Mid-Lent: Finding Comfort in the Cross

This past Sunday - the third Sunday of Lent - Orthodox churches everywhere celebrated the feast day of the "Adoration of the Cross".  And today I happen to be reviewing the book, Every Time I Do My Cross, from The Orthodox Children's Press about the ancient Christian practice of making the sign of the Cross as we pray.

Each year during the service mentioned above, I can't help but notice how the children especially are so reverent, bowing down low in prostration as the Cross is brought in a solemn procession to the center of the church (where it will remain for the entire week), a reminder and encouragement that we have reached the "halfway point" of our journey towards Christ's Resurrection.

Children understand the Cross, with its deep message of power and comforting assurance, and I think they will want this brand new picture book that reflects just that on their bookshelf!

With simple, yet charming text and illustrations, Every Time I Do My Cross, by Pres. Angela Alatzakis, seeks to show children the reasons for making the "sign of the Cross" as they pray.  The author brings us along to watch a little boy using the sign of the Cross during his various daily activities as well as at church.

Every time I do my cross it's for a different reason;

whether to thank God,

or to pray for help

with a big decision.

It doesn't matter the time or day

or even where I am,

when I need to say a prayer, 

doing my cross is where I begin.

Every Time I Do My Cross is available here from The Orthodox Children's Press.  Presvytera Angela (Married to Fr. Thomas Alatzakis) started this publishing company and Every Time I Do My Cross is her first book.  She has been a teacher for many years, and has always loved reading children's books.  She attended Hellenic College, receiving a degree in Human Development; Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology, with a Masters of Theological Studies; and The University of Massachusetts, with an M.Ed. in Early Childhood Education.

"S" is for Shamrock: A Fun St. Patrick's Day Read-Aloud for the Whole Family

S is for Shamrock by Eve Bunting, illustrated by Matt Falkner, is part of the Discover the World book series by Sleeping Bear Press (2007) - and is a perfect read aloud choice for your family this St. Paddy's Day!

 "P" is for St. Patrick...

St. Patrick taught the fish to jump.

He drove the snakes away.

It seems the whole world honors him 

on each St. Patrick's Day!

 "W" is for Writers...

There are so many writers

that it's hard to name them all.

How could they have fitted

in a country that's so small?

The reason I'm recommending this blarney book as a family read aloud is that the full page spreads for each letter of the alphabet have short rhyming verses that are fun for younger kids, while parents and older children will enjoy the further information and historical details given in the sidebars.

For example, on the "W" is for Writers page (pictured above), the author notes that long ago Irish storytellers, shanachies, went from house to house telling their tales and were welcomed and revered by the people of Ireland.  She then shares about some famous Irish storytellers from modern times.

So sit down, brew yourself a pot of Irish Breakfast tea, and read this book with your kids on March 17!  (Go here for my other book recommendations for St. Patrick's Day.)

Blog Post Roundup: LENT & EASTER

photo source

Book Lists For Lent -
"Dig In...to Lent...With Books" - go here
"The Legend of the Cross" - go here 
"Learning to Wait With Little Chick" - go here
"A Little Book Stack for Lent/Holy Week" - go here

Holy Week -
"Willows, Palms, Crosses, and Donkeys for Holy Week" - go here 
"Holy Week: The Miracles of Christ" - go here
"Holy Week: Journey to Pascha" - go here
"Quiet Activities for Holy Friday and Saturday" - go here

Getting Ready For Easter/Pascha
"Why Eggs for Easter?" - go here
"Bright Colors in my Kitchen" - go here
"Pysanka, A Ukranian Celebration of Life" - go here
"Russian Pascha Treats for Bright Week" - go here
"Egg Crafts and Traditions for Easter" - go here
"Book Themed Easter Baskets (They're Sugar Free!)" - go here
"The Feast of Feasts, Holy Day of Holy Days" - go here
"Bright Week Treasures With My Grandson" - go here

A New Retelling of an Ancient Legend, Just in Time for Lent (and Easter!)

