A Glimpse at “Down the Valley” by Edith M. Humphrey

Professor Edith Humphrey has once again woven a beautiful tale for children, incorporating her own grandchildren as the main characters, and allowing them to time-travel and meet their very own saints! Fans of her Beyond the White Fence (Ancient Faith, 2021) will be overjoyed to learn that she has written a sequel, Down the Valley, which has been published by Cascade Books (an imprint of Wipf and Stock).

It’s been two years since some of the cousins found themselves beyond Gramgon’s (what they call their grandmother) white fence, and wondrously transported back in time to meet their saints. Many of the other cousins wished for a turn, but two years have passed with no opportunities. Until now. This time cousins James, Isaiah, Allie, and Kevin, and their friend from Gramgon’s neighborhood, TJ, each have their own adventure down in the valley beyond the fence. (Most of the adventures include several other cousins, as well.) Every trip across time introduces a cousin/friend to their saint and allows them to experience part of their saint’s life. 

How do some of the cousins cause a distraction that keeps one of Christ’s disciples’ homes from being searched? Will some of the boys make it all the way through the dark to Bethany (and find the right house there) in time to deliver something important to an early Christian leader? Who accidentally meets their saint inside the Jewish temple at night? Which of the children find themselves in another time and place alone? Who winds up in jail with their saint? Whose saint had an otter and a cow as their friends? Who was almost too late to this saint-meeting party, but arrives in time to find themselves on a beautiful beach in India, where they learn that their saint knows all about lateness and has learned to see the gifts in it? And why do the cousins keep snitching Gramgon’s giant book (that they almost can’t handle because of its size) off of her shelf? 

Find answers to these questions, and a great deal of adventure, with these real-life friends when you read Down the Valley. The book stands on its own, and will make sense to readers who have not read Beyond the White Fence, the first book in the series. Having read the first one, however, will give the reader deeper insights into these children and their escapades. Readers of both will meet many different saints, in the context of their time and culture. There is so much to learn about the saints and how the world looked during their lifetime, and these books are an adventurous way to do so without taking a single class.

This book will be a fun read-aloud for younger children, it is sure to be devoured by older children, and adults will also enjoy reading it (this one certainly did!). Purchase your copy of Down the Valley to begin your own learning adventure here: https://wipfandstock.com/9781666772067/down-the-valley/ 

Enjoy Kristina’s review of Humphrey’s first book in the series, Beyond the White Fence, in an earlier post on this site: https://orthodoxchristianparenting.wordpress.com/2021/10/26/a-glimpse-at-beyond-the-white-fence-by-edith-m-humphrey/

The Antiochian Orthodox Christian Education Ministry thanks Cascade Books for providing a copy of this book for us to review and share.      

Reviewed by Kristina Wenger, educator, podcaster, co-author of Tending the Garden of Our Hearts.  

A Glimpse at “You are an Orthodox Christian” by Theofanis Sawabe, Illustrated by Vladimir Ilievski

Newrome Press’ picture book, You are an Orthodox Christian, helps its readers to better understand who they are, and gives them the chance to learn why/how to better value their faith. Theofanis Sawabe begins the book with, “You are an Orthodox Christian. Do you know what that means?” He begins to answer his own question by taking a look at Orthodoxy’s family tree, which stretches all the way back to Christ and His apostles. 

Page by page, Sawabe shows how Orthodox Christians through the years have carried the Faith so that we, today, can be part of it. He tells of their kindness to strangers, their courage in the face of impossible situations, their steadfastness in maintaining the Faith. He continues into modern times, showing how Orthodox Christians continue to carry and share their faith as they are able. He emphasizes that the reader (who he calls “dear child”) is part of this big Orthodox family, and that they are inheritors of a great blessing: the Holy Orthodox Faith.

Vladimir Ilievski has illustrated this book in a truly Orthodox manner. Almost every page features a saint (or more) whose life illustrates the words on that page. Readers may easily recognize the saints, as they look similar to their icons, but the saints’ illustrations also beautifully fit the style of the rest of the illustrations in the book.

