Caring/Compassion/Trust~~ By USN Chief, Ret.
“I can’t believe that ‘Brave Little Finn’ is finally here! And, this one is also a true story from the Moonrise Farm about a baby lamb named Little Finn. He was born early, in the winter and not very strong so Farmer John (and many others) came to his rescue. Little Finn was taken into the farmhouse and even had to wear a diaper! Imagine that! Farmer John whispered into his ear ‘Be brave – we’re always here’ when he carried Little Finn to the farmhouse. And, being brave despite many obstacles is the inherent theme in this delightful book. For you see, Little Finn, is afraid of nearly everything when he finally goes out in the spring. There are lots of other animals on the farm including dogs, a pony, a goose, a frog, a duck, and even a hummingbird, a spider and some bees. That old Ford tractor is even in the barn which is so typical of a Vermont farm. And, of course, Little Finn is afraid of that, too. Grandfather Snow, the elder ram of the farm makes a cameo appearance which is outstanding. Both had witnessed a lunar eclipse and Little Finn expressed his fears to his grandfather. ( Minor spoiler follows…) Being a wise elderly ram, he does ask Little Finn what happens when he is afraid. Little Finn says that ‘my friends help me’. So, there you have it, boys and girls. Despite your fears and apprehensions which may be large or small, when you are fearful count on your friends to help you get over the scary parts. And, you will be there for them, too. ‘You can do it’ is heard echoing around the hills near Essex, Vermont. More educational moments include bee pollination and the lunar eclipse which will spark the interest of the little ones. They will also be able to identify many animals that are illustrated. Caring, compassion, being brave, trusting your friends, overcoming fears and much, much more are all contained in this book. I didn’t check the recommended ages for this story but I enjoyed each and every page. So, I would say for ages 3 to whatever! At the very end of this book, the true story of Little Finn is told and he is described as a ‘miracle kid’. Once again, we see the true nature of Vermonters coming to assist in times of need. And, I feel a short trip to Moonrise Farm in my future! The pictures are indeed beautiful and the process is explained at the end of the book. They are done digitally as well as by hand. Most highly recommended. This is indeed the best book for children that I have read this year. Well done to my Vermont neighbors.” ~ USN Chief, Ret.
