A Note to Parents:

The illustrations you have in your hands are by children's artist Madeleine Soltis. These colored pictures are food for the absorbent mind of the young child. The child age 0 to 6-years absorbs his environment, and the impressions he absorbs become the very stuff of which his mind is formed.

The images in this picture book stimulate joy and convey the feeling of peace and many other positive qualities that your child will gratefully take in, such as cheerfulness and orderliness. Showing children pictures of the grotesque, such as monsters and hellish creatures, does inflict harm upon the mind that is forming. Therefore, it is essential that whatever is appropriate, purposeful, wholesome, harmonious, beautiful and beneficial surround the young child whose mind is in the formative state.

Montessori points out that it is the normalized child who will grow into a responsible adult and good citizen capable of correcting the ills of society. The normalized child is the child whose mind has not been formed in various patterns of disorder, negativity and deviation. To find out more, read The Absorbent Mind by Maria Montessori.

We highly recommend that the colored illustrations be used as flashcards for babies because of the positive impressions that can be gained from each picture. Children may see the colored illustrations starting from infancy as soon as they have recovered from the birth experience. From age 0 to 4-months and older parents have a, truly, captive audience because the child has comparatively little mobility and dearly appreciates whatever stimulation and attention you can provide.

Babies need to be made familiar with many objects and items of practical value and beauty while the mind is forming. Large, colorful flashcards with pictures of useful objects or simple scenes of childhood, in all of its wonder and beauty, are ideal for a baby. And you can show Lady Madeleine's pictures again and again.

PRESENTING FLASHCARDS

Picture cards should be laminated or kept in loose-leaf page protectors. You can store them in a ring-binder. Cardboard backing is recommended. When presenting the cards hold them about 18-inches from the baby and hold them steady, at the child’s eye level. Eliminate noises and distractions from the baby’s environment and provide adequate lighting. You will find descriptive sentences intended as labels for identification on the last four pages of this file. Labels are to be cut out and pasted on the back of the picture cards.

A baby’s attention upon a picture should be natural and not forced. Allowing the baby to see a picture for a short time usually works best rather than holding it in front of him for too long of a time. The length of time it takes for you to read the descriptive sentence on the label, slowly with deliberation and clear pronunciation, is probably as long as you would need to show the picture. Nevertheless, try to gear how long you show a picture to what you observe the baby wants. You might want to make the sessions a little longer if the child seems interested in longer sessions and you may show as many pictures as he wants to see. If the baby gives you his attention he wants to see the pictures. Otherwise he will look away. You may even find that your baby is

as interested in what you have to say as he is interested in seeing the pictures, because babies are very interested in watching your face and mouth. So articulate and speak precisely so that the child will acquire good speech.

If you do not have a colored printer we suggest that you take this PFD file to a color copying center.

These hand-colored illustrations were colored by children's artist Madelein Soltis. They are ideal for children ages 0-6 years, or for any age. The colored illustrations accompany her coloring book. To download the free coloring book go to:

http://InternationalParentingAssociation.org/PDF/ColoringBook.pdf

Coloring prepares the hand for writing and all types of handiwork. Children 3-years-old and younger will work to perform and perfect with their hands what they have absorbed with their minds. Even if the child scribbles, let him have a coloring sheet and the colored illustration to look at, so long as he does not try to color the colored illustration. Children will color the pictures, again and again, until they achieve the level of perfection they are striving for. Therefore, it is crucial that children have the example of excellence set before them!

Parents can set high standards for their children by providing them with examples of excellence, such as these colored illustrations that are intended for use with the coloring book for this very purpose. Simply remove the colored picture, still in its jacket, from the ring binder and let the child have the picture to look at while he is coloring.

A WORD ABOUT ANGELS AND FAIRIES

Many people believe angels, fairies, elves and gnomes exist in other planes and dimensions of life and that they are part of the vast hierarchy of life, not just imaginary characters. Angels dwell in heavenly realms and they minister to humanity while fairies, elves and gnomes comprise the reality of elemental life and render service to the earth. Most seers and adepts see them and, although many people do not believe they are real, belief is wide spread among people all around the world.

If you do not want your child to become acquainted with angels and elementals, simply remove the pictures that pertain to them from the collection. You will still find many beautiful pictures of real value to please you and your child.

Copyright 2015 Clare Parker. All rights reserved.

IIlllluussttrraatteedd bbyy MMaaddeelleeiinnee MMoorriinn SSoollttiiss

SSPPRRIINNGG

TThhee ssuunn sshhiinneess bbrriigghhtt.. TThhee cchhiillddrreenn ppllaayyIInn tthhee ggoollddeenn lliigghhttOOff aa ffiinnee sspprriinngg ddaayy!!

