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Janny the Junco Learns about Faith: Faith is a Fruit of The Spirit
J. M. Ashmore’s Janny the Junco Learns about Faith is a children’s book that introduces Christian faith through a small bird’s experience of a frightening storm. Janny’s questions give young readers a familiar way into the subject: she wants to understand what faith means when the world feels loud and unpredictable. The park setting keeps that conversation grounded in things children can picture, from swaying millet stalks to rain collecting on leaves. There’s a clear teaching purpose here, and Ashmore builds it around a recognizable childhood feeling. That makes the book particularly suited to families looking for a gentle starting point for conversations about God and worry.
The friendship between Janny and Lindy gives the story much of its warmth. Their exchanges are simple enough to follow aloud, and the physical details of their companionship make the care between them tangible. A shared perch, close company, and help tending wet feathers all give young listeners something concrete to connect with. I especially appreciate how the book makes room for fear within a conversation about belief. Its understanding of faith includes bringing difficult feelings to God, which offers adults a useful opening for listening to children’s own concerns. The repeated reassurance creates a steady rhythm, while the noisy weather adds some energy to a shared reading.
The illustrations give this picture book a bright and inviting personality. Janny and Lindy have rounded bodies, expressive eyes, and rosy cheeks, with pink and yellow bellies that make them easy to distinguish. Large green leaves, glistening drops of water, and sweeping lines of rain bring the birds’ surroundings close enough to feel almost touchable. The contrast between their tiny bodies and the oversized foliage helps convey how imposing the weather feels to them. Several images return to similar views of the birds on a branch, keeping attention on their expressions and closeness. Full-page artwork alternates with uncluttered text pages, giving children plenty of room to study the pictures as someone reads.
The material after the story extends the book’s usefulness for parents, caregivers, and church teachers. Questions and answers invite children to revisit its ideas, while open questions leave space for their own reactions. A page of junco facts adds a welcome connection to the natural world, and the passage from Galatians places the book within Ashmore’s Fruit of the Spirit series. The stated preschool-through-third-grade audience makes sense, though younger listeners may benefit from an adult pausing to explain unfamiliar words or discuss faith in their own family’s language. With its affectionate bird characters and straightforward Christian focus, Janny the Junco Learns about Faith offers an approachable read-aloud that can lead naturally into a thoughtful conversation.
Pages: 34 | ISBN : 1489754229
Ginger the Pony Learns about Goodness: Goodness is a Fruit of The Spirit
Ginger the Pony Learns about Goodness by J.M. Ashmore is a tender and heartfelt story. It reminds readers, both young and old, how far a little kindness can go.
The book follows Ginger, a beautiful wild pony with a striking, velvety red coat, as she travels with her friends toward Thunderhoof Hill. Along the way, greed gets the better of her. She eats far more grass than she needs and dismisses Snowy Dove’s gentle warnings. Before long, Ginger’s selfish behavior begins to affect her friendships. The hurt she causes is unintentional, yet it feels genuine and relatable. Many children will recognize what happens when strong impulses overpower better judgment.
The true heart of the story emerges through Ginger’s transformation. She begins to understand that kindness and friendship matter far more than simply getting what she wants. Her journey from selfishness to generosity is touching and believable. More importantly, the lesson unfolds naturally. The story communicates its message about goodness without ever sounding like a lecture.
The illustrations deserve special praise. They are gorgeous and bring each scene vividly to life. Ginger and her pony friends gallop across the pages with their manes streaming in the wind. Every image captures a wonderful sense of movement, freedom, and adventure. The artwork complements the narrative beautifully. From the opening page, readers can easily lose themselves in Ginger’s world.
I especially appreciated how the book extends the experience beyond the main story. It concludes with questions and answers that encourage children to reflect on what they have read. Fun facts about wild ponies add an educational element without feeling forced or out of place. These thoughtful additions give young readers another reason to revisit the book. Each reading may offer a fresh detail, idea, or lesson to discover.
At its core, this is a story about goodness, friendship, and the quiet power of kindness. Its central message is clear: greed and selfishness cannot triumph over generosity and love. Ashmore delivers that lesson with warmth, charm, and gentle humor.
Pages: 32 | ASIN : B0GX3B552N
Glenna the Gorilla Learns About Gentleness: Gentleness Is a Fruit of the Spirit
Glenna the Gorilla Learns about Gentleness, by J.M. Ashmore, follows a playful young gorilla who’s full of energy, curiosity, and good intentions, but who hasn’t quite learned how much her strength affects the world around her. As Glenna swings, climbs, explores, and plays with her new friend Gia, she accidentally pushes too hard, breaks a fragile nest, startles a butterfly, and even hurts herself. Through these small but meaningful moments, she begins to understand that gentleness isn’t weakness. It’s care in action, for friends, animals, delicate things, and her own body.
I appreciated how simply the story handles a virtue that can feel abstract to young children. Gentleness becomes something visible and practical here: a softer push, a slower hand, a more careful step. I found that especially useful because the book doesn’t scold Glenna for being spirited. It lets her remain joyful and enthusiastic while gently showing her how to bring thoughtfulness into that energy. The writing is clear and steady, with enough repetition and playful sound to keep young readers anchored. There’s a sweetness to Glenna’s mistakes that feels true to childhood. Kids often learn through their bodies first, and this story understands that.
The artwork is warm, bright, and inviting, with soft forest greens, golden light, round expressive faces, and a cheerful sense of movement. Glenna’s world feels safe and sunny, which suits the book’s tender message. I especially liked the scenes with the tire swing, the butterfly, and the bird’s egg because they give the idea of gentleness a visual tenderness children can feel before they fully explain it. The faith element is present but not heavy-handed, framed through the Fruit of the Spirit and supported by discussion questions, a short gorilla fact section, and a Bible verse at the end. That extra material makes the book feel less like a quick read and more like a conversation starter for families.
