I received this book for free from Cedar Fort in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Baptism and Boomerangs by Sherrie Gavin, Tatiana Lawton Published by Cedar Fort on August 11, 2015
Genres: Children's, Picture book
Pages: 36
Format: Hardcover
Source: Cedar Fort
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Baptism brings us soaring back—just like a boomerang—into the arms of our loving Heavenly Father! With colorful artwork, a fun story, and insightful analogies, this book helps parents and children discuss the importance of our first crucial covenant in God’s plan of happiness. Entertaining and uplifting, it makes a great gift for all your favorite eight-year-olds.
Baptism and Boomerangs is the story of a girl named Amara who is preparing for baptism. In the story, Amara learns that baptism is the first step to return to our Heavenly Parents. Using the flight path of a boomerang as an analogy for how each of us can return when we “throw” ourselves in the right direction, the story clearly teaches core gospel principles with an Australian flare. Resplendent and bright illustrations make the book feel both vibrant and happy.
This is the latest children’s book being published by Cedar Fort for an LDS (Mormon) audience, but is the first time an LDS children’s book has been written and illustrated by Australian Mormon women. “It is so important to me to be able to share my love of the gospel and my love of Australia in this book,” said the author, Sherrie Gavin. “Australia is such a beautiful, outdoorsy place, it was important for me to tell a story that means so much to me, and have the story matched with illustrations that were as bright and happy as the lifestyle here.”
The illustrator, Tatiana Larkin agrees. “Capturing the simplicity and beauty of the moments shared by Amara with her parents and grandparents was significant to me. For me, it is not just an analogy about baptism and Heavenly Father’s plan, but a collection of beautiful family pictures.”
As far as being the first team of Australians to create an LDS children’s book says Sherrie, “This is really exciting! It feels like more than a simple children’s book: It feels like an invitation for church members all around the world to create and share gospel stories that are culturally different, important and sacred in their own ways. I hope even more international Mormon contributions are inspired by this book, and come from this!”
About the author
Sherrie Gavin was born and raised in upstate New York, USA. Always looking for romance, adventure, and with a love of writing, she travelled to Australia and fell in love with a true Aussie bloke named Bruce. ‘Sruth! They married and began adventuring together, joined by two beautiful daughters who are the loves of their lives. Sherrie has been lucky enough to have contributed to Linda Hoffman Kimball’s Relief Society anthologies and The Exponent II. She also thinks that everyone should try throwing a boomerang at least once.
About the Illustrator
Tatiana Lawton was born in Brisbane, Australia, but was raised up north on the sunny beaches of the Sunshine Coast. She was born with a love for life, art, and storytelling, and her pusuit to study a degree of film and animation came as no surprise to family and friends. Moving back to Brisbane, Tatiana completed her four-year degree. Since finishing her degree, she has been freelancing as an artist, contributing to short films as a concept artist, character designer, and storyboard artist. Tatiana has drawn her inspiration for this book from her Australian heritage and her appreciation for eternal families.
“Baptism and Boomerangs” blog tour schedule:
August 18: Reidhead Random-ness
August 19: A Casual Reader’s Blog
August 20:
August 21: The Exponent
August 22:
August 23: Wishful Endings
August 24: Bridget of Arabia • My Book a Day
August 25: Mel’s Shelves
August 26: I love to Read and Review Books
August 27: The Polka Dot Umbrella
August 28: JoAnn Arnold
August 29:
August 30:
August 31:
September 1: ‘TLE REDreads…..
Giveaway
Send in a photo of themselves reading the Baptism and Boomerangs book at home. Post the photo to facebook (www.facebook.com/baptismandboomerangs), pintrest (#AmaraLDS) and/or twitter (@BaptismandBoom). Each “tag” gets an entry! This means that for each image, there can be up to 5 entries- 5 chances to win! The grand prize is a caricature of the winner, drawn by our book’s illustrator, Tatiana Larkin, with runner up prizes of personalized, hand-painted boomerangs.
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