The Marvelous Mud House: A story of finding fullness and joy!

by April Graney, Alida Massari (Illustrator)

Overview

Based on a true story! A 2018 ECPA Christian Book Award Finalist (New Author category).

Ben and his American family live in a hungry ranch house where they are always wanting more. But then they travel far across the world to Kenya and visit the marvelous mud house where George and Mama George live. There, among the mango trees, they discover a marvelous lesson about what it's like to be full of joy instead.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781462741007
Publisher:	B&H Publishing Group
Publication date:	10/01/2017
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	32
File size:	21 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

Read an Excerpt

CHAPTER 1

On the edge of a lush mountain in Kenya sat a marvelous mud house where George and his mother lived. What made this mud house marvelous was the marvelous thing that happened there.

Each morning, as the sun flooded the Great Rift Valley below, George searched the terraced garden for corn, mangoes, and potatoes while Mama George milked the goat. Then they loaded their baskets on their backs and began their long walk to the village.

Down, down, down one side of their mountain and up, up, up the side of the next mountain they walked. And every day, Mama George sang.

"We're rich, my son, rich in love, strength, and life! The Giver of there hears every cry! Let's lift up our hands to the God who provides."

One morning, George could hear the children singing from the schoolhouse.

"Mama," he said with a sigh, "all my friends are in school. I want to go too, but how will we pay the fees?"

Mama George raised her eyes and replied, "Let's keep working, George. God will provide."

Far away on the edge of the Oklahoma woods sat a hungry ranch house where the Smith family lived. What made this house hungry was the feeling of always wanting more.

The five Smith children — Olivia, Ruth, Thomas, Tucker, and Ben — had toy trucks and trains, footballs and board games, pretty dolls and stuffed bears, one brown-and-white beagle, and one whopping big car.

But clean-up time brought weeping and whines. And with closets overflowing with toys, they still begged their parents. "Oh, please, buy us a little bit more!"

Then one day, an adventure began. The Smith family hopped on a plane and flew up in the sky, over the land, and across the ocean. ...

Then they saw a new world full of yawning rhinos, gracefull giraffes, playful monkeys, and mischievous baboons. They saw boys selling bananas and girls carrying water on their heads.

And there, in a village market, the Smith family met George and his mother.

Every day, the Smith stopped to buy corn and chat with George and Mama George. The youngest Smith, Ben, gathered the courage to ask. "Where do you live? Is it very far?"

Mama George leaned over with a smile. "We can show you! Please come to our house for dinner."

So down, down one side of the mountain and up, up, up the side of the next mountain went to the two families.

As they passed the schoolhouse, Ben asked, "Is that your school George?"

His new friend shrugged. "I hope to go there someday, if we get the school fees."

"God will provide," Mama George reminded. As they walked, she taught the Smith family her song.

"We're rich, my friend, rich in love, strength, and life! The Giver of these hears very cry! Let's lift up our hands to the God who provides."

Soon they reached the marvelous mud house. Ben was surprised, "But, George, where's your house?" he asked.

"Right there!" George replied. "Mama George and I built it ourselves!"

"But, George, where's your car?"

"We use our feet!" said George.

"But, George, where are your games?"

George said, "I'll show you!" He quickly began showing how much fun it was to play hide-and-seek among the corn and mango trees and make up games with pebbles and banana leaves.

When it was time for dinner, both families gathered inside the marvelous mud house. There they sat, knees touching as they savored plantain stew, ugali, and chapatis, George passed around sweet, fried mandazis.

A lantern flickered on nine smiling faces, and the walls rang with laughter. With full bellies, the Smith children looked 'round in wonder. In the mud house, to be surrounded by joy and love was enough, much more than the accumulation of stuff.

That night, Ben's eyes watered as he hugged Mama George goodbye. "Asante," he said in his best Swahili accent. "Thank you."

(Continues…)

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Excerpted from "The Marvelous Mud House"
by .
Copyright © 2017 April Graney.
Excerpted by permission of B&H Publishing Group.
All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
Excerpts are provided by Dial-A-Book Inc. solely for the personal use of visitors to this web site.

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