"The Tree of Healing"
is an engaging and imaginative book destined for the eyes and hearts of
Catholic girls. It chronicles the budding
life of young Rose, her relationship with her mother and grandmother, and the
spiritual journey into which her life’s story had drawn her. A summer unexpectedly spent with her grandmother
introduced Rose to many things concerning herself, her family, her faith, her
life with God – all of which led to a remarkable spiritual awakening and life’s
development.
Mrs. Tabbaa
has written a delightful book which will
serve to strengthen the faith and perseverance of Catholic girls. Designed to
lift their hearts by an adventure which reveals Rose’s growth in love, family
understanding, prayer and virtue, "The
Tree of Healing" is a wonderful means for holding a young girl’s imagination
while building within her heart and religious sensitivity that desire for
holiness and compassion so needed in our times.
I am happy to recommend Mrs.
Tabbaa’s book and particularly to the young audience for which it is destined. What is more, "The Tree of Healing" is made the more agreeable by the many poems
and beautiful illustrations which help to develop its deeper message.
—Dom Daniel Augustine, Prior, Canons Regular of the New Jerusalem. Read the full review. Truth, goodness, and beauty. This is what Diana Tabbaa's book is all about: the truths of our holy faith, how we are to be good, and a large dose of beauty in her poetry, prose and illustration. I am certainly ordering copies of "The Tree of Healing" for our young girls to read. The book is a treasure that will be kept and re-read many times.
—Diane L. Toler, Headmaster, Regina Luminis Academy
A timeless story of family and faith—lost and found—"The Tree of Healing" is fiction that uplifts as it entertains. Author Diana Tabbaa has woven a compelling tale that will draw you in and leave you inspired.
—Lisa M. Hendey, founder of CatholicMom.com and author of A Book of Saints for Catholic Moms
"The Tree of Healing" by Diana Gonzalez
Tabbaa is a wonderful story of a young girl, who while visiting her grandmother,
discovers the love of God; and through it, heals her heart wounded by a distant
mother. Rose’s grandmother and father are great examples for parents on how to
help their children grow in faith. I really enjoyed reading this book, and I
recommend this book for anyone who is searching for meaning in their life or a
deeper relationship with Jesus.
—Esmeralda Kiczek, author of The Adoption Movement: Saving Souls
With a simple and gentle voice, Tabbaa takes on the difficult question of children facing the problem of suffering. "The Tree of Healing" and "The River of Life" are the perfect books to help tweens and teens grapple with the problem of pain. I can't say how much these beautiful stories moved me. The lovely art and poetry round out the stories and provides a spark to encourage contemplative prayer. The mystical undertones are unusual to find in fiction- a wonderful surprise. I imagine "The Tree of Healing" and "The River of Life" will help draw many young people closer to Christ through contemplation of suffering and Divine Providence.
-Good Books for Catholic Kids: A Catholic Parent's Guide to Worthwhile Literature
goodbooksforcatholickids.com
The soothing power of God, Our Mother, and the saints flows in this coming of age story about a boy startled by grief. Anthony, a12-year-old only child, enjoys a simple life immersed in nature with his loving father and mother. ... When Anthony's father dies, Anthony feels far from God, anguished by the tragedy that has darkened his world. A young man befriends Anthony, helping him heal from his loss and regain his dwindling faith. Ethereal and charming, the novel celebrates the beauty of creation, the renewal of hope, and the redemption of suffering. Catholic readers from eight to 18 years old would benefit from the story. Ending with a sweet ode to the cyclical bounty of Providence, the novel can inspire children with wonder as a remedy for pain. In the words of Anthony's mother near the start, "That is the nature of love; it makes suffering more bearable, and when joined with that of Christ, even sacred."
-Ruby Shao, Historical Fiction Editor, Catholic Reads
catholicreads.com
As
a Catholic adult and mother, I really enjoyed this book. The illustrations
are absolutely beautiful. It was an uplifting story, even though it
begins a little on the down side with the main character yearning for the love
of her mother. It was nice to read a book that took today’s issues and
framed them in a Catholic perspective. Rose’s growth in her faith is a
nice example for any young girl who may be questioning her faith or
vocation. This book provides insight to the bible and the Catholic faith
to help anyone strengthen their faith.
