John Farrell: Newsletter

Greetings Friends, Hope you had a peaceful and healthy Thanksgiving. This newsletter will be brief because I now have a Bridges of Peace and Hope (BOPH) web journal (blog) that includes updates and news regarding my work and the “Bridges of Peace and Hope” project. To read the blog go to http://bridgesofpeace.spaces.live.com/default.aspx. It includes stories and photos from my trip to Africa in October. I visited 15 schools and sang with more than 6000 children in South Africa and Namibia, and returned home more convinced than ever that children everywhere want to live in peace, sing, laugh, love and be loved, and help others. The blog will have weekly updates. Please check it often if you’d like to help with BOPH. The big news is that my new picture book Dear Child has arrived. The artwork, done by California illustrator Maurie Jo Manning is colorful, sweet and evocative. It poignantly conveys the excitement and wonder that is felt whenever a new child enters a family. A variety of families are portrayed, making this a book that any new parent, parents or grandparents can relate to. One of the families depicted in the illustrations is adopting a child. Many people are buying the book to give it as a gift to someone who has, or will soon be having a new, dear child in their lives. The final page of the book shows a child starting kindergarten and includes the text, “So wherever you go and whatever you do, Remember dear child, my love will go with you.” Dear Child strikes the same emotional chords as Robert Much’s book Love You Forever, but teachers have commented that it does so in a lighter, more joyous manner. Dear Child Book and CD “NEWSLETTER ONLY” offer Because the book was inspired by the song “Dear Child,” you may wish to have both the book and CD (“OH YEAH!) that includes the song. If you would like to order the book and CD for yourself, or as a gift we are offering the two for a price of $25 plus $4 shipping and handling. This is more than a 20% discount off the regular price. To order the book and CD you can call or email Mary Jain at 607-965-8983 / mdayger@stny.rr.com and she will send them to you. We don’t accept credit cards by phone but we do trust everyone. Mary Jain will send the order and you can send payment later. If your order totals $100 or more the shipping is free. 2007 has been an exciting year with two new books and a new CD published. The new CD “All Around Us” is all songs about animals, nature and science, and includes “Sing, Write and Learn” songwriting tracks. If you’d like to order any books or CD’s please go to the web site www.johnfarrell.net or contact Mary Jain. Sincerest thanks for being my friend and for supporting my work. Best wishes to you and your loved ones for a joyous, peaceful, and healthy holiday season. Keep a song in your heart! John