Berthoud Community Library District

Introduces and retells eight of the parables told by Jesus.

Nineteen stories on the battle of the sexes. Included are Gertrude Talks Back, a monologue by Hamlet's mother, The Little Red Hen Tells All, which is on male chauvinism, and Happy Endings, a series of scenarios for finding love.

"Each story offers an illuminated path to see life and the lives of our fellow people around the world in new ways, allowing us to tap into universal truths about our collective and individual humanity. As Coelho writes, 'a man who seeks only the light, while shirking his responsibilities, will never find illumination. And one who keep his eyes fixed upon the sun . . . ends up blind.' These wise tales offer the perspective of talking snakes, old women...

A farmer and his wife who grow trees to sell for Christmas give their prized, perfect tree to a poor family who cannot afford to pay for it. Text is interspersed with Bible verses.

When the king comes to adopt some children, they are all too busy trying to impress him with their talents, except for one little girl who offers only her kind heart.

A Sufi teaching tale of a boy without a name who visits a wise man and acquires both a name and a wonderful dream.

Adam Raccoon leaves his comfortable home in Master's Wood and runs away to join the circus, where he eventually finds himself regretting his decision.

"When Joshua moves to a small cabin on the edge of town, the local people are first mystified, then confused by his presence. A quiet and simple man, Joshua appears to seek nothing for himself. He supports himself solely by carpentry and woodworking; and he charges very little for his services. A statue of Moses he carves for a synagogue causes amazement and consternation. His carvings of the apostle Peter [for the town's churches] surprise the pastors...

The search for the legendary Tibetan-Buddhist utopia of Shambhala (or Shangrila) begins where "The Celestine Prophecy" and "The Tenth Insight" left off.

A farmer's daughter receives a mysterious gift which she neglects and then discards, only to find out on Easter morning how special it is, in a story with Bible verses that link it to the life of Jesus.