Kathryn Cloward

KATHYRN THE GRAPE'S PIECE OF LOVE by Kathryn Cloward and illustrated by Christine Winscott is a delightful Children's book. A wonderful story of Kathyrn,and her spirit. It shows us all that kindness,acceptance,and love is what we all need and an order to have inner peace. Every child young or old are sure to enjoy Kathyrn and her antics. A delightful story with vivid illustrations. Received for an honest review from the author and/or publisher.

**A portion of the proceeds from the sale of this book will be donated to ....THE KIDS FOR PEACE**

RATING: 4.5

HEAT RATING: NONE(CHILDREN'S)

REVIEWED BY: Review courtesy of My Book Addiction and More… (plus d'informations)

Purple is Kathryn the Grape’s favorite color! Purple is the color of royalty, but Kathryn was not acting very royal at dinner with her family, including her three brothers. The night’s menu is the All-American favorite, hamburgers, which Kathryn does not like. To add to her distress, Kathryn’s brothers were talking about their days and Kathryn wanted to do the same. Instead of speaking up, she stared at the hamburger on her plate and waited for someone to pay any attention to me. So I just sat there staring at that gross hamburger.

When her mother asked what was wrong, Kathryn complained about the hamburger rather than speak up about her day. She stomps up to her bedroom, yelling you only love the boys, slammed the door, and waited for someone to check on her. Maggie, a magical butterfly and Kathryn’s best friend, flies over and asks if it was another hamburger night (which everyone loves except Kathryn). Kathryn continues her complaining to Maggie, who responds by taking Kathryn on a trip to show her how colorful you really are. She gives Kathryn a charm bracelet that will shine a color when she learns something about herself.

At the first stop, a tree represents belonging and a charm shines a bright red when Kathryn realizes she belongs in her family, just as the tree belongs in the forest. Further along the trip, another charm shines yellow the color of trust when Kathryn understands how to trust yourself and your intuition. By the end of their trip, Kathryn learns much about herself including how bright and colorful she shines. Back home, a brightly shining bracelet on her wrist, and new gained self-knowledge, Kathryn realizes she needs apologize to mom.

The book is extremely colorful, as one would expect from the title. The colors burst off the page and will delight any child between ages three and nine. Kathryn looks to be eleven or twelve years old. She is the only girl in the family of six. At dinner, while the boys excitedly tell their parents about their day, smiling and laughing, Kathryn sits and pouts. She wants attention, she wants to tell everyone about her day, and she wants to eat something other than a hamburger for dinner. Instead of expressing any of these desires, Kathryn the sour grape yells about dinner then storms off, still yelling. She sounds and acts like a spoiled child who, for once, was not the center of attention.

Maggie, the magical butterfly takes Kathryn on a trip of self-discovery. At each stopping point, a lesson is waiting for Kathryn to learn. If she understands, the charm for that stop will shine brightly in a corresponding color. The tree charm shines red when Kathryn learns she belongs and the heart charm shines green when she admits she loves her family. Why does the heart shine green? Green is the color of envy, which certainly matches Kathryn’s attitude toward her brothers, but that is not the color of love. No, the charm of belonging, the tree charm, shines red. Another charm, the sun charm, shines yellow when she realizes she should trust herself, even more than she should trust her parents. Sure, she should learn to trust herself, but more than she trusts her parents?

The stop where everything became dark and gloomy, because Kathryn let her thoughts wander to thinking her brothers were laughing at her (they were not) and her parents loving the boys more than they love her (they do not), made the most sense out of this trip. Maggie tells her negative words come from negative thoughts, and negative thoughts make everything cloudy. This is the crux of Kathryn’s problems. At dinner, when her brothers were talking and laughing about their days Kathryn wanted to talk about her day, but would not speak up. Instead, she took on a negative attitude, sat pouting, and then yelled needlessly at her mother instead of using the opening to talk about her day.

When Kathryn admits she is wrong and that she loves her family, including her brothers, the heart charm shines brightly, representing good, positive, love emotions. This charm is the heart that shines green. Colors aside, Kathryn’s journey is as self-centered as her attitude. Maybe I just do not get this story, even after reading it four times. I understand the premise, which is a neat idea. Take this negative, self-centered child on a trip of enlightenment. I just do not like Kathryn the Grape’s journey.

My feelings aside, I do think young girls will like this story and find it entertaining, if not educational. I can see them twirling at the top of the hill with Kathryn, singing and dancing, with a brush microphone in one hand. I am sure many will hold up a mirror, just like Kathryn and say, “I trust me.” Young girls, and some boys, will enjoy the book and the adventure. All they really need is a charm bracelet that shines brightly at each stop along their Colorful Adventure.

Note: book courtesy of the publisher
Original Review at Kid Lit Reviews
link: http://kid-lit-reviews.com/2012/02/02/kathryn-the-gr…ristine-hornby/… (plus d'informations)

Description:

Kathryn feels like her parents ignore her and love her brothers more. So, after she yells at her parents and runs into her bedroom one night, her best friend, a magical butterfly named Maggie, takes her on a colorful adventure. Maggie gives her a colorful charm bracelet that transports Kathryn to a magical place where she learns that she is very colorful, and very loved; just like the reader!

Review:

This book is beautifully written and illustrated, and full of color and imagination! I love the story and I think that kids will do the same. The book is not only colorful, but manages to successfully tackle a difficult topic: feelings. It is an inspirational adventure and the perfect book for any child, but especially little girls, who always need a lesson in self-esteem. Highly recommended and enjoyed!

Rating: On the Run (4.5/5)

*** I received this book from the author (Bostick Communications) in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.… (plus d'informations)

A delightful knowledge filled journey through the ambiance of a rainbow.

Kathryn the Grape's Colorful Adventure is a bright and colorful story with beautiful vivid illustrations sure to keep any child engaged and wanting to return to this book again and again. I remember my children having their favorite books that they would ask my husband or I to read over and over again. This is truly one of those books children will cherish and want you to read more than once. The book is titled Kathryn the Grape because of Kathryn's love of everything colored grape. In the beginning of the story Kathryn and her family are at the dinner table. Kathryn is upset about the burgers her mother is serving, one of her least favorite foods. After making a comment about not liking the burgers, her mother sends her to her room without dinner. Kathryn wonders why her mother seems to not take her feelings into consideration, since she has told her mother many times about her dislike of burgers. After being sent to her room without dinner, Kathryn begins to wonder why she feels so disconnected from her family, which leaves her feeling lonely and like an outcast in her own home. But soon Kathryn receives a visit from her fairy friend Maggie the Butterfly. Maggie presents Kathryn with a gift, a charm bracelet with all the colors of the rainbow. She then takes Kathryn on a trip where she teaches her what each color represents and how she can use that knowledge to her advantage. One of the lessons Kathryn learns on her journey is how to express her feelings through speaking calmly instead shouting. I found this to be a very important lesson as most children lack this insight. Children can get really frustrated when what they are feeling is not taken into consideration when they shout. However, this book also teaches parents that each child is unique and not all children should be treated alike, even though we love them all alike.… (plus d'informations)