As the first week of Lent draws to a close, I'd like to recommend a beautiful picture book that your child will want to read with you again and again during this holy season leading up to Easter.  It's the most recent collaboration of author Dr. Chrissi Hart and artist Niko Chocheli:  The Legend of the Cross.

Niko Chocheli's stunning artwork brings a sense of majestic wonder to Chrissi Hart's poignant and heartfelt recounting of this medieval legend that traces the history of the special tree that would become the Cross of Christ.

From the Garden of Eden to Golgotha: the myth retold for young audiences...
You and your child will be transported as you follow the tree's wondrous and mythical journey in this beautifully crafted tale - from its origin as three seeds brought from Paradise and buried in Adam's grave, the tree grows tall and survives the Great Flood; gives shade to King David; is cut down by King Solomon; is forgotten and left at the bottom of a deep pit that miraculously becomes the Pool of Bethesda; floats to the surface many years later and is taken to its final holy destination on the hill of Golgotha, where the "Hope of the world" hangs upon it - the tree mystically participates in bringing man back to a New Paradise.

I think this mesmerizing book will bless all who read it for generations to come, and I hope you will add it to your child's Lenten bookshelf (or to his or her Easter basket!)  Just like the tree, we are on a journey to Golgotha during Lent.  And The Legend of the Cross points us toward our destination - the hope of the Resurrection! 
 

So let us rediscover Lent. A journey, a pilgrimage! Yet, as we begin it, as we make the first step into the “bright sadness” of Lent, we see—far, far away—the destination. It is the joy of Easter, it is the entrance into the glory of the Kingdom. And it is this vision, the foretaste of Easter, that makes Lent’s sadness bright and our Lenten effort a “spiritual spring.” The night may be dark and long, but all along the way a mysterious and radiant dawn seems to shine on the horizon. 

–Fr. Alexander Schmemann

Dr. Chrissi Hart is a Child Psychologist, author, and podcaster.  Born in Cyprus, Dr. Hart grew up in England from age three and writes stories for children from her cultural heritage that are inspiring and spiritually satisfying. 

Niko Chocheli, a native of the Republic of Georgia, is so highly regarded as an artist that, in 1997, he was granted permanent resident status by the U.S. government because of his "extraordinary ability in the arts." It's a recognition shared by the likes of cellist Yo-Yo Ma.

A Library Jay Gatsby Would Have Felt At Home In...

I visited Hearst Castle (in San Simeon, California) for the first time when I was in high school.  

I had just read The Great Gatsby, and my visit to this hilltop estate brought F. Scott Fitzgerald's story to life for me. I couldn't help but picture Jay Gatsby feeling quite at home in this Gothic chateau - complete with its grand dining room and guest rooms, lushly landscaped garden and pool areas, priceless art, and many antiquities that were part of newspaper publisher William Randolph Hearst's [1863-1951] own private collections.  

This past week my husband and I visited Hearst Castle and took the "Upstairs Suites Tour".  One of my favorite rooms was the exquisite, low-ceilinged library - home to many of Hearst's first-edition books and his collection of 150 ancient Greek pottery vases.

William Randolph Hearst's estate was under construction for 28 years!  It was finally completed in 1947. 

Among many other incredible requests, Hearst commissioned architect Julia Morgan to create several lampshades from the leaves of a medieval choir book.

I was pleasantly surprised by the two books that were on display in Hearst's beautiful Gothic study (his personal office and private library):  Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol, and Jack London's The Call of the Wild.  

After enjoying the indoor tour, my husband and I ventured out to see the gorgeous grounds of the estate... 

The landscaped gardens were a riot of color, profuse with all kinds of flowering spring bulbs and trees.

We followed the pathways which led us down to the outdoor Neptune Pool.

Aside from the surrounding mountains, the pool area was quite a perfect setting for one of the "Great Gatsby's" parties, don't you think?

Our afternoon at Hearst Castle ended with a quick visit to the fabulous indoor Roman Pool.

I hope you enjoyed my little photo blog of Hearst Castle. Want to see other libraries Jay Gatsby might have liked?  Go here: The Libraries, Studies, and Writing Rooms of 15 Famous Men - from "The Art of Manliness" Blog.

