Our hearts are full — there is a new Sufjan Stevens album and some new friends have signed up for our BookNotes newsletter, giving me hope that there are those who care about literary quality without being stuck in a snooty, classical elitism. Good folks, good books, orders coming in from all sorts of places, folks needing various kinds of help. We’re here, eager to serve. Thank you.
I have been wanting to celebrate some of the many recently released good picture books that we have in our children’s section; with Beth away visiting a grand baby, I’ve been thinking about reading to little ones. Here is a random selection of some new, recommended titles. I know it is a limited style (mostly) for a certain young age group, but these are fun and I’m so happy to tell you just a bit about them. Enjoy.
All get the BookNotes 20% off discount. Scroll to the very bottom to see the links to our secure website order form page. Thanks.
Walter Brueggemann’s Big Imagination – A Biography for Children Conrad L. Kanagy, illustrated by Audrey Kanagy (Mastof Press) $12.99 OUR SALE PRICE = $10.39
This little paperback, simply done with pastel illustrations, is an oddly moving book that (as Duke Divinity School Professor Ellen Davis notes) “has to be a genre unto itself.” Indeed. It is a biography of a (post-critical) Biblical scholar, for little ones. And it is really something!
I hope you know that Conrad Kanagy (a sociology professor and former Mennonite pastor) recently spent years talking with Walter Brueggemann about his life and crafted an authorized, insightful (and for Bible geeks, at least) hard to put down biography of Saint Walter. Walter Brueggemann’s Prophetic Imagination tells the story for adults and Conrad kept thinking, as he was writing this biography, that he wanted his grandchildren “to know this remarkable man who has learned that despite his failure and shortcomings, he is deeply love by God and held in God’s arms.” Amen, right?
This little book shows how the shy Walter came to find words and stories as a way to understand the world, learning to love books in his rural upbringing, and most obviously in the stories of the Bible. As a world-famous scholar, seminary professor, critic, author and churchman, Brueggemann has called us (in his over 100 books) to be creative and imaginative, trusting that somehow the God of the Bible is present, now, calling us to be prophets against our own idolatrous culture. Mostly, Brueggemann deepened his confidence about the mysterious ways of the God of the Bible. Kanagy wanted to help children see all this and a small central Pennsylvania publisher agreed. Walter Brueggemann’s Big Imagination is a hoot. It even ends with the rare line these days, “The End.” What fun. Hooray.
I love children’s books. And I love Walter Brueggemann. So this is a magical combo, a holy cocktail, like cookies and cream or ice cream and sprinkles. It is just spectacular. Here’s a book that can be read and reread, loved and cherished by kids and kids at heart. May it inspire you to celebrate who you are and make the world a better place just like Walter!” — Shane Claiborne, activist, author, Rethinking Life: Embracing the Sacredness of Every Person
Something, Someday Amanda Gorman, illustrated by Christian Robinson (Penguin) $18.99 OUR SALE PRICE = $15.19
We all know the brilliant Presidential inaugural poet (and bestselling author) Amanda Gorman. Her collaborating artists, Christian Robinson has won the coveted Caldecott Honor and Coretta Scott King Honor awards. What a handsome, lovely, good book.
On the flyleaf it says, “You’re told that / This won’t work / But how will you know / If you never try?
Even children know that sometimes the world feels broken. Problems seem too big to fix. Amanda reminds us that we all have the power to make a difference. As it says on the flyleaf, “With a little faith, and maybe the help of a friend, together we can find beauty and create change.”
Did you love her boisterous, fun (poetic) children’s picture book Change Sings (illustrated by Loren Long)? Are you aware of her “Writing Change” initiative to support grassroots organizations dedicated to advance literacy? She’s a Harvard grad, esteemed poet and this book for kids maybe 4 – 8; it is a fabulously fun, wise work.
A Walk in the Woods Nikki Grimes, illustrated by Jerry Pinkney & Brian Pinkney (Neal Porter Books / Holiday House) $18.99
To even mention this chokes me up a bit; Jerry Pinkney was one of the great illustrators of children’s books in the last decades of the 20th century and, importantly, into the 21st. A black leader and artist, he illustrated many of our favorite picture books and when his son Brian started working, we were thrilled. This was, as far as I know, the last book Jerry Pinkney was working on when he died in 2021. Son Brian picked up the work in what must have been an honor and, maybe through tears, a blast.
Nikki Grimes, I’m sure I don’t need to say, is an esteemed black writer, a poet and respected children’s writer. She has done overtly Christian work, worked with publishers like the esteemed Eerdmans line of books for children, and is an award winning writer at the top of her craft.
As the cover writing tells us,
Confused and distraught after the death of his father, a boy opens an envelope his dad left behind and is surprised to find a map of the woods beyond their house, with one spot marked in bright red. The woods had been something they shared together. Why would his father want him to go alone?
The treasure trove he finds reveals something more for them to share, and some peace amid the grief. His dad knew what he really needed was a walk in the woods.
Art mirrors life in this remarkable picture book by New York Times bestselling author Nikki Grimes, Caldecott Award-winning illustrator Jerry Pinkney, and Jerry’s son Brian Pinkney, who complete the artwork after his fathers passing.
Art mirrors life in this remarkable picture book by New York Times bestselling author Nikki Grimes, Caldecott Award-winning illustrator Jerry Pinkney, and Jerry’s son Brian Pinkney, who complete the artwork after his fathers passing.
Colorful Mondays: A Bookmobile Spreads Hope in Honduras Nelson Rodriguez & Leonardo Agustin Montes, illustrated by Rosana Maria & Carla Tabora (Eerdmans Books for Young Readers) $17.99 OUR SALE PRICE = $14.39
Eerdmans, the great theological publisher out of Grand Rapids, travels the world to acquire often eccentric and artful books, some of the best the world has to offer. This grand, colorful, and wonderfully illustrated book is based on a real bookmobile program in Tegucigalpa, Honduras. It focuses on the strength of disadvantaged children and, as the back cover says, “the creativity of those helping them to imagine a better future.”
Luis loves Mondays, the day the bookmobile comes to his sad neighborhood (called Villa Nueva.) The bookmobile brings stories that “burst with life, laughter, and color.” Every Monday fills Luis and his friends “with a joy they can’t wait to take back home.”
The contrast between the somewhat somber first pages and the bright splashes of color that enhance the pages as the bookmobile arrives is nothing short of glorious. I’d say this should be nominated for a coveted Caldecott Award. Kudos to translator Lawrence Schimel and to Eerdmans for bringing it to English speaking children. Buy a few and give them out to book lovers (and librarians) everywhere!
When I Go to Church, I Belong Elena Evans, illustrated by Rebecca Evans (IVP Kids) $18.00 OUR SALE PRICE = $14.40
I’ve got three quick things to say about this very, very special book. First, I was a bit unsure at first, but a few years ago, when IVP started earnestly doing kids books, I was quickly won over. If you buy children’s books, just buy as many as you can afford from this thoughtful, fun, list.
Secondly, it is striking to me that so many publishers do so many good books for children about faith and God and the Bible and spiritual growth, but there simply are not that many books about church life. A few of the more liturgical publishers do some nice ones for those in “high” churches but, be that as it may, it is striking how few good books there are like this one. And this one is perfect.
Thirdly, this is, to be honest, about kids with disabilities, differences, and is for neurodiverse kids, kids for whom going to church might be scary or off-putting or might bring out some small bits of weirdness. Actually, my guess is that this is most kids from most families. Has anybody had a fully smooth and lovely experience getting kids to feel at home in church?
It does say this on the back: “Finding my place in God’s family as a child with special needs.”
In this lovely picture book it says “I like to go to church because I know I’m always welcome.”
“I like to go to church because I know I’m always welcome.”
This great book offers a strong view of the Body of Christ as a real community that cares and a local congregation that, in the midst of doing ordinary church stuff, creates space for differences, helping everyone feel God’s love. When I Go to Church, I Belong is for little ones, but for us all, really, offering a glimpse of the holy work of hospitality and inclusion. To be honest, I think every church should have one or two of these laying about.
God Hears My Song Heather Lean, illustrated by Morris Handbook (Lucky Hippogriff) $17.99 OUR SALE PRICE = $14.39
We get enough poorly constructed self published books that we’ve grown cynical about some indie presses and small publishers, but this is a great relief, a gem, a treasure. We were lucky to discover the odd little Lucky Hippogriff outfit. Hooray.
This book — dedicated to all children! — is sweet, classy, and heartwarming It uses the conventional styling of rhymes, offering an inspiring tribute to the beauty of God. It has lines like this:
You fill my days with sun so bright / That bathes the world with warmth and light.”
Nice, sweet, expressions of gratitude about as we are reminded that we are never alone. God is there. God hears. God loves.
There are some tears, some fears, and a lovely array of global kids in various scenes. Nice.