—Lynn Festa, teacher at Immaculate Heart of Mary School, Still River, MA “The
Tree of Healing” is a beautiful book for young people. Both the
descriptive narrative and exquisite illustrations are instructive,
weaving a tale that engages on different levels: the mind is following
the story while the eye delights in the original artwork. This is a book
to share with young people. It would be an ideal book for middle school
and early high school.
—Teresa Heinser, homeschooling mother
From young readers:
This book was great! I really think that this book has great feeling and understanding of the Catholic faith. It is a good book for fallen away Catholics to read. The illustrations are beautiful.
—Mary Festa, age 10
I loved this book! It proves that everything is possible with God (Matthew 19:26). I really enjoyed the illustrations. If I had to rate this book, I would give it Five Stars!
—Lela Festa, age 11
I really liked this book. I read it as I was being prepared for the Sacrament of Confirmation, and it mirrored the tenets of our Faith very well. I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys a good story, poetry, and beautiful artwork.
—Mary Heinser, age 13
I really love how the book is so picturesque, and everything is described in such beautiful detail. The poetry and illustrations were also very beautiful and original.
—Marie Farynaz, age 15
I thought it was really well written! Great pictures formed in my mind as I was reading. It was nice to read!
—Zoe Smith, age 15
The print book looks lovely. The illustrations are gorgeous, and I especially love the Notebooks section of the book, which is very attractive to all ages. It is a very visual story, from the physical descriptions to the symbols which refer to different aspects of the spiritual life. The balance of poems, Scripture, and images is really well done, and I loved (and was super impressed) by the original images.
—Catherine Enwright, age 18
Amazon Customer Reviews:
5 out of 5 stars A Beautiful Treasure Inspired By God
By Karen Hernandez on April 1, 2014
Be prepared: this book will move the heart and send the soul soaring! Interwoven with Bible verse and the author's own captivating art and passionate poetry is a story of exquisite beauty whose theme both teaches and blesses. It is a truly engaging and beautifully written story that should be at the top of the list for all children to own and read again and again. That being said, it must not be limited to children's literature!
Adult audiences will delightfully discover another layer especially gifted to them. Without a doubt, God's inspiration has led Diana Tabbaa to create a book that is nothing short of brilliant.
Links to Online Reviews:
Midwest Book Review, The Christian Studies Shelf:
Enhanced throughout with full color illustrations, poems, and scriptural quotations, "The Tree Of Healing" is as inspired and inspiring as it is thoughtful and thought-provoking. Very highly recommended reading for Christians of all denominational affiliations and backgrounds, it should be noted that "The Tree Of Healing" is also available in a Kindle edition.
A Catholic Life:
Recently I was privileged to review an absolute wonderful world of Catholic fiction, a genre I rarely read. Entitled The Tree of Healing by Diana Gonzalez Tabbaa, the book is a Catholic work of fiction for young people, filled with quotes from Scripture, thirty-three color illustrations, and thirty-three poems.
It was a beautiful, moving book that was truly spiritually enriching and captivating. It is one of the best children's books for Catholic children that I have ever read. I am honored to recommend it and promote it to all of you. The book is highly interesting and deeply spiritual. It is a true work of art.
Filled with wonderful poems, insightful Scripture verses and imagery that brings a soul to weep for our Sorrowful Lord, and an interesting story, this is a book that I couldn't put down after I started it. It's well worth the time and is absolutely perfect book, especially for Catholic children. I'd love to see more homeschoolers use this book as literature in their reading programs, to see libraries add this to the shelves, and to see people read this book. I would like to endorse this book and give it 5 out of 5 stars.
—Teresa Heinser, homeschooling motherFrom young readers:
This book was great! I really think that this book has great feeling and understanding of the Catholic faith. It is a good book for fallen away Catholics to read. The illustrations are beautiful.
—Mary Festa, age 10
I loved this book! It proves that everything is possible with God (Matthew 19:26). I really enjoyed the illustrations. If I had to rate this book, I would give it Five Stars!
—Lela Festa, age 11
I really liked this book. I read it as I was being prepared for the Sacrament of Confirmation, and it mirrored the tenets of our Faith very well. I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys a good story, poetry, and beautiful artwork.
—Mary Heinser, age 13
I really love how the book is so picturesque, and everything is described in such beautiful detail. The poetry and illustrations were also very beautiful and original.
—Marie Farynaz, age 15
I thought it was really well written! Great pictures formed in my mind as I was reading. It was nice to read!
