Grady HarpTop Contributor: Children's Books
HALL OF FAMETOP 100 REVIEWER
5.0 out of 5 stars ‘As water reflects the face, so one’s life reflects the heart’ – Proverbs 27:19
Reviewed in the United States on May 2, 2022
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Colorado author Catherine Ann Russell served as a professional research scientist at National Oceanic Atmosphere Administration before forming Spike Productions – a digital multimedia company, then formed Basket Relief Project, a humanitarian service supporting famine relief. She is joined by illustrator Brooke Connor, a retired environmental chemist, in this Pearls of Wisdom series. Two scientists address finding true identity.

The referenced Proverb upon which this story is quoted above. Russell embellishes the Proverb by relating the tale of Princess Journee who seeks advice from her animal friends as to her true identity, resulting in a journey to self-acceptance and self worth. This is an excellent story for children – of all ages! – and a welcome addition to the library of caring families. Grady Harp, May 22

Celeste S
5.0 out of 5 stars Friendship and self discovery
Reviewed in the United States on April 26, 2022
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The Pond of Reflection written by Catherine Ann Russell is a beautiful book that will captivate young and old alike. It is book 1 in the series Stories Inspired by Biblical Proverbs. This one in particular teaches readers about the search for the self and the importance of friendship regardless of our possible differences.
The Pond of Reflection tells the story of Journee, a mouse and a princess.
Although she is certain of these things, she needs to discover her real identity so she embarks on a journey to find a legendary pond where she will supposedly find the answers to her questions. Through her encounters with different charming and memorable characters, she will learn important and valuable life lessons.
The characters are believable and very well constructed. The writer has described them with such ability and imbued them with such an ample range of feelings that it is very easy for the reader to empathise with them. The plot is simple but it poses some philosophical questions that resonate with deep emotions long after the end of the book. It is a perfect book for children, although I must say that I enjoyed a lot too.

Ashley
5.0 out of 5 stars Great characters, great values
Reviewed in the United States on April 23, 2022
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The Pond of Reflection is the first installment in The Pearls of Wisdom Series: Stories Inspired by a Biblical Proverb by Catherine Ann Russell. This story was fantastic! And the illustrations were nice too. I liked the theme of looking inside yourself for answers, and I think it was a good message for kids too. However, what we know (or maybe are still learning, no judgement) and what the mouse king knows is that you have to look inside yourself for answers. I liked the encouragement of Journee going on a journey to find that out for herself, even though her father already knew the answer.
Lastly, the themes of teamwork and trial and error, finding out who you are by finding out who you are not, were great and I think made for a mature read. But kids need that sometimes amongst all the goofy characters. A high recommendation for sure.

Kourtney
5.0 out of 5 stars proverbial read for young minds
Reviewed in the United States on April 28, 2022
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The Pond of Reflection is a great reading guide for younger readers who are interested in learning more about the Biblical Proverb, specifically the knowledge of wisdom. While the biblical stories can often be difficult for younger readers to comprehend, this story takes the same premise is provides young readers with a storyline they can follow along with while still grasping the concept at hand. This one is a relatively quick read with beautiful illustrations to go right along with the story. I would absolutely recommend this story to any younger readers who want to expand their biblical knowledge and get an understanding on something they may have not comprehended before.

Ivan
5.0 out of 5 stars A great tale
Reviewed in the United States on April 25, 2022
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"The pond of Reflection" is more than just a book, it's a tale. Catherine Ann Russell uses her vast imagination to picture a kingdom where the king is so secure in himself that no mirrors are allowed, to ensure that all citizens under his command love themselves as they are. This is clear to most, but not to the princess, who's willing to start on an adventure to find who she really is.

I loved reading this book. The fact the characters are animals makes it look like a kid's tale, but the meaning and the reflections developed are complex and I think necessary in these times where it's hard to find people who really know themselves.

Liz
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent book
Reviewed in the United States on April 26, 2022
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What an incredible story for young people! In "The Pond of Reflection" we meet Princess Journee, who is very curious and has several questions about herself. And that is how she embarks on the magical adventure of self-discovery. On her journey she meets many characters who are essential for Journee to find what she is looking for.

I bought this book for my goddaughter, who is 8 years old and she loved it. Not only did she enjoy the illustrations, which are beautiful, but also the plot of the book leaves a great lesson. I definitely recommend this incredible story to young readers.

Meera Jhogasundram
5.0 out of 5 stars When you are loved for your heart…
Reviewed in Germany on February 4, 2022
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The superficiality of appearances is beautifully contrasted with the depth of character. The only way to live life is to experience it with whole-hearted involvement. This book teaches young learners the importance of being true to yourself. It shows that identity is a product of social expectations. What is your expectation for yourself? What is most important to you? The story prompts you to answer these questions. Your inner harmony will be reflected in your physical appearance. That is true beauty. A meaningful read!

5.0 out of 5 stars A sweet book
Reviewed in India on December 13, 2021
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This is a sweet story about identity and a loving king. Great for young readers or for reading to younger children.

Samuel Scheeres
5.0 out of 5 stars Full of Biblical metaphors
Reviewed in the United States on December 16, 2021
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Reading your work was a real delight, Cat. I won't forget what I learned from your story. I enjoyed your illustration of the proverb (27:19), and I'd even call this a work of biblical exegesis for children. I enjoyed the character mix-up in the Whoami woods. You did a good job of presenting identity confusion in a light-hearted yet sincere way. I was glad to see how the character mix-up ended with a baptism in the Identity Falls. We only become free from our confusion when we find our identity in Christ.

I imagine that a child would really love this story, although I'm twenty-four and all beaten up and sad, so my word about children isn't the best. What I can say is that the story is mature yet simply written. It is fun and happy and worthy of my laughter, yet I found a real pearl of wisdom within it. I imagine that a thoughtful child, while enjoying it, would also be moved to "commune with his heart", to learn what he truly is.

I look forward to reading your other work.

Aficionado
5.0 out of 5 stars Written for young children, but the lessons are universal
Reviewed in the United States on December 10, 2021
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I bought this book as a gift for a friend's two daughters aged 5 and 7, but the illustrations by Brooke Connor were so inviting and the book's write up so engaging that I had to read it myself before wrapping it! The story is extremely well-written and easy to follow for a child to read on their own, and anyone reading aloud to children will find the story unusually engrossing. The themes in the book are ones that face not just the youth of today, but indeed ones that we face well into adulthood: the age-old questions of 'Who am I?', 'What if I don't measure up to expectations?' and the pursuit of wisdom and courage through our life experiences. A wonderful and quick read, I shall be getting this as a stocking stuffer for all my young friends!