Peasreads: Little Monk Writes Rain by Hsu-Kung Liu

 

Little Monk Writes Rain
by Hsu-Kung Liu
Translated by Rachel Wang Yung-Hsin

What a sweet story about a Monk who is kind, gentle, and not like everyone else. It's a beautiful story about blooming and growing at your own pace, in your own way, and keeping a soft heart in the midst of sadness and a world that can be cruel at times. 

I found this a calming read that can keep children and adults engaged. It is thought-provoking and encourages conversation about the characters and how they deal with adversity differently. The illustrations are so pretty also. 

Description

A Buddhist monk practices calligraphy every single day—calming his heart and bringing an unexpected gift to a nearby city.

As rain falls, Old Monk invites Little Monk to practice calligraphy. “Let’s write the character for rain!” he says. And with each brushstroke, Little Monk’s restless, anxious heart grows quiet.

For the next twenty years, as Little Monk becomes Big Monk, he sits down with his brush every day, meditating on and writing the character for “rain.” Until one day someone comes to the temple asking for help: the city has no water. All grown up now, Big Monk packs his things, hoping to do his part. But will a pile of calligraphy sheets make any difference?

This stunning book is horizontally bound, creating a vertical reading experience inspired by Chinese ink paintings and calligraphy hung on scrolls. With poetic text and watercolor art from Taiwanese author-illustrator Hsu-Kung Liu, Little Monk Writes Rain is an evocative tale of mindfulness, self-expression, and compassion. The simple, resonant story is sure to start conversations about how to find—and share—a sense of calm amid the storms of life. Translated from Chinese by Rachel Wang Yung-Hsin.

 Find more book reviews here under Peasreads.

Amazon reviews Katereviews.

Goodreads reviews.

Thank you, NetGalley and Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company | Eerdmans Books for Young Readers, for this galley. I was under no obligation to leave a review. All opinions are my own. 

Peasreads: Puggleton Park by Deanna Kizis

 

HAPPY PUBLICATION DAY!

(This review has spoilers.)

My thoughts:

This book (and number two in the series) is written by Deanna Kizis with fun illustrations by Hannah Peck is a cute book for dog lovers and early readers. The story is about a Pug during the Regency era that gets lost in a London park. He is eventually rescued by a lady who tries to find the Pugs owner. It's adventurous and fun. However both the Pug and the rescuer start to form a bond. They both struggle with knowing they will have to be apart once the original owner is found. 

Spoiler: they end up finding the original owner. She left a letter saying that she had to go take care of a sick family member who was allergic to dogs and she hoped that a new owner would take the Pug in. I only mention this spoiler because I know that many people might read this as abandonment. So just a heads up. 

Peasreads: The Rock in My Throat by Kao Kalia Yang

 

Description

At first, no one noticed when I stopped talking at school.

In this moving true story, Kao Kalia Yang shares her experiences as a young Hmong refugee navigating life at home and at school. Having seen the poor treatment her parents received when making their best efforts at speaking English, she no longer speaks at school. Kalia feels as though a rock has become lodged in her throat, and it grows heavier each day. Although the narrative is somber, it is also infused with moments of beauty, love, and hope.

My thoughts

This book is beautiful. It truly shows that kindness, understanding, companion can go a long way. My heart hurt for the author. Being a first generation Lao American the language barrier can make quite the chasm between people. I hope this book gives hope to those who need it and inspire those who can help lift others up

Find more book reviews here under Peasreads.

Amazon reviews Katereviews.

Goodreads reviews.

I received this book from NetGalley and Lerner Publishing for this review. I was under no obligation to give a positive review. All opinions are on my own. I am disclosing this per the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”