Review: 'By concentrating only on the cup, we fail to enjoy the juice it holds.'
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 06 6, 2014
Author Assaf Marcus with the fine assistance of Monty Stikkmann, illustrator, have created a very worthwhile book that will delight children while offering some excellent lessons on behavior.The Lion calls a meeting - The Juice of Life - and invites all the creatures of the jungle to attend. The various animals were all excited as to what the meeting was about but as the Lion kept them waiting they all began to complain and focus on their problems. The lion's assistant brought out all manner of glasses and containers of orange juice and each animal chose a cup, claiming that their choice was the best. Those late arrivals got the left over's but still had plenty of orange juice to share. The Lion arrives and points out that all the fancy cups and glasses were taken first, leaving the simple ones for the latecomers. `While it is only normal for you to want the best for yourselves that is the source of your problems and stress.' The main desire was for the juice, but envy and competition made them go for the fancy containers first. His little meeting taught his jungle friends valuable lessons: `The cups in their lives, like money, clothes and toys or all the material things in life, only hold the important things.  "The poorest container might hold the richest wealth.'In this simple story the lessons are about an important way of thinking with regard to jealousy, greed, and materialism. A very well written, beautifully illustrated children's book! Grady Harp, June 14