Sheep Books

After reading Gardam's "Old Filth", I turned to this book as there are references to it as being important in shaping Gardam's story. It reflects on Kipling's childhood in which the experience of spending years away from home and loving parents affected him. It is hard to say if Kipling's or "Filth's" experience was worse in the trauma each endured but the ramifications are clear as Filth nears death and the reader sees how much of the experience he carried to his death. Am glad to have read this short story in seeing how the one influenced the later.

U.S. Library of Congress # 78-112803, at least seven printings in small hardback by 1978, with 172 pages in English; published by "Printing Dynamics, Inc." of Phoenix, AZ. The author was a Japanese fighter pilot during World War II. He shot down 16 Allied airplanes. He details how he joined the Japanese naval air force in 1943, recounts how he shot down various Allied planes -- including his downing of the U.S. Navy's top air ace: "Pappy" Boyington -- and how he met Boyington after the war. As Boyington's air unit was known as the "Bah Bah Black Sheep" squadron, Kawato impishly titled his book: "Bye Bye Black Sheep." Kawato describes how he was finally shot down, swam to shore, and captured by the Australians. After the war he joined the Japan Self-Defense Air Force. I met him in 1991 in Seattle, and he was gracious in autographing a copy of his book for me.

Great story for young children. It really gets the moral across to children. Great illustrations.

Reviewed by Dr. Michael Philliber for Reader Views (12/07)

Telling a joke is a tricky art, and Paul Miller has made a good attempt at presenting jokes which are morally clean and normally simple enough for young children and older adults to enjoy together. In his book, "The Joke's on Ewe: Jokes, Riddles & Funny Stories Little David Told His Sheep," Miller pulls together jokes from many topics and puts them together in an easy-to-read format. There are funny, little joke-stories (viz., about George Washington), `Knock-Knock' jokes, short ditties, and playful uses of words.

One of the strengths of the book is the ease of finding jokes. There are 15 subjects under which the jokes are pulled together. For example, under the title, "­Let's Hear it for the Ewe-S-A: Star-Spangled Jokes," the reader will find humorous pieces about politics, or people who live in a specific geographical area, or concerning the amusing word-pronunciations various Americans have. In another instance, in the chapter called; "Baa, Baa! Who's There: Knock-Knock Jokes," Miller has collected almost every knock-knock joke one can imagine, and not imagine.

One of the main weaknesses of the book has more to do with certain readers. If a reader is overly sensitive about jokes regarding personal appearance, people of other faith groups, or folks from other countries who misunderstand English, then there are times when the book might be a bit uncomfortable. The other weakness in the book has more to do with jokes than anything else. Some jokes are really flat and lack funniness, unless the reader happens to be one who likes a specific topic or style.

Overall, in "The Joke's on Ewe: Jokes, Riddles & Funny Stories Little David Told His Sheep," Miller's effort at bringing laughter to people of different ages and tastes is a success. I have enjoyed reading some of the jokes to my own children and wife and watching their faces light up with laughter.

There's no need to buy this publication--it is available free online in both HTML and PDF format. It's on the ATTRA sustainable agriculture website (www.attra.ncat.org). Here is the direct link to download this publication for free:

http://attra.ncat.org/attra-pub/parasitesheep.html

My 20 month old received this book as a Christmas gift. She loves anything with the lift-a-flap feature, and Parsnip is no different. The story starts out well, with a flap on each page. We are introduced to the lamb and to several animals inside a farm house. However, the end of the story really trails off, with a rushed look at two other barn animals before Parsnip is reunited with her mother. Without the flaps, I doubt if the story would hold my daughter's interest for very long.

The sheep are back! This time they find a space ship that has landed in their yard. They go inside to take a look around and the ship takes them into outer space! Join them and their friend the friendly aliens on a space adventure.

David Mark, The Sheep of the Lal Bagh (Parents' Magazine Press, 1967)

Ramesh. Ramesh. Ramesh. Just say it a few times According to David Mark, the author of The Sheep of the Lal Bagh, just saying "Ramesh" (the name of the titular sheep) is enough to relax a person. So try it.

Oddly, it works, doesn't it? But that's beside the point. The point is that there is, in fact, a book called The Sheep of the Lal Bagh. And that I read it. And, therefore, I shall review it.

Simple story: Ramesh is a sheep in a park in India called the Lal Bagh. His job, aside from having his name said to soothe people, is to keep the grass cropped. All well and good until the mayor of the city decides to replace him with a lawnmower.

Cute story, easy reading. Run it by your preschooler, see what happens; I think they'll get a kick out of it. *** ½

The book interested me enough to seek out other Tim Simpson mysteries. Unfortunately they are out of print and hard to come by. If one wants a fun introduction into the art world Malcolm's mysteries are an agreeable vehicle.

Author Jerram Barrs begins his book by citing some extremes of church authority and discipline. In one church, there are no consequences for living openly in adultery, while in another a person is disciplined for not attending enough services.

He then strikes a balance between freedom and authority. He points out that the lightness of the Lord's yoke implies that His leadership is directive (p. 37). He also contends that there must be a balance between adhering closely to Scripture and seeking fresh insights from the Holy Spirit. Lingering at either respective extreme can lead to hidebound legalism on one hand and heretical "self-revelation" or "self-morality" on the other.

Barrs warns against supposing that a group of elders are to make important decisions for an individual such as who to marry. Nowhere in the New Testament is it taught that a decision is to be covered by someone else. Barrs would like to see all believers exercise their spiritual gifts, not just a few leaders doing all of the work. This would bring us closer to the Biblical principle of the priesthood of all believers.