“Every night before bed, Maggie and Mommy read stories together. Maggie chooses a book and then finds Neville, her stuffed ostrich. They make a cozy nest on Mommy’s lap and snuggle together under a favourite quilt. And every night, Maggie asks the same question...”
In words and images sure to delight children and adults alike, Is That Story True? explores the kinds of “truth” that live within the stories we tell.
As Maggie listens to a story about a little girl who grew up on the prairies, about a ruler who cut a knot in two, about a shepherd who went looking for a lost sheep, about a king who made a foolish wish, and finally, about a giant who lived in a beautiful garden, she discovers that some stories are true because they actually happened. Other stories are true because they tell us something true about a real person, place, or event, even if what they describe did not happen. And some stories are true – even if they are completely made up – because they tell us something true about our own experiences.
As Maggie tells Mommy, “I think that some stories are true on the inside, even if they are not true on the outside.”
Delightfully illustrated in full colour, Is That Story True? is great for reading
- one-on-one with your child
- with church school classes
- during “Children’s Time” in worship
- with adult study groups*
* Note: Not just for children, this book is a useful tool for clergy and lay leaders to help adult learners distinguish between literal and metaphorical truth.
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Reviews in the Media
Editor of The Whole People of God
Marilyn Perry
I absolutely love it—so simple yet so profound! A child’s book for people of all ages! In a world of increasing polarization, this is a message all of us need to hear from an early age.
Editor of Seasons of the Spirit
Susan Burt
An engaging story through which Laura Alary breaks the mindset that a story must be assessed as either true of false, and gives clues to parents, grandparents, teachers, and caregivers on ways to respond to the question “Is this story true”?
Is That Story True? encourages inquiry and invites children to wonder, explore and discover ways stories are “real” for them.
Margaret Kyle’s expressive artwork sparks imaginations, inviting children and adults alike into the world of the story.
Author of The Heart of Christianity
Marcus Borg
This charming book makes the point that stories, including biblical stories, can be true whether they happened or not.
