Purpose of this Blog...

You may have noticed that not all books are equal in capturing children's imaginations and in cultivating those innocent, tender souls. My goal is to help you find the ones that do!
(Painting by Mary Cassatt: "Mrs Cassatt Reading to her Grandchildren" -1888)




Friday, April 19, 2019

Psst...Pascha Giveaways


Giveaway #1 - A Child's Guide to ConfessionThis wonderful book (companion to A Child's Guide to the Divine Liturgy) is a great little volume to tuck inside a child's Easter basket! Perfect size for young hands, with lovely and colorful illustrations.
From Ancient Faith Publishing: 
This 100-page, easy-to-use aid will help a child understand and prepare for confession. Designed for both younger and older children, this book assists the child with brief, inspirational thoughts followed by prayers and an age-appropriate self-examination based on 1 Corinthians 13 (the "love chapter").  Available from AFP, here
Leave a comment (by 4/23/19) at the end of my post telling me you'd like a chance to win this book - be sure to leave your email so I can contact you!

Giveaway #2 - Spyridon's Shoes by Christine Rogers. Your kids (especially boys!) are in for a treat with this chapter book.  Spyridon's Shoes is a fun read, and Christine Rogers has done an amazing job in introducing young readers to the special-ness of having a relationship with the saints gone on before.
From Ancient Faith Publishing:
Young Spyros spends his days fishing, octopus hunting, and dreaming of attending school like his best friend, Niko. When he encounters an elderly man on the beach after an accident, his whole life begins to shift and change. But who is this mysterious, saintly man, and why is his friendship so important? Take a short trip back in time to the Greek island of Corfu and discover the real reason for the mystery surrounding Spyridon's shoes.  Available from AFP, here.
Leave a comment (by 4/23/19) at the end of my post telling me you'd like a chance to win this book - be sure to leave your email so I can contact you!

Before seeing "The Durrells in Corfu" series on PBS, I had never heard of the Greek Island on which St. Spyridon lived. Both the television series and Gerald Durrell's entertaining account of life on Corfu, My Family and Other Animals, mention a comedic, rather than mystical, encounter with St. Spryridon's relics. I highly recommend the book (which by the way, is child friendly, whereas the TV series is not) as a read aloud to kids who love animals and nature. (Not part of my giveaway.)
The youngest of the family’s four children, Gerald, whose love of animals drove him to become a famous zoologist, wrote in his 1956 book how the family stayed for five years in this Mediterranean paradise until the onset of World War II. ‘Living in Corfu,’ he concluded of the hilarious adventures he recounted, ‘was rather like living in one of the more flamboyant and slapstick comic operas.’ [source]

Giveaway #3 - The Resurrection of Christ, translated by Fr. John Hogg from the Russian, by Elena Trostnikova with colorful iconographic illustrations by Olga Podivilova.  
Fr. John has recently started a publishing company, Exaltation Press, so that he can begin publishing good quality Orthodox books in English that he's translating from other languages as he works with Orthodox publishers from other countries.

This is the Paschal book from the series “Scriptures and Feasts for Children” (books are all pictured at the top of this post). This book goes through the events of Holy Week — the Entrance into Jerusalem, the Mystical Supper, the betrayal, crucifixion, Death, burial, and Resurrection of Christ.  Each scriptural evenT is explained in a clear and simple way that is suitable for the very youngest children.
The illustrations are gorgeous!  Look at the end covers...
At the end of the book is a glossary and "How to Tell Children about the Resurrection" section that goes into a more detailed explanation of the events for parents.  (One thing to note is that since the books are translated from Russian, some of the traditions mentioned in celebrating Pascha - "kulich", cheese Pascha, and pussywillows (for Palm Sunday) - may or may not be unfamiliar to readers from Antiochian or Greek Orthodox traditions.)

Fr. John has done a series of three books, "Scripture and Feasts for Children". All these beautiful books are available from Exaltation Press, here.
Leave a comment (by 4/23/19) at the end of my post telling me you'd like a chance to win this book - be sure to leave your email so I can contact you!

