Dear Reader,
Don’t you just love fall? Those colorful leaves against those bright blue skies always make me glad I live in the hills of Tennessee. I hope you have the opportunity this season to slow down, look up, take a scenic drive, and breathe in the goodness of God.
If the road ahead of you is rough or rocky or filled with unexpected detours, remember to metaphorically focus your eyes upward. Don’t literally take your eyes off the road, but do look to God for guidance. He will direct your path. This wise advice can be found in the two books I’ll be reviewing in this newsletter.
While we’re on this journey called life, we have an opportunity to be influenced and impacted by the world around us in both positive and negative ways. From the books we read to the videos we watch to the sometimes-overwhelming social media connections in our lives, our brains and our bodies respond mentally, physically, emotionally, and spiritually to these stimuli. However, if we keep our eyes focused on the road ahead and allow His words of wisdom to guide our paths, we will be blessed.
“Let your eyes look straight ahead, fix your gaze directly before you. Make level paths for your feet and take only ways that are firm. Do not swerve to the right or the left; keep your foot from evil.”—Proverbs 4:25-27
This wisdom aptly applies to Kayla E. Green’s picture book Hadley the Hippo Is What She Eats (©2025 by Ambassador International Books). Hadley the Hippo is a cute, but gullible critter who foolishly succumbs to the ways of the world. With a larger-than-life appetite, Hadley “soaks up color like a sponge.” And when her tummy rumbles, she gives in to the next temptation that comes her way. This book offers a great opportunity for parents to explain to children what can happen when they give in to their sinful desires.
From the suggested talking points at the end of the book: “We should always remember that what we put in our minds and hearts helps shape who we are. This includes what we listen to, what we watch, how we talk with others, and what we read. Like Hadley, the Hippo, we are what we eat!”
Yes, “Garbage in, garbage out!”—George Fuechsel
I believe Hadley the Hippo deserves⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐, and I strongly encourage parents to use the teaching points at the end of the book.
Look Up! By Izzy B. and Stewart Long (©2025 by Swing High Children’s Books) is another ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ story that epitomizes the wisdom found in Proverbs 4. When a grumpy ant looks down on the world around him, he only sees the bad and the ugly.
However, a mouse, a beetle, and a roach encourage the ant to look up and see the world from a different perspective. As a result, his world becomes a brighter, better, and more beautiful place. This book can give parents a great opportunity to discuss Biblical values and also encourage positivity in their children and in themselves.
God can change our altitude, attitude, longitude, and latitude if we will only let Him serve as our GPS.
If you’ve been following my blog posts this year, you know I’ve been highlighting some of the books that have influenced Max’s life on her reading journey and on mine. I hope these references have stirred some fond memories for you and also spurred you to encourage someone else to read. Each month I have also been referencing devotionals that have further impacted my reading journey as well as my nieces. As a result, I think it’s fitting that I include a devotional in this newsletter.
From Twila Belk’s The Power to Be (©2018 by BroadStreet):
“When thrown into the unfamiliar, we don’t know what obstacles or surprises or dangers lie ahead. Our creative imaginations might leave us wandering in the what-ifs. Fears and uncertainties might try to paralyze us. But God offers encouragement in many ways.”
“Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.”—Psalm 119:105
I will be giving away a copy of The Power to Be and Hadley the Hippo to two lucky newsletter subscribers who comment on this post. Your chances to win will double if you have left an Amazon review of Max and Her Stacks. Here’s the link: https://a.co/d/7eodlde.
In other news, I am excited to share that my third picture book will be released in a few months, so stay tuned! Also, you might want to tune in to my recent guest spot on Write2Ignite. Thank you, Brenda Covert and Kyle Morgan, for this podcast interview!
Thank you, God, for your goodness and for directing my path!
Blessings,
The Literary Lyonesse
