By Lynda Bulla
Katy-Did Publishing LLC
www.katydidpublishing.com
5848 Eldorado
San Joaquin, CA 93660
Freedom Rings: An American Parable is the story of Freedom, a hardworking dragon, and his best friend, Gilly. The illustrations are done in a cartoon style and are not scary, even though the main character is a dragon.
Freedom lives in Merka and works hard helping and protecting the people of the Ameron Valley. After a while, though, they decide he's too much trouble, too noisy, and too stinky. When the evil kings of the cities to the East learn that the people of Merka are tired of Freedom, they decide to attack Freedom during the night and get rid of him once and for all. After they begin to attack Freedom, Gilly realizes that Freedom is in peril. He wakes up the villagers, and they decide Freedom is worth fighting for.
I read this book to my boys (ages 9, 8, 6, 4, and 3). They all enjoyed the story and wanted me to read it again. I was able use the story as a jumping off point for discussing parables and the freedom we enjoy in America. The color in the illustrations was a little dull, and the cartoon style did not catch my sons' attention very well. Overall, though, I would recommend this book as a good discussion starter and an introduction to the concept that freedom comes with a price.
Product review by Courtney Larson, The Old Schoolhouse® Magazine, LLC, November 2008
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