Psalms of Wonder: Poems from the Book of Songs Carey Wallace, illustrated by Khoa Le (Flyaway books) $20.00 OUR SALE PRICE = $16.00
This may be our vote for one of the very best children’s picture book of the season. There are many great ones, but we are really charmed with the artful telling, the subtle, lovely illustrations, the classy, solid presentation. Flyaway makes some very good books for children and this is a rich, alluring, keeper.
We have been fans of the writing of Carey Wallace since being introduced by mutual Christian friends in NYC years ago. Her first book was an unforgettable novel (The Blind Contessa’s New Machine) about the invention of the typewriter. Her first children’s book is one of the great books of the last decades (I’m not kidding) called Stories of the Saints: Bold and Inspiring Tales of Adventure, Grace, and Courage lushly and creatively illustrated by the great Nick Thornborrow. In any case, she ought to be well known and this new collection of retold Psalms is a great book to have, to hold, to read, to share. A Psalm, she says, “is a song that we sing to God.” As it says on the back, “Through many generations, people have called on the beloved ancient songs to express their deepest emotions to God and one another.” Yes!
Actually, I think putting these Biblical Psalms in a book calling them poems, from a book of songs, is helpful.
These are arranged, by the way, with several Psalms put (sometimes with full page art) around themes of “Songs of Wonder”, “Songs of Courage”, “Songs of Comfort”, “Songs of Joy”, “Songs of Protection”, and “Songs of Love.” Thanks be to God. And thanks to Carey and Khoa. Well done.
A Wild Promise: An Illustrated Celebration of the Endangered Species Act Allen Crawford with an introduction essay by Terry Tempest Williams (Tin House) $35.00 OUR SALE PRICE = $28.00
I don’t know if this is mostly an art book with excellently alluring graphics (illustrations and bright, wild calligraphy) and some text, or an encyclopedia of good information, that is nicely illustrated. I think the vivid portrayals — some exceptionally striking, believe me! — will grab you first, but the details of the facts about various animals is very interesting and, somehow, cumulatively, a song of lament. Or mourning. Or maybe celebration, since the 1973 bipartisan passage of the Endangered Species Act protected — ensured — so many of God’s vulnerable species a good chance of survival. In one of the masterpieces of beautiful bureaucracy in the 20th century, this lovely act of conservation is now, sadly, being eroded. Terry Tempest Williams — whose adult book Erosion has several sobering chapters on the former President Trump’s decrees to undo the 1973 Act — has a beautiful introduction to this stunning book.
Read it and weep, yes. But enjoy, too, in awe and wonder. Know that most of the book is just a glorious tribute to wonderful creatures a fabulous book for older kids and youth. How artful! What fun!
A Wild Promise is done by an acclaimed artist who beautifully illustrates over eighty animals that embody the spirit, legacy, and commitment of the Endangered Species Act. Forgive me for cross-referencing here, but it pairs wonderfully with the amazing Lenten book by Gayle Boss (and wonderfully illustrated by David Klein) Wild Hope: Stories for Lent from the Vanishing. Or, for that matter, the new children’s version of their Advent book about animals in hibernation, All Creation Waits:The Advent Mystery of New Beginnings. I’ll be saying more about that lavish new edition in an upcoming Advent book list. In any case, A Wild Promise is nothing short of spectacular. Spectacular!
The greatest enemy of life on Earth is not fossil fuel, but human hubris. In our eleventh hour, the art of Allen Crawford and the words of Terry Tempest Williams offer witness and warning. A Wild Promise celebrates the lives that have been saved by the Endangered Species Act, even as that half-century act itself is endangered. This gentle, strong book marks this moment of peril and promise. We can ignore, and thereby accept, the dark tsunami of extinction moving through sea and air and across the land faster than any previous wave. Or we can find the power of our humility and our wider kinship. We can reconnect our children and ourselves to the rest of nature. We can reverse the deepening loneliness of our species. We can turn the tide. — Richard Louv, author of Our Wild Calling and Last Child in the Woods
The World God Made Hannah Anderson, illustrated by Nathan Anderson (B+H Kids) $14.99 OUR SALE PRICE = $11.99
I hope you know the contemporary wordsmith Hannah Anderson. She is a young theological writer, inspirational but real, glorious, even. I respect her immensely and she and her husband, Nathan, himself a professional illustrator, have done a fabulous and popular book of wonderful nature writing called Turning of Days: Lessons from Nature, Season, and Spirit. Now they’ve done a splendid children’s book, a creative rumination on Psalms 104.