And go here to read more about the various tours offered at Hearst Castle (there is even a night tour offered, where tourists can mingle with docents who are decked out in period costumes).

Meet Molly Coxe - And Enter My Giveaway for a Chance to Win Her Book "Benjamin and Bumper To the Rescue"! (Two Lucky Winners Will be Chosen)

I'm so happy to be interviewing author/illustrator Molly Coxe today, and I'm beyond excited that she's offered an autographed hard back copy of her adorable book, Benjamin and Bumper to the Rescue, to TWO of my lucky blog followers!  (Details about how to enter the GIVEAWAY at the end of this post). 2/28/14 UPDATE:  GIVEAWAY OVER

I highlighted Benjamin and Bumper to the Rescue on yesterday's post, but if you missed it, you can watch a cute "Sneak Peek" video of the book below:

Molly Coxe's children’s books have sold 1.8 million copies.  For Benjamin and Bumper to the Rescue, she not only wrote the story, but also made the characters and designed the sets.  The photos were taken by Olivier Toppin, a French photographer. “We were like two kids playing,” says Molly. “I’ve never had so much fun ‘working.’”

Molly graduated from Princeton University with a B.A. in English Literature. She has taught pre-school and currently lives in Southern California.

It's been great getting to know Molly Coxe a little bit.  She has most recently been working on fun early readers (doing her own photography this time!) which feature felted animal characters done in the same style as Benjamin and Bumper. 

The first "short vowel adventure",  Rat Attack, is currently only available as an e-reader (in English, and 8 different bilingual editions). There will be print versions of the English edition (and possibly the Spanish and Mandarin editions) of Rat Attack by next fall.  Molly is already working on her second early reader, Princess Pig. 

Here are some more things Molly and I talked about...pull up a chair, and listen in!

GoodBooks: How did you get started in this process of creating "stuffed" felt book characters and designing miniature sets for "Benjamin and Bumper to the Rescue" and your early reader books? 
Molly: My earlier books – Big Egg, Cat Traps, Hot Dog, etc. [go here to see a list of all her books available on Amazon] - were illustrated in a more conventional manner, using paint and pen on paper. One day I realized my drawing style had reached a plateau. I wasn't getting better, and I wasn't discovering anything new. I remembered how much I enjoyed playing with stuffed animals as a child. I created stories, whole worlds, using stuffed animals and scraps of fabric, bits of this and that. I started experimenting, and many wool and fabric mice and elephants later, I realized the characters were starting to feel "real," to me at least. At that point, I just needed to create an environment for them and set them loose to see what happened!

GoodBooks:  It all seems quite involved, and the love you put into these projects shines through - the stories are so imaginative! Did you have any particular children in mind as your wrote them, or were you perhaps reminded of your own childhood?
Molly: Yes, as I mentioned above, I loved "imaginary play" as a child, and I also loved to write plays. The first one, about a lost giraffe, was "produced" in my second grade class. It was very simple, nothing at all spectacular, but I remember watching the other children assume their roles. Suddenly, the "real" world fell away, and with just a few simple props, everyone was a participant in an imaginary world. It was magical. My son, Will, now 26, also spent hours creating fantasy realms with characters he made out of sculpey clay. He just needed a bit of raw material, and his imagination supplied the rest. I'm so glad you can feel the love! It may sound odd, but I develop a relationship with the characters as I make them, and they begin to develop personalities. When I'm shooting the photographs, I find myself apologizing when I need to attach a pair of wings, or a a pair of trousers with a straight pin.

GoodBooks: What were some of your favorite children's books, growing up? How much have they influenced your own storytelling? 
Molly: My favorite books growing up were all by writers who are much much better writers than I will ever be. I loved Charlotte's Web, by E.B. White. I loved Winnie the Pooh. I love The BFG and Matilda by Roald Dahl. In college, I studied Dickens. I am really a visual storyteller. The illustrations do most of the work. I can string a maximum of five words together before I start getting muddled. That's why Picture Books and Early Readers are a perfect fit for me! You have to try to tell a fresh story in very very simple language, and you call on the images for backup!

