A-M-I-L-O-U ... and That Who Is

Amilou... and That Who Is captures the spirit of our higher self. It is a story about reaching inside ourselves to find who we are and how we share ourselves in friendship. Children will find it an intriguing story about solving a riddle. The riddle, written in letters and numbers, reveals a message about discovering our inner gifts. For adults, it is a powerful reminder of how gently compassion and forgiveness heal us, as we heal others. Written for children 10 years and older, it integrates art, storytelling, and reflective thinking to personalize the meaning for the reader. The authors weave illustrations, pen and pencil drawings and watercolor images, with words to create a learning process for reading. Introduced as the book's reading strategy, the Observe, Recall, Reflect Learning Process invites the reader to participate in observing the images, remembering the events, and reflecting upon the riddle. The Process asks the reader to closely examine both the story and illustrations to arrive at one's understanding of the story. Through the story's voice, the authors lure the reader to step into the characters of Amilou and Rudi Rouzer and to feel their emotions. In doing so, the reader examines the values of believing in oneself, of making the most of our personal gifts, and of treating others with compassion. The story encourages us to think about why we bully, the importance of accepting our individual differences, and how to nurture our relationships with kindness. Amilou... and That Who Is challenges us to find our spiritual center, our compassion, and our understanding. In the story, we meet Amilou, an intuitive girl who is sensitive to spiritual energy. She sees energy as light, hears its sound, and smells its sweetness. She believes that it is a gift for her amusement; and she, like many young children, is not sure that it is real. She talks with a friend about it, while another classmate, Rudi Rouzer, overhears them talking. The next day, Rudi Rouz