“Secrets of the Toad” is a beautifully crafted story written by a masterful storyteller.  Trisha Page knows the heart and mind of her subject well.  Her words are rich in color, texture,  sound, and emotion. They breathe life into Emma, uncover her thoughts, help us to know her and care about her too, perhaps even recognize ourselves in this young girl.

Trisha Page is a gifted writer whose prose is guided by her own spiritual wisdom and enlightenment.  In “Secrets of the Toad” she has given us a delightfully entertaining, important story.  It is a story for all ages to enjoy, one that offers a worthy topic for discussion between parents and children…

I have read “Secrets of the Toad” over and over and will read it again, next time to my grandchildren.  It makes me smile each time.”

—B.  McVean (Reflection)

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“Okay, Tobias is just about the cutest darn toad I have EVER seen! Love him so much!”

—Nancy Rue

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 “Cleverly written with a teacher’s insight. Relevant, magical and inspiring. I look forward to sharing it with my grandchildren.”

—Elaine C. (Reflection)

 

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“I love Jake. He’s a kid I’d like to take out for burgers and fries and hear his take on life. You’ve captured his sense of fun and his charm, and you’ve dug deeper into his sensitive side in a realistic way. Not easy to do with this kind of character.

And of course, I love Tobias even more than I did in the first book, which says a lot. The image of him wearing a baseball cap is hilarious. It makes me wonder what else goes on in that zany, magical mind of yours, Patty. He says a couple of lines that I think are just profound, one of them being: “Ah, yes, people often journey with their eyes closed.” (You clearly do not.) I also found the haiku to be awesome. The messages in the story are solid, yet you don’t beat us over the head with them. Good stuff.

Just as I did in the first book, I enjoyed the content of your dialogue. You get how kids talk to each other and you do a great job of capturing that on the page. Real people are talking.”

—Nancy Rue (Play Ball)

 

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Emma and Jake are two well-adjusted adolescents from a loving intact family. That said, navigating through the rough and tumble pre-teen and teen years is never a cake walk for even kids under the best of circumstances. Peer pressure can be overwhelming and expectations to fit in are always magnified. The wise Tobias helps Emma and Jake through wonderful lessons that give the two siblings the tools they need to find acceptance and to look within for their individual answers to questions on bullying, peer groups, acceptance and so many other day to day challenges that today’s youth experience on a daily basis. Every child needs a Tobias, but the next best thing may be these books.
-Lorie Longhany-