Title: The Arrowhead
Author: Lucinda J. Miller
Major Themes: Faith, Prayer
Synopsis: The story of an arrowhead, from the time an Indian boy loses it until another boy comes along, hoping he can find one. Does God answer even the littlest prayers?
I’ve been following a Mennonite author, Lucinda J. Miller, for probably close to a year now. I don’t remember exactly when I actually came across her blog, but from the get-go, I enjoyed her style of writing and the depth she shared from time to time. Then, a few months ago, she published a book with Herald Press—Anything but Simple. Although I have yet to read that book, I remember being excited when she shared a blog post about how she got a children’s book published through Christian Light Publications. Being a publishing house that I have been familiar with since before I can remember, I was excited, especially, when I got a quick glimpse into what her book was like: A beautiful watercolor story named simply, The Arrowhead.
So when Mom did an order from CLP for school books (plus a few other can’t-miss titles; we always seem to come up with a few of those!), I told her I wanted her to add that to the cart as well. And I wasn’t disappointed when it came, either! What a gorgeous book, and a lovely story!
“Grandpa, tell me a story!” I love the way this book starts out, with a curious little girl wanting to hear about Grandpa’s past. For me, this beginning is an echo of my four- or five-year-old self, wandering into the kitchen while Mom was making supper. “Tell me a story, Mom!” I’d say excitedly, sitting down on the kitchen floor, my back to the wall. And she would—tales of watching Grandpa chasing mules when she was very little, or living in the mulberry tree with her sister when the fruit was ripe, or that huge old ditch they had to dig one time to lay water lines. Each story was fascinating, and had a charm all its own because it was my mommy’s stories. I loved them.
And, like the Grandpa in this story, the tale is very unique, and a treasure that the littler girl would love to remember for years to come. In some ways, it is a simple tale—that of an Indian boy who lost his arrow, what happened to it all the years it was missing, and about another boy years later who badly wanted an arrowhead, but even with all his praying couldn’t find one. Mixed in with the story itself are thoughts about trusting God, and appreciating the history in the world around us. The beautiful watercolor illustrations that go along with this story are a rich addition to the tale.
I’m glad I had the chance to get The Arrowhead. It’s already proven to be a favorite for the little people around our house, and I’m almost afraid I’ll have to put it in a safe place if I don’t want it to meet an early end! The story is a lovely one, and as I said before, the illustrations are superb. Christian Light Publications certainly has a high standard for their pictures, and I appreciate that. One of the most fun parts of this book for me was the fact that the Grandpa and granddaughter in this story actually look like the author’s father and one of her nieces, at least according to some pictures I’ve seen on her blog! That was a fun personal touch. In all, I think just about any little child (or big one! 😉 ) would love having a chance to read this story—it’s a keeper!
No warnings!
Age levels:
Listening Level—Ages 3 – 4, 5 – 8, 8 – 12, 10 – 12, Family Friendly
Reading Independently—Ages 8 – 12, 10 – 12
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