Title: Reimburse the Universe
Author: Lisa McDonald
Illustrated by: Lara Aiken & Paul Schultz
Publisher: Lisa McDonald
ASIN: B00UWEP2QG
Pages: 38
Genre: Children’s book/Self-Improvement
Reviewed by: Gary Sorkin, Pacific Book Review
Pacific Book Review
Ending with “The beginning,” a technique consistent with Lisa McDonald’s children’s books, her crafted Reimburse the Universe plays in the theatre of your mind in a very unique way. The artful illustrations take center stage of this work, with the terse lessons of appreciation and gratitude abound the galley text.Just like how a collection of Norman Rockwell illustrations depict main street America in the mid twentieth century, Lara Aiken and Paul Schultz created a series of pictures taking readers from the exhalation of a Tibetan monk sitting on a cliff high in the Himalayas, all the way to a mid-western farmer’s front porch during a summer rainstorm. Another picture having the universe drawn within the outline of a silhouette of a young person also exemplifies the originality of this book using the visual powers of art to convey messaging. The bright, bold colors provide visual attraction while the story itself is engaging. Reimburse the Universe is without any main character, thus bringing each and every reader into the book by making the theme the character, not a factious person.
My favorite message and image is the one with a young boy shoulder deep into a field of sunflowers, with a smile on his face and arms in the air, enjoying the warmth of the sun upon his face. Who cannot relate to such a splendid moment? Another touching scene was a parent and child going to a soup kitchen for a free meal provided by a charity indicating “we are all in this together, and all connected.”
Lisa McDonald has a forward in this book by Janet Bray Attwood, an accomplished author in her own realm. Janet, at first, though she was too busy with her own hectic schedule to write an opening message for anyone, but after reading this short children’s book took to heart the message of the book to slow down her own busy life and “Reimburse the Universe.”
We each eventually in life learn this very humble and important lesson, and the earlier in life we do so the better the rest of our life will be – hence a children’s book with such a lovely format is an ideal synergy of creativity. Reimburse the Universe encourages positive feelings. It reinforces just how thankful we are to enjoy each day, and not take it for granted and teaches awareness of our surroundings. This book is perfect for any youngster’s birthday gift, or for any home, collection, or library.
Buy on Amazon
