Adventures in Rainbow Valley: How Big Is Your Faith?

Mimi Q. Atkins relates a story about faith in Adventures in Rainbow Valley: How Big Is Your Faith?

Everyone thinks sunflowers should have a bright, sunny personality. But, Faith isn’t feeling very sunny. It’s been 17 days and it hasn’t rained. Poor Faith, who is the littlest sunflower in the whole field, worries that without some rain she won’t grow to be as big and beautiful as the rest of the sunflowers around here. She thinks no one will love her because she’s not like the rest of the sunflowers.

Her friends Fergie the frog, Callie the caterpillar and Beezle the bumblebee try to cheer her up. They assure her she’s bright and beautiful, even if she isn’t very big. Fergie tells her it’s okay to be different. He was a tadpole before he turned into a frog. Callie tells her that she, Callie, will someday turn into a butterfly. And Beezle says it’s not easy being a bee because most people are afraid of you. He also told Faith that bees really appreciate flowers. But Faith isn’t convinced. That is, not until she hears a voice telling her that she’s special the way she is because she’s one of a kind.

The water color illustrations by Friendi S. Montes are bright, colorful, expressive and delightful.

What I Like: I like the illustrations and the messages in the story – those of friendship, love, being different, and of course, faith.

What I Dislike: Although the illustrations are great, and the author delivers a good message, the story is very predictable, with little conflict. That’s not a big issue; I just thought it needed to be said.

Overall Rating: Good.

Age Appeal: 4-8.

Publisher Info: Glitter Moon Press, 2011; ISBN: 9780984747306; Paperback, $9.99.

Buynow at Amazon.com $9.99!

Special Info: Visit the author’s website. This is the first book in a planned series of books about Rainbow Valley.