Grandfather and the Raven and The Old Man and the Monkey for the Holiday Season

The holiday season is a time of remembrance, celebration and giving thanks. What is there that you can celebrate and give thanks for? A person? A word? A wink? A smile? A tiny winter flower? Or were you at the right place and time when the sun set behind nearby mountains as a big golden moon rose over the river? Whatever it is, celebrate it and be thankful for its being there. Then give the gift of thanks to someone else. It doesn't have to be big, it just has to be given with kindness and grace.

I am a nut when it comes to books, especially ones that make me think, laugh, cry (sometimes at the same time), feel warm, puzzle over and return to. The Old Man and the Monkey and Grandfather and the Raven are two such books. I go back to them again and again to enjoy the warm and gentle humor between the two grandfathers and their wives … the goofy quarrels  grandfather and the raven have over the silliest things (according to grandmother) … the old monkey’s quiet grace … and the little girl who is convinced that he is really a hairy little old man and not a monkey at all, especially when, hearing her say that to her mother, he turns toward her and gives her a wink.

Grandfather and the Raven and The Old Man and the Monkey are the kind of books I enjoy receiving and giving as gifts. To sample them, go to the BookBuzzr widget on the right side of your screen, click “Read Free Sample”, and read. If you like what you read, click the “Buy Now” button and order one or more copies, one for yourself plus copies for friends and family this Holiday Season. You'll enjoy the books, and they will thank you for giving them a gift they will enjoy again and again throughout the years.

Be sure and pick up a copy before you leave … and give a copy to a friend.

Best wishes for your Holiday Season,

George Polley

A wonderful book, recommended to all who love to read

Here's a review, by blogger Suzannah (Soooz) Burke, that I just couldn't pass up. Not only is it by one of my favorite book bloggers, it's about one of my favorite books, Grandfather and the Raven.  I wrote it a year ago, and this summer it came out in paperback and kindle from Night Publishing (UK).

Grandfather and the Raven is a book of life cycles and lessons, beautifully narrated by George Polley.

This is the type of book I would love to have had access to when my own child was growing up, a book to be read and re-read and remembered with soft smiles and nods of understanding.

George takes us into the world of a Japanese grandfather, befriended unexpectedly by a raven. A wise and knowing bird, he soon becomes inseparable with his human friend, and his human friend 'The Grandfather' of the title understands his new friend and everything he says. He names him 'Sir Raven'.

The author takes us through life lessons told in a warm and inviting style. The voice of the grandfather is both soothing and touched with humor.

We travel through a kaleidoscope of clever stories with life lessons on revenge and selfishness, harmful gossip, and refusal to see the magic of the world around us.

We join Grandfather and Sir Raven as they utilize the assistance of other members of Sir Raven's family, notably "Flyer" who becomes the running coach of one small boy who wanted to be famous as a runner yet knew no boundaries and little of the pacing and practise it takes to fulfill a dream.

George takes us gently through the things children fear, and shows how fear can be overcome with knowledge and ingenuity.

The stories touch on difficult topics in a clear way, teaching that violence is an unacceptable thing, and that it will not go unpunished.

Selfish and spiteful behavior is shown to be clearly wrong, by showing that the opposite is truly more rewarding.

One particular chapter deals with our inability to see what is right in front of our eyes and how easy it is to fall into the trap of seeing something as bad, before we have the information to prove that it is not.

The sadness of death and the futility of war is covered with an insightful and precised voice. A message that should have been heard many years ago, and sadly went unheard. 

I am delighted to own a copy of this work, and unhesitatingly recommend it to anyone young and not so young. It is a wonderful read.

Soooz Burke

You'll find Suzannah Burke's blog, "Soooz Says Stuff"at http://sooozsaysstuff.blogspot.com/ , where you'll find some great interviews with writers as well as some really interesting book reviews.