I like the way B+H Kids tell about it:
God gives us all the earth and calls it home.
Celebrating the wonders of nature, this retelling of Psalm 104 invites you to enjoy and explore the world God made. Moving from one feature of the natural world to the next–from the sky and earth to the animals and oceans–the book’s lyrical language introduces questions from a child’s view. What about when strong winds blow? When birds fly far away? When the night is long? Each uncertainty is met with a truth about God’s character to comfort children and give them the confidence they need to explore the world around them.
Hannah Anderson’s stirring words are joined by Nathan Anderson’s soft, realistic watercolors. Together they have created a book with a timeless aesthetic and readability, one that will resonate with families who celebrate the beauty of nature and the wisdom that comes from the world God made.
Winter Gifts: An Indigenous Celebration of Nature Kaitlin B. Curtice, illustrated by Gloria Felix (Convergent) $14.99 OUR SALE PRICE = $11.99
This is a lovely, sweet book showing the life (and interior thoughts and fears and joys) of a modern-day American girl of Native descent. It is unclear from the story what tribe the girl, Dani, is from, but the story describes her friends who are Anglo, black, and Asian American as they play in the snow (they go “sledding”) and drink hot cocoa. The author, herself a follower of Jesus who is an important writer of indigenous insights (we carry all three of her important books) and how they inform her Christian faith, lives in Philadelphia, so this book seems to be a story of an indigenous girl in a dominant culture school somewhere where there is snow. Maybe in Pennsylvania, even.
The plot is simple — she learns from her family about listening well to Grandmother Nature and caring for creation, but her friends don’t get her. She shares with her parents how she was teased and they resolve to be faithful to their indigenous wisdom, looking for gifts from creation itself. Dani takes comfort in speaking with a favorite tree. Eventually her classmates come around and want to see her tree and a fort she built and all ends well.
It was moving, actually, that there was this tension in the story when the kids didn’t understand her wisdom about Winter being a time of receiving creation’s gifts of darkness, waiting, resting. That a few Potawatomi words are used makes this a special treat.
By the way, the girl’s name in the story is Dani, and a brief note tells us that Dani (Dah-nee) is the Potawatomi word used to describe the affection toward a beloved or special daughter. Curtice tells us that “Dani represents not just the special love we share with our human families but also our special status as the beloved children of Creator and of Earth, who was made by Creator to be our mother.”
Gloria Felix, the illustrator and animation artist, is Purepecha, born and raised in Uruapan, in Michoacán Mexico.
African Heroes: Discovering Our Christian Heritage Jerome Gay, Jr., illustrated by John Joven (New Growth Press) $16.99 OUR SALE PRICE = $13.59
This is a super cute book and a great addition to the many, many books highlighting black history and African American kids. But wait! These kids are learning not about African-American history but about Africans. This is an amazing book happily accomplishing any number of things, including helping children (uhhh, and their parents) learn about the earliest years of church history.
In this story, the kids, Jordan and Jasmine, ask their dad, who loves history, if there are any Christians who look like them that God used in the past to help the church grow. And dad playfully gives a lesson we all need. What fun pictures there are of Lactantius and Pachomius the Great, Cyprian of Carthage and Cyril of Alexandria, Perpetua and Felicity, Athanasius and so many others. These are church leaders of the first few centuries and (like Augustine, from Africa) were not white. Did you know Tertullian grew up in Carthage which is in Tunisia.
In a Bible study just the other night somebody asked about the faithful Ethiopian who worked in the Queen’s court and his encounter with the gospel through his conversation with a Spirit-directed Philip. When I mentioned that he was black, one friend gasped. She had never thought of that!
This is a great, great book, highly recommended for anyone who wants to learn about early church theologians, what they did, what they were known for, their apparant qualities and robust faith. Congrats to Rev. Gay — he’s done a number of books but I think this is his first for children.
The Treasure: Ancient Story Every New of Jesus and His Church Marty Machowski, illustrated by Flavia Sorrentino (New Growth Press) $29.99 OUR SALE PRICE = $23.99
At almost 250 pages, this is one of the more hefty kid’s books we’ve gotten in the store lately. I like the vivid, colorful design of this one a bit more than than the pictures in his popular The Ology and Wonder Full. This one is a bit more zany, edgy without being over the top odd, with nice color and standard children’s illustrations that could be in a Disney-type book. Ms Sorrentino, by the way, lives and works as a freelance illustrator out of her hometown of Rome, Italy. She loves creative expression and in The Treasure does the work of a lifetime, as Machowski weaves a Bible study of the books of Luke and Acts (with a fictional story, too.)
