Book Review: Thimbleberry Stories by Cynthia Rylant

I don't often post book reviews on my site, but today I wanted to share a review about a newer book for early elementary students called Thimbleberry Stories by Cynthia Rylant. Though it was released in 2006, I can't believe that I am just now learning about it! ( I learned about it while browsing the Memoria Press website for read aloud ideas.)

Written in a similar, but more modern, style to Beatrix Potter, Thimbleberry Stories by Cynthia Rylant is about a chipmunk who has four seemingly irrelevant encounters with neighborhood friends that are different species of animals.

While Thimbleberry Stories is not Orthodox Christian per say, this book is filled with examples of being forbearing with others for any differences, and covering up the weaknesses/not drawing attention to the failings of others. The second story about the owl nearly brought me to tears! If you read this story and have any "neurodivergence" in yourself, or your family, I think you will understand exactly what I mean.

I think this may have been the best children's book I have ever read. When my son and I finished it, we hoped there were at a least a hundred more books in this series so that we could read about the characters again and again.

Thanks for reading this review of Thimbleberry Stories!

p.s. This is the verse the story brought to mind (1 Corinthians 12:20-22: But now indeed there are many members, yet one body. And the eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you”; nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” No, much rather, those members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary.