The Pond of Reflection

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The Pond of Reflection

Book One in The Pearls of Wisdom Series
Stories Inspired by a Biblical Proverb

— 2022 READERS’ FAVORITE GOLD MEDAL WINNER IN THE CHILDREN’S ADVENTURE GENRE

What Will You See When You Look into The Pond of Reflection?

Content in her father’s wise kingdom, Princess Journee loves life but has one nagging question: Who is she? Yes, she is a mouse and a princess, but who is she really? With her adventurous spirit and her father’s mighty steed to protect her, she goes on a quest to find herself.

The adventure takes an interesting turn when she befriends a toad and an owl who tell her about a legendary Pond of Reflection known to reveal one’s true identity. But first they must find it, if indeed it exists. Their friendship and appreciation for each other grow as they encounter difficulties along the way, and strange happenings in the ancient Whoami Forest.

This adventure story is inspired by the Biblical Proverb 27:19 (NIV) and communicates the moral that identity and self-worth springs from heart and character (our inside-out), thus sincere friendship can happen regardless of how different outward appearance may be (our outside-in).

The Pond of Reflection is a children’s chapter book for ages 9 and up.

Where To Buy

The Pond of Reflection, 2nd Ed., published December 5, 2021. It is currently available on Amazon in eBook, paperback, hardcover, and audiobook. It is also distributed by IngramSpark to online bookstores, such as Barnes & Noble.

Reviewed by Sarah Scheele for Readers’ Favorite, 2022

Princess Journee is a little mouse with a big mission. In The Pond ofReflection (Pearls of Wisdom Series Book 1), written by Catherine Ann Russell and illustrated by Brooke Connor, the princess lives with her royal father. He abhors shallowness and has forbidden mirrors in the peaceful kingdom so that no one will be self-conscious about their appearance. The internal person, the “inside-out,” is of greater importance. But Journee doesn’t know what she looks like and feels she doesn’t know enough about herself even though she is aware that the external does not define her. For her birthday, she goes on a quest, traveling through the kingdom with three friends in search of the Pond of Reflection, which can serve as a mirror since the kingdom has none.

With a pristinely flowing narrative and quirky characterization, The Pond of Reflection (Pearls of Wisdom Series Book 1) has a lot of charismatic strength, and the story never falters. A moral fable at its finest, it springboards off a Bible verse, Proverbs 27:19, to build a winsome story about finding true self-respect. It’s a beautiful, high-quality fantasy story about a set of four close-knit animal friends who quietly meander through an enchanted countryside and discover life together. A splendid yet understated interior of illustrations and decorative page design makes this book perfect for little readers to savor and read over and over. Catherine Ann Russell’s book is the sort of story I loved to read as a child and I’m sure many young people today will enjoy it too because it depicts the world of children, what they need, and what preoccupies them so sympathetically.