Readers follow the adventures of Mira and Theos, who discover a sea captain’s personal journal that offers clues to a hidden treasure. The can only solves the riddle of the treasure, however, by studying two ancient scrolls. (Yep, that would be the Gospel of Luke and the Book of Acts.) What a book!
The Peace Table: A Storybook Bible Chrissie Muecke, Jasmin Pittman Morrell, & Teresa Kim Pecinovsky (Shine) $32.99 OUR SALE PRICE = $26.39
You may recall us promoting the Shine On children’s storybook Bible as one of the very best out there, a large-sized, creative project done by a collaboration between The Brethren Press and Herald Press. The Peace Table is in that spirit, by those two Anabaptist publishers, and it is perhaps the best children’s storybook Bible we’ve yet seen. There are several favorites, each with strengths, but the color and drama and interactive prompts and allusive invitations to enter the story are simply stunning. We are excited and true fans of this stellar, new storybook filled with Bible stories, respectfully told.
The design is expert and while creative, not so artsy as to be distracting. There is lots of color, but much is pastel or muted. The art (from 30 different artists) is diverse with different fabulous styles from around the globe. Most are exceptionally compelling. There are 140 stories, all accompanied by prayer ideas, questions to ponder, and action ideas for families to discuss and consider. There are twelve “peace paths” that encourage children to “explore the ways that peace themes are woven throughout the Old and New Testaments. (There is a nice resource piece, too, that explains how God’s promises of shalom, fulfilled in Christ, equip us for peace with God, self, others, and creation itself.) This book is extraordinary and very highly recommended.
God’s Big Promises Bible Storybook Carl Laferton, illustrated by Jennifer Davison (The Good Book Company) $22.99 OUR SALE PRICE = $18.39
Many faithful followers of Hearts & Minds know that we are very fond of the good work of Carl Laferton and his great series (all illustrated wonderfully by the clever Catalina Echeverri) called “Tales That Tell the Truth.” Each of those tells a Bible story with a unique angle (what some theologians might call the historical-redemptive hermeneutic) that points to Christ’s redemption and the hopeful promises of His coming Kingdom. From God’s Very Good Idea Storybook: A True Story of God’s Delightfully Different Family to The Christmas Promise to Goodbye to Goodbyes Storybook: A True Story about Jesus, Lazarus, and an Empty Tomb to The Garden, the Curtain and the Cross and so many more, we’ve enjoyed surprising customers with these great books. I like Laferton a lot.
Now, finally, Mr Laferton (who lives in London and spent his life teaching the Bible to children) has done a storybook Bible for young children. Here he offers these 92 “foundational stories faithfully told.”
The children’s illustrations are vivid and colorful and mostly realistic in style. The artist is based in Northern Ireland. It is not a giant volume but it is over 400 pages. Very nicely done.
The Story of God Our King Kenneth Padgett & Shay Gregory, illustrated by Aedan Peterson (Wolfbane Books) $19.99 OUR SALE PRICE = $15.99
It is hard to explain the glory of this book for indie publisher Wolfbane. It is slightly larger than most typical picture books and gloriously so. The artwork seems to be computer generated, with a certain edge of graphic novel realism. As such, it is beautiful and gripping, a good edition to any home or church library. It is a follow up and companion volume to The Story of God With Us which we have promoted before.
What makes this exceptional, though, and why we were eager to track it down and make it available to our customers is because (or so it seems to me) it is nearly one of a kind. It looks at the kingship of God, the coming of Christ as the reigning one, the King of His Kingdom. The theme o fGod’s kingship over the whole creation and the royal nature of His people (and, the subsequent, eventual defeat of all evil) is expressed Biblically and theologically. This ancient story is still unfolding as we live in this now-but-not-yet world.
There are splendid blurbs on the back cover by Melissa Kruger (of the Gospel Coalition) and the great Matthew Bates (I’ve recently recommended his powerful, readable book Why the Gospel?) and the thoughtful Hebrew prof Michael Heiner. It’s fascinating how they have serious writers and theologians weighing in on this colorful kid’s book.
I hope your church celebrates the feast of Christ the King Sunday (right before Advent begins), what Roman Catholic Churches mightily call the Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe. The Story of God Our King by Kenneth Padgett and Shay Gregory can help.
