Hi there!
Welcome back to Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers.
Today, we welcome The Children's Book Review as we feature a moving and heartfelt Picture Book currently on tour. It takes us back in history to a time of great persecution, and shows us the events through a child's eyes. It's quite the change in perspective, and that subtle switch sheds a whole new light on the tragedy of the events. Ladies and gents, I give you today's blog tour guest and ebook of choice...
The Crystal Beads, Lalka's Journey
by
Pat Black-Gould
Illustrated by
Katya Royz
9781955119207
Purple Butterfly Press
About the book...
A Star of David necklace or a rosary?
In 1939 Poland, a young girl is asked to give up one of these and accept the other without understanding why. However, what she must part with happens to be her most prized possession—a precious gift given to her by her father before he died.
The child’s mother then teaches the girl a “game” to prepare her for what is to come. As the Nazis invade the country, the mother is forced to make a heartbreaking sacrifice.
This beautifully illustrated picture book is loosely based on a true story. Although told through the eyes of a young girl, the book is written for readers of all ages. It also contains two study guides. One is for children, parents, and teachers. The other is for adults who may gather in places of worship, book clubs, and small groups. Discussion topics include themes of compassion, empathy, and diversity.
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This is truly a story that will make you FEEL, make you THINK, and make you CONSIDER. The horrid events depicted in a kid-friendly way make it consumable for the audience intended, while still getting across the very wrongness of the situation, and the very rightness of allowing people to be who they truly are. It wasn't hard to imagine a parent trying to make things easier on their children by turning it into a game. How else could you explain the fact that they had to hide their true hearts? How else could you expect them to so readily accept the persona they had to take on and uphold under severe pressure? How else could they prepare themselves to make the ultimate sacrifice for the safety of their children?
Through easy to understand dialogue, and haunting imagery, the author and illustrator bring a stark beauty to a time that shall never be forgotten, but hopefully learned from. It's hard to tell in today's world sometimes, but each of us can make an impact. From the tall to the small, we all have a choice each day to make...to be open and accepting of others, to stand up for those that can't, to take a stand for our own beliefs...to try to make the world a better place one heartbeat at a time.
Readers will come to understand the history covered in a new way, while learning about the efforts of those around the world to make sure it is recorded not simply for posterity, but to serve as a reminder of where hate and bigotry can lead. A great addition to classroom reading time, as well as those moments at home, and a touching way to help young minds understand, learn, and lead with love.
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About the author...
Pat Black-Gould, Ph.D., is a clinical psychologist and an author. Her short stories have appeared in several literary journals and anthologies.
Many years ago, Pat heard a powerful story that haunted her until she committed it to paper. The Crystal Beads was first published in Jewish Fiction. net in 2020. The short story then won first-place honors in two writing competitions conducted by the National League of American Pen Women, Washington, D.C.
The first was an award by the Pen Women Florida State Association. She then received the Flannery O’Connor Short Story Award as part of the National Biennial Letters in Competition. Pat felt it important to bring the story to a younger audience. At that point, she rewrote it as a children’s book. She hopes that The Crystal Beads, Lalka’s Journey, will do justice to the story she once heard and carry its message to younger generations.
Pat’s writing explores topics such as compassion, tolerance, and diversity. She continues to examine these themes in her upcoming novel, Limbo of the Moon, written with her co-writer, Steve Hardiman.
For more information, visit www.patblackgould.com.
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Enter for a chance to win a copy of The Crystal Beads, Lalka's Journey!
Four (4) winners receive:
(1) signed copy of The Crystal Beads, Lalka's Journey!
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Special thanks to Bianca at The Children's Book Review for the chance to bring this tour to you and as well as the ebook for review. (THANKS!) For more information on this title, the author, the publisher, this tour, or those on the horizon, feel free to click through the links provided above. Be sure to check out the rest of the stops on the tour for more bookish fun!
TOUR SCHEDULE
Monday, July 11, 2022
A book review of The Crystal Beads, Lalka’s Journey
Tuesday, July 12, 2022
An interview with author Pat Black-Gould
Wednesday, July 13, 2022
A book review of The Crystal Beads, Lalka’s Journey
Thursday, July 14, 2022
A book review of The Crystal Beads, Lalka’s Journey
Friday, July 15, 2022
A book review of The Crystal Beads, Lalka’s Journey
Monday, July 18, 2022
A book review of The Crystal Beads, Lalka’s Journey
Tuesday, July 19, 2022
A book review of The Crystal Beads, Lalka’s Journey
Wednesday, July 20, 2022
A book review of The Crystal Beads, Lalka’s Journey
Thursday, July 21, 2022
An article by author Pat Black-Gould
Friday, July 22, 2022
A book review of The Crystal Beads, Lalka’s Journey
Monday, July 25, 2022
A book review of The Crystal Beads, Lalka’s Journey
Tuesday, July 26, 2022
An article by author Pat Black-Gould
Wednesday, July 27, 2022
A book review of The Crystal Beads, Lalka’s Journey
Thursday, July 28, 2022
A book review of The Crystal Beads, Lalka’s Journey
Friday, July 29, 2022
A book review of The Crystal Beads, Lalka’s Journey
Until next time, remember...if it looks good, READ IT!
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