I believe that artists and writers reflect their souls within their creations. This is apparent with Leea’s book, Goodnight Wishes. The moment I picked up the book I silently exhaled and said, “Awe.” It is a precious little story of a simple mouse and her family, and a mother’s personal journey to create a new home and make the most of an unfortunate situation.
What I love most about this story are the lessons that are subtly woven throughout the tale. The mouse, though she lives with her family in the crumbling baseboards of a rundown home, is completely happy with what she has in the beginning of the story. This teaches us to look for happiness not in material things, but in what we are surrounded with in everyday life, such as family, and reminds us to give thanks for what we have.
When disaster strikes and they are forced to flee their home, she uses the power of faith, love, and determination to quickly find another place to live. Throughout the book the universe provides for her and her family, and answers her “wish” that she faithfully asks the moon, while gazing up to the Heavens. It is beautifully written, and the illustrations are simply magical. I felt like I was right there with the little family, silently cheering every time fate would unfold in their favor. For example, when they are left homeless, the moon illuminates a hollowed tree and she realizes that with hard work she can turn this tree into their new home. She works all night long, building stairs out of popsicle sticks, and using everything she can find to provide for her family. I am sure several mothers out there can relate to using what is around to provide for their family, even if it isn’t exactly what they wanted it to be. Another example of the universe providing for her, is the somewhat unfortunate box that topples off of a moving van filled with dollhouse furniture; perfectly sized for their new mouse-house.
This book teaches us to be thankful for what we have, and reinforces the power of prayer, and faith in the Universal Energy that we are all connected to. The unfortunate situation in the beginning of the book, led to the mice finding the home that they were always meant to be in. This story reminds us to have faith in God that all will be well, even if we can’t see the purpose of our hardships. I also love that the mother mouse teaches her children to wish upon the moon, but more importantly to ask the creator of the moon for the answer. I highly recommend this beautiful tale!
About the Author
Award-winning author and illustrator of Goodnight Wishes! and A Christmas Star.
Recipient of the Bronze Medal in the 2017 Wishing Shelf Book Awards.
Leea Baltes is an award-winning author & illustrator of children’s books that are beautifully illustrated in soft watercolors that reflect her love and appreciation of Beatrix Potter. Each inspirational story is subtly woven around a positive and encouraging message instilling hope, gratitude, and wholesome values into the minds and hearts of little ones. Her desire is not only to provide the child with an entertaining story, but to offer the idea of how they, too, can feel connected to the magical and beautiful universe around them.
Leea has a passion for all things magical and creative! Her artistic ability began at a young age and is still evident today not only in her children’s stories and illustrations, but with her award-winning fine art paintings, photography, and costume designs. Her 3d miniature creations consist of things like ballerina dresses with tiny sculptured ballet slippers, party dresses with little matching hats, and a stone fairy house with whimsical furniture made from cinnamon sticks and moss. Just like Tinkerbell... Leea can take any found item and use it to fix something… or turn it into a treasure! Her original works of art can be viewed online at Fine Art America and at EBSQ Self Representing Artists, where she is a Juried Member.
Leea lives in Maryland where she also enjoys nature’s creatures, gardening, her two cats,
and is currently busy creating her upcoming books.
Visit her at: https://www.leeabaltes.com/
What I love most about this story are the lessons that are subtly woven throughout the tale. The mouse, though she lives with her family in the crumbling baseboards of a rundown home, is completely happy with what she has in the beginning of the story. This teaches us to look for happiness not in material things, but in what we are surrounded with in everyday life, such as family, and reminds us to give thanks for what we have.
When disaster strikes and they are forced to flee their home, she uses the power of faith, love, and determination to quickly find another place to live. Throughout the book the universe provides for her and her family, and answers her “wish” that she faithfully asks the moon, while gazing up to the Heavens. It is beautifully written, and the illustrations are simply magical. I felt like I was right there with the little family, silently cheering every time fate would unfold in their favor. For example, when they are left homeless, the moon illuminates a hollowed tree and she realizes that with hard work she can turn this tree into their new home. She works all night long, building stairs out of popsicle sticks, and using everything she can find to provide for her family. I am sure several mothers out there can relate to using what is around to provide for their family, even if it isn’t exactly what they wanted it to be. Another example of the universe providing for her, is the somewhat unfortunate box that topples off of a moving van filled with dollhouse furniture; perfectly sized for their new mouse-house.
This book teaches us to be thankful for what we have, and reinforces the power of prayer, and faith in the Universal Energy that we are all connected to. The unfortunate situation in the beginning of the book, led to the mice finding the home that they were always meant to be in. This story reminds us to have faith in God that all will be well, even if we can’t see the purpose of our hardships. I also love that the mother mouse teaches her children to wish upon the moon, but more importantly to ask the creator of the moon for the answer. I highly recommend this beautiful tale!
About the Author
Award-winning author and illustrator of Goodnight Wishes! and A Christmas Star.
Recipient of the Bronze Medal in the 2017 Wishing Shelf Book Awards.
Leea Baltes is an award-winning author & illustrator of children’s books that are beautifully illustrated in soft watercolors that reflect her love and appreciation of Beatrix Potter. Each inspirational story is subtly woven around a positive and encouraging message instilling hope, gratitude, and wholesome values into the minds and hearts of little ones. Her desire is not only to provide the child with an entertaining story, but to offer the idea of how they, too, can feel connected to the magical and beautiful universe around them.
Leea has a passion for all things magical and creative! Her artistic ability began at a young age and is still evident today not only in her children’s stories and illustrations, but with her award-winning fine art paintings, photography, and costume designs. Her 3d miniature creations consist of things like ballerina dresses with tiny sculptured ballet slippers, party dresses with little matching hats, and a stone fairy house with whimsical furniture made from cinnamon sticks and moss. Just like Tinkerbell... Leea can take any found item and use it to fix something… or turn it into a treasure! Her original works of art can be viewed online at Fine Art America and at EBSQ Self Representing Artists, where she is a Juried Member.
Leea lives in Maryland where she also enjoys nature’s creatures, gardening, her two cats,
and is currently busy creating her upcoming books.
Visit her at: https://www.leeabaltes.com/
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