Böcker av Barbara Sala

Celestine and the Magical Geranium is a folk tale for kids age 5 and up. It recounts the story of a seed that grows into a gorgeous geranium flower, and of a gentle love that flourishes between Geranium and Celestine. It is a symbolic story which embraces the cycles of life, the flowering of seed thought which mirror inner growth as the flower evolves to build her golden castle. It is a spiritual story within which the child's mind soars "e;beyond the first floor, beyond the second floor"e; and beyond the roof of Celestine's house. In reading Celestine and the Magical Geranium, the child understands that "e;I too am growing up and doing great things. I too am a very special person."e;Reviews and commentaries:Barbara Sala's "e;Celestine and the Magical Geranium"e; is about the relationship between a girl and a special flower. The girl tends the flower which in turn nourishes her soul. People unintentionally destroy the flower in their overzealous enjoyment of it. The girl's hope is restored when she realizes that she can grow more geraniums from the seeds left behind. Sala's nave artwork, rendred in acrylic and oil, is rich with bright colours. Carol-Ann Hoyte, Montreal Reviews of Books, Fall & Winter 2004/05, Volume 8, No. 1..... Imaginatively written and colorfully illustrated for young readers 5 through 7 by Barbara Sala, Celestine And The Magical Geranium is the picturebook of a young girl and the geranium seed that will touch her life forever. The flower she raises is a friend and more, growing to touch the skies. All things come to an end, whether natural or hastened, and the girl and the magical geranium must say goodbye... yet their friendship lives on, and can be spread through the gift of seeds. A moving story about bonds to treasure and the cycle of life. Midwest Bookreview...... Reading this charming book is nothing short of an experience. The allure of this book is two-fold. Your eyes are first greeted with folk art on its finest display. Children and adults alike will be transfixed on the minute details that give every page life. The gentle story of Celestine and her magical geranium is also pure joy. Her flower-friend grows ever larger, bringing joy to all who see it. Eventualy the flower fades, as all flowers do. Rather than bringing sadness, the geranium and Celestine gift all those who receive joy with seeds, showing that the gifts of others provide joy long after they have faded. My children and their friends were equally enchanted with this beautiful book. Just as Celestine's geranium brought joy to her community, this book will bring joy to all children. Meg Grooms, homeschooling@bellaonline.com. "e;Without a doubt, this books is beautiful from the first page to the last. The artwork is such a unique and special style. I believe kids would love to read through this book time and again with fascination. The interesting magical story helps the reader walk through the beautiful art."e; Judge's commentary, Writer's Digest, 12th Annual International Self-Published Book Awards 2005 "e;Celestine and the Magical Geranium is a delightful book for young children. Barbara Sala has provided both text and pictures."e;..... The visual impact is particularly striking. The pictures are vividly coloured, and full of lively activity of many kinds. Children tend to like books with many things to look at. Here we have gardens, birds, animals, and a few people. The birds and animals seem in constant movement as the gardens flourish and the sun and sky peer down on an animated earth. The vitality of all this movement is stimulating."e;Sheila McDonough, PHD, Professor emeritus, author of Gandhi's Responses to Islam and other works. Ms Sala, after some years of creative work on individual canvasses, has decided to venture one step further and to combine the written word with her painting. Through this fusion she gives verbal expression, and opens our eyes and minds, to the hidden meaning of her visual creations. It is a book where magic reigns, where material needs and spiritual aspirations go hand in hand, one complementing and necessitating the other. The heroine Celestine (i.e., the "e;celestial"e; in a blue and white dotted dress - sky and clouds) is the conduit for the appearance in this world of the eternal spirit (the magical geranium). Its development and growth to a mythical size, its downfall and destruction by the mindless masses and its rebirth and multiplication from the one to innumerable smaller flower-spirits all over the island clearly demonstrate the author's faith in the invincibility of the human spirit. In the numerous illustrations the geranium is always surrounded by a plethora of plants, trees, animals and people. The whole is watching, bathed in a kaleidoscopic whirl of bright, enthusiastic colours. Rigas Bertos, PHD, Chairman of the Department of Art History, ret'd., McGill University. "e;Barbara Sala's work has opened my eyes to the sophistication inherent in nave art, and the depth of the symbolism in her paintings. Her story "e;Celestine and the Magical Geranium"e; captivates and beguiles the reader - adult and child together - while subtly offering a lesson to treasure."e;Alcida Boissonnault, mother, grandmother, entrepreneur. What a wonderful book to share with children. Can be linked to science, and moral and religious instructions. Thank you for your wonderful vision"e;. Patrizia Ciccarelli, Vice-Principal and teacher.

