To view sample pages of this book with optional narration click here.

NZ Purchase NZ$20 + $3 p&p	International Purchase US$16.50 + $1.85 p&p
Sunday School and Homeschooling version This Sunday School or Homeschooling unit study, 'The value of Compassion', is based around The Happy Prince. Includes two week lesson plan, book and CD, video, extra story and colouring-in masters.
NZ Purchase NZ$30 + $3 p&p	International Purchase US$22.60 + $1.85 p&p
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"The artwork, done mostly by the children, is stylised, bold and beautifully colourful. Rosie has re-written the story to song. The accompanying CD perfectly matches the text in the book. The rhythm and pace of the music enhances the mood and creates an extra dimension to the story. Enchanting. Highly recommended." - Jabberwocky Children's Bookshop Review.

"One of the joys of parenting for me was reading to the children. The Happy Prince is an absolute treat." - Grandparent.

"Delightful! My son begs to hear it every night." - Parent.

"Parents from around the world will want to share this very moving story with their children. I give it a 5 - star recommendation." - Jules Riding, N.Z singer/ songwriter.

The Background Story of the making of The Happy Prince.

In March 1998, our three oldest children were about to do the World Vision 20 hour famine for the first time. Josiah was 8, Katie 7 and Eliza 4. We homeschool the children, and I decided to make the most of their enthusiasm by doing a unit study about poverty, compassion and the work of World Vision. I had the idea of using the allegory of Oscar Wilde's story 'The Happy Prince' to illustrate the importance of learning to see the needs of others. Together, the children and I wrote the story into a 12 minute song, and then we spent two months painting the illustrations to go with it.

Sometime later we were reading the World Vision magazine and saw an article about a young boy in Wellington who busks on the streets with his violin, and thus raises enough money to enable him to sponsor his own World Vision child.

Inspired, our children began to think about how they too could sponsor their own child. We had the idea of publishing our pictures and song in a book and C.D. which we could sell at our concerts. Now, two years later, this dream has become a reality. The book has been published and the children have chosen a beautiful little girl called Hildah, from Zambia, as their sponsored child.
They hope this will in turn encourage other people to think of ways that they too can make a difference.

The Allegory.

God sees all the pain and suffering in the world and cares desperately. But He needs us to reach out in His name and take His love to the poor and needy. So often we are just like the little swallow, intent on ensuring our own comfort, and blind to the needs all around us. May we learn to see with His eyes and work with Him to bind up the broken hearted, feed the hungry and bring hope to the hopeless.