Blog Archives
Wagon of Worries
Mabel is gathering something in her little red wagon, though it’s hardly the sort of collection that brings comfort. What she piles inside are worries. They appear everywhere, multiplying with ease, and Mabel scoops them up almost without thinking. Soon the wagon swells with these gray tokens of unease, growing so weighty that she can scarcely drag it along. She tries to abandon it, to shake herself free, yet finds she’s somehow bound to it, tethered by forces she doesn’t fully grasp. The question becomes urgent: how can she move forward? A turn toward a higher power may hold the key.
Wagon of Worries, written by Ruthie Godfrey, targets readers roughly ages 4 through 11. While older children may find the message too direct, younger readers are likely to enjoy its vibrant illustrations and the gentle wisdom woven throughout.
Godfrey introduces the idea of anxiety with refreshing creativity. The dull gray coins Mabel gathers function as symbols for the small but persistent stresses that follow us through life, whether we are children learning to navigate the world or adults juggling responsibilities. As those worries accumulate, steering one’s life can feel increasingly difficult. Mabel’s journey demonstrates that seeking help from the divine can offer a release, a way to surrender the heaviest burdens and trust in something beyond oneself. Once she does, her wagon and her path forward grow lighter.
The symbolism may lean toward the obvious, yet the message remains valuable for young readers. Godfrey emphasizes that even those outside the Christian faith can find meaning in the book’s core principle. A “let go, let God” mindset, whether interpreted literally, spiritually, or metaphorically, can help anyone overwhelmed by anxieties regain perspective. In an era where worry feels nearly universal, the book presents a gentle, sensible approach to coping, wrapped in a story children can understand and remember.
Pages: 36 | ASIN : B0F6M8Y7BH
One Grain of Sand
This sweet children’s book by Ruthie Godfrey starts with a colony of ants who are thrown into chaos when what they think is an earthquake turns out to be a dog named Scruffy digging with wild abandon. Their carefully built home is in shambles. Just when things look a little hopeless, an elder ant shares how the colony was first built—patiently and bit by bit, “one grain of sand at a time.” Inspired by that wisdom, the young ants rally together and rebuild their home through teamwork and determination. It’s a simple message wrapped in a colorful and heartwarming tale.
There’s something so powerful about how the book takes such a big idea—perseverance—and shrinks it down into something kids can really get. I loved the part where the elder ant said, “Each day we worked. Little by little, bit by bit.” It’s the same thing I tell my students when they’re frustrated with math or trying to read a big book. The story doesn’t shy away from showing how hard things can feel at first, which makes the ending so satisfying.
And oh my goodness, the illustrations! Pablo D’Alio nails it. The ants are full of personality, especially the one in the purple cap—my kids started cheering when he rallied everyone. The expressions are priceless, and the way the chaos of the dog turns into organized teamwork by the end is just awesome.
One Grain of Sand is a gem. It’s the kind of picture book that’s fun to read out loud, sparks big conversations, and leaves kids feeling like they can do big things—even if it’s one tiny step at a time. I’d recommend it for any classroom, especially early elementary. It’s also a great pick for bedtime reading with a message that sticks. Teachers, parents, counselors—basically anyone raising or teaching little humans—this one’s for you.
Pages: 37 | ASIN : B0D8RCYXF4
Grumpy Grump
Grumpy Grump, by Ruthie Godfrey, is a captivating children’s book that tells the story of Gloria, a young girl who symbolically dons a “grumpy” blanket to express her discontent. Noticing her sour mood, her mother gently guides her on a neighborhood walk, exposing her to the joy and wonder of the outside world. This simple yet profound journey helps Gloria shed her irritable demeanor, illustrating the transformative power of a positive environment.
Ruthie Godfrey’s work stands out for its engaging narrative and moving underlying message. The book offers young readers a delightful blend of engaging dialogue, a compelling and accessible plot, and a deeper lesson about emotional management. Gloria’s character is a relatable figure for children, depicting the universal struggle with negative emotions and presenting a healthy strategy for overcoming them. The narrative conveys that indulging in crankiness is not only unproductive but also detracts from the beauty and excitement of the world. The high-quality, cleverly designed illustrations in the book are a visual treat, capturing children’s attention from the outset and maintaining their engagement throughout the story. These illustrations complement the text beautifully, enhancing the book’s educational value. The dialogue is crafted with young readers in mind, featuring clear, understandable language and a brisk pace that holds their interest without overwhelming them. This approach is particularly effective for an audience with a shorter attention span, making the book a perfect choice for elementary school reading or a soothing bedtime story.
Grumpy Grump is a valuable tool for teaching positivity and resilience. Its appeal lies not only in its narrative and artistic merits but also in its ability to impart an important life lesson to its young readers.
Pages: 39 | ASIN : B0C5CHB8N6
God Made It All
In God Made It All by Ruthie Godfrey and illustrated by Helen Ayle are a match made in heaven. Godfrey’s exquisite writing skills are accentuated by Ayle’s majestic artistic abilities resulting in one powerful duo. We are taken on a journey of illustrative beauty through all the places God has touched and his goodness. All that surrounds us and all that is, God made it all.
“From the quietest blowing breeze to the loudest clap of thunder” especially stood out to me because I could feel the sweeping of the wind through the page. The art is remarkably masterful and connects the reader to the story’s overall theme. Each page is immensely evocative and held me captivated and yearning for more. The author has exceptionally encapsulated the incredible power of God throughout her verses in this book. It is apparent that this writer has tremendous passion for her writing, creating, and faith.
God Made It All is the perfect picture book for any person’s library and easy enough for beginner readers to get through and understand clearly. I would imagine this book to also be a great tool in starting conversations about God, the world around us, and God’s goodness. How everything and everyone is connected through God in so many ways.
