Local Author Visits School

When New Holland author Shelleen Weaver spoke at Lancaster Mennonite School's Locust Grove Campus, 2257 Old Philadelphia Pike, Lancaster, on Dec. 6, she brought along her friend Love Bird, the title character from her first book in a series on the biblical Fruits of the Spirit. Principal Miles Yoder took on the persona of the mockingbird, handing out bookmarks and candy to more than 100 children in prekindergarten through fifth grade, and once mocking Weaver as she began to read from the second "Fruit Fables" book, "Glub Glum's Ship Flip."

"Glub Glum is the Eeyore of the ocean," explained Weaver before beginning to read. "He is ho-hum and sad, but he learns to be joyful." Weaver went on to read the story of the bottom feeder with downcast eyes whose perspective is completely changed when an impact from above flips him over and redirects his view to show him all the blessings around him he has been missing. The difference in position changes Glub Glum's outlook and gives him the opportunity to experience joy.

Weaver's books come complete with discussion questions in a section called "Let's Chew on It ..." so Weaver asked the children "Why was Glub Glum sulky?" and "What happened to change his attitude?" among other questions. She compared the beautiful things Glub Glum finds in the ocean to the beautiful things in all lives. "There are also hard things to deal with (in each life)," she noted. "We have a choice. We can look at the hard things and be sad or look at the beauty and be grateful." Weaver also explained what it means to gain a higher perspective, as Glub Glum does at the end of the book. "When we look around and are grateful for what we have, gratitude shifts our attitude," she said. Children suggested new names for Glub Glum now that he has a brighter outlook, including Happy Tappy, Glub Glad, and Joy Joy.

Before reading, Weaver talked to the children about fables, which she explained are made up stories that teach lessons and often feature animals. She compared the tales to the parables of Jesus, which teach lessons on how to live. She also quizzed the children on their knowledge of the Fruits of the Spirit, encouraging them to list all nine aloud - love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control - as she recited them along with the gathering.

Weaver also answered questions about writing and publishing, telling the children that writing is the easy part and that she has already completed the seven books she has yet to publish, telling them that the book based on "peace," about a workaholic beaver who needs to find balance in his life, will be published in the spring. She encouraged the students to keep their writing, especially their poetry. Before concluding the chapel presentation, Weaver taught the students a song about Glub Glum's change in perspective and prayed that they would keep their outlook focused on God.

More information about "Fruit Fables" is available under "Books" at http://www.shelleenweaver.com.