5 out of 5 Stars. A BIT OF IMAGINATION GOES A LONG WAY! I LOVE THIS LITTLE BOOK., September 18, 2010

 By 

  D. Blankenship (The Ozarks) 

(TOP 100 REVIEWER)

, Good Books For Kids     

    This review is from: The Grand Tree (Rainbow Crystal, Volume 1) (Paperback)    I have to say that I was completely delighted and captivated with this small book. How quirky it is at first glance, but oh so filled with wisdom. 

In brief, there are two children, their nanny and a neighbor girl with a bit of an attitude. The nanny is rather an off-beat mystical character who, like her grandfather before her, is much involved with the mystical, spiritual and quite often unseen world around us. There is much unsaid about her; much more to her that first glance would reveal. She takes her two charges, along with the little neighbor girl, and through her crystals, introduces them to an alternate world; a world of endless possibilities. 

Through her characters, Juliette the nanny being the primary one, the young reader is taught many lessons here. It would be difficult to tell you which of these lessons are more important, but in my opinion, all are of equal value. The repeated lesson that first caught my eye is that we all have an opportunity to be anything we want to be. We only need to let our imaginations flow and develop the ability to see things in a different light; from a different angle. Acceptance of the fact that not all is as appears and an open mind to all things are important. The author, via or characters, teaches that everything in this world is connected and that we are all apart of a grand whole. I like this. This work is a very good attempt to teach that an imagination is a wonderful thing and that by letting the imagination go where it wants, the individual with most certainly gain. What a wonderful gift to bestow a child. 

Now readers take note. This work does delve into the realm of fantasy, imagination, and indeed, magic. There are aspects of this work that Christian Fundamentalist (I personally am not in this category, so I had absolutely not problems with the author's message nor her method of delivering it) may not agree with. As you read the book and think though, there is little difference is what this author is presenting than we find in the works of C.S. Lewis, J.K. Rowling or Tolkien. 

This is a well written work. There are aspects of this book that are absolutely perfect for use with the "reluctant reader." The author has been quite sneaky in the fact that she has used wider spaces between the lines of her text. I have observed many, many times that he first time a child who does not care for reading first picks up a book, the immediately check out how many pages are in the book, the font size and line spacing. If it is too long, too "word packed" or contains small print, then the book is immediately returned to the shelf and never read...they don't give it a chance. The author has avoided this and I predict that this will be a sure fire hook right from the get-go. The book is short and can be read rather quickly even by a marginal reader. This "quickness" gives the child a sense of immediate accomplishment..."hey, I read an entire book!" This is a real plus when it comes to encouraging the young reader to continue with other works. 

Good lessons in life, an interesting, well written story, and a "mellow feeling" make this a wonderful work for any child to set their teeth into. I feel the targeted age group noted here is about right. 

This is apparently the first book in what is to become a trilogy. I am quite looking forward to the next installment. 

Don Blankenship 
The Ozarks 

 

 

 

 

5 out of 5 Stars. Let the imagination soar, like the wings of an eagle!, September 6, 2010

 By 

 

Kathy W (Baltimore) 

 

  (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    

 

 This review is from: The Grand Tree (Rainbow Crystal, Volume 1) (Paperback)

 

 Ahhhhh--right up my alley! The promo material says for ages 7 - 12, but I would think teens would also love the book. (Even I loved the book, and I am a little over 21 :-) BTW, if your child is younger, this would be a COOL story for YOU to read to him/her--a couple of chapters each night, before bedtime, so he/she can dream . . . 

This 2010 book is an excellent read, small but enchanting! It's 83 pages can easily be read in one sitting. It is an adventure into a very special place, where the magic flourishes. It is a book that celebrates the imagination, that dares to look at the possibility that crystals may hold stories and hold their own special energies, that our loved ones who have passed may stay connected and take us on journeys, that there is a special Oneness in us all and a special wonder in nature and things "unseen" by most, and that children can fly if they want to in their special place. It is a book that encourages beauty and love with wonder and amazement. The author even teaches gratitude by having her characters give thanks to the plants and animals for the nourishment they provide, something many have forgotten to do these days. Geeze! What a great book to give your child! 

Ruby and Sam are brother and sister. Juliette lives in their home and looks after the children when their parents are away on business (like a nanny). Jan is a neighborhood child who is a bit negative. While Ruby, Sam and Juliette are open to life's wonders, Jan is somewhat closed-minded. In this amazing life-changing adventure and through a rainbow crystal doorway, Juliette opens the door for the children to a world of wonder far beyond their knowing. Their valuable lessons-learned take them to a level of mystical understanding and they will never be the same again - even Jan. The children also learn to embrace Jan just as she is and Jan opens up to change. 

A refreshing and inspiring return to the magic in our lives . . . 

Our author, Lyn Marsh is from Asheville, North Carolina with a Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology from the University of Florida. This book is the first of 3 books of the Rainbow Crystal Series. I can't wait for the next two! 

Kathy W.