Pages: 37 | ASIN : B09L7CCPBM
Grandpa’s Lessons on Fishing and Life
Grandpa’s Lessons on Fishing and Life by Ruthie Godfrey is a nostalgic story about a boy going fishing with his Grandpa. Together they spend the day enjoying each other’s company, and Grandpa imparts some wisdom to his grandson. While sounding like fishing advice, the knowledge that he shares also serve as important life lessons.
With the thirteen lessons shared, children will be shown how to be prepared for situations, look to those older and wiser for advice on how to do things, learn the value of sharing, and appreciate even the small things in life. I enjoyed how the lessons started out light-hearted with “do not bring a banana on a fishing boat.” Next, the lessons moved to more practical ones and then to serious ones such as being a good human with the lesson of “share the wealth.”
The illustrations by Pable D’Alio are eye-catching, with a unique caricature style and watercolor look. Children will enjoy looking through the pictures as they go through the book. In addition, the artwork gives the story extra character as the story’s text is simple. Together they make this picture book a wonderful creation.
Grandpa’s Lessons on Fishing and Life is a whimsical picture book for preschool through elementary school children. The images and story are easy enough for younger audiences, whereas the nuances of life lessons will be picked up by older kids. This is an excellent book for families sharing the joy of a multigenerational family structure.
Pages: 36 | ASIN : B08L8KNXTT
Countless Challenges That Kids Face
Success follows a young boy who is working on a school assignment to discover what the meaning of success is by interviewing people he knows. What was the inspiration for your story?
The inspiration for this particular series of stories comes from my students over the years. As an elementary school teacher, I have seen countless challenges that kids face. I am inspired by them to write stories that touch on big life lessons, such as identity, perseverance, kindness, and courage. This story came to me while I was on a walk with my oldest sister one Sunday morning. She and I were chatting about my students, her own kids who are now adults, and life in general. If you have sisters, or have been around sisters, you know how we can bounce all over the place in conversations! Anyhow, as the day went on, the idea became more and more clear, and the story sort of wrote itself!
The art in this book is fantastic. What was the art collaboration process like with illustrator Helen Ayle?
I agree, the art is fantastic! Helen and I have been collaborating for about two years. We discovered one another for our very first project, a book called Good Deeds Gone Wrong that also has the same main character as Success. We have collaborated on seven projects so far. She is a wonderful artist and illustrator. Her ideas are creative, and I love how she brings different perspectives in the illustrations. My favorite from this book is while Stephen was lying awake in bed… I love the colors and mood on that page!
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
The main themes that I wanted to explore through this book are identity and defining success. I think it is important for kids to consider this idea of identity — who we believe we are and how we see ourselves. I also hope kids understand that success looks different for different people. Ultimately, I hope kids think about success a little differently, just like the main character. I see children come through my classroom each year who are so uniquely talented, and often don’t feel successful based on school criteria. They maybe struggle with reading or math, but perhaps are incredibly logical thinkers. Or maybe they are amazing artists, or kind and helpful people who jump up to assist anyone who needs it. I have kids who are incredible public speakers, dancers, writers, athletes, and mathematicians. Ultimately, I hope this book helps kids feel seen and understood. I hope it helps them consider that each person is gifted in different ways, and that is what makes the world function well. We need all of the talents and perspectives!
What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available?
I just released another piece about a week ago that Helen illustrated for me called A Big Family’s Big Trip. I was inspired to write a story after reading the 1978 Caldecott winner The Relatives Came. The story is about my family’s trip to Israel in December 2018- January 2019. My parents were celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary in 2019, and they announced that rather than having a big party, they wanted to take us all on a big trip to Israel! It was an amazing adventure, to say the least. And Helen did a fantastic job creating the thirteen characters inspired by my family! She has also finished illustrations for another book called Tough Turning Ten that will be released this summer. AND I’m also putting together a book for another series that I have with an exceptional illustrator named Pablo D. A’lio. That series has brief lessons for everyday activities that are also wise words of wisdom for life. We created three books of Grandpa’s Lessons, and now we are diving into Grandma’s Guides… We can learn a lot about life from activities like fishing, hiking, cooking, and gardening. Plus grandparents always have the best advice, right?
Author Links: GoodReads | Facebook | Website
Success
What is the meaning of success? This is what one class has been assigned to figure out. Stephen thought he had it all figured out, being successful meant winning at his sports games and getting a trophy. However, with each new person he interviews he gets a different answer about what success is to them. By the end of the day, Stephen is confused and thinks his original idea of what being successful is could be wrong. He spends the night thinking and dreaming about the answers he got. In the morning he comes to a new and eye-opening conclusion about what the meaning of success is.
Success, written by Ruthie Godfrey and illustrated by Helen Ayle, is a beautifully written picture book about self-confidence, identity, and personal accomplishments. Told in a manner that kindergarten and young elementary level kids can understand, this illuminating children’s book explains what success means from a variety of different perspectives. With answers being provided from different children and adults, kids will learn how each person has a different perspective with a common theme connecting them all.
The full-page colorful artwork accompanying the story gives all the characters unique personalities to coincide with their answers to what being successful means to them. The artwork shows diversity, allowing children to find a character they can relate to. Each character shows meaningful expression and helps younger readers understand the story.
The concept of success can be hard for even adults to comprehend. This well-written book will help children and adults develop their own idea of what success is for them and in the process help them discover parts of their own identity and what is important to them.
Success is an inspiring picture book that will help children visualize the concept of success. Through entertaining art and dialogue, this extraordinary children’s book will teach children how to define success for themselves and build self-confidence.
Pages: 38 | ASIN : B09BK4RRHR
LITERARY TITAN 