Customer Reviews

Shoemaker Martin: Based on a story by Leo Tolstoy (A North-South picture book)

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Shoemaker Martin wins my 2nd Annual "best book read this year for the first time award." This little children's adaptation of a story by Leo Tolstoy blows away all the other books I read for the first time this year. There is no book that I have reviewed this year that I recommend more highly.

This is the story of Martin. Martin is a Russian man who spends his days mending shoes and his nights in the pleasurable reading of the Bible. One night, after reading how a rich man invited Jesus to stay at his house, Martin wishes that he could invite Jesus to his house and wonders what he would do if Jesus actually showed up.

The rest of the book is the story of what happens when Jesus comes. It is a story told with wonderfully spare language. Mrs. Watts' beautiful illustrations add to the warm feeling of this wintery tale.

There are few things I have ever reviewed that I recommend more than Shoemaker Martin--get this book!

Martin the shoemaker reads the scripture passage about an "unimportant" woman washing Jesus' feet while he was at dinner at an "important" person's house. Martin wonders how he would welcome the Lord if he came to Martin's house. That night Martin wakes up to see Jesus standing in the room and saying "tomorrow I am coming." Martin thinks its just a dream. The next morning Martin encounters several people that are in need in one way or another. That night Martin hears a voice that says something like - see, I did come just as I said I would. I was the woman that needed clothing and the man whom you fed and the boy to whom you were kind... etc. So, the message of this book is: Whatsoever you do to the least of my brother, that you do unto me.

This is a wonderful book. I've used it often in Sunday school and vacation bible school classes. I highly recommend it.

I loved this book because it is one of the few children's books that has real feeling. It underscores the true principal of Christianity in a way that children are able to understand. I bought this book for a little girl who became so attached to the book, she carried it around with her everywhere, and even slept with it, she loved it so much. I highly recommend this book for any child.

Somebody read this book at a Christmas party were I was invited a few years ago and it made that Christmas gathering very meaningful. I could not remember the entire title to buy it but with the amazon search I was able to track it down! I am so excited, I'm geting ready to order so I can add it to my Christmas family reading collection.