The Lesson: A Fable for Our Times [Illustrated] [Hardcover]

Carol Lynn Pearson (Author), Kathleen Peterson (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1, 1998

From The Bestselling Author of A Stranger For Christmas. "If Two Trains Are Approaching Cleveland, and One Leaves At 1: 00 P. M. and Travels At 50 Mph. . . " You Thought--You Hoped--You'd Left Them Far Behind, Along With Home- Work Assignments, Carbon Paper, and Caf- Eteria Food. But Have You Noticed That You're Still Faced With Story Problems? "If You Woke Up 14 Mornings In A Row Wondering If It Was Worth It To Get Out of Bed Because You Felt Like You'd Been Giving 100% To 2 Dozen People and Get- Ting Only 30% In Return. . . "So How Do Big Boys and Girls Solve Those Kind of Prob- Lems? Told In The Straightforward Trad- Ition of A Classic Fable, and Illust- Rated As Richly As A Favorite Children's Story, Pearson's Modern Tale Will In- Spire Every Adult Facing His Or Her Own Story Problems.

Editorial Reviews

From the Inside Flap

Almost everyone remembers doing story problems in school. But as best-selling author Carol Lynn Pearson (A Stranger for Christmas) demonstrates, those story problems don't end with a diploma. In fact, the equations big boys and girls face are often the most challenging--and the most rewarding. Pearson's clever tale and Kathleen Peterson's evocative pastels will inspire you to return to the classroom for a timely lesson.
Readers of all ages will be drawn to this first of a series of titles by modern writers using the classic fable form.

From the Back Cover

"Robert, if you woke up fourteen mornings in a row wondering if it were worth it to get out of bed because you felt like you'd been giving one hundred percent to two dozen people and getting only thirty percent in return and . . ."

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Gibbs Smith, Publisher; 1st edition (September 1, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0879058625
• ISBN-13: 978-0879058623
• Product Dimensions: 7.3 x 6.3 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #802,852 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars 5+ stars worth of insight and "lessons", January 18, 2001

By 

Alan R. Holyoak - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Lesson: A Fable for Our Times (Hardcover)

When my wife gave this book to me as a gift I wasn't quite sure what to think of it -- Then I read it.

In this book Robert, a young boy, is off to school. There he learns how to solve a problem, 1+1. As life goes on the problems keep coming for Robert, some easier than others. One of my favorites goes something like this...If you take five minutes longer than usual in the bathroom and and three minutes longer than usual eating breakfast, how many minutes does it take you to walk to school because you just missed the bus?

Robert, luckily, has a patient and kind teacher who encourages him to solve his problems and then moves him on to the next grade (in life).

The lessons Pearson writes about are life's lessons. And one of the most important is that Robert's problems are his own problems to solve. No one else can solve them for him, just like everyone has their own problems to solve. Another lesson is that each problem is solvable and and each problem that we face has a lesson.

I was greatly influenced by this short, but deeply insightful, and wise book.

"The Lesson" is definitely a 5 star book, but only because I can't award more. Get this book, read it, share it, and learn lessons from it.

Alan Holyoak

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A moving, deeply spiritual book about life and it's lessons., December 31, 1998

By 

[e-mail] Judy Weickel (Lexington, KY) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Lesson: A Fable for Our Times (Hardcover)

I bought this book for my son, Robert who is 9, without reading very much first. I read the 'story problem lesson' and thought it sounded much like my son, so I brought it home and gave it to him on Christmas. He read it and told me it was a very good book. And then my 11 year old daughter read it and said it was wonderful so I thought I should read it. This book captures, in all simplicity, exactly what I've been trying to articulate to my children. "How much do you love?" And, " Who will remember you when you're gone?" All of our 'life lessons' come down to those two questions. This is a beautiful book, richly illustrated and eloquently written. I recommend this book for all ages, even the very young. However, if you're like me, it could be difficult to read out loud to children without having some words catch in your throat.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This is a book for everyone - a universal story lesson., January 17, 1999

By 

[e-mail] (Redmond, Washington) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Lesson: A Fable for Our Times (Hardcover)

I gave ten copies of this book for Christmas gifts and each recipient has asked me where they can buy more to pass on to others. My 32-year old nephew (coincidentally named Robert, as in the story) said it was his favorite gift this year. It's a simple, easy-to-read, soul-expanding story.