The Fruits of the Spirit, found in Galatians 5:22-23, are love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Knowing that the Bible says God's Word will not return void, New Holland resident and children's author Shelleen Weaver has chosen to write about the nine fruits in her series "Fruit Fables." The third book in the series, "Sir Beaver Finds the Missing Peace," was published earlier this fall.

In the book, Sir Beaver frets and fusses as he puts his teeth to the next tree trunk while others plan to play. When a toothache derails his work, he takes the time to rest and dine with friends, and a wise field mouse advises him to trust in his Maker rather than the work of his own paws. While the story features animals, the lesson for adults is not lost. "I have had adults tell me they cried when they read my books because it's truth," said Weaver. "(The lesson) is in a sweet little packaged fun rhythmic story with beautiful pictures so it's bite-sized, but it's powerful because it's right out of Scripture."

Weaver's first book in the series, "Love Bird," about a bird that rudely repeats everything that is said to him, came out in 2020. In late 2021, Weaver released "Glub Glum's Ship Flip," about a fish she called "a bottom feeder" with "victim mentality pessimism." "Sir Beaver" tackles workaholism with poetry that evokes pictures - "Once upon a winding creek, where brook trout swim and bullfrogs leap. Sir Beaver lived, but couldn't sleep nor leave his work for fun."

As with the first two Fruit Fables, Weaver turned to animation artist Cody Wood to fill the 40-page paperback with rich illustrations of her anthropomorphic characters. "(Wood) brings my stories to life in picture," said Weaver, who praised the lighting and sense of movement Wood captured in his illustrations of the animals.

As with the first two books, a "Let's Chew on It ..." section, including seven questions, can be found at the back to spur family conversation after the book is read. "I want to make sure kids catch those little nuggets of wisdom, and this gives teachers or parents conversation starters (to make that happen)," said Weaver, who pointed out that lessons such as learning to deal with a difficult person or overcoming a negative outlook are not easy. "These can be hard concepts for adults to get right," she said, "but this is what we strive for." She added that her goal is for her books to point to the heart of the Scripture. "When I explain the Fruits of the Spirit to kids, I am saying, 'This is God's character that we allow the Holy Spirit to work in our lives, and He will grow that character in us," she said, noting that she believes fables are a good way to carry the message to all family members. "Jesus told parables because we relate to stories," she said. "So we are able to swallow those truth tablets better when it's bite-sized and in a story."

Weaver will be at the Gifts That Give Hope Fair at the Farm and Home Center, 1383 Arcadia Road, Lancaster, on Sunday, Dec. 11, where she will be reading one of her books at 1 p.m.