From the “Adventures of an Orthodox Mom” Blog

Josiah and Julia Go to Church {review}

Posted by admin on May 24, 2012 in Uncategorized | 2 comments

I am so excited to tell you all about this absolutely delightful new book for young readers! Josiah and Julia Go to Church: A Young Child’s Guide to Church Etiquette was written by Kelly Ramke Lardin and illustrated by Sheena Hisiro. It was just released by Conciliar Press.

The first time I saw this book was on author Melinda Johnson’s blog series Orthodox Writers & Readers and I’d been looking forward to checking it out ever since. The idea of a children’s book on church etiquette is just such a fantastic concept.

And let me tell you, it did not disappoint!

Let me tell you a little about what we really loved.

First, I am *thrilled* that it is a board book. There are so many Orthodox books for older children but not many at all for infants and toddlers who tend to tear books apart. So, this is just great! Sprout can read it and I don’t have to worry about it missing pages at the end of the day. I do wish the cover was a little thicker because we’ve been toting it around for a few weeks now and it is already starting to wear and tear a bit.

Even the older kids enjoyed reading it. Ace and Lucky managed to trick Sprout into giving it up and then they sat together and read it during Liturgy. I was surprised that Ace (now 8 1/2) was interested in it but he enjoyed pointing out all the naughty things to Lucky. No surprise there, lol.

The book is excellent in helping children actually see the difference between good and bad behavior. It touches on lots of important parts of attending Liturgy that we as parents are constantly talking to our children about like how to make the sign of the cross and venerate the icons properly. It also shows how to properly light a candle, eat antidoro, and receive communion.

You can certainly tell the author is a mother! I have been raving about this book to all of my friends who run church bookstores and every one I know that has children or godchildren!

You can order your copy here.

AT 1:13 pm Comments (View)

New Books for Spring and Summer Reading

[OCA]

An array of Orthodox book releases promise a season of good reading for Orthodox bibliophiles. The following titles have all been published in recent months, and range from children’s literature to theology; many of the authors are clergy or lay members of the Orthodox Church in America.

Josiah & Julia Go to Church, by Kelly Lardin.

Josiah and Julia love to go to church. They love to venerate the icons, light candles, and eat the blessed bread. Sometimes they behave very well—but sometimes they make mistakes. Little ones can follow Josiah and Julia through the Liturgy and learn how even the youngest child can honor God by behaving properly in church.

Kelly Lardin attends Holy Trinity Cathedral (OCA) in Chicago, and is the mother of two daughters.

AT 12:38 pm Comments (View)

Book reading to Sunday School class at Christ the Saviour Orthodox Church in Harrisburg, PA.

AT 1:11 pm Comments (View)

Book signing at Agia Sophia Coffee Shop: “From Saturday, April 28 - Tuesday May 1, illustrator Sheena Hisiro visited to promote a new book published by Conciliar Press entitled “Josiah and Julia Go to Church”. Sheena, who now lives in New York City, grew up at Christ the Saviour and used our parish church and our pastor emeritus Fr. Daniel Ressetar as the “likeness” in the book. Two signings were held at Agia Sophia Coffee House and Bookstore (http://agiasophiaharrisburg.com/), as well as one at our parish. Sheena also read the book to our pre-school and kindergarten classes during church school. We pray that God will continue to inspire Sheena in her work. If you are interested in purchasing a copy of the book, please visit the Conciliar Press website HERE. To visit Sheena’s blog, please visit: http://oodlesofdoodles.tumblr.com/.”

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Patriot-News Article

By MARY KLAUS, The Patriot-News

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View online here.

Submitted photoSheena Hisiro created the illustrations for Kelly Ramke Lardin’s book “Josiah and Julia Go to Church.”

When Kelly Ramke Lardin first took her 18-month-old daughter to Orthodox church, she realized that the little girl and the deacon’s toddler needed to learn how to behave in church.

Soon, Lardin wrote “Josiah and Julia Go to Church” with the subtitle “A Young Child’s Guide to Church Etiquette.”