Glenna the Gorilla Learns about Gentleness is a thoughtful picture book with a clear moral center and a genuinely useful message. It’s best for preschool and early elementary children, especially those who are big-hearted, busy, impulsive, or still learning how to be careful with their strength, their words, and the little living things around them.
Pages: 29 | ASIN : B0GT4876RD
Pari the Panda Learns About Patience: Patience Is a Fruit of the Spirit
Pari the Panda Learns about Patience, by J.M. Ashmore, follows a young panda who rushes from one thing to the next, first swimming too soon after breakfast, then wandering into a trap because she can’t resist the bamboo leaves inside. After a frightening escape, Pari finds a safer part of the forest and begins to understand what patience really means: not just waiting, but slowing down long enough to make wiser choices. The story gently ties that lesson to the Fruit of the Spirit, giving children a concrete way to think about patience through Pari’s mistakes, fear, relief, and growth.
What I appreciated most is that the book doesn’t treat patience like a tidy little rule children should memorize. Pari learns it the hard way, through discomfort and danger, and that makes the message feel more alive. As a parent, I found that useful. Children know what it feels like to want something right now, whether it’s a snack, an adventure, or a shiny mystery across the lake. Pari’s impulsiveness feels recognizable without making her seem “bad,” and I liked that the story gives her room to reflect. The writing is simple and direct, with a clear sense of cause and consequence. I also liked the added questions at the end, because they turn the story into a real conversation about safety, self-control, and learning from a scary moment.
The artwork is bright, soft, and inviting, with lush bamboo forests, stirring scenes, and an expressive little panda whose eyes carry a lot of the emotional weight. There’s a sweetness to the illustrations that balances the more intense parts of the plot, especially the trapping scene. The story takes a surprisingly dramatic turn. That tension gives the book more substance than a simple moral tale. The faith element is present and clear, particularly with the Galatians verse near the end, but the central idea also works on a practical level: pause, think, ask for help, and don’t let curiosity outrun wisdom.
I found Pari the Panda Learns About Patience to be a heartfelt picture book with a sincere moral center and a memorable little heroine. It’s best suited for young children, Sunday school settings, or parents looking for a story that opens up gentle conversations about patience, safety, and making thoughtful choices. I’d recommend it for young children who like animal stories with a little adventure, especially when read with an adult who can talk through Pari’s fear, her decisions, and the relief of finding a safer place to belong.
Pages: 33 | ASIN : B0FTRWHJ5F
A Reason for Gratitude
Spiker the Jumping Spider Learns About Joy follows a little spider and his cricket friend as they discover what it means to choose joy. Where did the idea for this book come from?
As I was looking at a homeschool curriculum that included teaching the fruits of The Spirit, I wanted to highlight that joy is more than just fleeting happiness. Given that children easily recall animal stories, I got the idea for Spiker and his friends to show children how to find joy in commonplace events.
Are any of your own childhood experiences included in Spiker’s story?
I remember complaining a lot as a kid when things didn’t go my way! One day, I overheard someone tell another that I griped too much. Realising that I wanted to be different, I asked God to show me how. It took a long time, but I am never more joyful than when I get to do something for someone else!
What were some themes you felt it was important to include in your book?
The themes that I felt were important to include in this book were:
Things will not always go as planned, but there is still a reason for gratitude
Treasure friendships and kindness
Help others to enjoy life too.
What is the next book that you are working on, and when will it be available?
I am hoping to publish Pari the Panda Learns about Patience in a few months.
Author Links: Goodreads | Facebook | Website | Amazon
Spiker the Jumping Spider Learns About Joy
I just finished reading Spiker the Jumping Spider Learns About Joy by J.M. Ashmore with my little one, and it was such a sweet surprise. The story follows Spiker, a cheerful little jumping spider, and his cricket buddy, Crispin, as they learn what it means to have joy—even when things go wrong. From thunderstorms to getting lost and even helping a crying grasshopper with a hurt knee, the two friends (plus a few others they meet) figure out that being glad and doing nice things for others is what true joy is all about. It’s based on the idea that joy is one of the “Fruits of the Spirit,” and it sneaks in those gentle faith-based lessons in a fun, relatable way.
As a mom, what really got me was how naturally the story worked in those big feelings and life lessons. The way Spiker builds a silk tent to shelter them while Crispin sulks had my daughter wide-eyed. It’s such a simple but powerful message—make the best of a situation and find something good, even if it’s small. And that scene under the peach tree where Spiker wants to complain but then finds a buffet of ants? We both laughed at how fast he changed his tune. I’ve seen my kids do the exact same thing when they realize things aren’t that bad. The illustrations are absolutely charming as well. They’re colorful and soft and do a great job of conveying the emotions of the characters.
I also really appreciated how the book doesn’t shy away from everyday disappointments and frustrations kids face. When Sully the spider is sad because he can’t jump like the others, or when Gerry the grasshopper cries after bumping his knee, the story slows down and shows kindness, problem-solving, and how friends support each other. It reminded me to pause and ask my own kids how they’re feeling, even over the little stuff. Plus, there’s something precious about the way Spiker realizes that “the best way of all to have joy is to do something nice for somebody else.” That’s something I want my kids to really take to heart.
This children’s book is a gem for kids around 3 to 7, especially if you’re looking for something uplifting that gently weaves in Christian values. It’s got heart, humor, and just the right touch of silly bug antics. Parents, Sunday school teachers, or even grandparents looking for a read-aloud with a meaningful message—this one’s worth adding to your shelf.
Pages: 42 | ASIN : B0BSQPK29K