Good Books: How did you find Olivier Toppin, the French photographer, who collaborated with you? 
Molly: Olivier Toppin was the photographer for Benjamin and Bumper to the Rescue. He lived in a village near where my parents live, in southern France.  I am taking the photos for the BraveMouse Readers. I am fascinated by photography and how you can create a world with light. I think it's fair to say I'm pretty patient and willing to spend many many hours making "mistakes".

Good Books: I read that your mission is "to create books that young children and adults love to share together, and want to read again and again." What, in your opinion, is the secret to writing books that attract both children and adults?
Molly: Good stories, period.

Well, I couldn't agree more!  And I know you will just love her well-told tale about Benjamin and Bumper - it's full of fun, friendship, and adventure!  Here's how to enter for a chance to win a signed copy (remember, TWO WINNERS will be chosen):

How to Enter the Giveaway: GIVEAWAY OVER 2/28/14

1.  Sign in to the Rafflecopter widget (below) with your name and email. This is the only way to be officially entered into the giveaway! 
2. You will see a list of tasks with big green buttons next to them. Each task has a point value. 
3. Click on the ones you want to complete and follow the instructions. Please note that it is not enough to just click the green buttons; you must also complete the task to earn the points. 
4. The more tasks you complete, the more times your name goes in the hat to increase your chances of winning. 

IMPORTANT: You must sign in to the Rafflecopter widget below in order to be “officially” entered in this giveaway! (Your email won’t be published or shared. I use emails only to contact the winner.)
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Giveaway Details: GIVEAWAY OVER 2/28/14

• The giveaway will be closed at 11:59 p.m., Thursday, February 27, 2014 . 
• Winner will be announced on Friday, February 28, 2014. 
• In order to enter the contest, you must sign in to the Rafflecopter widget and complete at least one task. Winner is chosen randomly by Rafflecopter. 
• Giveaway is open to residents of the United States only. 
• The winner will be chosen randomly by Rafflecopter and contacted via email. If the winner does not respond with the requested contact information within 48 hours, another winner will be chosen.

GIVEAWAY COMING: BENJAMIN AND BUMPER TO THE RESCUE!

Everything about the picture book I'm giving away tomorrow will appeal to both boys and girls: it's got fuzzy handcrafted felt animal characters (which include two brave heroes and a villain), fun props and cozy three-dimensional sets, an adventurous plot, and a happy ending.  It's an imaginative world that's been lovingly created by Molly Coxe, and beautifully photographed by Olivier Toppin.

I fell in love with Molly Coxe's Benjamin and Bumper to the Rescue when my daughter brought it home from the library a few weeks ago (I seriously wanted to climb right into the photographs), and I immediately went on the BraveMouse Books website to contact the author for a blog interview.

Molly happily agreed to do the interview and also graciously offered to give away two copies of Benjamin and Bumper to the Rescue to two of my (lucky!) blog followers.

You'll be able to enter the giveaway for Benjamin and Bumper to the Rescue tomorrow when I post my interview with Molly, and also tell you about her current projects; but today I'd like to introduce you to the book we'll be giving away. Giveaway Over.

As you've probably deduced from the cover, the main characters of this story are a mouse and an elephant:  an unlikely pair of heroes who happen to be best friends.

Tiny Benjamin Middlemouse lives with his mother in a cozy wooden wardrobe in a little boy’s bedroom in an old house.

His mother, Mrs. Middlemouse, is late coming home one day. 

Where could she be? Benjamin asks his friend, a big, brave elephant named Bumper (who also lives in the little boy's bedroom - on the boy's bed), to help find her.

Their quest begins as Benjamin and Bumper pack up their supplies…

...and follow some clues that lead them to the garden and eventually to Sir Pouncelot, a very hungry cat.  

How will Benjamin and Bumper be able to outsmart Sir Pouncelot and save Mrs. Middlemouse?  You'll have to read the book to find out!

Be sure to stop back by my blog tomorrow for my interview with Molly Coxe and for details of how to enter our special GIVEAWAY of two copies of Benjamin and Bumper to the Rescue. Giveaway over.