Review: Celebrating differences
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 06 25, 2014
Israeli author Assaf Marcus is a storyteller of the first order. Finally we have some fine biographical information one this handsome young man and should be shared: he received his BS (cum laude) in Computer Engineering form the Technion Israel Institute Of Technology, and with this background under his belt he approaches a particularly strong passion for coaching children to discover their inner strengths and to guide them on the path of continuing studies throughout life. `He loves the challenge of early education, and especially enjoys working with children with learning difficulties. He has found great satisfaction in helping them conquer their fears and overcome the challenges associated with their education.' And so now he has departed his computer engineering career to devote full time to developing children's books and assisting children with learning difficulties. His stories are enhanced by fine illustrations (the artist for this book is not mentioned, so maybe Assaf can create art, too), entertaining lines of development, and of course valuable lessons.Farmer McGuinnes has two watering buckets that helped him carry water from the river that was necessary for his chores. Fate intervenes and one bucket falls form the shelf sustaining a crack in the bottom. Despite the broken bucket's flaw the farmer continued using both his buckets, but the cracked bucket leaked, contributing only half the water the other bucket supplied. The good bucket was proud of its work, the broken bucket was sad. But when the broken bucket apologized to the farmer for not being able to do full work, the famer pointed out that the side of the path to the river where the broken bucket was held grew flowers while the side the good bucket was held grew nothing. The farmer said,  `Those flowers are because of you. I have known about your flaw all along. I knew you weren't perfect. That didn't mean you couldn't still help'. The moral of the story - `Each of us has our own unique flaws. None of us is perfect. It's our cracks and flaws that make our lives together so interesting and rewarding.'Assaf Marcus holds the golden pen. Let's hope he continues to write these superb little books for children (and for sensitive adults teaching children!). Grady Harp, June 14