You are an Orthodox Christian concludes with an appendix of several pages that tell abbreviated life stories of those saints and notes which previous page of the book features their image. This book offers the opportunity for readers to come away from it better appreciating their faith. Readers will also have learned more about twenty of the Church’s saints!

This book will be an excellent resource to families or Church schools. It encourages its readers to not just appreciate their faith, but to carry it on (as so many others have) for the generations to come. It is a book about family, the family of the Orthodox Church.

Find your copy of You are an Orthodox Christian here: https://newromepress.com/you-are-an-orthodox-christian/ 

The Antiochian Orthodox Christian Education Ministry thanks Newrome Press for providing a copy of this book for us to review and share.      

Reviewed by Kristina Wenger, educator, podcaster, co-author of Tending the Garden of Our Hearts.  

A Glimpse at “Stories from the Gerontikon”, designed and illustrated by Christos Gousidis

Newrome Press’ book Stories from the Gerontikon is part graphic novel, part illustrated storybook, and tells many stories from the Gerontikon. (“A book that tells about the community of saintly men, and their exploits towards spiritual progress.”~ St. Photios the Great, quoted in the prologue of the book.) This book is full of stories of holy desert elders, their love for God, their determination, their failures, and their learnings. Christos Gousidis has illustrated each story with one or more pictures that help to bring it to life. Many stories have a one-sentence summary or nugget of truth to ponder at the end of the story.

How does the young monk John’s obedience to his elder, in a very difficult assignment, show fruit? 

What asceticism does a city-dweller teach to an old and holy monk?

How does God use a beggar to help Abba Agathonas?

In what way does a compassionate monk turn the anger of his frustrated fellow monks into love?

Where does pride often hide when we are trying to become more holy?

Who needed a pillow? And why didn’t the basket burn?

Find the answers to all of these questions, and more, in Stories from the Gerontikon! After many pages of stories, the book offers a few activity pages, where the reader can interact with some of the graphics in the stories. It ends with a blank “graphic novel” page and an invitation to illustrate one of three other stories (also from the Gerontikon). Readers who complete the illustrations are invited to send a photo of their work to Newrome Press, to be entered into an annual drawing for an icon of St. Paisios the Athonite!

This book will offer older children, teens, and adults much to ponder. It is full of the wisdom of the elders, and the reader will find much to learn within its pages. Stories from the Gerontikon will be an interesting read for an individual, but will be even better if it is read with others, so that its stories and truths can be discussed. Readers will likely want to re-visit the book every few years, to see what new gleanings they can gather from the wisdom of these desert elders.

Purchase your own copy here: https://newromepress.com/stories-from-the-gerontikon/

The Department of Christian Education thanks Newrome Press for providing a copy of this book for us to review and share.      

Reviewed by Kristina Wenger, educator, podcaster, co-author of Tending the Garden of Our Hearts.

Two New Picture Books by Creative Orthodox

Fans of Creative Orthodox will be delighted to learn that two new books have joined the author’s other offerings! Michael Elgamal, the artist and author behind Creative Orthodox, first offered the graphic novels Anastasis (about Christ’s victory over death), and Forest in the Desert (about St. John the Short). Both are helpful tools for older children and lovers of graphic novels. Then he created My Saintly Friends, a coloring book about the saints, and Pope Kyrillos Loves to Pray, a board book especially for little ones. Now he has added two new picture books to help young children learn more about the Faith. 

Saint Antony & the Humble Leaflet is the story of the leaves on a palm branch, who each want to be the reason that St. Antony rests under their palm tree. What happens to the big, proud leaves? Does St. Antony rest under their tree? Which leaflet gets the most attention from St. Antony, and why? Readers will see the beauty in humility through the leaflets’ story, which is told in rhyme and playfully illustrated. The book also includes a prayer to St. Antony, and a brief retelling of his life story: all illustrated in the fun, engaging manner for which Creative Orthodox is known.

My Saintly Family takes a look at an Orthodox Christian family’s life in a way that young children can understand and appreciate. Colorful pages and rollicking rhymes (i.e.: “My family is my Church, my church is family, too. With Jesus in the middle, uniting me to you!”) One child of the family introduces the reader to the rest of their saintly family. Not until the part of the book called “About the Saintly Family” does the reader realize that they already know the family who is featured! Which saintly family is featured in this book? Read it to find out! The book includes a prayer asking for the saintly family’s prayers for the reader, an introduction to the real family featured in the book, and a QR code in the back that opens a page full of free, related, coloring pages!

