GOOD STORIES, WRITTEN BY A NUN

As promised, here is my post about Mother Melania and her wonderful books for children...

Chapel at Holy Assumption Monastery

Mother Melania, who I am blessed to call my friend, is the acting superior of the Orthodox community of Holy Assumption Monastery in Calistoga, California.  She has authored two series of children’s books:  her first series, "Halo Stories", includes the collections The Twelve Great Feasts for Children; The Three-Day Pascha Set; and Old Testament Stories for Children. These books all feature beautiful watercolor paintings done by artist and iconographer Bonnie Gillis.

On fire-preparedness day, the Duck Pond 

neighbors are all cleaning up – all except Greedy,

 a bit of a hoarder. His loot causes his home to 

burn, and he learns a difficult lesson.

"Good Neighbors", the newest series of books written by Mother Melania, teaches children about being good neighbors through the comical adventures of the animals who live around Duck Pond - who must often be saved from the consequences of their foolish choices by Fearless the Fire Duck. The illustrator for this whimsical series is Cayce Kruse Halsell.

The idea for these stories came when members of Mother Melania's former community - Saint Barbara Monastery in Santa Paula, CA - were evacuated from their monastery due to a fire that swept through the nearby mountains. On their way back home, some of the sisters stopped to buy small gifts for some children and brought home a rubber ducky sporting a fire hat. Immediately, he became Fearless the Fire Duck and soon he had a whole community of friends.

Mother Melania has partnered with THE BENEFACTORY, a 21 year-old publisher of wholesome, nurturing children’s stories. Together they have launched a unique opportunity for work-at-home-moms – who offer storytelling events in homes, schools, libraries and churches.  These storytellers sign on for their own home-based business, hold events for other parents or parents with children, read stories to the children, and set them up with art activities, while parents browse the products.

Mother Melania with some of her books...

Sales of all Mother Melania's book series are available through THE BENEFACTORY, and help support both Holy Assumption and St. Barbara Monasteries. (The Benefactory also publishes a third series of books, "True Friends" - written by various authors about animals, the sales of which benefit 12 nonprofit animal protection organizations.)  If you'd like information about becoming a Storyteller with The Benefactory or to order books, CLICK HERE.

OTHER BOOKS IN THE "GOOD NEIGHBORS" SERIES:
A vain and self-centered cat learns humility. In attempting to match the antics of a squirrel, Capers strands himself in a tree. Harry, his bloodhound pal, and Fearless the Fire Duck come to the rescue.

The only words Mimi seems to know are ‘me’ and ‘mine’ – until she is saved by others, during a neighborhood disaster. Through this she begins to think of others.