PASCHA 2019 GIVEAWAY RULES:
1 - Leave a comment telling me which book (or books) you'd like a chance to win for your children (or grandchildren, godchildren, nieces, or nephews!) 
2 - There will be three winners, with one book per winner.
3 - Be sure to include your email so I can get in touch with you.  If you are uncomfortable leaving it in the comment section, just send an email to me:wendyb1963@sbcglobal.net.
4 - You must leave a comment by midnight on Tuesday April 23, 2019.  Closed for comments after that time.



31 comments:

  1. Please enter me. I would like to win "Spyridon's Shoes". Thank You.
    MarionMPC[at[aol[dot]com

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  2. Enter me please. Thank You. I would love to win "The Resurection of Christ'.
    JoanEC128[at]aol[dot]com

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  3. Hi Wendy! You've done it again! So many beautiful books and a wonderful giveaway. Thank you so much! I would love Spyridon's Shoes for the boys! mamamaevintage[at]gmail[dot]com <3

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  4. These books are beautiful!
    I would love a copy of The Resurrection of Christ. Thank you for the opportunity!
    mejiamoe[at]gmail[dot]com

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  5. Please enter me. Thank You I would like to win "My Family and Others".
    MarilynDKC[at]aol[dot]com

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  6. What a great giveaway! How do I decide!? I think I'll settle on A Child's Guide to Confession. :)

    xapikleia 3[at]yahoo[dot]com

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  7. Hi! I would love to win the Resurrection of Christ for my 9 yr old son. annaconnour@aol.com

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  8. I would LOVE a Child’s Guide to Confession. what a wonderful book! Robinschannep@gmail.com

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  9. I would love Spyridon's shoes. I have a special connection to St. Spyridon. meganressel0717@gmail.com

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  10. I have read almost ALL of Gerald Durrell's books. I cannot recommend Larry's however :| I would love to read St. Spridion's Shoes especially since that is our parish!

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  11. Christina PankeySaturday, April 20, 2019

    Me! Any of them, really, for our goddaughter or godson. You have my email. :)

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  12. I ordered the Exaltation Press books and love the illustrations so much! We'd love to win Spyridon's Shoes! wilsonlauralynn@gmail.com

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  13. I would love any of these beautiful books. Ms3mama@yahoo.com

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  14. Please enter me. I would like the Spyridon’s shoes. Thank you! My email nadcik[at}gmail{dot}com

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  15. I would love to have Spryidon's Shoes or the resurrection book for my children.
    mloller627 at gmail dot com

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  16. Hello! I'd love to have a child's guide to confession, as we are preparing our oldest for her first confession!
    Mat.robyn.bishop@gmail.com

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    Replies
    1. Congrats! You're the winner of A Child's Guide to Confession. :)

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  18. What beautiful resources! Wish I had these as a kid. Christine.attalla@gmail.com

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  19. These all look wonderful, but I would especially love "A Child's Guide to Confession". I would love to see what it says about preparing oneself for confession based on 1 Corinthians 13. One of my children seems to do pretty well with the standard preparation for confession found in the prayer book, but the other has a hard time with that. I think a different approach might help! gretchen@zahna.com

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  20. These are all beautiful! I’d love “The Child’s Guide to Confession”!

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  21. Would love to enter for A child's guide to Confession for my 6 year old and Spyridon's shoes for my 10 year old
    nva306@gmail.com

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  22. I would love any of these for my 3 boys. Thanks! Amy.amash@gmail.com

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    1. You are the winner of The Resurrection of Christ. congrats!

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  23. Great books! I would be happy to win any of them nkrivobokova at gmail dot com

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  24. I would like to be entered to win A Child's Guide to Confession or The Resurrection of Christ for my children. kooby2 at gmail dot com

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  25. I would like to be entered to win A Child’s Guide to Confession or The Resurrection of Christ, thank you! Raf72082 at aol dot com

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  26. I would really appreciate “the resurrection of Christ” I was just wishing I had a book to better explain Pascha to my kids! Barbaralane.ma@gmail.com

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  27. I would love "The resurrection of Christ". My son would love it too! Thank you! Maimuta12002@yahoo.com

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  28. Would love the Resurrection of Christ. adrie_21@hotmail.com Thanks!

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  29. So sad to have seen this too late but some of these I have seen and some are new to me. Very excited to check them out. Thanks for the great suggestions. The Resurrection of Christ looks beautiful. Blessed Pascha.

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