Customer Reviews (1)

A great gift!
My 12 year old daughter started reading this series last Summer, and she holds her breath waiting for each new release.She absolutely loves these books, and I've never seen her so engaged in any book as she is in these.I love that they are Christian-based, and of course, I love that she begs for more reading time before bed so she can read another chapter!You won't be disappointed, and neither will your child. An excellent buy. ... Read more

Product Description
Three books in the Series by Lena Wood: #1 - The Severed Head (ISBN 0-7847-1583-1); #2 The Ancient Omen (ISBN 0-7847-1590-4); #3 - The Raven's Curse (ISBN 0-7847-1592-0) ... Read more

Product Description
Michael and Elijah are friends, but when Elijah gives Michael one of his special carved angels, Michael doesn't know what to do. How can be possibly take home a Christmas angel--a forbidden graven image--especially on Chanukah? Full color.Amazon.com Review
A child's vision of religious tolerance is exquisitely playedout in this story about an elderly Christian barber and a Jewish childwho befriends him. As a hobby, the African American barber makeselaborate woodcarvings--many of which refer to events or characters inthe Bible. Michael, a 9-year-old Jewish boy, often visits thebarbershop just to admire old Elijah's carvings, especially that ofNoah's Ark--a story that belongs to Jewish as well as Christianteachings. One day when Hanukkah and Christmas coincidentally overlap,Elijah gives Michael a special gift, a carved guardianangel. Immediately Michael is filled with a jumble offeelings--gratitude for such a beautiful gift, concern that hisparents might disapprove, and an even greater fear that God may frownupon a Christmas angel, "a graven image," in Michael's home.The thicksweeps of paint, the heavy uses of wood-tones, and primitiveimages make the settings and characters look as though Elijah carvedthem himself. When Michael finally reveals the carved angel to hisparents, they help the young boy understand how expressions offriendship, love, and protection can be carried into any home,regardless of the household's religion. Michael J. Rosen based thisstory on the real-life Elijah Pierce (1892-1984), a lay minister,barber, and woodcarver from Columbus, Ohio, whose award-winningwoodcarvings are now owned by the Columbus Museum of Art. (Click tosee a samplespread. Illustration from Elijah's Angel by MichaelJ. Rosen. Illustrations (c)1992 by Aminah Brenda Lynn Robinson,reproduced by permission of Harcourt Brace & Company.) (Ages 5 andolder) --Gail Hudson ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

A Disturbing Line
Well, the book was a bit boring in my opinion. Also, the line about the hanging Black men is much too disturbing and controversial for children.

A story for ALL holidays, all readers
I have taught this book for more than ten years. My students are always moved and inspired by it. This book won the "Living the Dream Award," for the book that embodies the teachings of Dr. Martin Luther King. It was a starred Horn Book Magazine and an American Booksellers "Pick of the Lists." It was one of Essence Magazine's favorite books that celebrate African-American life, a CBC-NCSS "Notable 1992 Children's Trade Book in the Field of Social Studies," a Hungry Mind Review Children's Book of Distinction: "...this book creates a line of footprints between the two holidays as it does between two households." It's a Parents Magazine Best Books of 1992 and the winner of the National Jewish Book Award. All those awards mean one thing, but the story is approachable, tender, full of feeling, and broadly appealing to readers of all ages.

Dark in Parts
I ordered this book for my 6 year old grand daughter.Though it is a wonderful story, I personally felt that the discussion of hanging the blacks was too dark for the child's book and I returned it.I read the book and felt unfortable giving it, so I had my husband read it, he agreed.Though the truth of the history of the blacks cannot be hid, it really was not needed in this story of friendship.

We read this every year.
This is a wonderful story that I read aloud to my children every year on Chanukkah.They love it and so do I.

One of the best illustrators living
I am such a huge Aminah Robinson (the illustrator) fan!Be sure to check out all of the books she has illustrated.And don't even think about buying any of them in paperback.The heart and soul that she obviously puts in to her drawings will move you to tears.This is one of my favorites.The Amazon review does a good job explaining the story to you.It really resonates with all ages.One bit of trivia I can give you is that Aminah herself was a personal friend of Elijah Pierce. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

African American Fok Artist
If you are into folk art, African-American cultural contributions, religious themed art, a woodcarver or just someone who appreciates intricate woodcarving details than you will enjoy and should seek this book. Elijah Pierce's sculptures are broken down into various categories including free standing carvings, religious reliefs, secular reliefs and autobigraphical works.This catologue is from an exhibition from the Columbus Museum of Art that displayed Elijah Pierce's works in 1973, eleven years before his death. They have the largest collection of his works , it features over 200 pieces. His style was unbelieveable, his panels filled with incredible detail, full of emotion, religious fervor and cultural pride. In the book you will see his tribute in wood to sports hero's too like football player Archie Griffin or boxing legend Joe Lewis. Many of the works are patriotic themed , including tributes to Abraham Lincoln. Martin Luther King, The Kennedy's and Paul Revere. One of the things that sets Elijah Pierce apart, besides his technical carving skills, was his colorful painting of the wooden figures or reliefs. He used many different colors including bright solid tones that brought more life into the wood. There are several essays included and the mystical qualities of wood are discusses by him and severalotherwoodcarvers. His life is discussed in the essays, including his hardships as well as his successes, with the end result being an intimate portrait of the artist . Being a man of tremendous religious conviction, coming from a strong religious family, a preacher himself, his carvings became his pulpit. The religious fervor in his carvings are amazing and the biblical stories in wood come to life and jump out at you. His "Book of Wood" is an astounding series of panels bound together and was used on occasion for his sermons but eventually housed in his barbershop where it was the centerpiece of Pierce's art display's. You must find this book to see all the exquisite works of art this masterwoodcarvercreated, it will astound you in it's simplicity , varied subject matter andasthetic qualities. Elijah Pierce has left a legacy that should not be missed asit reflects the everyman qualities of the American spirit. Highly recommended for art enthusiasts, folk art collectors, teachers and especially woodcarvers, as it is very inspirational.

Had great stuff!!
The book had great insight of who Elijah Wood is. Though it didn't get that personal it still was very great!! ... Read more