About McLoughlin Bros Books for Collectors and Booksellers

Pleasewell Series: 5 Little Pigs
Representative Cover 

McLoughlin Bros. Children's Books
This blog post by Mary Katherine May of Quality Music and Books

Any way you look at it, McLoughlin Brothers published many children's books. They are fun to collect but hard to find in excellent condition. 

The following information is from the 1903 McLoughlin Bros. catalog and shows information on its 2-, 3, 5- and 10-cent book offerings. This information will be helpful to both collectors and booksellers in identifying and describing particular editions. You will notice that though there are books in only one series, many books appear in several series. Book size will be important in determining which series a book is in as will also printing colors.

CLICK HERE To view the entire 1903 McLoughlin Bros. Catalogue on Archive.Org.

CLICK HERE to read more about the publisher McLoughlin Bros. on Wikipedia.org.

CLICK HERE to read more about McLoughlin Bros., Pioneers in Color Printing.

The McLoughlin Brothers published their 55th annual catalogue in 1903. Products were organized by price beginning with 2-cent toy books.

In 1903, the McLoughlin catalog offered the following products: Paper and linen toy books, half-bound and bound juvenile books, card games, board games, ABC blocks, picture blocks, building blocks, backgammon boards, chess boards, scroll puzzles, novelties, paper dolls, paper soldiers, flags, lead soldiers, and pictures for framing and advertising purposes, etc. Also valentines of every description, and Easter, Christmas, New Year, birthday, and religious cards.

The publications of 1903 contained at least one blatantly racial title, the book in No. 73, Bo-Peep Series.

2-cent Books

No. 2 ABC Series

4 books

12 pages, 4-3/4x6-3/4 inches, large alphabets in red and black

1. ABC of the Apple Pie

2. ABC of Animals

3. Little Learner’s ABC

4. Baby’s Own ABC

No. 4 Hop O’ My Thumb Series

6 books

10 pages, 5-1/2 x 7-3/4 inches, printed in red and black

1. Hop O’ My Thumb

2. Blue Beard

3. Puss in Boots

4. Sleeping Beauty

5. Red Riding Hood

6. Cinderella

No. 5 Dame Trot Series

6 books

10 pages, 5-1/2x7-3/4 inches, printed in black and red

1. Five Little Pigs

2. Bo-Peep

3. Old Mother Goose

4. Dame Trot

5. Song of Sixpence

6. Old Woman Who Live in a Shoe

No. 6 Yellow Dwarf Series

6 books

12 pages, 5-1/2x7-3/4 inches, printed in red and black

No. 7 White Cat Series

6 Books

12 pages, 5-1/2x7-3/4 inches, printed in red and black

No. 8 May Bell Series

6 Books

10 pages, 5-1/2 x 7-3/4 inches, printed in red and black

No. 9 Robin Hood Series

6 Books

10 pages, 5-1/2 x 7-3/4 inches, large type printed in red and black

3-cent Books 

No. 11 Little Miss Muffet Series

6 Books

These books are bright and clever.

10 pages, 5-1/2 x 7-3/4 inches, all printed in full colors, covers in full colors and gold

Pleasewell Series
Mother Hubbard and Her Dog
This copy "Mounted on Linen."

No. 12 Pleasewell Series

6 Books. 

10 pages, 5-1/2 x 7-3/4 inches, printed in full colors

Mounted on Linen: Books that are named "mounted on linen" will sometimes show linen strings at book edges. The linen inside heavyweight paper were claimed to be untearable. 

1. The Three Little Kittens

2. The Five Little Pigs

3. The House That Jack Built

4. The Old Woman and Her Pig

5. Dame Trot and Her Cat

6. Mother Hubbard and Her Dog

No. 14 Farm Yard ABC Series

6 Books

10 pages, 6 x 9 inches, printed in colors.

An ABC book with pictures of Cattle, Poultry, Pigs, etc.

