mine

King Solomon's Mines
$19.98
This classic movie appeared when I was about ten, and I can remember laughing at some of the more unlikely moments in the film. Now that I'm a geezerly age I feel rather nostalgic about it. I have a friend who told me he gets together annually with a buddy to view King Solomon's Mines yet again. There is much stock studio footage of central Africa used here, and it shows peoples and traditional dancing that I suspect is no longer present on today's African continent. The storyline is just barely plausible, but compelling enough to have been filmed at least three times: first in the '30s, then this version circa 1950, and most recently in the '70s. Maybe it's not the acting or the story, but all that wonderful African scenery that captivates me. One disadvantage for me now is that all the actors are dead...Deborah Kerr just recently...and I wonder what the hell has happened and where did my life go.

It's Mine!
$6.99
On the surface, this is a simple and sweet tale of three frogs who learn how to share. But as a student of theology and of literature, I must share my insights into this amazing children's book. On a deeper level, this is a Christological parable and a history of salvation through Jesus Christ. Although I admittedly know nothing about Leo Lionni's personal beliefs,I am sure that this is the intended meaning in this fable. The richness and beauty of its symbolism could hardly be an accident!

Three frogs (symbolizing humanity--three being a biblical number of completeness) live in constant disharmony with each other. "The air is mine", "the earth is mine", "the water is mine": their quarrels are so absurd, pointing to pride as the source of their sin, as clearly the air, earth, and water can belong to no one but God. And then One "appears"--the Toad-- who teaches, just as Christ taught during His ministry. He tells them that they must learn to share and live in peace. But they do not listen to Him or follow his teachings. So, it happens that one day they seem to pay for their sin, clinging to separate rocks as flood waters swell and consume their island. It is only when they join together on the single remaining rock that they feel better, "sharing the same fears and hopes". Here, on the rock of the Church, they are saved. When the flood waters subside and recede, they realize: "The large rock that had saved them was no rock at all. 'You saved us!' shouted the frogs when they recognized the toad." They had been sitting on the back of the Toad--who miraculously remains strong through the greatest storm (pointing to His divinity). But it is only when the toad RISES from the waters (i.e. from the dead), that the church/disciples(the frogs) understand the source of salvation---through the sacrifice and resurrection of Jesus Christ (the toad). And it is through passing through the flood waters (the waters of Baptism) that salvation is attained.

The book ends with the Church in Paradise. "And later, when they rested in the weeds, they felt happy in a way they had never been before." Leo Lionni's message here is that paradise begins in the heart. (As Christ taught in his parables, such as the parable of the mustard seed.)

Of course, small children will not see or understand many of the theological meanings and messages. It is an excellent book to teach small children about sharing. But it is so much more! I highly recommend this book to Christian families wishing to teach their children the truths of the faith. But of course, you will need to do a lot of "sharing" and listening---not just reading--to get at the heart of this book with your children.

The Mine-O-Saur
$16.99
MINE MINE MINE! That is what my daughter and her friends got out of this book. That is the part that they hear the most and now if I say those words they get all excited. However that is the issue with this book. It focuses on the negative and reinforces it through repetition. Even though at the end we have the moral shine through, most kids tend to not always sit through a whole book and mainly here and understand the repetition just like the 'choirs' in a song.

After this book I heard my daughter and one of her friends running around saying "MINE MINE MINE!!!" and when she does not want to give something up now, instead of saying "No" like she used to she says... yep you guessed it "MINE!"

Other than that the book is a lot of fun. Making the sounds as the Mine-o-saur was a lot of fun and the kids loved it, although a little too much in hind sight. Perhaps it would be better for older kids that understand the story better.

Mine
$15.95
Courtney McAllister has been unsuccessfully trying to pull her life back together for the three years since the death of her partner Theresa in an accident. Moving on is a hard thing to do though. Therapy and her group for surviving spouses help, but not enough. She's still living in the house she and Theresa bought together and the memories come too easily. Her friend Amelia finally convinces Courtney that selling the house and finding something smaller is a step in the right direction and that's when she meets Rachel Hart, Million Dollar Producer of real estate sales. Rachel is consumed with her career and not interested in long term commitments beyond her regular volunteer work at the animal shelter. She has no family or friends to distract her from selling property until she meets Courtney. Each of these women is searching for something that she can call hers. Courtney is looking for a new life, possibly a new love. Rachel is hoping for someone who will put her first and that might be Courtney if she can finally lay Theresa to rest.

Beers has mastered the genre of romance writing. Another in her series of novels that explore the emotions that go into building relationships, once again she has created appealing characters tied together in a plausible plot. This time she shows two women who have shut themselves off for different reasons and then explores how they help each other to change their lives. Beers is a believer in the concept of the traditional romance formula, so the reader looking for that should find this book entertaining and satisfying.