Milton's Secret

October 27, 2008
Tolle, author of The Power of Now
, brings the philosophy in that book to a young audience with Hampton Roads cofounder Friedman. Milton has a happy existence until an encounter with a bully. Shaken, he retreats into himself, worrying his family. During heart-to-heart conversations, Milton’s grandfather works to convince the boy not to dwell on the past (“Then”) or the future (“When”) but on the present (“Wherever you are... that’s the Now. You just have to pay attention”). Following an extended dream sequence in which the woman at Milton’s favorite ice cream parlor appears as a mystical sage in flowing robes, Milton regains his confidence. Riccio’s (The Little Soul and the Earth
) homey Everytown, USA, setting lends the book an inviting, old-fashioned feel. Children should readily grasp the message and see obvious parallels in a subplot in which Milton’s cat is attacked by a Doberman but is calm soon after. Whether those children will stay in the Now long enough to sit through the text-heavy book’s lengthy passages is less certain. Ages 8–12.

February 1, 2009
Grades K-3 Celebrities and spiritual teachers often labor under the same delusionthat their talents extend to writing childrens books. Here, it is Eckhart Tolles turn. Tolle, the author of the adult books (and Oprah favorites) The Power of Now (1999) and A New Earth (2005), along with coauthor Friedman, offers a book whose story and message are both muddled. Young Milton runs afoul of a bully (well, his name is Milton) and spends the next day or so worrying about what will happen when he sees Carter again. The Universe does send him a couple of messages. Snuggles the cat gets mauled by Brutus the Doberman across the street, but he lets it go when he is cuddled. He is living in the Now (uh . . . because he is a cat?). The rest of Miltons inner knowledge comes in a (long) dream, but few kids will understand the truncated concept of inner light that this tries to get across. The artwork is sufficient, with one very nice picture of Milton looking out for Carter, but it doesnt carry the tedious story. The only recommendation here comes because of possible demand, and with Tolles track record, that could be considerable.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2009, American Library Association.)