No. 15 Red Riding Hood Series

6 Books

10 pages, 5-1/2 x 7-3/4 inches, 4 of which are in full colors.

1. Cinderella

2. Robinson Crusoe

3. Little Red Riding Hood

4. Favorite Nursery Tales

5. Pauline and the Matches

6. Simple Simon

Apple Pie ABC. No. 20 Alphabet Series

No. 20 Alphabet Series

4 Books

14 pages of which 6 are in full colors, 6-1/4 x 8 inches

1. Adventures of ABC

2. Apple Pie ABC

3. Merry Alphabet

4. Jolly Animal ABC

No. 21 Wonder Story Series

6 Books

6-1/2 x 9-1/2 inches

These books contain 6 full pages colored eight in plain pictures

1. Rip Van Winkel

2. Robin Hood

3. Robinson Crusoe

4. Ali Baba

5. Jack the Giant Killer

6. Alladdin

5-cent Books

No. 22 Good Two Shoes Series

6-1/2 x 9 inches

These books contain six colored pages, and six pages of pictures and text.

1. Goody Two Shoes

2. Aladdin

4. Baby’s ABC

5. The Forty Thieves

6. Children in the Wood

Domestic Animals copyright 1900
Representative Cover

No. 23 Little Animal Series

3 Books

6-3/4 x 8 inches

10 pages, 4 of which are in full colors. Covers in full colors and gold and varnished.

1. Domestic Animals

2. Wild Animals

3. Farmyard ABC

No. 24 Noah’s Ark ABC Series

6 x 9 inches

These books contain 12 pages, eight of which are in colors

1. Every Baby’s ABC

2. Little Boys’ and Girls’ ABC

3. Noah’s Ark ABC

No. 25 Kriss Kringle Series

6 Books

6-1/2 x 9 inches, 10 pages

1. Robinson Crusoe

2. Jack and the Bean Stalk

3. Apple Pie ABC

4. Baby’s ABC

5. Tom Thumb

6. Kriss Kringle

No. 26 Pearl Series

6 Books

6-1/4 x 7-3/4 inches. 10 pages, 4 of which are in full colors

1. Tiny Tot’s Treasure

2. Farmyard Frolics

3. Pets at Play

4. Little Sweethearts

No. 27 Young America Series

4 Books

6-1/4 x 7-3/4 inches. 10 pages, 4 of which and cover are in full colors.

1. Happy Hearts

2. Animal Antics

3. Mirth and Mischief

4. Childhood Joys

No. 28 Little Gem Series

6 Books

6-1/2 x 9-1/2 inches

These books are excellent for small children. Each book has 4 full-color pages and 8 pages in special text. The covers are in full colors.

No. 28-1/2 Little Santa Claus Series

6-1/4 x 7-3/4 inches. 10 pages, 4 of which and the covers are in full colors.

1. Little Miss, Pretty Miss

2. Santa Claus and His Doings

3. A Visit from Saint Nicholas

4. Girls and Boys Come Out to Play

No. 29 Little Sister’s ABC

5 x 7 inches. This book contains ten colored pages and cover, all lithographed. A simple ABC book.

No. 30 Natural History Series

6 Books

6-1/2 x 9-1/2 inches

These are useful little animal books. Each book has 4 full color pages and 8 pages in text. The covers are in full colors.

No. 31 Major’s Alphabet

6 x 9 inches. This book contains ten colored pages. A good alphabet book.

No. 32 Nursery ABC Simple Speller

6 x 9 inches, 12 pages. This is an easy lesson primer.

No. 33 Sunshine Series

6 Books

6-1/2 x 9 inches. 10 pages, 4 of which and covers are in full colors.

1. Three Bears

2. Silly Hare

3. Cock Robin

4. Cinderella

5. Three Little Pigs

6. Frog a Wooing Go

No. 36 Merry Christmas Series

6-3/4 x 9-3/4 inches. 10 pages of special red and black pictures and type. Covers in full colors.

