Boxes For Katje
Story by Candace Fleming
Illustrated by Stacey Dressen-McQueen
Oh, I love a book with a lesson! (Or two or three!)
This story was brought to my attention by my youngest sister, Madeline, (11) who loves to read just like me, and faithfully rushes to the library every Monday to check out whatever book I've reviewed that day!
Katje lives in Olst, Holland, post-World War II. Her family, along with the rest of her village, must get by without things like milk and soap, and patch their clothing to survive during the cold winter months.
When Rosie, an American girl from Mayfield, Indiana, sends a care package with a sweet letter to Katje and her family, Katje shares it all with her village. And when she sends a thank-you note to Rosie, unwittingly sharing another hardship in the process, Rosie sends another package, and so begins a friendship of giving and blessing.
This tale about God-led generosity is so touching, and inspiring. The two levels to this story - the generosity I've mentioned, and the simple living that was so hard for people in Europe after the war ended, but faced with matter-of-fact contentment by Katje and her village - open up a wonderful avenue of discussion with our children! I don't believe anything I can say will inspire you more than reading this book with your children, so I won't say any more. Except - just read it!
Happy Reading! And thank you, Maddie!
10 fellow travelers shared:
Elise,
*I* can't wait to read this! :)
Thank you for all the wonderful books you recommend.
~Stacy
I agree that this was a very lovely book - I was so touched by it. A friend read it to our kids at a homeschool support group. Thanks for your recommendations!
This sounds wonderful--never heard of it!
I haven't heard of this either! I'll check it out ... sounds like a great book.
Wow-how timely. This will be a wondeful read-even if Ella is too young to get the lessons, I'm not and need these kind often repeated! Thank you, my dear sister!
Hey Elise!
Great pick! Just wanted to leave a quick note, the only reason you won Apples to Apples was coincidence, so you had better watch out next time we play!
Bethany
That looks like a wonderful book. I bet my girls would love it! Thanks for this!
PS-Hope you are doing well!
Just came over from snapshots. This is great. Thanks for the reviews. I'll be looking for the books to read. Blessings!
Ooooh-- this was my *favorite* book you've recommended next to Good King Wenceslas! Beautiful. I was teary at the end! (Thank you, Madeline!)
~Stacy
We loved this book as well as Mercedes and the Chocolate Pilot by Margot Theis Raven. I cried through both of them. Of course, my children wanted to know why and we had some good discussions. There are days in homeschooling when you aren't sure you've done a good job. The day we read these books, I knew I'd hit the mark.
Sandy
homeschoolblogger.com/fallinglikerain
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