Both Saint Antony & the Humble Leaflet and My Saintly Family will be read and enjoyed again and again. They are written in a way that is fun to read (or hear) and are joyfully illustrated with an appropriate touch of humor. Each has a positive message that will encourage readers to grow in the Faith. These books will be helpful to both families and church schools, and would make great gifts for young children!

You can buy Creative Orthodox books (and also find some free downloads/printables!) here: https://creativeorthodox.com/ 

The Department of Christian Education thanks Michael Elgamal of Creative Orthodox for providing copies of these books for us to review and share.

Reviewed by Kristina Wenger, educator, podcaster, co-author of Tending the Garden of Our Hearts.

A Glimpse at “Islands of the Ocean: Stories from the Lives of Celtic Saints” by Constantine Ganotis and Katerina Kormali, illustrated by Eva Karantinou

Newrome Press’ book Islands of the Ocean: Stories from the Lives of Celtic Saints features the stories of saints who lived in Wales, Ireland, and Scotland. The book engagingly tells the stories of St. Melangell, the Boys of Lan, Saint Kevin, Saint Patrick, and St. Gobnait. But the saints in this book share more than cultural and geographic proximity. These saints had an extraordinary awareness of (and appreciation for) nature. Thus, God often used His creation to help, save, and teach them. The saints’ love for animals is a recurring theme throughout the book. 

Authors Constantine Ganotis and Katerina Kormali are a grandfather-granddaughter duo whose love for studying and teaching Church history pairs well with their ability to write folktales, strengthening the way in which they share the stories of these saints. Illustrator Eva Karantinou’s medieval-inspired stained-glass-window illustrations add charm while also helping the reader to mentally “step back in time.” The bright colors and simple shapes of each illustration, as well as the themed borders for each saint’s story draw the reader into the text.

Which saint was a slave with only the animals that he cared for as his friends; and because of this, he began to notice the details in the natural world which God so carefully created?

Which saint’s story recounts how people were miraculously saved by sudden rainstorms, not just once, but TWICE? 

Which saint loved watching and learning about bees; and later in life, the bees saved the saint’s monastery from an invasion?

Which saint’s story includes two boys who were protected by a monster and fed by an otter?

Which saint was spoken to by an owl? 

Readers will find the answer to all of these questions in this book. They will also be inspired to become more aware of the natural world, and more appreciative of the ways in which God works through it to help and save His people. The account of each saint’s life will challenge the reader to become closer to God.

Find your copy of Islands of the Ocean: Stories from the Lives of Celtic Saints here: https://newromepress.com/islands-of-the-ocean-stories-from-the-lives-of-the-celtic-saints/ 

The Antiochian Department of Christian Education thanks Newrome Press for sharing this book so that we could read and review it. 

Reviewed for the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Education Ministry by Kristina Wenger, educator, podcaster, co-author of Tending the Garden of Our Heart.

A Glimpse at “Saint Sergius: a Beacon in the Wilderness of Radonezh” by George Danias and Christina Hatzithanasi-Dania

Newrome Press has a series of children’s books called Rivers of Holiness. One of them is Saint Sergius: a Beacon in the Wilderness of Radonezh, written by George Danias and Christina Hatzithanasi-Dania, and illustrated by Angeliki Deleha. It was published in 2019.

How beautiful would life be if we were all connected to God as the saints are? How would our relationships with others, even with the wild animals, be different? Speaking of wild animals, why do they respond to saintly people as they do? Readers will find some answers to these questions in this book! 

Join a grandfather as he tells his grandchildren all about a young man named Bartholomew who became a monk named Sergius. The story tells of Bartholomew’s longing and love for God even from within his mother’s womb. The book gives a glimpse into his life as he grows to become the monk Sergius. It highlights his relationships with others, including wild animals (like bears), slowly revealing his holiness to the reader. 

