Review: Tania Maria Rodrigues-Peters Does It Again!

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Tania Maria Rodrigues-Peters...

Presents Her Latest...

The Legend of the Black Lake

I am always anxious to see the latest book by Tania Maria Rodrigues-Peters. Mainly because she creates not just a book--she creates an artistic masterpiece beautifully blending her words with complementary pictures. She also involves somebody from her native country, Brazil, as well as talk about where she lives now and gives full credit to those who work with her. Felipe Campos as illustrator and Paula Vaz-Carreiro as translator continued with her from her first book, Mozart in the Future. I also admire that she makes an effort to get her books out by automatically arranging for their translation to various languages.

Now I must say that Felipe Campos has provided so much more than illustrations for The Legend of the Black Lake.  Kudos to you Felipe for creating and allowing the artwork to become such a significant contribution to the overall effect of the book!

Tania uses this book to teach about prejudice, using a simple easily understood story of two teenagers who meet and fall in love.

The setting is in the Vorarlberg region of Austria where people far and wide come to see a strange sight--a "lake as black as the night." (p.10) One such visitor was a small boy who, when he saw the lake, begged his father to stop. He gazed at the lake, wanting to know why it was black. They saw an old man nearby and went to ask him if he knew why it was so black.

The little old man, who looked almost like a giant leprechaun to me, said that he did but it was a very, very, very old story. He even commented that it was like one of those love stories in books...and I added, thinking, like Cinderella or Snow White..

The little boy begged to hear the story, declaring himself a curious boy and he saw that even his father was now interested! (Have you ever noticed that lots of children's books are also wonderful to read as adults?)

And so the old man started telling about a time many, many years ago, in their village of Vorarlberg that there had been a family who had a very, very, very beautiful daughter named Katharina.  Her skin was white--very, very, very white, in fact--her hair was red and her eyes a deep blue. In fact her eyes might have been the same color of blue as the lake! For it was not black at that time...

Now Katharina was still young, but already sons of noblemen were starting to call. At that time, the parents chose the man to whom their daughter would be wed. Actually, Katharia was really not interested in meeting anybody! She enjoyed living near the lake and spent a lot of time sitting there beside the pure water.  The lake was so important to her that she treated it like a friend, admiring it and telling all her secrets there, even though she never got a response. In fact, the lake, "though mute, soaked up every word."(p. 41)

And then one day at the lake, she was frightened by finding a young man laying at her feet.  The boy was "black--as black as the night." She knelt to find out if he was alright--it didn't look like he was hurt, so she spent time admiring him, she thought him quite beautiful. Realizing he was sleeping, when he awoke  he explained he was lost and very hungry...his name was Paul.

Katharina immediately invited him home to eat, but Paul explained that sometimes people were afraid or didn't like him because his skin color was different. So Katharina brought food to him and they became friends.

Tania says so much in her stories and yet they are presented so that anybody will understand and be inspired. I loved this story. If I remember right, there was already a "legend" about the lake but I think you'll find that this is so beautiful a tale, that it just has to be the real reason that the lake is so very, very, very black! Ok, I enjoyed the "very, very, very" used by the old man!

Yes, it's for children...children of all ages from 5 to 105! Very, very, very highly recommended! Would make a beautiful holiday gift!

Book provided by
Publisher

G. A. Bixler

Review: Sally Schrock Writes & Illustrates Delightful Children's Book!

Hayseed’s First Race



Written and Illustrated by
Sally Schrock
Caballito Children's Books
Imprint of Caballo Press
ISBN: 0982476620


Yahoo! Run Hayseed Run! Kids and Parents--Want to have some fun learning? Visit Hayseed’s Stall online at www.caballopress.com/Hayseed. Teacher’s Guide Available for pre-schoolers through 2nd graders. Kids, you can become official members of Hayseed’s Posse!

You are right—I don’t normally open my reviews with publicity information. Well, that just shows you that each book speaks to me in different ways! And Sally Schrock, Writer and Illustrator of Hayseed’s First Race, shares a beautifully illustrated and wonderful story!

Hayseed’s mother, a beautiful horse, inside and out, early on taught Hayseed that he was loved! She especially taught him to love himself! Now that’s a very important lesson that we must all learn—and remember—throughout our lives! When Hayseed was a yearling, he even wrote a list of what he loved about himself. Excellent idea, right?

But then, after much training and practice, Hayseed was going to run his first race.

Nobody gave him a chance of winning. (p. 1)

In fact, Prince Perfect told him right out that he was not a racehorse. Of course, Prince Perfect was sure he was going to win and he reassured Hayseed often that he would and also laughed at Hayseed’s shoes, telling him he belonged in a circus.

Well, Hayseed did wear different shoes—he wore shoes like kids! How cool is that?!

Now Hayseed did listen to Prince Perfect, but it only made him want to run a fast race against him.

And they’re off!

Parents, when you introduce Hayseed’s First Race to your children, be sure to spend time pointing out the detail drawings in the background. Find the beautiful swan in the middle of the racetrack or meet Hayseed’s mother in a “thought” picture showing a small Hayseed by her side. A delightful children’s book by Sally Schrock! Don’t miss this one!



G. A. Bixler

Click on the article title to visit with Hayseed!

Review: Mozart in the Future - Excellent Children's Christmas Present!

Mozart in the Future
By Tania Maria Rodrigues-Peters
ISBN: 9783950280401
105 Pages

What a wonderfully fun story--Mozart in the Future is not just for children who are interested in music! Written by Tania Maria Rodrigues-Peters, with beautiful illustrations by Pedro Caraca, the story can help children and parents realize and find a balance of activities in their lives.

I love children's books that take special care to provide appropriate and complementary covers, artwork and format. Indeed Mozart in the Future does that extremely well. For instance, instead of boring quotation marks for dialog, every line that shows somebody talking begins with a musical note - Isn't that Cool? And the young Mozart is simply precious, in my opinion.

Then you will meet The Spirit of Music, who comes first to Max, as a beautiful woman dressed in yellow, whose violet eyes and hair match! Max is a young boy who loves learning how to play the piano, but also wants to play with other children. However, his mother believes he is the next Mozart and must constantly practice! Until Max becomes ill and the doctor orders complete rest. It was during this time that The Spirit visited!

Because she actually knew Mozart when he was a young boy--and guess what? Mozart had a very strict father who demanded the same thing from him--constant practice! And Mozart had never had an opportunity to have a friend or play, just for the fun of it!

Until The Spirit of Music brought Mozart into the future!

Can you imagine what two small boys might get into when they meet for the first time, having had no time to play, or have a close friend? Can you imagine what Mozart, especially, must have been thinking when he saw all the magical inventions that were now available? Well, you really don't have to imagine--Tania Maria Rodrigues-Peters, in Mozart in the Future tells us about Mozart watching TV for the first time, about his seeing an escalator, etc.

But Mozart has a whole life of creating beautiful, wonderful music! How is he going to get back home, into his own time?

You know what? I was having just as much fun reading this book, as you and your children will have! Yes, this is a perfect stocking stuffer for Christmas for any child, from say, 6 to 96! Bring a little music into the lives of your children... You're going to love this one, just as much as I did! Don't let this one go without checking it out!

G. A. Bixler