Margaret Sheehan

The Little Word Margaret Sheehan

This is a delightfully affirming take-off on the beginning of the Gospel of John intended for young children who can spell. The story affirms that every individual is unique, special, and best contributes to the world by truly being oneself. The joyful little word must encounter four characters who wish to make the little word happier by suggesting changes in its letters. Despite their good intentions, none had learned to spell! Proposed distortions reveal that the little word is "Love." Pep talks from the sky and raindrops restore the little word to playful dancing, and result in rainwater puddles that happily reflect the rainbow.

Susan Coler, BVM, masterfully expressed the story in music that beautifully illustrates and enhances the audio book narration. Each character is identified by its own motif. Each misspelling becomes a singular, grating distortion of the little word's signature motif until it is happily resolved to be itself.