While reading, learn the answers to even more questions. Which virtue did Saint Sergius struggle to acquire? How did he demonstrate humility? What miracles did God work for the monks at Saint Sergius’ monastery when they were hungry and thirsty? What is it that all good Christians should remember to do when God helps them? (Hint: this is demonstrated in this book by Prince Dimitri.) 

After the grandfather finishes telling the story of the life of Saint Sergius to his grandchildren, there is a section of the book called “Wondrous Stories.” It offers “bonus materials,” as it were, in the form of extra stories: five additional accounts of miracles that God worked for and through Saint Sergius. The book is written at a level that elementary (and older) children can understand and enjoy, and features a handful of illustrations that add to the stories.

Saint Sergius is commemorated on 25th of September. On that day in 1392, he departed this life. But the saint’s impact on the world did not stop when he departed this life. He continues to intercede for the world, and sometimes has appeared to people, as parents or Church school teachers and the children in their care will learn as they read this book together. Please pray for us, St. Sergius!

Find your own copy of this book at: https://newromepress.com/saint-sergius-a-beacon-in-the-wilderness-of-radonezh/ 

The Antiochian Department of Christian Education thanks Newrome Press for sharing this book so that we could read and review it. 

Reviewed by Kristina Wenger, educator, podcaster, co-author of Tending the Garden of Our Hearts.

Two Books about St. Paisios

On July 12 we commemorate St. Paisios, who departed this life on that day in 1994. St. Paisios was canonized in 2015, and there is much that we modern-day Orthodox Christians can learn from him. Newrome Press offers two children’s books full of delightful insights into his life that will benefit readers of any age. Here is a glimpse into Saint Paisios of the Holy Mountain: the Heavenly Signalman and A Boy’s Journey to Sainthood: Saint Paisios the Athonite.

Have you ever read a book and become so connected with the main character that you felt that they are now your friend? Perhaps you also wished that they were real so you could be together? Many readers of Newrome Press’ book Saint Paisios of the Holy Mountain: the Heavenly Signalman will come away from this book feeling like that, with one major difference: this book’s readers will rejoice because not only is St. Paisios real; he also is a true friend, for he is praying for all of us!

This lovely children’s book by the Holy Monastery of Timios Prodromos, illustrated by Angeliki Deleha, tells the life story of St. Paisios in a beautiful way that will help children and adults alike feel as though they’ve been in the saint’s presence for a period of time. They’ll learn how Arsenios (his given name) fulfilled his country’s wishes that he serve in the army, without ever having to bear arms – to his relief – and to whom he gives credit for that blessing. Readers will find out why he stood in a bucket of cold water for hours when he first arrived at the monastery to begin his journey to becoming a monk. They’ll discover what happened with the insufficient concrete being used to rebuild a monastery under his guidance. They’ll learn about the bear; the deer with a cross on its forehead; and the bird concerts. Readers may find that they wish to have been one of the Bedouin children receiving the gifts that he offered to them (which he’d purchased with the money from the icons he carved and sold). Readers will probably find themselves wishing they’d been there to laugh at – and learn from – his jokes, and to eat the sweets that he loved to give to visitors. Maybe they’ll even wish they could run super fast and really far, like those two students who visited the monk when he was growing old… The lessons that he teaches at the end of the book allow the reader to sit at St. Paisios’ feet and learn from him.

You may already know and love St. Paisios. Whether or not you do, you’re sure to grow to know and love him even better through reading this book. The anecdotes that the book shares from his life give a glimpse of just how a human can live a saintly life. The lessons that he teaches are appropriate for any age. The book is written in an understandable format, and the charming illustrations will help readers to connect even more fully with this saint-turned-friend.

To order a copy, visit: https://newromepress.com/saint-paisios-of-the-holy-mountain-the-heavenly-signalman/

***

What happens when someone who is older and wiser than you teaches you that what you believe is not true? What if you’re a child when this happens? How do you handle this new information: what do you do with it?

Young Arsenios had this very experience, and it drove him to his knees. Literally. He went straight to prayer and prostrations, asking God to reveal Himself if He were real. What happened next? Find out in Newrome Press’ book A Boy’s Journey to Sainthood: Saint Paisios the Athonite, written by Anna Iakovou and illustrated by Christina Papatheou-Douligeri.  

