No matter
where you fall along the political spectrum, you have to admit it’s been a
divisive year. Couple that with the conflicts going on in the rest of the
world, and it’s a wonder we all don’t crawl into bed, pull a blanket over our
heads, and refuse to come out. Now think about how our children must feel.
If you have
a a young child on your holiday shopping list, you might want to consider
purchasing a copy of The Magic Paintbrush as a gift. Without being preachy, The Magic Paintbrush
addresses the issue of differences, in this case, a kingdom that is all
pink at war with a kingdom that is all blue for longer than anyone can remember—so
long that no one even knows what started the feud. It takes two children from
another land to point out to the rulers of both kingdoms how we're really all
the same inside and the benefits to getting along.
Now if only
people in the real world would do likewise…
When
nine-year-old Jack and his seven-year-old sister Zoe are snowed in for days
with nothing to do, their complaints land them in every guy’s worst
nightmare—the kingdom of Vermilion, a land where everything is totally pink! At
first Jack is mistaken for a spy from the neighboring kingdom of Cobalt, but
Zoe convinces Queen Fuchsia that they’re from New Jersey and arrived by magic.
Queen
Fuchsia needs a king, but all the available princes in Vermilion are either too
short, too fat, too old, or too stupid. Jack and Zoe suggest she looks for a
king in Cobalt, but Vermilion and Cobalt have been at war since long before
anyone can remember. Jack and Zoe decide Vermilion and Cobalt need a Kitchen
Table Mediation to settle their differences. So they set out on an adventure to
bring peace to the warring kingdoms—and maybe along the way they just might
find a king for the queen.
The Magic Paintbrush is suitable for children eight years
of age and up to read on their own. Younger children will enjoy the story if
it’s read to them. You can read an excerpt here.
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