GAILIA - HEALING FROM GRIEF BY TONI JOHNSON, ILLUSTRATED BY UNA GRAF, CD BY JOHN RICHARDS, PUBLISHED BY TRAFFORD PUBLISHINGMove over, there's a new kid on the book block or should I say a, "new fairy." Her name is Gailia. She is the latest creation of new children's book author, Toni Johnson. Gailia is no ordinary "fly around the woodsy forest fairy." Gailia is a delightful, rainbow colored, pixie faced, fairy sprite who finds a way to heal herself from grief after loosing her best friend, a little frog called Croackie.
Gailia is a beautiful book with gorgeous characters illustrated by Una Graf and a lyrical CD by John Richards with the voice of Ms. Johnson. In fact, Ms. Johnson pulls together this talented team to produce a whimsical story with a tough message, "How to help a child understand loss, sadness and the death of a loved one."
Children of any age will identify with Gailia as she learns from her forest friends what Ms. Johnson says is, "letting go of fear is not forgetting our love but rather celebrating and remembering the souls that we have cherished." This is a huge concept for both children and adults to understand. However Ms. Johnson and her illustrator Ms. Graf use an interesting story line, perky characters like Takoda the Turtle and Godmother Willow, and a memorable CD. This whole package is created to show the readers and audiences that healing from death and loss is possible when we can grasp the tool of understanding our emotions.
As with all novice writers, there is room to grow in terms of writing, character development, and story continuity. Overall, Ms. Johnson deserves congratulations, acceptance and admiration for an achievement well deserving of attention and support. This is truly only a beginning, and soon, I am certain we will see Gailia and all her whimsical and woodsy friends again. They will surely continue to take us on their wonderful adventures of learning, growing, and sharing the beautiful world of fairies, emotions, and love.
Gailia - Healing From Grief is available at www.willowwisdom.com or www.oncewritten.com. To contact Ms. Johnson for more information just email - toni@willowwisdom.com
All of the above is copyrighted by Amber Silverstar 2006. Gailia - Healing From Grief is copyrighted by Toni Johnson - all rights to reproduction are reserved.
I completely agree with Amber! I got a copy myself a while back and it was truly touching. I have gone through plenty of greif, having lost my mom when I was ten years old. This book is simply enchanting and it really inspired me to delve deep into the healing power of nature and spirit. I honestly celebrate my mom's presence of spirit in me now. I thank God and Toni for the support of my courage to grow as I was on a path of decay for a long time before. I highly recomend this book and beautiful cd (the music really got me choked up), they truely are magical together. May God bless Ms. Toni Johnson and her well deserved abundance.
ReplyDeleteThis book is a true gem and has been reviewed by the Health Professionals I work with. They all agree that Ms. Toni Johnson's book is long over due for all who have suffered a great loss but most importantly the children. Children as we know grow into adults and if we can help them along the way we may have more funtional adults among our midst!
ReplyDeleteThank you for such a wonderful book. It is used in our Hospice Program.
Tony says she loves the review.
ReplyDeleteThe book and the review are a big success.
ReplyDeleteKudos to Toni Johnson!! Her book, Gailia is both inspiring and insightful. Not only will children benefit from this work, adults will be provoked into thinking "out of the box" so to speak and will consequently be of greater comfort and understanding of those who have suffered the loss of a loved one, particularly children. Celebrate life! The spirit lives!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Toni Johnson, for writing such an inspiring story about a beautiful little fairy child, Gailia, who experiences death with her friend, Croakie the Frog. Death is an unfortunate issue that we are all faced with at some point or another in our life. The book, Gailia, portrays the characters so alive and gives a source of comfort, a spirit of love, friendship and joy knowing that when a loved one leaves us their spirit lives inside our heart forever! We are to let go of the fear and cherish the memories surrounding them with light and love! I recommend this book to educators, parents and human services' workers who deal with death and loss issues related to children. May this book bless your life the way it has blessed mine!
ReplyDeleteCheryl M. Burns - Masters in Education, Administration and Supervision, Bachelors in Business and Secondary Education, Certified in Early Childhood Education