The book itself is divided into four parts: the first tells the above story. The second tells the life story of Arseny, who, over the years, was renamed Averkios, then Paisios. The third part of the book gives a glimpse into life in the village of Farasa, where Arseny was born. 

The fourth and final part of the book is a collection of grace-filled short stories related to St. Paisios’ life. Did Fr. Paisios love to laugh? How did that affect his interactions with others? Did ants leave the box of sweets when Fr. Paisios directed them to go eat their own piece that he’d set aside for them? How did a frog teach a monk with its example? Whom did Father choose to obey, which helped him to break his self-will? Read these stories and more in this beautiful book for older children. 

Get your copy at https://newromepress.com/a-boy-s-journey-to-sainthood-st.-paisios-the-athonite/ 

The Department of Christian Education would like to thank Newrome Press for a review copy of each of these books.

Reviewed by Kristina Wenger, educator, podcaster, co-author of Tending the Garden of Our Hearts.

A Glimpse at “St. Casilda Brings the Bread” by Melinda Johnson, illustrated by Kristina Tartara

Melinda Johnson and Kristina Tartara have done it again! This author and illustrator have again beautifully collaborated, pairing Melinda’s words with Kristina’s illustrations and bringing a saint’s story to life for young children. The result is St. Casilda Brings the Bread, Saint Vladimir Seminary Press’ most recent board book.

Casilda is curious. Why do the Christians love their God so much that they’re willing to stay in prison for their faith? What could be better than freedom? The only way she can learn the answer to her question is to go into the prison and ask them. Casilda decides that it would be nice to take the Christians some bread in exchange for their answers to her questions. She is not allowed to bring food into the prison, however, so she hides the bread in her billowing skirt, and makes her way to the prison.

What happens when the guards of the prison ask Casilda what she is carrying in her skirt? Do they let her in to see the Christians, lock her up, or send her away? Will Casilda ever have an answer to her question?

This charmingly illustrated book tells the tale with simple, rollicking verse. Melinda’s cleverly selected words succinctly convey the events with language that even young children can understand. And the use of rhyme will make multiple readings more fun, as children will begin to predict what word comes at the end of the page, so they can “read” that word, by themselves!

Kristina’s engaging drawings add depth and richness to the tale. Her color choices make a particular development in the story really pop, particularly in the context of the dreary jail. This reader especially likes how Kristina chose to portray St. Casilda’s elegance (and is a huge fan of seeking out the two little mice that make an appearance on almost every spread).

Readers of St. Casilda Brings the Bread will come away from the book encouraged to find ways to ask questions; to help those in need even when it may seem dangerous or impossible; and to pray, for their prayers are heard regardless of where or when they pray.

Purchase your copy of St. Casilda Brings the Bread here: https://svspress.com/saint-casilda-brings-the-bread/ 

Reviewed by Kristina Wenger, educator, podcaster, co-author of Tending the Garden of Our Hearts.

A Glimpse at “Lives of the Saints for Children: March: Friends of Christ” written by Demetrios and Anna Fotopoulos and illustrated by Paraskevi Hatzithanasi

Have you ever met someone who loved Christ so much that they gave all of their money (and even a really special gift from their own mother) to a rude poor person that kept on interrupting their work to ask for help? Do you know anyone whose friendship with Christ means even more to them than the happiness of being married and with their family? Newrome Press’ Lives of the Saints for Children: March: Friends of Christ will introduce you to two new saintly friends who did just that!

The March edition of Newrome Press’ twelve-book Friends of Christ series offers a beautifully illustrated hardcover volume that tells about the life of five saints commemorated in March. Lives of the Saints for Children: March: Friends of Christ was written by Demetrios and Anna Fotopoulos and illustrated by Paraskevi Hatzithanasi. It was carefully translated by Nicholas Palis, and printed in 2019.