Big Feeling Days: A Book about Hard Things, Heavy Emotions, and Jesus’ Love Aubrey Sampson, illustrated Natalia Basilica (NavPress) $16.99 OUR SALE PRICE = $13.59
You may know the very touching contemporary books by the young writer Aubrey Sampson. I have raved about her book describing her sorrows and how she learned the language of lament (The Louder Song) and a good one about intimacy with God called Known.
Big Feeling Days is sweet and solid and honest. My fear is that some will find it a bit corny. It is not. It uses great imagination (and nice, basic, modern-looking illustrations) to show children in various states of emotion, often of hard stuff, sadnesses of all sorts, running to the arms of and often smiling Jesus. I’m very sure this will be a blessing to many, if used with discretion, at just the right time. It really can help little kids with big emotions know “that God loves them and is right next to them, no matter what they feel.”)
The kids are often wearing colorful costumes — symbolic, perhaps? — and Jesus (did I mention?) is often smiling. This is gospel-centered goodness. Knowing that all of us have God-given emotions and all sorts of complicated feelings makes this lovely book ring true. It even has small touches of sparkles. I highly recommend it. So does psychologist and writer Dan Allender Listen to him here:
I love children’s books if they tell the truth, engage the heart, and invite one’s imagination to grow. Aubrey Sampson has exquisitely told the truth about emotions that feel too big for one’s little body and soul to bear. The simple but profound reality that big adults and little children feel overwhelmed at times and don’t know how to manage bad days that make us mad and sad touches the heart and invites us all to imagine and receive the care of Jesus, who can calm the winds and still the raging seas. I can’t wait to read this brilliantly written and illustrated book to my grandchildren. — Dan B. Allender, PhD, professor of counseling psychology and founding president of The Seattle School of Theology and Psychology, author of The Cry of the Soul: How Our Emotions Reveal Our Deepest Questions about God
The Brothers Zzli Alex Cousseau, illustrated by Anne-Lis Boutin (Eerdmans Books for Young Readers) $17.99 OUR SALE PRICE = $14.39
I mentioned how sometimes Eerdmans finds international books that have a rare feel for those who read pop American kid’s books. This is a good example. It is bright and charming, yes, but a bit odd. It is a poignant story about a bear family’s search for home and belonging.
Who knew that it would spark lasting conversations about the struggles of refugees, the impact of prejudice, and what it may mean to welcome others, even outsiders.
Would you give a home to somebody who has been on the road for a long time? They’d be good company, it is said. But they are bears. Very funny, active bears. The story is dense and the art is busy and detailed (and funny.) This is an amazing work of children’s art. Kudos to this French pair, famous there, for storytelling and vivid illustration. Wow.
Saints: A Family Story John Cavadini & Catherine Cavadini, illustrated by Anastassia Cassady (Paraclete Press) $25.99 OUR SALE PRICE = $20.79
This is brand new and, I am sure, destined to become a classic in the genre. There is simply no other book of which we are aware on the topic of Catholic Saints that is so informative and so exquisitely captivating with this realistic, superb portrait art. In a way this is not a typical children’s book, although the writing is upbeat and lovely. It is designed to be read together, to help encourage families to read about saints (from history or from the Bible.) The art is stunning, and somewhat diverse. (Besides a wild, wild-eyed, long-haired John the Baptist, on the other page there is a big bug, I’m guessing, uh, a locust. Yep, there are these smaller depictions and insets. A few of the pictures are edgy and iconographic, others (like the cover) more realistic. The picture of blessed Franz Jaegerstaetter hugging his wife over his scrippled letters is heartbreakingly powerful.
There is a great bibliography at the end, and a GR code for even more content. An excellent resource for families with older kids. Or no kids. It’s amazing.
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Sadly, as of November 2023 we are still closed for in-store browsing. COVID is not fully over. Since few are reporting their illnesses anymore, it is tricky to know the reality but the best measurement is to check the waste water tables to see the amount of virus in the eco-system. It is bad and now getting worse. It’s important to be aware of how risks we take might effect the public good — those at risk, while not dying from the virus, are experiencing long-term health consequences. (Just check the latest reports of the rise of heart attacks and diabetes among younger adults, caused by Covid.) It is complicated, but we are still closed for in-store browsing due to our commitment to public health (and the safety of our family who live here, our staff, and customers.) Our store is a bit cramped without top-notch ventilation, so we are trying to be wise. Thanks for understanding.
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