1. Merry Christmas ABC

2. Baby Bunting ABC

3. Little Darling ABC

4. Playtime ABC

No. 46 Little Folks’ Series

4 Books

6-1/4 x 8 inches. Selected old fairy stories. Six pages and covers in colors.

No. 50 Little Fairy Tales Series

6 Books

6-1/2 x 9-1/2 inches

Old standard fairy stories. 14 pages, 14 of which are in full colors. Covers in full colors and gold.

No. 51 Dame Dingle Series

6 – 9-1/2 inches. 8 full-color pictures.

1. Wandering Bunny

2. Dog’s Dinner Party

3. Rich Mrs. Duck

4. Cats’ Party

5. Spoilt Piggy Wiggy

6. Kings Gobble’s Feast

No. 52 Joyful Tales

6 Books

2. Cock Robin

3. Robber Kitten

4. Dame Trot

No. 55 Snowflake Series

4 Books

6-1/4 x 8 inches. For winter and Christmas time.

1. Santa Claus and His Works

2. The Robin’s Christmas Eve

3. Frisky the Squirrel

4. Hector the Dog

10-cent Books

No. 37 ABC of Animals and Nature

8-1/2 x 10 inches. 6 pages in full colors. Covers in full colors.

No. 38 Punch and Judy Series

4 Books

7-1/2 x 9-1/2 inches. 32 pages. Covers in full colors and varnished.

1. Three Little Kittens

2. The Giant Killer

3. Jingles and Joes

4. Heedless Harry

No. 38-1/2 Cozy Corner Series

4 Books

7-1/2 x 9-1/2 inches. 32 pages of special stories and pictures. Covers are in full colors and gold and varnished.

No. 39 Yankee Doodle ABC Book. 

6 x 9-1/2 inches. A special rhyming alphabet primer. 12 pages. Every page is illustrated with colored pictures. The large AC letters have a Star and Stripes designs in them. 17 colored pictures in the book.

No. 40 Our Little Ones ABC

6 x 9-1/2 inches. Rhyming alphabet primer. 12 pages illustrated in full colors. The ABC letters are in dark blue and black. 17 full-colored pictures in book.

No. 41 Tiny Tots ABC Book

6 x 9-1/2 inches. Special rhyming ABC primer. 12 pages illustrated in full colors. ABC letters in red and black. 17 full-colored pictures in book.

No. 42 Simple Simon Series

6 Books

6 x 10-1/2 inches. Each book contains 14 pages, 6 of which are in full colors.

1. Simple Simon

2. Robber Kitten

3. The Owl and the Fox

4. Little Soldier Boy

5. Jack and the Beanstalk

6. All About Santa Claus

No. 62 Froggie Series

3 Books

7 x 10 inches. 14 pages, 6 of which are in full colors. Cover in full colors, gold and varnished.

No. 63 Little Menagerie Series

3 Books

7 x 10 inches. 14 pages, 6 of which are in full colors, gold and varnished.

No. 54 Home Primer

91-4/ x 7-3/4 inches. Book contains 50 pictures and three alphabets, also simple reading lessons. Covers in full colors.

No. 56 Aunt Kate Series

6 Books

7-1/2 x 10-1/2 inches. Each book contains 14 pages, 6 of which are in full colors.

1. Children in the Wood

2. Aladdin

3. Red Riding Hood

4. Valentine and Orson

5. Robinson Crusoe

6. Blue Beard

No. 57 Pretty Picture Series

4 Books

7-1/2 x 10-/12 inches. Each book contains 14 pages, 6 of which are in full lithographic colors.

1. Little Darlings

2. Pretty ABC

3. Pretty Children

4. Laugh and Learn

No. 72 Our Baby’s Series

4 Books

Books contain 14 full colored pages.

1. By Land and Water

2. Around the World with Santa Claus

3. Our Baby’s ABC

4. The House That Jack Built

No. 73 Bo-Peep Series

4 Books

7 x 6 inches. Books contain 14 pages printed in full colors.

