden for closed minds. This book is the conjuntion of places in South America and I can tell you that his work is amazing

this is a truly amazing piece of work by nick.truly scrumptiou

A missing piece of the Native American literature. So many stories are about the removal, or the myths. But how did the Cherokee actually live? What did they eat? What kind of games did they play? This book expertly deals with these everyday issues.

It is a clearly written book with bright, graceful illustrations. I enjoyed reading it to my daughters several times. And now they are older they enjoy learning Cherokee words.

An excellent book...and one every librarian should consider having.

I was astonished to read of something that pertained to my family history. I am so amazed by Daniel Pennington's writing's. He made me feel like I was there watching this in real life. This will be a great tool to teach my children about my heritage.

Helen Haidle along with her husband, David, and son, Paul, have put together a marvelous volume to introduce and fascinate your child with the last week of Jesus' life as He moved toward the cross and His resurrection. Each chapter is only 2-3 pages of text and is fully illustrated. Each chapter also includes additional material directly related to the chapter. This additional information goes into greater detail to explain background information. The 3-4 questions included with each chapter draw the child into the story with at least one to get them thinking about the truth. I have been going through this book with my eight-year-old daughter, and she is fascinated by the story. It has become her favorite devotional.

This story of Christ is lovingly told using words carefully chosen to reach the heart of a child. The journey's beautiful illustrations captivate the reading audiance while complimenting the thoughtful text. Additional explanations are given to highlight Bible times, and to further relate them to current life. This book makes a wonderful additon to the library of any 8 - 12 year old.

René Girard has been called the Copernicus of the human sciences, but up till now his popularity among social scientists is limited. In order to experience how well Girard's mimetology works in different scientific areas, we are in need of theorists who attempt to apply Girard's ideas to theology, psychology, literary sciences and so on. James Alison is some one who does so in the area of biblical exegesis. Alison's is a very thorough work, eloquent in its argument and truthful to the spirit of Girard's main ideas.

I would begin with a word of caution - this is extremely deep, intense reading, not a devotional book (as "Easter eyes" might be taken to imply.) It is a work where one must read each paragraph carefully, often more than once, to receive the full impact. In doing so, one may see its clear brilliance.

Allison's exploration of original sin is especially striking because he re-interprets this doctrine as taking its meaning from the resurrection. He lays his groundwork by explaining concepts set forth by Rene Girard, then applies this to Christology and soteriology, moving on to explore much of human nature and how theologians of past eras have dealt with similar approaches. I do not wish to expound, not wanting to spoil the material for new readers, but his treatment of the topic had me nearly shouting "Eureka!" every ten pages or so. It is a highly useful work, not only for those specifically interested in theological anthropology, but to anyone wishing a clearer picture of the human condition and relation to God.

This is not a book for a brief meditation or weekend retreat, but, for those interested in an enlightening, original, in depth study, it is quite amazing. The blend of scholarship and insight is a rare treat.

My son and I have enjoyed this book countless time. He's a middle child, two siblings, all very close together in age. There are not many times that he and I have alone together. This book has brought a smile to his face EVERY SINGLE TIME we have read it together, from age three until now, he's almost five. We only read it when it's just the two of us. I can't recommend it highly enough. The story is sweet, the pictures are marvelous, and just wait till your child looks at you with adoring eyes when you read "Just you and me". It's a keeper.

I really love the illustrations in this book. It is a very nice story for a father to read to a child. It addresses fear of rain storms in a very gentle way. It is sure to result in "again again" from your child, as it did mine.

If you have a child at home in preschool or early elementary school, and are looking for a good book, this book is for you! This is a wonderful Easter-time story about a hedgehog named Gilbert, who meets up with his seldom seen cousin, Wally. Though related, Wally and Gilbert are the opposite when it comes to manners. I am a substitute teacher, and I read this to a class of first graders. Even though it was time for recess the kids were "begging" me to turn the page so they could find out what happens next!

Let me tell you a feel-good story. It involves love - the love of a mother for her daughter, and a child's passionate, exhilarated, uncomplicated love for books. This is the true story of Deb Raymer, and her daughter Sabrina, and how I came to know them. This holiday season, I am grateful that Deb has shared parts of her story, and that through her mom, Sabrina has shared a wonderful cast of characters previously unknown to me.

A couple of months ago, Deb asked me to help her find a series of books. All Sabrina wants for Christmas is "Gilbert". Deb needed to order multiple copies of each book in the collection, she explained. Sabrina loves the "Gilbert" books so much, that she reads them to pieces. Literally. While I am always thrilled to see someone who loves books that much, that's not even the best part of the story. Sabrina is mentally and physically handicapped. She has a job at Partners in Progress that she enjoys. Whenever she rides to work on the bus, she has a "Gilbert" book - or two, or three - in her bag, and she "reads" them to the other passengers. Sabrina has memorized her favorite books. Her mother needs to keep buying new copies of them because Sabrina pages through them so much and so often that they fall apart.

