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 spring from heart and character (inside-out), thus sincere friendship can happen regardless of how different outward appearance may be (outside-in).
Proceeds from book sales support emergency famine relief for infants and children! Find out more at www.basketfulreliefproject.com
The Pond of Reflection is book 1 in The Pearls of Wisdom Series. I currently have four books. Each book is inspired by a Biblical Proverb which is listed in the front of the book. With the Proverb as a foundation, the books are a creative adventure fable for ages tweens and up.
Journee, the mouse princess and daughter of the Great Mouse King, and her friends: Mr. Steed, Mr. Toad, and Mr. Owl encounter strange happenings in the Whoami Forest that challenge their identities and who they really are in their hearts.
“Papa,” Journee asked, “may I have a mirror for my birthday? It would be lovely to know who I am by seeing what I look like to others.”
“My daughter,” replied the king, “who does your heart say you are?”
Journee hung her head as she replied. “Papa, I’m not so sure of myself. My heart tells me I am good and kind like you. But I might be other things too, and I think perhaps seeing my reflection will help me know who I really am. I see my paws and my feet and the tips of my whiskers, my soft fuzzy tummy, and my tail just like yours. But what if I am not really a mouse but a rat, or a vole, or a gerbil?"
“Ah,” her father replied with a twinkle in his eye. “I think I would love you just as much if you were a rat or a vole or a gerbil, but alas, you are a mouse like me. Do you think your heart would be any different packaged any other way?”
“This is what I don’t know, Papa!” she said, holding her father’s mouse paws and gazing up into his face.
The king smiled at his daughter, who seemed to be growing up right before his eyes.
“I do not have a mirror to give you,” he finally replied. “It’s not that I have anything against mirrors or think it’s terrible to see your reflection. I simply would rather you develop a sense of who you are by your heart, and be bothered less by the outside-in. Therefore, I have ordered mirrors not to be present in my kingdom. All the kingdom creatures seem quite happy with this arrangement, but you are less so, my daughter?”
Journee hugged him and kissed his mouse paw. She knew her father was wise, but she needed to find out for herself if his words were true. Then and there she decided on her plan.
“Papa, I love you and know you are wise. I ask that my birthday present be, if not a mirror, your permission to ride out on my birthday, the Saturday next, on a quest to find out who I really am.”
With love in his eyes, he said, “my daughter, I grant you my permission to ride out on this grand adventure to discover who you are. I will give you my own mighty steed to guide and protect you on your way. He will watch over you and will bring you home to me when it is time for you to return.”
Hearing these words, Journee leaped up into her father’s lap and kissed him over and over on his forehead and cheeks, nearly knocking off his crown. He bellowed with laughter, the sound rang throughout the castle, and all nearby could hear the joyful clamor.