Overview

Since firelight first illuminated gathered faces, people have told stories; their listeners might laugh, be moved to tears, horror, delight, or new understanding. Stories create community, share values and beliefs, sweeten wisdom with humor. Stories become part of a family's inheritance. Shepherd Stories is a collection meant to be part of that experience for children ages 4-10. These stories were collected from two shepherds. The first shepherd loves and cares for a flock of sheep. Each evening, he calls his lambs together and tells a story which responds gently to the lambs' experiences that day. The second shepherd, the Good Shepherd, also told stories. His stories have been compiled in a big book; each of the lamb's stories is matched with a story from that book. Each pair of stories includes discussion questions to guide ""digging deeper"" into meaning and personal application. This is the perfect book to enjoy together at bedtime, quiet time, or in a classroom. Shepherd Stories Volume 2 includes tales of a two-headed monster who saves a flock of sheep, a blind cat who finds an unlikely friend, and a sad boy whose life is changed by a butterfly. Paired with each tale is a Bible story that tells of a similar experience: the greatest love leads one man to give the greatest of gifts, an anointed king waits years to be crowned, and faithful friends experience a miracle that can't be explained. Shepherd Stories Volume 2 is part of a five-volume set of engaging stories about badgers and foxes, honeybees, sheep, pike, horses and crayfish, dogs, a trustworthy bat, a courageous mouse, and many more. Some stories are factual, some more fanciful. Readers will also hear familiar (and less familiar) Bible stories. The abundant, carefully drawn illustrations are richly detailed but left void of color, so young artists can personalize their own copies of these lovely books.

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9798992669800

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Reviews

A What'sApp message from Zephie: Hi, everyone! My name is Zephie. Also my Japanese name is Shiori. I am going to introduce a book to you. The name of the book is Shepherd Stories. David and Sharyn Curtis are close friends of my family. What I love about reading this book is it tells me how animals learn their lessons and what they do after that. I also like the drawings. They are soo cool. They are sketch drawings so it takes a lot of effort. I like them cause the story is very understandable when it has good drawings like Sharyn Curtis' admirable drawings. Yeah, I want to draw like her too. Why I'm advising you to read this book is because it tells stories about the Bible in interesting ways, using animals as the ones learning the lesson of what to do. When I read it I just want to flip more and more pages as I read. I sometimes get surprised because I didn't know that I wasn't supposed to do something. I especially like it when there are cute little animals like the pig on page 177. Thank you for reading my essay. I'm very happy that I can tell other kids about this book. Sincerely, Zephie, Tokyo, age 9 An Email from Lizzy: ""...we SO enjoyed and found value in reading the book with Mary. Ruth (age 11) read it on her own and said she liked it, but she's not really keen on doing discussion questions with her parents, and I'm not able to get a clear sense of what she thought of it. [Author's note: Ruth told me she read the entire book and especially liked the story about the ferrets!] For Mary though (with whom we read it when she was 7-8 years old), reading and thoughtfully discussing the stories in the book was such a treasured time at the end of her day! The stories and the questions really hit a sweet spot for her and drew her out a little bit, and it was wonderful to hear her reflections on how God might be wanting to grow virtues in her own life. I think it IS a relevant and meaningful book for some children and their adults, and we have been blessed by the time and labor you both put into the making of it! I imagine that it could be a treasure for other American families, too. In any event, we are thankful to have this book of yours that was such a labor of love, and we imagine it would bless some other children, too. We will pray for wisdom, prudence, imagination, and a unified vision for you and your board ..."" Love, Lizzy

Author Information

David Curtis was born in Illinois, has lived mostly in the northern parts of Idaho and Montana and currently resides with his wife, Sharyn, in Minnesota. He is a writer, teacher, photographer, craftsman, husband, and dad.David's life journey has carried him outside the US to Africa and Europe. He and his wife, Sharyn, have collaborated to create a literacy curriculum for children in Uganda and a bilingual book of fables and Bible stories for children in the Czech Republic and a new book of fables and Bible stories for children in the United States entitled Shepherd Stories. David Curtis first wrote these stories at the request of friends in the Czech Republic. His friends were all parents and part of a small church there. Many were new to the faith and learning how to navigate a Biblical lifestyle; they wanted a book to read with their children. David taught Special Education at elementary schools in Idaho and Montana for twenty years and specialized in literacy skills. He and his wife Sharyn raised their two sons there, and later lived in Uganda, developed a literacy curriculum, trained teachers, and formed a non-profit to support a continuation of the work led by local teacher-trainers. They also enjoyed many lengthy stays in the Czech Republic. David developed a love of writing early in his life and continues to write contemplative poetry, which he sometimes combines with photographs he has taken. He and Sharyn are now retired and live in Minnesota, where they hope to take up snow shoeing! Sharyn Curtis was born on a farm in the Heartland and grew up surrounded by animals; she has been drawing them since she could hold a pencil. Her formal art training took place at the University of Nebraska and the Art Institute of Chicago, and she taught art to a diverse population for over fifteen years before becoming a Reading Specialist. Sharyn and David lived in Illinois, Idaho, Montana, Uganda, and Czechia before settling in Minnesota. They have two grown sons, one daughter-in-law, and several grandchickens.Sharyn Curtis has been drawing since she could hold a pencil. She grew up on a farm and has always loved animals; nature has always fostered her relationship with God. Sharyn earned a BA Degree in Art Education from the University of Nebraska and received a scholarship to the Art Institute of Chicago. She later also became a Reading Specialist. For many years, her creative gifts were applied to library work, teaching, tutoring, and home arts. Since they first met, Sharyn and David have collaborated on a wide variety of projects. Sharyn was their sons' mom, Sunday School teacher, Library Story Lady, and the one who packed hundreds of school lunches. Once she and David began traveling to Uganda and later to the Czech Republic, she discovered illustrating as an artistic expression, and she knew she had found her calling. Finally, she found a way to record the infinite patterns of fins and scales, of feathers and leaves and other tiny details of this glorious creation.

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