A Rare Gem

by Deanna Kahler, Pennie Ellis (Illustrator)

It isn’t always easy to just be yourself.

Princess Towonga is sad. She feels different than the other children and wants to be just like them. But one day something changes. The princess must perform a very special job. Can a friend, a mouse, and a magic gem help her discover how important she really is?

“A Rare Gem” helps teach youngsters that it’s okay to be different and that every person is unique and special in their own way.

28 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2014

About the author

Deanna Kahler is an accomplished writer and a proud parent. Her work has been published in numerous corporate newsletters and magazines across the country. She began writing as a young child and enjoys the opportunity to reach others and make a difference in their lives. She writes from the heart and uses her own experiences as the foundation for her work.

Deanna holds a Bachelor's Degree in Communication Arts from Oakland University in Rochester, Mich., where she graduated with departmental honors. She lives in Michigan and enjoys writing, dancing, walking and visiting parks in her spare time.

Reviews

[Lana · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book from Goodreads First Reads in exchange for an honest review.

This is the first children's book I've been asked to review, so I was really excited when I got it! It's actually the first book for my future classroom as an elementary school teacher :)

Anyways, I enjoyed the plot of this book. I enjoy how it focused on something that a lot of kids struggle with (being too short/being different), and added the fictional aspect of a princess who is small enough to fit in a mouse hole. It definitely helped hold my attention more than it would have without that. The names were also unique enough to help make sure it didn't blend into the other various books like this.

I did find a grammatical mistake on page 11, but it definitely wouldn't be noticeable to a child. The other thing I was confused about was the part where she walks out of the mouse hole, and suddenly she's in the center of town. That confused me a bit, and I could see it confusing some sharp older kids, but otherwise I don't think it would be that big of a deal.

The art was beautiful and consistent.

Overall, this was a nice book, and will definitely be in my reading area in my classroom!

[Brianna Baker · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a wonderful book with an uplifting message of self-acceptance and the value of appreciating individuality. In particular, this story sends a reassuring message to children who are insecure about their height that they should be proud of how they look because it is a valuable part of their identity. I also enjoyed the beautiful, detailed, and whimsical watercolor illustrations! I recommend this book to young readers who enjoy princess stories with positive messages on self-acceptance.

[Stacy Renee (LazyDayLit) · Rating 4 out of 5]

'A Rare Gem' is a beautifully written and illustrated story of a princess no bigger than a Barbie doll who feels left out because of her size but soon learns that everyone is special in their own way.

I read this to my daughter 'in utero' but I am looking forward to re-reading this story to her many times as she grows and teaching her the important lessons that this book covers. :)

I received a copy of this children's book from Goodreads' 'First Reads' in exchange for an honest review.

[C · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely and positively loved this story. It is a great read for any age. It is a perfect reminder to each one of us about something so very important that we often forget that it is true. This story was written very cleverly and I can't wait to see what other great stories this author can come up with.

[Seanna Yeager · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is a good story with a positive message. I know a special little girl who will love this book.