In The Shoemaker’s Splendid Lamp by Tuula Pere and Georgia Stylou, we follow a sickly young boy named Aron whose tenacity and determination keep his spirits high when all hope seems lost. The Shoemaker, Aron’s father, is deeply devastated by the fact that his son may not make it through the freezing winter. Until Aron spots, an oil lamp that he knows will help aid in his recovery so that he and his father can go fishing next summer, but also allow his father to work more hours into the night to sell more shoes to help feed his family.

At the story’s beginning, we become overwhelmingly sympathetic to the woes of the Shoemaker and his family. Knowing the burdens that come with having a large family grounds us as readers to connect to the characters. The message of never losing hope is self-evident whenever Aron speaks. He may have been deathly ill, with significantly low odds of surviving, but he kept positive and would speak of the future, which is a difficult task to accomplish, yet he does it with grace and maturity. It shows how resilient children are and gives power to them for what could only be seen as a vulnerable, sick child. This story also speaks to the community, where the rich man comes to help by giving lamp oil to the family, ultimately allowing Aron’s recovery. Showing how small acts of kindness can truly change lives and proving that sticking together is all for the greater good.

The Shoemaker’s Splendid Lamp is an inspirational children’s book that shows how positive thoughts and kindness can impact the world around you. I would highly recommend this story to young readers as it is skillfully descriptive in writing and keeps readers enraptured throughout the story.

Pages: | ASIN : B07HYX3385