1. Mother Goose Melodies

2. Ten Little N….

3. A Visit of St. Nicholas

4. Simple Simon

No. 123 Frolic Series

3 Books

7 x 10 inches. Books contain 14 pages, 6 of which are in full colors. Covers in full colors and gold and varnished.

No. 124 Garden Series

3 Books

7 x 10 inches. Books contain 14 pages, 6 of which are in full colors. Covers in full colors and gold and varnished.

Claus August Wendell Christian Short Stories Moral Tales

Perhaps I Was Dreaming by Claus August Wendell
Augustana Book Concern, 1939

Perhaps I Was Dreaming
Rev. Claus August Wendell, author
Rock Island IL: Augustana Book Concern, 1939
51 stories
168 pages

This blog post by Mary Katherine May of Quality Music and Books.

We always thinks have changed and have become worse, or better. If you read books from other eras and times, however, you will come to discover that history does repeat itself often.

Pastor Claus wrote his thoughts in little stories that were printed in the church bulletin and the publication Lutheran Companion.  In these little bits of wisdom he covered a multitude of topics while always putting his faith and Savior, Jesus Christ, in the center. 

Click the name to read my blog article about Claus August Wendell.

Here is an example of what is found in Perhaps I Was Dreaming by C.A. Wendell.

The Chickens and the Ducklings

Once upon a time there was a great pond, and near it was a poultry farm. And there were many ducks and many hens. And the hens laid eggs and hatched them, and so did the ducks.

Now it came to pass on a certain day that a mother duck brought her brood to the water to teach them how to swim. And she had little trouble in teaching them, for they followed her gladly, floating like corks on the water.

But there was consternation on the shore, for the chickens were greatly alarmed. They ran to and fro, piping frantically to their playmates and begging them to return. “You are going to perdition,” they cried. “There is danger ahead, and the farther you go, the farther you are from solid ground. Come back!”

But the ducklings heeded them not. They paddled away with all their might, and some of them sang (as nearly as ducklings can sing),

“Are they not all the seas of God?

O farther, farther, farther sail!”

And sail they did, as far as they pleased. Then they returned.

But now the chicks would have nothing to do with them. “They are deceived by the devil,” their mother had told them. “They are an evil brood, and if you follow them, you will surely perish. Beware of them as you beware of the hawk!”

Now there was truth in what she said, for it is certain that chickens will perish if they follow the ducklings into the water.  But there was mischief in it, too; for a chicken who can not swim should not be taught to hate a duckling because he can.  Did not God make the pond as well as the dry land?  And did He not make the ducklings as well as the chickens? Do not the ducklings therefore have not as much right to the water as the chickens have to the dry land, and are they not as safe there?

And thereby hands a moral, for every duckling here is human, and every chicken too.  God bless them all, and speed thee, friend, to find the meaning of this parable. Aye, it may do thee good. pp. 67-69

1881 Book Ads for Use as a Research Resource and Book Selling Information

1881 Book Ads for Use 
as a Research Resource and Book Selling Information
The following are advertisement pages at the end of a book published by the Religious Tract Society, London, England, 1881. 

This blog post by Mary Katherine May of Quality Music and Books.

Missionary Books
1. Madagascar and France. With some Account of the Island, its People, its Resources, and Development. By George A. Shaw.

2. Child Life in Chinese Homes. By Mrs. Bryson, of Wuchang, China.
This is a beautiful and touching account of Chinese Child Life from infancy to early manhood and womanhood. Mrs. Bryson has lived and worked for years in China, and hence her book contains nothing but accurate and first-hand information. The second part contains the Stories of a number of Chinese Children. The book gives a true insight into the ways, the joys, the sorrows of the Children of China. 