Gilbert, the hedgehog, and his sister Lola, are creations from the paintbrush and pen of Diane de Groat. This author/illustrator started working in children's literature by doing the artwork for some well-known children's authors, such as Lois Lowry and Eve Bunting. De Groat started on her Gilbert series in 1996 with "Roses are Pink, Your Feet Really Stink", which is still Sabrina's favorite.

I hadn't heard of de Groat, and Deb gave my literary ego a boost by reassuring me that I'm not alone. Often, when Deb and Sabrina have searched for Gilbert in libraries and bookstores, he is nowhere to be found. So, it's time to spread the word. Diane de Groat has created a fun, inexpensive series with sympathetic characters, situations that kids can relate to, and a little lesson that doesn't come across like a 2"x 4" to the forehead. The titles themselves produce a smile for kids and adults alike. Now there's a Gilbert for every season in a child's life. A reader can start school with Gilbert in "Brand New Pencils, Brand New Books" and end the school year with the companion volume, "No More Pencils, No More Books! No More Teacher's Dirty Looks!" In these final months of the year, we have been enjoying "We Gather Together, Now Please Get Lost" for Thanksgiving, and "Jingle Bells, Homework Smells" for Christmas.

The Gilbert books have been so successful that now his sister Lola has her own series, books for slightly younger children, that often include Gilbert, but from Lola's point-of-view. When Lola can't decide what to be for Halloween, she finally decides to be "a Gilbert", because she knows he's an original. I think Sabrina and Lola are on to something good.

Author,"Hobo Finds A Home"

Last Train From Mendrisio is an epic adventure novel set in the treacherous world of international finance and Offshore Trusts. With a colorful cast of characters and a fast-moving, inventive plot, it should appeal to a wide general readership. The labyrinthine logic of the international stock market has always been fertile territory for the thriller writer. In this case, the strength of the story lies in the time and trouble that the authors have evidently taken to establish an authentic backdrop. They also take great care not to swamp the narrative with superfluous information, incorporating enough financial material to provide the characters with credible motivation, without spoiling the flow of the plot. In this respect, as in most others, the authors prove themselves to be taut, economical writers--every line of prose is used to advance the narrative a little further and they exercise an impressive degree of control over character development and realization. Sam, the thoughtful, introspective history professor, is perhaps the most intriguing and fully-realized character. His obsessive dedication to discovering the truth about the shipwreck provides a nice counterpoint to the main action. By the same token, I felt that the sub-plot involving Charles Fountain and the Old Captain adds greatly to the sense of intrigue and danger that is always lurking below the surface. The story of an old-fashioned paternalistic entrepreneur who dies in mysterious circumstances, leaving a tangled financial legacy, is very much a parable for our times and over the course of the manuscript, the authors skillfully exploit this rich seam, making full use of dramatic possibilities that it undoubtedly contains. It is very tempting to talk about the authors' work in cinematic terms. They clearly have a highly visual imagination and a sense of timing that would stand them in good stead as screenwriters. The marvelously flamboyant set-piece finale is a case in point, with its clever religious symbolism and imaginative use of color and scenery. Equally, the taut, snappy dialogue that the authors give to the characters is very much in keeping with the bold, sweeping style of the piece. It would, clearly, translate into a first rate screenplay, combining a witty commentary on the foibles of the financial classes with a keenly observed portrait of social conditions in the Caribbean. On the whole, then, I found much to enjoy in Last Train From Mendrisio. It has a distinctly playful and tongue-in-cheek feel that makes it enormous fun to read but, at the same time, it is blessed with a solidly-constructed plot, and a range of credible and entertaining characters.

Though "Last Train from Mendrisio" succeeds in making strong moral arguments against greed, I value it most as a wonderful adventure/mystery story peopled by fascinating and memorable characters. The locales -- Santa Fe, the Caribbean, Switzerland -- are superbly drawn, the protagonists as colorful and interesting as any you're likely to meet in exotic backgrounds. The story is a page-turner, a book you may be tempted to re-read within days after finishing it. For me, it was most cinematic, evoking powerful images, and left me with the conviction that it'd make a great movie.

I love this book because of the sweet family message that it gives. Little Bunny is greatly looking forward to Easter, but not just because of the Easter basket she'll receive. This year, little Bunny has secretly prepared Easter baskets of her own, for her mother, father, and baby brother. So after she has the fun of finding her own Easter basket, she has even more fun giving clues to her family, to help them find her gift. And at the end of the day, there is one more surprise, and this one is for Little Bunny from her baby brother! This loving little story is illustrated with soft pastels, and warmly celebrates the joy of giving.

The synopses of this book accurately describe the story line and pictures but I have to add that this story captures the sweetness of the love that can exist in a family so beautifully. The love between the siblings is particularly charming.