The house of Tipheret's parents has been destroyed by the wicked Fire Dragon. The inhabitants of the Village of the Heart have all escaped into Tipheret's toybox. Tipheret is the only survivor.Assisted by her father's copper talking stick, her mother's iron kettle and her cherished toy houses, Tipheret sets out on a dramatic journey of discovery and transformation, where she encounters Trust, Hope, Perseverance and the Power of Love. During her sleep she is taken care of by the wonderful and generous "Snigglee" spirits, who inspire her to meet the Loving Heart which is her guide and inner voice.This tale is for all children between the ages of 6 and 9 years. The author's colourful naive paintings are essential to the story and speak eloquently for themselves.Reviews:Tne of the benefits of this story is the message of Hope and never giving up that it brings to the reader. The fact that Tipheret continues to search for her parents even if she is alone and afraid, brings out the message that even if something is not easy and you are scared you must never give up on your dreams. This is a positive message for youngsters of all ages. Another message it touches upon is, of course, that of LOVE. The message that LOVE conquers all evil. How the brightness of the sun pushes away the darkness, again a message of HOPE. Another theme is TRUST. The trust Tipheret had to have towards the MOST LOVING HEART and believe that this voice was telling here the truth and leading her closer to her parents; such as the TRUST she had to have towards the copper talking stick. What makes the book special is the Village of the Heart idea, symbolic of love. THE MOST LOVING HEART, and the care and love of the "Snigglee" spirits, are again all about love. I think that if the readers do not read this book they will lose three important messages that of HOPE, TRUST and the power of LOVE. I would recommend this book for all students of the elementary cycles. I would simplify the vocabulary if I was reading it to Kindergarten students and the images would have to play a significant role in delivering the message of the story. Even students in the older grades of the elementary cycle could relate to the messages of HOPE, TRUST AND LOVE found in the story. Tipheret the protagonist in the story is an endearing character. The "Snigglees", are adorable little people and the MOST LOVING HEART sounds very maternal/paternal. Patrizia Ciccarelli, Vice-Principal and teacher .....After a wicked fire dragon burns down the village where she lives, Tipheret starts out on a long and lonely journey to find her missing parents. Armed with a talking stick, an iron kettle and her beloved toy houses, she discovers the magic and the mystery of love. An enigmatic tale, beautifully illustrated. A symbolic journey of the heart. Christina Manolescu, Author .......Barbara Sala's "naive" paintings delve into the deepest spiritual and emotional transformations of our time. How do we cope with a world apparently gone mad with violence and anger? Tipheret's journey shows us that the answers lie within ourselves, and our capacity for love and hope. Ann Diamond, Authour.....Barbara Sala's Village of the Heart is a picture book for older readers, or older listeners. In an era where the text in children's books is becoming more simple and sparse, the language here is polysyllabic and quite dense. Sala is a graphic artist, and her unusual, colourful and naf pictures are the main focus of the book. The plot is classic quest: Tipheret comes home to find her village destroyed by a two-headed fire dragon, and sets off with a talking stick, a kettle, and some toy houses to find her missing parents. She has plenty of adventures along the way, and is required to overcome obstacles, and to persevere. As in every classic children's story, there is a happy ending. However, the strength of Village of the Heart is Sala's bright acrylic-on-illustration-boa