When Lardin looked for an illustrator for her book, she turned to Sheena Hisiro, who had attended Capital Area School for the Arts and graduated from Susquehanna Township High School.

Hisiro, a lifelong member of Christ the Saviour Orthodox Church in Lower Paxton Township, agreed.

Soon, she was drawing a picture of Christ the Saviour Orthodox Church on the front cover and using the Very Rev. Daniel D. Ressetar, pastor emeritus, as the priest in the book.

The book, recently published by Conciliar Press and featuring Lardin’s delightful story and Hisiro’s whimsical drawings, already is becoming a big hit with churches. Now, the colorful little book has made its way to Harrisburg.

Hisiro, who now lives in Brooklyn, N.Y., will sign copies of “Josiah and Julia Go to Church” 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. April 28 and May 1 at the Agia Sophia Coffeeshop and Bookstore at 225 Market St., Harrisburg. The book also will be for sale at Agia Sophia.

“Josiah and Julia love to go to church,” Lardin said in her previews of the book. “They love to venerate the icons, light candles, and eat the blessed bread. Sometimes they behave very well, but sometimes they make mistakes.”

She said that children can follow Josiah and Julia through the Liturgy and learn how even the youngest child can honor God by behaving properly in church.

Hisiro, who currently illustrates children’s books and designs greeting cards, said that she had fun with the book.

“It’s a cute little story about two children, one doing things right and one wrong in church,” she said. “The book teaches children the right way to behave in church.”

Lardin, who converted to Orthodoxy, said she was still learning about the faith when she had her first daughter.

“I wanted to be able to pass on to her all that I was learning and experiencing,” Lardin said. “Church services were an essential part of teaching her about the faith.”

During one Holy Week, Julia and the deacon’s son, both about 18 months old, were at the back of the church bowing, kissing icons, making the sign of the cross and calling each other to see things.

“At such a young age they couldn’t pronounce each other’s names,” Lardin said, “so they called each other Siah and Ya.” Lardin said that inspired her to write a story about two children playing together and learning from each other how to behave.

Hisiro said that attending church can be challenging for children.

“They have to sit still a long time in services,” she said. “But it’s important for parents to take children to church even if they don’t understand everything. It gives them a feel for church and lets them learn what is expected.”

AT 1:16 pm Comments (View)

Book Signing this weekend

This blurb also appeared yesterday in the paper about a book signing I’ll be attending this Saturday in Harrisburg, PA.

Publication: Patriot-News, The (Harrisburg, PA)

Date: April 26, 2012
Page: G27

Sheena Hisiro

The recently opened Agia Sophia Coffee Shop and Bookstore will play host to a local illustrator for two signings for a new book with local touches. Sheena Hisiro attended schools in the Susquehanna Twp. School District as well as the Capital Area School for the Arts before earning a BFA in Communication Design from Pratt Institute. She is the illustrator for several children’s books, but her most recent, “Josiah and Julia Go to Church,” features a familiar sight- Lower Paxton Twp.’s Christ the Savior Orthodox Church is on the cover illustration. The book, written by Kelly Ramke Lardin, is a helpful guide for children learning how to behave at church. Agia Sophia Coffee Shop is a joint venture from five local Orthodox churches, and all profits from the business are donated to local charities. -Sean Adams IF YOU GO WHEN: 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday and Tuesday WHERE: Agia Sophia Coffee Shop and Bookstore, 225 Market St., Harrisburg COST: Free INFO: www.agiasophiaharrisburg.com.

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Patriot-News Go! Section

There was a short blurb yesterday in the paper about a book signing I’ll be attending this Saturday in Harrisburg, PA.

Noon-3 p.m. Saturday. Cumberland County Historical Society, 21 N. Pitt St., Carlisle. 717-249-7610, www.historicalsociety.com. Book Signing: Sheena Hisiro Hisiro, a native of Susquehanna Twp., will sign and discuss the book she illustrated, “Josiah and Julia Go to Church.” Christ the Saviour Orthodox Church, Harrisburg, is featured on the book’s cover, and Father Daniel Ressetar, recently retired from the church, is featured in the book.

AT 11:10 am Comments (View)