Ellen Leventhal

A Flood of Kindness reveals many emotions Charlotte experiences when floodwaters invade her house and home. She is fearful and sad when her family escapes to a shelter and only finds slight comfort in her beloved teddy bear.

Uncomfortable around people she doesn’t know, displaced Charlotte feels helpless. But witnessing the kindness of strangers changes her outlook.

This book reflects the blessings of community, generosity, and selflessness. I believe this story will bring comfort to children who’ve experienced similar misfortunes, such as tornadoes, hurricanes, fires, and such. Even during dark times, caring for others brings us comfort and healing.

The story is easy to read and connect with, and the full-page illustrations are creative, with colorful drawings and diverse characters.

Dɪsᴄʟᴏsᴜʀᴇ: I ʀᴇᴄᴇɪᴠᴇᴅ ᴀ ᴄᴏᴍᴘʟɪᴍᴇɴᴛᴀʀʏ ᴄᴏᴘʏ ᴏғ ᴛʜɪs ʙᴏᴏᴋ. Mʏ ʀᴇᴠɪᴇᴡ ᴡᴀs ɴᴏᴛ ɪɴғʟᴜᴇɴᴄᴇᴅ.… (mehr)

This is actually an e-book edition, which I acquired through the MemberGiveaway some months ago.

I found the stories a bit hit-and-miss, although on average a sound 3 to 3.5 stars.

"A Soldier's Gift", the tale of a newly married soldier who enlists after Pearl Harbor , "Moments", about a school shooting, and "In For A Penny" where a vampire seeks acceptance in her new job lecturing at university, were the best of the six stories in the book. The others were not quite as interesting, but worth reading.… (mehr)

Don’t Eat the bluebonnets
Ellen Leventhal & Ellen Rothberg
The ABC’s Press
PO Box 19632; Houston, Texas 77224-9632
713-937-9184, www.ABCsPress.com
978-0-9820278-0-6, $17.95, 2009
Reviewed by (Laura Goodwin) for Reader Views (x/06)
Really adorable children’s book!
5 stars for amazon.com

This is a story about a cow named Sue Ellen who loves the taste of bluebonnets. They are everywhere and she is tempted by them every spring. Max the longhorn tells her that if she eats them, they will not be back next season. As time goes on, she is thinking about them more and more and is really tempted. Some of the other cows try to make her forget about the bluebonnets and keep reminding her about what will happen if she does. Much to the displeasure of the other cows, Sue Ellen gives in and eats the entire bluebonnet patch. In time, she realizes what she has done is a mistake and she cannot take it back.
Sue Ellen tries everything she can think of to help the bluebonnets come back for the next season. She modifies the hay to look like bluebonnets and this does not work. She makes paper bluebonnets and they all blow away during a thunderstorm. She is racing against the clock trying to figure out a way for the bluebonnets to come back. As a last resort, Sue Ellen finds some seeds in the barn and plants them. Sue Ellen makes a new please don’t eat the bluebonnet sign to remind others the consequences of what will happen. In the end, the cows return to the pasture and see that the bluebonnets have returned.
What attracted me to this book are the illustrations. On the front cover is a hilarious picture of a cow that looks like it has mad cow disease or something and it really did make me chuckle. The picture of Sue Ellen fat and happy after eating the bluebonnets is hilarious as well. I liked this book and I think all children, even some adults will like it as well. We all can learn from the message in this book, learning from our mistakes.… (mehr)