Chef Pierre Roundbottom: Trouble with Fruit

By Carol Dornon

This edition is first in the Chef Pierre Roundbottoms Character Trait Series. The stories within gently unfold how the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-25) can be applied in a childs everyday life.

Carol Dornon, member of Bethany Community Church in central Illinois, has written God-centered stories to assist you in the development of biblical characteristics in your precious children.

Reality, fantasy, and core biblical truths are weaved into the stories about a small-town French baker named Chef Pierre Roundbottom, his assistant Gramcracker, and the residents of Whistling Wind. These enjoyable, memorable, and biblically sound storybook characters see young lives changed in their town when biblical truths are applied!

• Language: English
• Publisher: WestBow Press
• Release date: Mar 28, 2012
• ISBN: 9781449742959

Carol Dornon

Carol and Bob Dornon with their two children, spouses and eight grandchildren.

Book preview

Contents

A Word to Parents and Grandparents

Acknowledgments

Love

Joy

Peace

Patience

Kindness

Goodness

Faithfulness

Gentleness

Self-Control

Glossary

Chef Pierre Roundbottom and Gramcracker’s Favorite Recipes

About the Author

Chef Pierre Roundbottom

Character Trait Series™

Assisting in the development of biblical characteristics or traits in your child or grandchildren through the imaginary characters of Chef Pierre Roundbottom and Gramcracker

To the family and friends of It is a PEACE of Cake, who encourage our ministry of spreading the good news of Jesus Christ through biblically based birthday parties for children. Praise to God who is the creator of all things, who in His infinite wisdom gives us the desire and ability to serve Him beyond what we can imagine.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit. (Galatians 5:22–25)

A Word to Parents and Grandparents

When I visit in the homes of our eight grandchildren, I am often asked to make up a bedtime story. I used to think the children were trying to extend their bedtime, but I soon realized they enjoyed the stories I shared. They were fond of the stories they could relate to in daily life, with just a bit of fantasy.

To satisfy my deep desire to fill my grandchildren with sound biblical values, I weaved reality, fantasy, and core biblical truths into the stories. Hence, Chef Pierre Roundbottom and his assistant, Gramcracker, were created. They are enjoyable, memorable, and biblically sound storybook characters. The stories stimulate the building of godly characteristics in children whether at home, at school, or at play.

Each story reflects a fruit of the spirit listed in Galatians 5:22-25 of the Bible. Only God can reveal the fruit of the spirit in a child, if they are trusting in the name of Jesus as their Lord and Savior. My prayer is that the Lord will call all children to make that decision.

Thank you for allowing me to contribute to the spiritual growth of your child through the characters of Chef Pierre Roundbottom and Gramcracker.

Carol Dornon

Acknowledgments

I want to thank my husband, Bob Dornon, for being a wonderful partner in life and ministry. Your encouragement, prayers, support, and patience are an essential part of my life. You are a blessing from above.

Thanks to my children and their spouses: Al and Sherrie Dornon, and Jason and Jaime Stanley. Your knowledge of children and parental behavior has kept the characters and story lines fresh and up-to-date. I praise God for your trust in Him.

Hugs and a giant thank you to each of my eight grandchildren: Trace, Hadley, August, and William Dornon, and Ali, Whitney, Jon, and Hope Stanley. You are the inspiration for my stories. Always remember that God has given us His Word, the Bible, showing us that the character and life of His Son Jesus is the only one to imitate. I love each of you abundantly!

Thank you Cheryl Sharpe, my dear twin sister, for your imagination and divine sense of humor!

I would like to give a special thank-you to my beloved Grandpa Jim, who never fails to ask me how the writing is going.

Thanks to Tom Warren, who artistically captured the essence and character of Chef Pierre Roundbottom in the logo he painted for both our ministry and our business.

My undying gratitude to Bev Smith, a friend and local grade school teacher, who provided assistance to me as she reviewed the manuscript through the eyes of grade school children. Also, a big hug to RuthAnne Clore, who assisted in the prototyping of the Chef Pierre Roundbottom and Gramcracker dolls! Chef and Gramcracker came to life!

Thank you to members of my church care group, who lifted me up in prayer and joyfully advocated this project.

I want to thank my lifelong friend, Mary Warren, for meeting with me weekly. You blessed me by being a faithful prayer partner. You are an endorsement of support and encouragement, my friend!

A warm thank you to our great neighbor and friends, Larry and Mary Robinson for your support and listening ears.

Above all, I thank God for giving me the privilege and honor of serving Him.

Carol Dornon

Washington, Illinois

2012

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The team playing hockey.

Love

Big fluffy white snowflakes gently fell over the little town of Whistling Wind. Within an hour, a layer of snow blanketed the sidewalks and streets. On the town square was a French bakery named It is a PEACE of Cake, owned and operated by Chef Pierre Roundbottom. It was nestled between a bike shop and a shoe-repair shop. A toy shop, bank, clothing store, and small grocery were a few of the other shops surrounding the square. The snow was coming down faster from the gray sky. Soon, the shopkeepers would need to shovel the snow away from the doors so customers could get into their shops.

The little town of Whistling Wind was a quaint and cozy place to live. The friendly people frequently visited the bakery for fresh pastries, cookies, and cakes. Children met friends in the Town Square Park to play, while their parents sat in the park’s gazebo and visited. Today, the gazebo held a nativity scene. The congregation of the Whistling Wind Community Church had assembled a nativity stable. In the stable, they placed wooden carvings of Mary, Joseph, and the baby Jesus. Other wooden carvings displayed sheep lying on a bed of straw, as shepherds adoringly looked at the baby lying in the manger.

Wise men from the East were kneeling before the manger, holding out valuable gifts to the baby Jesus. A mechanical angel overlooked the scene, quoting a familiar Bible verse, Luke 2:10: Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.

Twinkling lights glowed brightly in the evergreen and holly bushes growing along the walkways.

It sure looks like Christmas, Trace thought as he glanced at the nativity scene and the twinkling lights. Christmas Day will soon be here! Trace was in a hurry as he headed toward the bakery. As captain of the ice hockey team, he was chosen to buy a Christmas gift for Coach Sutton. So far, he hadn’t been able to think of one idea. Chef Pierre had never failed Trace when he had needed help in the past, so he was anxious to see the chef and ask his opinion on what gift to buy.

Trace was eleven years old, and he had been coming to the bakery with his mom ever since he could remember. His grandmother, Gramcracker, worked as Chef Pierre’s bakery assistant. Trace and his siblings and four cousins often stopped by the bakery. The grandchildren would laughingly tease their grandmother and say they would trade a hug for a cookie. So far their plan had always worked; they had never left the bakery without leaving a trail of cookie crumbs!

Gramcracker was always delighted to give the