"Make yourself bigger than your trouble, meet it with a smile, and watch it drop with the speed of avalanche, instead of tears, down, down, down."
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London, the City of Angels and Olympics:
Invitation to London by Bes and Syrk Trafford Publishing
book review by Cynthia Collins
Bes and Syrk are two small boys who are brothers. As a reward for passing preschool with flying colors, Granny has invited them to spend the summer with her in London the year before the 2012 Summer Olympics. They are excited, and a little nervous, about spending 44 days in such a big city. Their dad reminds them to make sure they mind their manners at all times. Granny is a teacher on the subject of angels and all things angelic. She understands that London can be pretty intimidating to two little boys, so she asks them to play a game with her. As long as they are in this very big city, they are to think only positive, uplifting thoughts. She assures them that after three weeks, they will be so used to thinking positive thoughts that this uplifting attitude will become second nature and they will feel happy with no effort. The boys agree to try to find a positive lesson in every situation and in every encounter during their stay.
This is a self-help book about the effects of thinking positively even in the face of adversity. It is not a sightseeing guide to London. Most of the photographs show the boys in ordinary activities, such as playing games and blowing candles out on a birthday cake. Only a few of the pictures include famous landmarks. The text, for the most part, is written as if the boys are telling the story of their visit. At times, the text jumps from a vacation journal to discussion of angelic orbs and the meaning of a particular statue in London. The book concludes with an invitation for everyone to come to the Olympics.