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What do you want for your young child? Material comfort, which fades…
Or something of more value, which can never be destroyed … something precious, like lasting values for young children.
In two of my picture books for young children, The Greatest Treasure (Kingdom Publishers) and Trees Full of Treasure (Thy Word), I have written about real treasure – treasure that never fades.
And parents, aren’t we constantly trying, from when our children are very young, to teach them admirable values like unselfishness. How hard it is to get them to share their toys? And how many scraps would be avoided if they would just let go of a favourite possession, for a just a little while! My story, The Biggest Blessing (Austin Macauley, UK) is all about the blessing of sharing, both for the child who gives up a treasured toy for a short while, and for the child who receives it.
The idea for The Greatest Treasure was born from a powerful theme: I had a strong desire to pass on to children something very precious, something that hopefully, would be with them for the rest of their lives. Once I had decided on this theme, the story came to me surprisingly quickly. The book begins with Josh answering an old woman’s question: “What is the greatest treasure?”
Ever asked your child that? If you haven’t, why don’t you ask them that question - you may be surprised by the answer. To get back to my book. In Josh’s own words, the first line of the book:
“It will be like the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow,” said Josh.
This prompts the old woman to tell the children seated at her feet a story about Sam, who lives in a town called Rainbow. So determined is he to find this treasure, that he asks the wise old Mr. Bright where he can find it. Sam is told, rather mysteriously, that he will find it.
Now think of all the Easter egg hunts that have entertained children for decades. What young child doesn’t find great joy in searching for those delectable treats in the bushes and under the trees? In my picture book, Trees full of Treasure, Clara and Julia go hunting for treasure. I’ll give it to you in Clara’s own words, the first line of the book:
“Let’s go and find treasure!” exclaimed Clara, peering around the door.
Their path towards the treasure takes them past angels, stars, glistening trees, exultant parties, a pearl of great price, a great feast, until they find someone truly priceless, the greatest treasure of all.
These two picture books are similar in theme, but very different in execution. The stunningly illustrated, bursting with colour treasure in Trees full of Treasure would appeal to any young child. This book, I have been told, makes a perfect gift at Christmas time.
And lastly, in the picture book, The Biggest Blessing, I tell a story which teaches children about tolerance, unselfishness and sharing with children very different from themselves. How hard it is to share your most treasured toy, especially with the most unpopular girl in the class, the forgotten girl who always sits at the back by herself. The girl who has nothing. The first line of the story suggests how very important this toy is to Julia:
There was one particular toy that Julia owned which made her feel very happy: her angel.
She’s not going to share that toy with anyone is she? Unless…
I’m guessing you’ve watched children, at times, having to make agonising sacrifices. Julia’s eventual sacrifice reaps a very surprising result, a result she couldn’t possibly have anticipated.
I hope you’re inspired to read my fiction for young children, and for the writers out there, to write your own stories which teach lasting values for young children.