Baby Wren and the Great Gift

Description

Celebrate the amazing world that's waiting for you each and every day! Discover the special and unique talents waiting inside of you to share with each and every person you meet! From the mind of beloved author Sally Lloyd-Jones comes this beautifully illustrated picture book with a much-needed and inspiring message to any child who wonders, "What can I do" Follow along as tiny wren marvels at the incredible wildlife around her-from fish to eagles, insects to plants-all the while wishing she had a special gift of her own to share. As she takes in the beauty of the world, she discovers a unique talent that's been inside her all along. Baby Wren and the Great Gift combines the sweet and gentle words of bestselling author Sally Lloyd-Jones with the beautiful illustrations of Jen Corace. This rich and colorful picture book encourages each and every little boy and girl to discover the amazing gifts within them to share with this wonderful world. Baby Wren and the Great Gift: Is written by Sally Lloyd-Jones, bestselling author of the beloved Jesus Storybook Bible, which has sold over one million copies Contains inspirational text that inspires children to recognize and bask in the wonders of the world while encouraging them to discover and share the unique wonders within themselves Features the work of Jen Corace, the illustrator of many books for children

Sally Lloyd-Jones is a leading writer of inspirational books for children. She is the author of three bestselling children's Bibles, including the Moonbeam Award winner and ALA notable The Jesus Storybook Bible, as well as Thoughts to Make Your Heart Sing, winner of the ECPA Inspirational Book award. She has written many picture books for children, such as the critically acclaimed New York Times bestseller How to Be a Baby: By Me, the Big Sister and Song of the Stars. Sally was born and raised in Africa, was schooled in England, and now lives in New York City. She can be found at www.sallylloyd-jones.com. Jen Corace is an artist and freelance illustrator who lives and works in Providence, Rhode Island. Originally from the suburbs of southern New Jersey, she eventually made her way to the Rhode Island School of Design and graduated with a BFA in illustration. Jen has illustrated many bestselling children's books including Little Pea, Little Hoot, Little Oink, Hansel and Gretel, The Steadfast Tin Soldier, and Telephone.

The natural glories of a canyon are on full display as a newborn wren tries to understand her place in the world. No parents are around, so the wren takes in her surroundings: Lloyd-Jones (The House That's Your Home) repeatedly references "monarchs in the milkweed," rustling switch grass, and a "glittering river" below. Several animals are nearby, and the wren wishes it could dive like a kingfisher, cartwheel like ring-tailed cats, or brave a storm like two eagles. In the end, the wren's ability to bear witness to the beauty around her ("what she saw couldn't fit inside her/ it bumped into her heart/ it dazzled in her eyes/ it pushed on her throat") and to convert that appreciation into a praise-song of gratitude reveals that she is exactly who she ought to be. Lovely, precise detail characterizes Corace's (Telephone) watercolor-and-pencil portraits of the animals and their habitat; her pale pink skies, craggy golden canyon walls, and wispy grasses make it easy to understand why the wren is moved to sing. Ages 4-8. Publishers Weekly A little bird explores her environment, meeting other creatures with special talents before discovering her own. The baby wren is first seen alone in her nest, but she soon hops out and meets other birds, animals, and fish. To the tiny bird, the soaring kingfisher and eagles, splashing sunfish, and cartwheeling ring-tailed cats are amazing and accomplished, doing spectacular things that astonish a naive little bird. In classic find-your-own-talent fashion, the baby wren is then so inspired by a glowing, pink sunrise that she is moved to sing her own song, which can be heard all over the canyon. The lyrical text uses rich, poetic imagery along with judicious repetition to create a memorable setting for the little bird's exploratory journey. A large format and double-page-spread illustrations in jewel tones make the canyon setting appealing, though the bird is sometimes dwarfed by the expansive vistas. When the baby wren finds her own voice, she offers a big, open-ended thank you for everything in her world. There is no overt religious content in the text, though there is a short quotation on the front cover flap referring to prayer and a brief quote on the back cover flap from Martin Luther about the power of song. An attractive visual presentation complements an engaging text for a fresh interpretation of an old theme. (Picture book. 4-8) Kirkus