3. Old Highways in China. By Isabelle Williamson, of the London Mission, Chefoo.

4. Work and Adventure in New Guinea, 1877 to 1885. By James Chalmers, of Port Moresby, and W. Wyatt Gill, B.A. Author of "Life in the Southern Isles," & c. 
This book describes seven years of work along the South-Eastern Coast of New Guinea, the part over which the English protectorate has just been proclaimed. Mr. Chalmers knows more of New Guinea than any other European. Mr. Gill's views on the progress of Christianity and his Botanical, Zoological, and Ethnological observations are of high value.

5. Protestant Missions in India from their Commencement in 1706 to 1882. By the Rev. M.A. Sherring, M.A., LL.B. Newly revised and brought down to date. By the Rev. E. Storrow. With four maps.

6. Among the Mongols. By the Rev. James Gilmour, M.A. (of Peking). With Map and numerous Engravings from Photographs and Native Sketches. 

By-Paths of Bible Knowledge
1. Babylonian Life and History. By E.A. Wallis Budge, B.A., Camb., Assistant in the Department of Oriental Antiquities, British Museum. 

2. Fresh Light from the Ancient Monuments. By A.H. Sayce, M.A., Deputy Professor of Comparative Philology, Oxford, etc. Second Edition, revised.

3. Cleopatra's Needle. A History of the London Obelisk, with an Exposition of the Hieroglyphics. By the Rev. J. King, Lecturer for the Palestine Exploration Fund.

4. Recent Discoveries on the Temple Hill at Jerusalem. By the Rev. J. King, M.A., Authorised Lecturer to the Palestine Exploration Fund. With Maps, Plans, and Illustrations.

5. Just Published. Galilee in the Time of Christ. By Selah Merrill, D.D., Author of "East of the Jordan," & C. With Map. This book, never before issued in England, gives in small compass all that is known of the condition, cities, resources, & C., of Galilee in the days of our Lord's life on earth.

What About Illustrator Rhoda Campbell Chase

Rhoda Campbell Chase (1881-1959) was an American children's book illustrator who lived most of her life in Woodstock, Vermont. She was Christian Scientist. 

Blog post by Mary Katherine May of QualityMusicandBooks.com.

Examples of Rhoda Campbell Chase Illustrations

from Story Hour Readers Revised Book Two, American Book Company, copyright 1914, 1923. These images are in the public domain.

An afternoon of searching led me to discover more about Rhoda in an indirect way.  Her immediate family members were all highly successful in their profession though not seeking reward in public. This is obvious because finding much about them is not easy. 

Chase family members were assured individuals, risk takers, and creative. The following bits of information demonstrate my point.

Rhoda’s father, Henry (Harry) Seymour Chase, Jr. (1853-1889), a marine painter who studied under Dutch marine painter Hendrik Willem Mesdag. 

Rhoda’s mother, Laura Emeline (Emma) Eames Chase was the first woman accepted as a full member by the American Dental Association. Emma was a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR).

Her brother Irwin Chase was a naval architect who designed a boat dubbed the Sea Wasp or Submarine Chaser that used during World War 1 that was immune to torpedo attack.

Source List

Ancestry.com

Wikipedia.org

Newspapers.com

Life and Times of Martin Luther Roth-Beck Book Review

The Life and Times of Martin Luther

The Life and Times of Martin Luther
Meike Roth-Beck, author
Klaus Ensikat, illustrator
Laura Watkinson, translator

Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans Books for Young Readers, 2017
ISBN: 97808028549547
44 pages
List price 18.00

Publisher recommended for children ages 7 years and up.

Book review by Mary Katherine May of QualityMusicandBooks.com.

About the Book
An illustrated history written at the time of commemorating the 500th anniversary of the Lutheran denomination within the Christian Church.

On the Eerdmans web page for this book is stated:

This sophisticated book commemorates the 500th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation by examining the details of Martin Luther's life and his lasting legacy.

Perspective: My Review
Life and Times of Martin Luther should have been reviewed on my Christian children book review blog, but the content of this book lends itself more to the older reader.

The text is mature for children and even for some adults. 