 

 

 

4 out of 5 Stars. Somewhere over the Rainbow, November 20, 2010

 

 By 

 

Amanda Richards "Modest to the extreme" (Georgetown, Guyana) 

 

(TOP 50 REVIEWER)    

 

 This review is from: The Grand Tree (Rainbow Crystal, Volume 1) (Paperback)

 

"Somewhere over the rainbow 
Skies are blue, 
And the dreams that you dare to dream 
Really do come true." 
(Judy Garland) 

A warm hearted fantasy served with a large helping of crystals and magic, this short story introduces the reader to three children and their mysterious new-age nanny who leads them on an adventure of a lifetime. 

Through a series of unusual characters who inhabit a world beyond a rainbow of crystals, the children (siblings eight year old Ruby, seven year old Sam and their neighbor nine year old Jan) learn to appreciate the differences in others, and to see life from a new perspective. 

Magical encounters, vivid descriptions and color illustrations make interesting reading for young readers; it's short enough for even the shortest attention spans, and suitable for both boys and girls. 

This could be the start of a great series for children from about seven. 

 Amanda Richards 

 

 

 

5 out of 5 Stars!   Sweet tale that children and adults will both like, August 21, 2010

By	Blaine Greenfield "eclectic reader" (Belle Meade, NJ) Top 500 Reviewer for Amazon.Com

The Grand Tree (The Rainbow Crystal, Volume 1) (Paperback)

I'm not ordinarily a big fan of children's literature, but...

THE GRAND TREE by Lyn Marsh is a sweet tale about two children who are about to discover that their life is very different than it appears to be in their normal world . . . they are joined by a whiny friend and with the help of a quirky nanny, all of them travel through a rainbow crystal doorway into a world more magical and wondrous than anything they have ever known.

When they return from their journey, they have changed in ways that leave them speechless . . . I found the ending particularly well done, and it left me wondering what will happen next to all the characters . . . the good news is that THE GRAND TREE is the first of a projected series, and so I'll be able to find out more hopefully in the near future.

I'd imagine that children 8-13 would find this appropriate, though as an adult, I liked it too . . . .illustrations were by Laura Harkrider . . . they were beautiful and added to my enjoyment of the book.

 

Blaine Greenfield

 

 

 

 

As Albert Einstein said, “Imagination is more important than knowledge” and this book does a wonderful job of sparking children’s imaginations. It’s enchanting, it’s delightful and it gives children the permission to dream and wonder. Definitely a great read for future inventors, innovators and leaders.

 

H.  Higgins

 

 

 

 

Three precocious children take an adventure into a wondrous realm, accompanied by a loving nanny. Encountering nature and beings never thought existed, they find a new way to see their own reality upon their safe return. This is a book that the young reader will want to read many times, like viewing a favorite DVD, and each time come away with something new.    Loved the illustrations, too.    

 

M. Miller

 

 

 

 

The magician who reaches into and pulls a rabbit out of a hat has nothing over Lyn Marsh. His empty trick produces a rabbit that you can neither touch, nor hold … nor take home. Lyn Marsh, on the other hand, reaches into her Imagination, and pulls out a truly magical and mysterious Gift, offering it to you to keep. If you are bold enough, daring enough, to reach out and receive this Gift with your very own Imagination, it can begin an adventure that never has to stop for as long as you live. This book is but the magical seed, an invitation calling you to this adventure, and holds the promise of endless enchanting futures to come. Are you willing to be bold enough, to be daring enough to reach out and receive this Gift … a Gift that is truly yours to touch, to hold, and to take Home? I am. Will you join me? I can hardly wait for the books that follow, to feel the seed crack open and begin to grow in the fertile soil of her Imagination mixed together with your Imagination and my Imagination. What delightful fun this will be for all of us. 

 

Glen Carlson, M.D.

 

 

 

 

I loved reading this short book. Easily read in one very satisfying sitting.(Make yourself cozy.) It’s the kind of adventure you longed for as a child when you knew there just had to be something more to life, out of the glimpses you felt in your imagination and curiosity. This story, with its engaging mystery and magic. and beautiful illustrations, will appeal to the 8 year old who lives with you, or who lives down the street, and to that child who is still very much a part of you. Beautifully written with humor and gentle honesty, it’s an adventure into magical places in nature and beyond, and safely home again, and in it, you and the characters are changed and have grown by the journey…You’ll want to take more adventures with the new special friends you have met in this story. 

 

J. Brick

 

 

 

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What a delightful book! This is an enchanting story that takes the reader on a magical journey to a place where imagination leads to wonder-filled adventures. “The Grand Tree” is a great book to read to children at bedtime as they drift off to Dreamland. Older kids will enjoy the adventure of being part of another world, exploring the unknown and encountering some fun characters. Along the way they will make some new friends they will want to revisit. I hope there’s a sequel! 

 

Maggie Ortelle

 

 

 

 

I LOVED the book  it is  so cool this is what it is about  all about MAGIC for you magic lovers .Three children and one  super cool aunt. It also has  singing lady bugs,  magic dream gardens, mystical serpents, magic trees,  and  unshakable non magic believer  Jan. They  travel to a different world though a magic crystal doorway. I hope you read this  COOl  book if you like MAGIC you should read this book .

love, 

 

Milena  B, 9 years old