In times of trouble, it is important to keep hope. Hope is my word for 2025. As the political climate was changing and charging up with fighting and more, I felt hope was what I would need to keep myself calm and balanced. It has worked for the most part. Today I get to share a Christmas book (I know it is only October) that shares a story of hope, strength and generosity. It does involve a cross as well. The book is The Cobbler's Bridge by Marin. At the end of this post is a giveaway with a grand prize that includes $100!!
About the Book:
The Cobbler’s Bridge Written and Illustrated by MarinAges: 5-8 | 32 Pages | Publisher: Fontreal (2025) | ISBN: 978-1-989661-55-0
Publisher’s Book Summary: A river divides two towns: One with wealthy inhabitants and one with poor folks.
With a selfless Christmas gesture, a little shoemaker takes a step to bridge the divide between people on both sides of the river.
Bridges are nothing but links – the story about a magic cross reminds us gently that all humans are interconnected. Is there a place for goodness in our world? Yes, you may find it in children’s hearts.
They are the fertile grounds for miracles. And hope.
Dear mighty reader,
Please click the button below to purchase THE COBBLER’S BRIDGE from Amazon; the e-book is conveniently priced at $1.99 only. You may also post a review with a few words – your kind reciprocal gesture will help the newly released publication immensely.
Thank you,
Marin
Purchase Links:
Amazon
About the Author:
His name is Marin* and he marinates his picture books in a creative concoction brewed on the very beach of the Atlantic East Coast. Marin writes the stories, illustrates the pages, designs the covers, arranges the layout of the elements, and publishes the books. Sometimes he creates new fonts for his titles to make them complete pieces of art. His food-for-thought creations contain only natural ingredients. They are nutrient-dense and perfect for a balanced brain diet.
WARNING: Marin’s books tend to inspire young readers!
*Recipient of the Literary Titan Book Award, Wishing Shelf Book Award, and Creative Child Magazine 2025 Picture Book of the Year; 2024 American Book Fest finalist
For more information, please visit
From Me:
This book is about a very poor town and a very wealthy town. The people in the poor town are barefoot. They work for the people in the wealthy town. One of the residents of the poor town and his grandson, Tom, are expert cobblers. They are the only ones from the poor town allowed to have a store in the wealthy town. Dividing the two towns is a river and small bridge. The cobbler shop is very busy leading up to Christmas. The cobbler is excited to see he has some scraps that should be enough to make shoes for his grandson. Tom will be the first person in the poor town to have a pair of shoes. He sends Tom home one night alone. The boy goes over the bridge but when he approaches his house, he hears shouting and sees many masked people (think Ku Klux Klan style of masks) carrying a large cross. They place the cross in the yard of the cobbler and set it on fire. The people then disperse to the wealthy town. The fire dies once the people are gone. The young grandson goes in and there is no wood for a fire so eats some bread and goes to bed cold. He tells his grandfather the next day of what happened. His grandfather chops the wooden cross for firewood and says it was good of the people to bring them firewood. Each evening when the grandson goes out to get some firewood, he notices the pile never goes down and there is always bread and fish in a basket waiting for him. They realize the cross must be magical. They share their feast with their neighbors in the poor town. On Christmas morning Tom receives the wonderful gift of shoes. However he has an idea. He writes a note and shares it with his grandfather. Then he takes the shoes and his note in a basket to the mayor of the wealthy town's house. The note explains how he recognized the mayor's boots that night of lighting the cross. It thanks him for the cross as it was magical and provided firewood and food for them. Then he says instead of keeping the shoes for himself he wants the mayor's son to have them. Awhile later the mayor begins building a new, sturdier bridge over the river connecting the two towns. The people rejoice!
This book is such a sweet story. The illustrations are hand drawn and beautiful. They share a simple time and a simple life of the cobbler and his grandson. This book is full of the hope and love of the cobbler. It also shares an act of generosity that expands to more generosity from others. It affects both towns and it is truly a bit of magic too. The book is a Christmas tale and has the magical wooden cross, so it has some Christian ties. Even the fact that the basket of bread and fish are left each evening could be related to the Bible stories. But the story itself is one of strength, differences and overcoming them and provides hope.
It is sad to think that the wealthy people felt they had to burn the cross in masks on the poor cobbler's lawn. Whether they realized it was magic or not is unknown. However, the image of them reminded me of images I have seen of the Ku Klux Klan attacks of the 1960s. Their fear and threats however turn into a wonderful gift for the cobbler and Tom. It provides them the firewood and food they need. The cobbler's attitude towards it right away was that the cross knew they always need firewood. It has a magical and almost religious feel to it. Besides the shoes for Christmas, it is not very Christmasy. I feel it is truly one of those classic tales like a fairy tale. It inspires hope, generosity and courage in a time when we all need those things.
Giveaway:
