There are reasons why sayings become commonplace in different cultures and languages. For example: “boiling beans with a beanstalk fire” is a Chinese saying for “a murderous dispute between siblings.” That was the opening line in Cao Zhi’s poem, the one he recited to the Emperor, the one that ultimately saved his life when his brother, Cao Pi, sentenced Cao Zhi to death for speaking out against the emperor. There is much we can learn from sayings and fables, legend, and lore. Like the story of the little boy, Ren, impoverished but not too poor to have dreams. With the help of the moon and the fireflies, his nightly companions, he rises well above his childhood station in life, as we all can do if we believe hard enough and try hard enough. And, when success is gained, the greater person remembers with fondness and love those who helped him or her achieve their dreams: "Ren always remembered fondly his good friend the moon, and his insect pals – those brilliant fireflies!”

N. Reece Ho-Sheffield’s collection of stories, Reece’s Timeless Tales, is really a collection of fables, fairy tales, legends, and indeed parables. The stories are entertaining and offer valuable guidance to young readers at various stages of their lives. Each story is well constructed, believable (as all good fairy tales are), with a valuable lesson embedded in the telling. The story begins with a recommended age group to which the story is addressed and concludes with a list of sometimes difficult words used in the story, complete with an explanation of their meaning. The author sometimes also includes her own note as to the source of the inspiration for her story and its embedded meaning. Like her earlier collection, Reece’s Vintage Tales, this one will delight readers of all ages with its charming stories and beautiful illustrations.

A collection of short stories that has a little something for everyone. It has often been said that your opinion of a book comes from the first chapter. With Reece's Timeless Tales, the very first short story had me literally laughing out loud. Each story has a different element to it, but all of them are comical, educational, and a bit inspiring. Each short story ends with a glossary of vocabulary words for children, is filled with unique and very well-done prose and exceptionally written dialogue, and is decorated with vivid and colorful illustrations that do an exceptional job of bringing the words to life. This collection of thirteen short stories will fill your mind with wonder, develop your child’s vocabulary, and expose them to a world of thought and imagination they never before encountered. As a book reviewer, and frequenter of children’s books as a parent myself, I highly recommend reading Reece's Timeless Tales by N. Reece Ho-Sheffield!

My personal favorite was A Chick Called Dee, the story of a young chicken who happens to be quite brilliant. Her intelligence shows when she listens to the farmer’s son reading from the Bible. A rather difficult question of “who came first, the chicken or the egg?” seems so simple in Dee’s mind; the creator made the chicken first. Through a bit of intellect and a prayer, Dee escapes from the farm and finds happiness in a new companion. I was impressed by Reece's Timeless Tales and would recommend it to anyone with children, plus it is fun for all ages (grown-ups included!). An excellent read by N. Reece Ho-Sheffield.