The Little Church Beside the Sea is a gently rhyming story about the power of faith. The little church in the story maintains faith and learns just how strong the power of faith can be in the face of a seemingly hopeless situation.
The Little Church Beside the Sea is the story of the St. Peter’s by the Sea Anglican Church in Sandy Point, Nova Scotia, the community the author grew up in. This heartwarming picture book begins when the church was first built in 1888. Written in verse, Lana describes the life of the church, its beautiful stained glass windows and tolling bell, its congregations and Bible study groups, and its celebrations. Then she describes its decline and how Sundays became silent, and the church began to crumble, then lastly, how the elders saved it from the wrecking ball and gave it a brand new start.
Lana has a way with words that inspire real feelings for inanimate buildings that tug on the heartstrings. This book will inspire feelings of joy and pride, sadness and despair, and then hope and happiness. It is an amazing picture book for all ages.
This book will inspire feelings of joy and pride, sadness and despair, and then hope and happiness. It is an amazing picture book for all ages.
As a little girl, the author spent many happy Sundays at the Little Church Beside the Sea and the author’s love for the church shines through the pages. All the author’s proceeds from the sales of this book will go towards maintaining this church, now known as the St. Peter’s by the Sea Community Church, which is a part of the Heritage Trust of Nova Scotia.
The beautiful illustrations by Elizabeth M. Gales remind me of Van Gogh’s Starry Night. She creates movement in the skies of her drawings, an area sometimes ignored by illustrators, except for maybe a bird or cloud or two. The colourful illustrations fill the page and draw the eye making it an attractive picture book.
Lana Shupe: When I grew up I became a teacher and in my classroom, I was a reader of books and a teller of tales. Then I married a man who loved books and we filled our house with books. Then I became a Mother- three times!- and I got to read LOTS of books to my very own children. Then those three children grew up and I became a writer of words that have been put into books.
Elizabeth M. Gales: Elizabeth lives in Halifax, loves windy weather, and walks on the beach with her dogs. She is the Illustrator of Zig Zag Zeffy by Barbara Ann Miller and the author and illustrator of Orange Kitty and the Mouse Parade, which she has also designed a colouring book for.
Publisher: Morning Dove Press (March 11, 2024)
Paperback 8″ x 8″ | 28 pages
Ages: up to 12 years
ISBN: 9781998057269
Sue Slade has a Bachelor of Child Study from Mount St. Vincent University in Halifax. After working with children and adults with special needs, she now has her midlife dream job of working with books. Sue manages an independent, locally owned bookstore, Dartmouth Book Exchange. Through her charismatic sharing centred around books and community, Sue has created an engaging cornerstone for authors, customers, and book lovers of all ages. Sue is an avid reader and her reviews cross over many genres.
