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A Good Life: An Orphan Takes a Journey and Discovers Ten Ways to Think About Life
Are you looking for an illustrated book you can read to your children that teaches them something valuable while engaging your own mind as well? The best shared reading times happen when both parent and child enjoy a book and benefit from what it teaches. A Good Life was written to be read to children while provoking meaningful thought in adults.This inspirational story follows a young orphan boy who leaves his home town and difficult background to find a good life. As he journeys, he meets people of various professions (farmer, composer, teacher, soldier, artist, etc.). Each character gives the boy a different metaphor for thinking about life. For example, a farmer tells the boy that life is a garden."Life is a garden . . . Its soil can sprout forth both good and bad plants with equal opportunity for both to thrive. It is up to us to pull and cast away the weeds, and to plant, water, and nurture the good things that we desire to grow."There are ten metaphors for life explored in the book. Life is a garden, game, race, canvas, test, symphony, battle, journey, story, and gift. The characters explain each idea to the boy as the farmer explains the garden metaphor above. As with all metaphors, each offers a host of implications creating different food for thought each time one reads the book.The final metaphor explored in the book is "life is a gift." After praying for a place he can call home, the boy is taken in by a couple who adopt him. Though written for all parents and children, the story is sure to be a special encouragement to foster care and adoption families.The themes and values for discussion in the book include overcoming adversity, happiness, hope, focus, discipline, beauty, hard work, relationships, interpersonal harmony, vigilance, protection, wisdom, perseverance, faith, prayer, creativity, and love. For older children, the book can create opportunities to discuss the concept of constructing a life philosophy. A Good Life is Jeremiah Pent's first children's book. He and his high school sweetheart have seven children and live in Franklin, Tennessee. The book features 22 beautiful watercolor illustrations by Ukrainian artist Dmitry Morozov."Is there anything in the world like the tale of an orphan boy setting out to find the good life? Unnamed, and with past sorrows vaguely hinted at, he is you, he is me, he is every child who at every age of man sensed something true and worth the search if he would only seek and not give up. I commend A Good Life to children of all ages who still look for truth." Andrée Seu Peterson, World Magazine
25 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 4, 2019
5 people are currently reading
13 people want to read
About the author
Jeremiah Pent
2 books2 followersJeremiah was born and raised in Ft Worth, Texas, and married his high school sweetheart with whom he has seven children. After a few years in the Virginia countryside, the family moved to Philadelphia, where Jeremiah earned his MDiv in 2009. They now reside in Franklin, Tennessee.
Jeremiah has benefitted from his experience in multiple industries, from design to organic farming to international business. His desire from his teen years, however, was to write. His first children's book, "A Good Life" debuted in June 2019. His second book, "Sixteen Lenses: How to Find Purpose and Success by Understanding How You and Others See the World" is due for release in September 2019.
Jeremiah has benefitted from his experience in multiple industries, from design to organic farming to international business. His desire from his teen years, however, was to write. His first children's book, "A Good Life" debuted in June 2019. His second book, "Sixteen Lenses: How to Find Purpose and Success by Understanding How You and Others See the World" is due for release in September 2019.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
June 10, 2019
Adorable art work!
A Book Life by Jeremiah Pent is a wonderful story of a young boy looking for the meaning of a good life. He travels around asking about and the answers not great! The art work really makes this book pop!
A Book Life by Jeremiah Pent is a wonderful story of a young boy looking for the meaning of a good life. He travels around asking about and the answers not great! The art work really makes this book pop!
June 27, 2019
This book pleasantly surprised me on many different levels. A young orphan boy sets out from his village to escape a difficult life. He is not sure what he is looking for, but he is certain that he wanted to discover what made a good life and how to achieve one.
As the boy continues his journey he meets ten people from a variety of walks in life. They each have a different philosophy on what it means to have a good life. For example, the farmer compares life to a garden, an artist sees life as a canvas, a teacher views life as a test, and a soldier looks at life as a battle. By the time the boy reaches the end of his journey, he has discovered ten metaphors for life and the values they entail.
After all his meanderings the boy, at last, discovers a welcome refuge which reveals to him a gift that will bring him all that he has longed for.
The watercolor paintings are soft and gentle reinforcing the message of the story. Highly recommended for readers of all ages to share and discuss.
As the boy continues his journey he meets ten people from a variety of walks in life. They each have a different philosophy on what it means to have a good life. For example, the farmer compares life to a garden, an artist sees life as a canvas, a teacher views life as a test, and a soldier looks at life as a battle. By the time the boy reaches the end of his journey, he has discovered ten metaphors for life and the values they entail.
After all his meanderings the boy, at last, discovers a welcome refuge which reveals to him a gift that will bring him all that he has longed for.
The watercolor paintings are soft and gentle reinforcing the message of the story. Highly recommended for readers of all ages to share and discuss.
June 12, 2019
A wonderful book about life. Life is a gift full of things we need to know and discover. It is a great book for children but also for adults so we can remember things that we forgot along the way.
The water colour illustrations are very beautiful, being my favourite the last three because they saw the happiness of finding something valuable, the kindness and goodness in the couple and finally the tranquility of having achieved a goal.
The water colour illustrations are very beautiful, being my favourite the last three because they saw the happiness of finding something valuable, the kindness and goodness in the couple and finally the tranquility of having achieved a goal.
June 10, 2019
My family loves read-aloud books and thoroughly enjoyed this book with its charming characters and positive story line. Each character appeals to the imagination of both young and old, and the illustrations are fantastic. This book is a great gift idea for the special youngsters in your life.
June 12, 2019
Charming picture book
This is a charming picture book about a young boy trying to figure out what life is about and where he fits into it. Families (especially Christian families) will enjoy the old fashioned illustrations and heart warming tale.
This is a charming picture book about a young boy trying to figure out what life is about and where he fits into it. Families (especially Christian families) will enjoy the old fashioned illustrations and heart warming tale.
June 14, 2019
Beautifully illustrated, lovely, old-fashioned children's story. \Quite short, with a predictable ending, but a nice little journey in which our young protagonist is introduced to many views on what makes a good life. This rather old 'kid' found it charming.
June 15, 2019
Delightful Read!
I enjoyed this book immensely! It was a delightful read;and, it is packed with a lot of wisdom. Children & adults both will find this short, simple and thought-provoking little book very enjoyable.
I enjoyed this book immensely! It was a delightful read;and, it is packed with a lot of wisdom. Children & adults both will find this short, simple and thought-provoking little book very enjoyable.
June 10, 2019
Excellent kids book
A really good, thought provoking book for little ones. It will make them think about living a meaningful life. Life is a gift.
A really good, thought provoking book for little ones. It will make them think about living a meaningful life. Life is a gift.
June 26, 2019
I love this philosophic history. It made in evidence the importance of a good relationship to appreciate a good life and the illustrations are amazing. I will read it to grand-daughter for sure.
July 6, 2019
A delightful short story
This story reminds me of a modern day parable or fable. The illustrations are perfect for the message, which is full of insight and hope.
This story reminds me of a modern day parable or fable. The illustrations are perfect for the message, which is full of insight and hope.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews