Sunday, November 12, 2017

The Marvelous Mud House by April Graney

The Marvelous Mud House: A Story of Finding Fullness and Joy, written by April Graney and illustrated by Alida Massari, tells the stories of two families. One family – the Smith family of America – overflows with material wealth, but is never satisfied. The other family – Mama George and her son of Kenya – lacks material wealth, but is rich in love, strength and life.When these two families meet, they are both changed. Mama George and her son teach the Smith family how to be content with less and the joy that comes from contentment. In turn, the Smith family blesses Mama George by giving sacrificially. Both families are changed for the better by their experiences. Read more in The Marvelous Mud House.

I recommend The Marvelous Mud House by April Graney for children ages 3-7. It's a little too long to hold the attention of my two year old, so I'm rating it for a slightly older child. A small reader's discussion guide is provided at the end of the story as well as a few Kenyan words a child could learn.

The narrative of this storybook conveys messages of personal contentment and giving to others. As a mom of two young children, raised in America, I am thankful for a resource that promotes contentment and giving. It's natural for children to want more; but, it's also good to teach them at a young age how to be content and full of joy, whether or not they have a new toy. Mama George's song was beautiful – a lovely way to remind oneself to value spiritual/eternal things over temporal pursuits.

Enjoy this short video of April Graney discussing her family's trip in Kenya that led to the creation of The Marvelous Mud House:




Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

Friday, November 3, 2017

A Time to Stand by Robert Whitlow

Adisa Johnson, a young African-American lawyer, never expected that conversing with a reporter would lead to losing her job. Luke Nelson, a white police officer, never planned to shoot an unarmed African-American youth. When their split-second decisions alter Adisa and Luke's lives, they find themselves uncomfortably situated together. Adisa, as a reluctant and loyalty-divided defense lawyer, and Luke, as a suspicious but desperate client. Their tenuous relationship serves as an example of their respective communities and the racial tensions that exist far after slavery's abolition. As circumstances escalate and Luke's hope of exoneration diminishes, the future seems dark. Everyone involved, white and black, must confront their own prejudices. Only then can light, hope, and life arise.

A Time to Stand is the first novel I've read by Robert Whitlow. The plot was engaging, but not captivating to where I felt I couldn't put it down. Adisa's relationships, spiritual growth and the preparing of a legal defense were the most interesting aspects of the story to me. As expected, the challenging issue of racial prejudice spans this entire novel. The author attempted to address multiple sides of the issue, but I'd be interested in hearing the thoughts of an African-American reader as to how authentic this book reads. While the main issue of the book is racial prejudice, there are other thought-provoking nuggets throughout the book including a most encouraging one: Our actions and prayers matter more than we'll ever know.

I recommend A Time to Stand by Robert Whitlow to readers looking for a thought-provoking read with elements of suspense and drama.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."