—Zoe Smith, age 15
The print book looks lovely. The illustrations are gorgeous, and I especially love the Notebooks section of the book, which is very attractive to all ages. It is a very visual story, from the physical descriptions to the symbols which refer to different aspects of the spiritual life. The balance of poems, Scripture, and images is really well done, and I loved (and was super impressed) by the original images.
—Catherine Enwright, age 18
Amazon Customer Reviews:
5 out of 5 stars
Beautiful art, beautiful story, beautiful poetry
By Belinda G. Lehmkuhle on February 16, 2014
The Tree of Healing is a moving story of faith and healing set in garden that is brought to life both in words and illustrations. The main character, Rose, struggles to relate to a mom devastated by the loss of the family's father, while getting to know him through his writing and his art--and especially his faith. It is a story of healing, forgiveness, and renewal with a twist that will leave you breathless.
The Tree of Healing is a moving story of faith and healing set in garden that is brought to life both in words and illustrations. The main character, Rose, struggles to relate to a mom devastated by the loss of the family's father, while getting to know him through his writing and his art--and especially his faith. It is a story of healing, forgiveness, and renewal with a twist that will leave you breathless.
5 out of 5 stars One of the Best Children's Books for Catholic Children Ever Written
By Matthew Plese on March 13, 2014
It was a beautiful, moving book that was truly spiritually enriching and captivating. It is one of the best children's books for Catholic children that I have ever read. I am honored to recommend it and will be promote it to as many people as possible. The book is highly interesting and deeply spiritual. It is a true work of art.
It was a beautiful, moving book that was truly spiritually enriching and captivating. It is one of the best children's books for Catholic children that I have ever read. I am honored to recommend it and will be promote it to as many people as possible. The book is highly interesting and deeply spiritual. It is a true work of art.
5 out of 5 stars A Beautiful Treasure Inspired By God
By Karen Hernandez on April 1, 2014
Be prepared: this book will move the heart and send the soul soaring! Interwoven with Bible verse and the author's own captivating art and passionate poetry is a story of exquisite beauty whose theme both teaches and blesses. It is a truly engaging and beautifully written story that should be at the top of the list for all children to own and read again and again. That being said, it must not be limited to children's literature!
Adult audiences will delightfully discover another layer especially gifted to them. Without a doubt, God's inspiration has led Diana Tabbaa to create a book that is nothing short of brilliant.
5 out of 5 stars Simply beautiful story and art
on April 13, 2015
I absolutely loved this story. So
holy and beautiful. A story of lost hope and faith and finding it again
in a very magical way. I loved the rosary garden and the main character
Rose. The poems were good- the art was better. The paintings were
hauntingly beautiful- filled with light and holiness. The page with the
painting of Jesus with his eyes closed in death turns to the next page
with his eyes wide open in another painting that made me gasp and I
could not take my eyes from his face. For a holy lift, faith renewed,
healing story this is a must read. I am sure I will read it over and
over. Today when I prayed the rosary I imagined myself in the garden in
this book. Even if you are not Catholic you will love this story I
promise.
Links to Online Reviews:
Midwest Book Review, The Christian Studies Shelf:
Enhanced throughout with full color illustrations, poems, and scriptural quotations, "The Tree Of Healing" is as inspired and inspiring as it is thoughtful and thought-provoking. Very highly recommended reading for Christians of all denominational affiliations and backgrounds, it should be noted that "The Tree Of Healing" is also available in a Kindle edition.
Recently I was privileged to review an absolute wonderful world of Catholic fiction, a genre I rarely read. Entitled The Tree of Healing by Diana Gonzalez Tabbaa, the book is a Catholic work of fiction for young people, filled with quotes from Scripture, thirty-three color illustrations, and thirty-three poems.
It was a beautiful, moving book that was truly spiritually enriching and captivating. It is one of the best children's books for Catholic children that I have ever read. I am honored to recommend it and promote it to all of you. The book is highly interesting and deeply spiritual. It is a true work of art.
Filled with wonderful poems, insightful Scripture verses and imagery that brings a soul to weep for our Sorrowful Lord, and an interesting story, this is a book that I couldn't put down after I started it. It's well worth the time and is absolutely perfect book, especially for Catholic children. I'd love to see more homeschoolers use this book as literature in their reading programs, to see libraries add this to the shelves, and to see people read this book. I would like to endorse this book and give it 5 out of 5 stars.