In relating the history of the times and Luther himself nothing is new or creatively presented. You will get the facts without very much story telling.

The illustrations are imaginative and well done. Luther's story, if known by the reader or presenter, is told through the drawings and much more understandable for children.  

I am not certain as to why the publisher named this a book for children as young as seven years other than because it is a picture book. 

Even further out of line with the text is on Amazon.com where it's recommended for children in grades 3-6.  It is true, perhaps, that a small minority of kids in that age bracket will be able to relate the meaning of what they read, or is being read to them.

Perhaps the clue to determining whether the publisher knew of the inappropriateness of their age determination for category is in their descriptive word sophisticated. 

ICON by Georgia Briggs Christian Book Review

ICON by George Briggs

ICON
Georgia Briggs, author
Chesterton IN: Ancient Faith Publishing, 2017
205 pages

ISBN: 978-1-944967-19-2
List price: 14.95
Formats: Paperback, E-book, Kindle, Nook and i-book.
LINK to Buy: Store.AncientFaith.com

A review by Mary Katherine May of QualityMusicandBooks.com.

Summary from the Book Cover
In a post-Christian America, where going to church, praying, or owning holy things means death, a twelve-year-old girl searches for the truth.  Finding it may cost her everything.

The Story
The End Times have begun and the year is 0000 ET.  Euphrosyne and her family live their lives in the Orthodox Christian tradition.  One horrible night everything changes for Euphrosyne when the Matthews' house is broken into and all but her are shot to death.  Even the family dog is killed. 

Christians are being murdered in the United States of America for their intolerance by enforcers of the new tolerant secular society.  When Euphrosyne is found, after being miraculously being saved from death by an icon of St. Nicholas while running for her life in the woods, her name is changed to Hillary and she is sent to live with her grandparents.  

In the End Times people are watched for any sign of not complying with tolerant rules.  There is a children's wing in the Department of Religious Tolerance where non-compliant juveniles are brought to be starved, tortured

ICON by Georgia Briggs
Store.AncientFaith.com

and brainwashed into right thought.  Euphrosyne prays the Jesus Prayer when like other children there she is left in complete darkness in a little glass-enclosed cell with a hole in the floor for a toilet.  Hillary, however, remains firm in her faith.

Thoughts of the Reviewer
This is a violent, scary book.  Written for young adults, I recommend to parents and leaders to exercise real caution when recommending and having young people read it.  

ICON has the potential putting fear in the minds and hearts of readers who do not believe that ultimately good will triumph. 

In a good sense, it may encourage readers to stand firm in their faith as Euphrosyne did, believe their relationship with Jesus Christ is worth the cost.

Lastly, there is a plausible correlation between this story and the attitudes and behaviors of many who are being are driven by evil forces to hate Christianity and do whatever it takes to turn the God of Love into a tyrant to be destroyed and removed from American society.

Orthodox Christians do not teach or promote what is called the Rapture.  Here is an End Times book from the Eastern Orthodox perspective.  Icon is a fast read.  Unless the reader intends to share the book and/or doesn't mind reading from the computer I recommend buying the e-book. 

The Prayer of Protection Joseph Prince Christian Book Review

The Prayer of Protection
by Joseph Prince

The Prayer of Protection

Living Fearlessly in Dangerous Times

Joseph Prince, author

Nashville: FaithWords (Hachette Book Group)
List price: $14.99 (paperback)

Formats: Paperback, Kindle
Also available: Prayer of Protection Study Guide and Prayer of Protection Devotional.

Release date: September 12, 2017

208 pages

ISBN: 978-1-4555-6913-7

Amazon.com ranking (as of Oct. 2, 2017): 54,211

A book review by Mary Katherine May of QualityMusicandBooks.com

Goal: Purpose of Book

What did Joseph Prince want to accomplish by writing The Prayer of Protection?  