WWiitthh mmuucchh ggrraattiittuuddee ttoo SSaarraa LLeeee LLaannggssaamm ffoorr tthhee bbeeaauuttiiffuull,, iinnssppiirraattiioonnaall ppooeettrryyffrroomm hheerr hheeaarrtt tthhaatt sshhee hhaass ddeeddiiccaatteedd ttoo tthhee eetteerrnnaall cchhiilldd iinn eevveerryyoonnee’’ss hheeaarrtt.. AAssppiirraall--bboouunndd ppooeettrryy bbooookk ooff SSaarraa LLeeee’’ss ppooeemmss ccaann bbee ppuurrcchhaasseedd bbyy ccoonnttaaccttiinnggSSaarraa LLeeee LLaannggssaamm aatt ssaarraalleeeellaannggssaamm@@aaooll..ccoomm.. TThhee ppooeettrryy bbooookk aallssoo ccoonnttaaiinnss tthheessee ccoolloorreedd iilllluussttrraattiioonnss..

AAMMEERRIICCAA’’SS PPRROOMMIISSEE

WWee aarree cchhiillddrreenn ooff mmaannyy llaannddssWWhhoo hhaavvee ccoommee ttoo AAmmeerriiccaa’’ss SShhoorree..TThhee ttoorrcchh hheelldd hhiigghh iinn LLiibbeerrttyy’’ss hhaannddHHaass bbeecckkoonneedd uuss aanndd mmaannyy mmoorree..

FFrreeeeddoomm hhaass aa bbeeaauuttiiffuull ssoouunnddTToo hheeaarrttss tthhaatt rreeaacchh ffoorr tthhee sskkyy..FFrreeeeddoomm ttoo ccrreeaattee oonnee’’ss ddeessttiinnyy,,TToo wwaallkk wwiitthh oonnee’’ss hheeaadd hheelldd hhiigghh..

FFrreeeeddoomm ttoo cchhoooossee oonnee’’ss wwaayy ooff lliiffee,,TToo ssttrriivvee ttoo rreeaacchh oonnee’’ss ggooaall,,FFoorr tthhiiss,, MMootthheerr LLiibbeerrttyy,, wwee lloovvee yyoouu mmuucchh,,AAnndd wwee ccaallll AAmmeerriiccaa hhoommee..

--SSaarraa LLeeee LLaannggssaamm

YYOOUU CCAANN IIFF YYOOUU TTHHIINNKK YYOOUU CCAANN

WWhheenn ttrreeaassuurreedd ggooaall bbeeffoorree yyoouu lliieess,,NNoott cclloossee eennoouugghh,, aanndd yyeett nnoott ffaarr,, WWhheenn tteennddeerr hheeaarrtt iinn lloonnggiinngg ccrriieess,,AAnndd hhaannddss rreeaacchh uupp ttoo ggrraasspp tthhee ssttaarr,,

TThheenn mmuusstt tthhee wwiillll bbee ffiirrmm aanndd ssttrroonnggTToo hhoolldd tthhee vviissiioonn ooff yyoouurr ggooaall……AAnndd ffeeaarr aanndd ddoouubbtt mmuusstt bbee ccaasstt oouutt;;IItt iiss yyoouurr ffaaiitthh tthhaatt mmaakkeess yyoouu wwhhoollee..

YYeess,, tthhiinnkk uuppoonn yyoouurr ddeeaarreesstt wwiisshh..HHoolldd yyoouurr ddeessiirree ffiirrmm iinn hhaanndd..TThheenn sstteepp bbyy sstteepp ppuurrssuuee yyoouurr ddrreeaamm AAccccoorrddiinngg ttoo yyoouurr mmiinndd’’ss oowwnn ppllaann..

FFoorr eevveerryy ddrreeaamm tthhaatt yyoouu hhoolldd ddeeaarr,,AAnndd mmuusstt ooff yyoouurr lliiffee bbee aa ppaarrtt,,WWiillll,, ssuurreellyy,, mmaanniiffeesstt iittsseellffIIff yyoouu ppeerrssiisstt aanndd nnoott lloossee hheeaarrtt..

TThhuuss ssttrriivvee aanndd ssttrriivvee aanndd ddoonn’’tt ggiivvee uuppAAnndd yyoouu wwiillll ssuurreellyy rreeaacchh tthhee ggooaall..RReeaacchh uupp aanndd sseeiizzee tthhee VViiccttoorr’’ss ccuupp;;IItt iiss yyoouurr ffaaiitthh tthhaatt mmaakkeess yyoouu wwhhoollee..