The March volume of the Friends of Christ series tells its readers stories from the life of Venerable Lavrentios (commemorated March 7), St. Gregory the Dialogist (March 12), Venerable Alexios the Man of God (March 17), Venerable Serapion the Sidonite (March 21), and St. Ipatios Bishop of Gangra (March 31). In each saint’s story, readers will learn about what it is like to live as a holy, saintly person. They will be challenged to love others around them as Christ does. They will be “meeting” new friends that they will want to emulate in their own life.

Besides the stories of five holy friends of Christ, the book also includes additional helpful resources. Like the other editions in the series, this book starts with the morning prayer to one’s patron saint, and ends with the evening one. The “Friends of Christ Glossary” carefully explains the more challenging words in the book in a way that everyone can understand. The book also contains a large decal of one of Paraskevi Hazithanasi’s lovely illustrations.

This sturdy book will be useful for many March readings. Parents and Church school teachers alike will find the book helpful both for their own spiritual growth and as they educate and encourage the children in their care. Each story would make a great weekly family night reading or could be developed into a Sunday school lesson. Alternatively, each could be broken up and read a bit at a time over a period of days. The decal makes a great bookmark during the reading, but could also be added to a timeline on a wall or to a bulletin board. 

If you do not yet have a friend who relied on the prayers of his friends to convince a fierce dragon to follow him all the way to its death, you will want to read this book and meet such a friend! You will find Lives of the Saints for Children: March: Friends of Christ here: https://newromepress.com/friends-of-christ-march/

We thank Newrome Press for sharing this book with us, so that we can share it with you. 

Reviewed by Kristina Wenger, educator, podcaster, co-author of Tending the Garden of Our Hearts.

A Glimpse at “Lives of the Saints for Children: February: Friends of Christ” written by Demetrios and Anna Fotopoulos and illustrated by Paraskevi Hatzithanasi

Newrome Press is publishing a twelve-book series called Friends of Christ. Each volume contains the stories of five saints who are commemorated during a particular month of the year. Here is a closer look at Lives of the Saints for Children: February: Friends of Christ, written by Demetrios and Anna Fotopoulos and illustrated by Paraskevi Hatzithanasi, translated by Nicholas Palis, and printed in 2019.

The February edition of the Friends of Christ series tells its readers stories from the life of St. Nikiphoros the martyr (Feb. 9), St. Haralambos the hieromartyr (Feb. 10), St. Theodora the empress (Feb. 11), Venerable Philothei the Athenian (Feb. 19), and Great Martyr Photini the Samaritan woman (Feb. 26). Readers will learn more about the faithful life of each of these saints, and feel encouraged to grow in their own faith. The saints’ stories are carefully worded so that children of all ages can understand. Each has been translated very smoothly into English by translator Nicholas Palis.

The bulk of the book features the stories of these five saints (and the others whose lives they influenced). The book effectively meets this purpose, but it also offers some extra “bonus” materials that are helpful. In addition to the saints’ stories, it also offers a handful of other important resources. The book begins and ends with helpful prayers (the morning prayer to one’s patron saint, and the evening one); and it also contains “the Friends of Christ Glossary”, where some of the more challenging words in the text are explained. In addition, it comes with a large decal featuring one of the illustrations, that could be added to a timeline if the family or Church school room has one on their wall. The decal also makes a wonderful bookmark to mark the reader’s place in each story.

Paraskevi Hatzithanasi’s sketches add much to the stories in the book. They seem to draw from iconographic representations, enhancing the text while also familiarizing readers with the saint(s) in such a way that they will easily recognize the saint’s icon, when they find it at church or elsewhere. Illustrative details from each major illustration are scattered throughout that saint’s story, and offer a fun little challenge: that of finding where each detail is located in its original illustration.

This well-made hardcover book will last through many February readings, whether in a home or in a Church school. Each saint’s story could be read all at once (perhaps for a family night, or in a Sunday Church school class); or bit by bit, across a series of days, until it is completed. 

Order your own copy of Lives of the Saints for Children: February: Friends of Christ from Newrome Press, here: https://newromepress.com/friends-of-christ-february/

We thank Newrome Press for sharing this book with us, so that we can share it with you. 

Reviewed by Kristina Wenger, educator, podcaster, co-author of Tending the Garden of Our Hearts.