     The book cover states:

The Prayer of Protection
Joseph Prince, Author

Discover a God of love who has an impenetrable shield that covers everything that concerns you.  Through a compelling study of Psalm 91, you will learn truths that will cause your heart to burn within you as you discover just how completely loved and protected you are by your loving Savior. Be encouraged as you learn how you and your family can:

> Find refuge and safety in the secret place of the 

   Most High God.

> Be found at the right place at the right time far from 

   danger.

> Activate God’s mighty angels to watch over you and 

   your loved ones.

> Go on the offense against the enemy with the 

   Sword of the Spirit.

> Walk in God’s wisdom to stay safe and experience 

   his promise of preservation and long life.

Content: What Author Writes

Through commentary on Psalm 91 and first-hand examples taken from letters he has received, Joseph Prince explains in detail and through implication how the reader by claiming God’s protection by praying over people and themselves can be saved from violent acts of others, natural disasters, terminal and debilitating illness, and mental distress.  That is, God protects those who pray and meditate on Psalm 91.  Prince claims this is no magic device but rather a reward for claiming God’s promises.

The Reviewer’s Final Remarks

     I believe in claiming and naming Jesus Christ, Savior and Lord, in combating forces of evil in life, and I believe that doing this has great power in the spiritual realm. I also believe that sometimes God will enter into a Christian's life and heal or keep them out of harm's way, but reality shows us that this is often not what happens.  There is ample room to disagree, however, with... 

   (1) placing all responsibility for protection on what a person does to activate spiritual power; and, 

   (2) claiming that physical healing, long life, and being saved from physical harm is there for the taking by using biblical text. 

If this were true, there would be a plethora of people flocking to live the Christian life and most certainly there would be no martyrs who gave their lives rather than denounce their Savior, Jesus Christ. 

   Lastly, (3) what happens to some, but not all, believers who put their faith in this protective text when it fails? Answer: They are disillusioned, or they work and try even harder to be a good Christian, and that is completely off the mark on what being a Christian is all about.

The God Whistle Ralph Nelson Willett Christian Book Review

The God Whistle by Ralph N. Willett

The God Whistle

Ralph Nelson Willett, author

Publisher: 

Release date: November 3, 2017 (paperback)

Available formats: Amazon Kindle

A book review from the Christian perspective by Mary Katherine May of QualityMusicandBooks.com.

Recommended Book

I recommend The God Whistle by Ralph Nelson Willett to both women and men, and as a book for Christian book clubs and Christian couple study groups.  It’s a book that you will want to read from cover to cover, always wanting to know what happens next.

Review: The God Whistle

The Story

Adam and Mary are a typical American couple with two young children, a boy and a girl, living the typical life as millions of other families do.  Everything goes awry, however, at the wedding of friends that Mary attends alone, leaving their family split apart with judgments about Mary’s character adding to the weight of her guilt.

What I Found Inspirational

The God Whistle by Ralph Nelson Willett is a story about what it means to trust and live within God’s will for all He intends his faithful to accomplish. It will provoke thought about rushing to judgment and meting out punishment, taking the place of what God tells us is his and his alone to do; and, through the power of the Holy Spirit—the ability to forgive what seems to be unforgivable.

God comes into the lives of each of his children in the way that is needed at the time.  How that may be, when we listen He will show himself, give counsel and heal in a way that is right.  That is what happens to Mary and Adam, and it brings their future into the Lord's will, and their lives into a harmony that is united as a good hymn is to its tune.

The symbolism used within the story should not be lost to the reader.  The old Adam is healed through the woman chosen to give birth to the new life, and by that anything and anyone can be healed through Jesus Christ, Son of God, who takes away sin. I am reminded of Psalm 30:5b (ESV): Weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes with the morning. 

A significant implied theme that should not be overlooked in The God Whistle is Armistice Day, the day on which the treaty was signed bringing an end to the “War to end all wars,” bringing peace, healing and hope to a broken world.  

A Christian fiction book from beginning to end, I recommend The God Whistle by Ralph Nelson Willett.