--SSaarraa LLeeee LLaannggssaamm

These illustrations are copy-written and intended for private use, only, and may not be otherwise reproduced, in whole or in part, without permission.

A YOUNG GIRL SELECTS THE BEDTIME STORY THAT HER MOTHER WILL SOON READ TO HER.

THE LITTLE GIRL IS SLEEPING AND AN ANGEL AND FAIRY COME VERY NEAR TO TOUCH HER WITH STAR DUST.

THE ROSE FAIRY IN THE GARDEN TOUCHES A BEAUTIFUL PINK ROSE WITH HER DAZZLING WAND.

A WATER SPRITE IS STANDING ON THE RIPPLING WATER AND ANOTHER SPRITE IS STANDING ON A ROCK IN THE BROOK.

THE CHILDREN PLAYFULLY CLIMB UPON LAUGHING BUDDHA. THEY ARE ALL SMILING.

THE BOY AND GIRL ARE HOLDING ON TO THE STRINGS OF THEIR COLORFUL, HELIUM-FILLED BALLOONS THAT RISE INTO THE AIR.

A FAIRY SITS ON A SAWED-OFF TREE TRUNK AND PLAYS HER FLUTE WHILE THE BLUEBIRD SINGS IN THE TREE.

THE BOY HAS BEEN FISHING AND NOW HE IS RESTING CONTENTEDLY UNDER THE TREE.

THE BOY IS FLYING HIS FAVORITE KITE, AND THE BLUEBIRD IS VERY INTERESTED.

THE CLOUDS ARE WINKING AT THE LITTLE GIRL SITTING ON THE FENCE LOOKING UP AT THEM.

THE BOY IS EXHILERATED TO BE RIDING IN AN AIR BALLOON, WAY UP IN THE SKY WITH THE CLOUDS.

THESE BEAUTIFUL PINK AND YELLOW LILLIES HAVE DEW DROPS ON THEIR LOVELY GREEN FOLIAGE.

A LITTLE GIRL IS REACHING FOR THE BRIGHT GOLDEN STAR IN THE COLORFUL RAINBOW.

IT IS STARTING TO SNOW HEAVILY AND THE SNOW IS FALLING TO THE GROUND.

A BOY IN HIS BED IS LOOKING AT SNOWFLAKES THROUGH THE PANES OF HIS WINDOW WHILE THE LITTLE DOG SLEEPS.

HERE IS A SPLENDED CHRISTMAS TREE WITH FINE DECORATIONS AND PRESENTS FOR THE CHILDREN PLACED UNDERNEATH IT. A BRIGHT STAR IS SHINING AT THE VERY TOP.

THE CHILDREN ARE ATTENTIVELY WATCHING THE FIRE BURNING IN THE WOOD STOVE. IT IS RAINING OUTSIDE.

THE BOY IS LOOKING OUT THE WINDOW AT THE STARS, AND ONE STAR SEEMS ESPECIALLY LARGE AND FRIENDLY.

AN EXPECTANT MOTHER IS SLEEPING IN HER ROCKING CHAIR AND DREAMING OF HER UNBORN BABY.

THESE TWO HELPFUL GIRLS ARE PUTTING THEIR TOYS AWAY AND KEEPING THE PLAYROOM NEAT.

HERE IS A BRAVE KNIGHT IN HIS ARMOR, SITTING ON HIS HORSE, LIKE SIR GALAHAD.

THE BOY REJOICES TO SEE THE ELVES AND GNOMES SO JOYOUS IN NATURE AND BUSY AT THEIR WORK.

MARCO POLO IS LOOKING OUT TO SEA WITH HIS TELESCOPE, AND HE SPIES A SAILING SHIP AFAR. ON LAND THERE IS A TOWER.

AKBAR, THE GREATEST MOGUL RULER OF INDIA, WELCOMES THE SUNLIGHT INTO HIS ROOM.

A MARCHING BOY, WEARING STARS AND STRIPES, IS PROUDLY CARRYING THE AMERICAN FLAG.

THE BIRDS ARE FLYING IN A ‘V’ FORMATION TO THEIR HOME STAR.

HERE ARE CHILDREN OF AMERICA AND THE WORLD HOLDING HANDS, WITH THE SYMBOLS OF AMERICA ABOVE AND BEHIND THEM. .

THIS HAPPY, CAREFREE GIRL IS WALKING BRISKLY ALONG THE BEACH AT DAWN. SHE CAN FEEL THE BREEZE BLOWING ALL AROUND HER.