Emir's Education in the Proper Use of Magical Powers

by Jane Roberts, Rebecca Whitney (Illustrator)

Come along for adventure in a time when the world was new and death was unknown. As his kingdom quickly becomes crowded by people, plants, and animals who live forever, young Prince Emir must discover the answers to some most perplexing questions At the behest of his royal parents, Emir undertakes a difficult journey to discover death, understand the reasons for the seasons, and even figure out what life is all about. A large order for such a small prince, but Emir is not alone in his quest. Aided by the muses of Conscience and Inspiration, our young hero finally understands that all living things must have their own seasons of birth, growth and returning to the earth. Jane Roberts touched millions with her Seth books. Now this same gentle heart reminds spirits young and old to honor the cycle of life, the seasons, and world diversity with this charming fairy tale for all ages.

Genres: Fantasy

128 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1979

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name.

Roberts was born in Saratoga Springs, New York. After attending public schools, she attended Skidmore College. She wrote in a variety of genres: poetry, short stories, children’s literature, and novels. When she was in her 30s, she and her husband began to record what she said were messages from a personality named "Seth", and she wrote several books about the experience.

Reviews

[Hanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was the defining book of my childhood.

[Joy]

Read 3 times

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

My pseudomommy read this to my brother and me when we were wee. I loved it so much I still remember the crazy long title.

It's about a young prince whose kingdom becomes overcrowded. His father sends him to ask the gods what to do and he invents death... and I think other things, too. It's been awhile. I can't remember everything!

[Eleanor Carson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a charming, all-ages kind of book. Emir, a young prince, sets out to learn about the world, as commanded by the king, his father. It is the beginning of creation, and while there is a generous, wild profusion of life and life forms, there is no sense of death as part of life. Alligators and crocodiles do not kill other animals, lions and tigers do not kill other animals, and it is unclear how animals live from day to day. At first, he runs into trouble because he demands conditions for his own comfort and without caring how his desires impact others, either psychologically or practically. He learns not to demand things of others, but to ask and to listen. The universe gives him what he needs if he asks, listens, and watches. He returns home to the acclaim of all.

Next, his father commands him to seek the help of the gods, as the world is becoming overpopulated and they do not know how to fix this. The gods, all busy with their own parts in the intense creativity that produces life, advise him to talk to the main god, who does not have a body but manifests as light, awareness, and a positive regard. Emir learns about life and death, seasons, and the return of souls to bodies at different times and in different conditions throughout existence. All plants, animals, and humans need this. Emir returns to his home to communicate this idea to his family and the creatures around his home. Naturally, there is resistance to this idea. You have to read this little book to see how the resistance is met and to learn the outcome.

[Sarah Main · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a sweet little children’s book, with many little lessons, and discusses death in a very positive way.

[Roberta · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a charming book, a fantasy about the world's beginnings, the invention of seasons, and of death so the world would not be overcrowded. Conscience and Imagination are two of the characters.

[Lydia]

Excellent

[Sylvia · Rating 1 out of 5]

Nice read for very young children. Bit too simplistic for adults.