Mr. Griffin and the Treasure Hunt: An Adventure Through Symbols

By Jane Fatima Casewit

Nothing is more important in children's education than an understanding of symbolism and how to apply its wisdom continuously to daily life. The language of symbolism conveys essential teachings which help a person to understand the meaning of life as well as the

• Language: English
• Publisher: ReadersMagnet LLC
• Release date: Jan 31, 2024
• ISBN: 9798890914255

Jane Fatima Casewit

Jane F. Casewit is an educator, translator and editor who spent many years in Morocco and other parts of the Middle East. Her profound interest in symbolism and metaphysics led her to write this story for her children, then for her grandchildren and other children because young children have a natural tendency to goodness and an innate sensitivity to the natural world and a potential relationship with God. They take delight in beauty and are ever curious about the universe, continually asking questions about their surroundings. As their intellects develop, children begin to pose the great questions of life and want to know the meaning of our existence, that of the world and the existence of God. Nourishing a love for the natural world, through the symbols around us, promotes empathy, understanding of others and wider views of global concern.

Book preview

Ebook_Cover.jpg

This e-book has been given to you by the author and publisher solely for your own personal use. This e-book may not in any manner be made accessible to the general public. Infringing on someone else’s copyright is illegal.

Please contact the publisher at www.readersmagnet.com if you think the copy of this e-book you are reading violates the author’s copyright.

Mr. Griffin and the Treasure Hunt:

An Adventure Through Symbols

For my grandchildren with overflowing love,

Ayla

Hanan

Yasin

Ali

Acknowledgements:

The author wishes to thank the following friends

for their valuable feedback and ideas:

William Stoddart, Virginia Gray Henry, Amina Gril, Deborah Bell,

Hasan Awan, Mustapha Majdhub, Patricia Griffin,

Sarah Casewit for her assistance with illustrations and

Ishaaq Valodia for his careful editing.

Mr. Griffin and the Treasure Hunt: An Adventure Through Symbols

Copyright © 2023 by Jane Fatima Casewit

Published in the United States of America

Library of Congress Control Number: 2024901080

ISBN Paperback: 979-8-89091-424-8

ISBN eBook: 979-8-89091-425-5

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any way by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording or otherwise without the prior permission of the author except as provided by USA copyright law.

The opinions expressed by the author are not necessarily those of ReadersMagnet, LLC.

ReadersMagnet, LLC

10620 Treena Street, Suite 230 | San Diego, California, 92131 USA

1.619. 354. 2643 | www.readersmagnet.com

Book design copyright © 2023 by ReadersMagnet, LLC. All rights reserved.

Cover design by Jhie Oraiz

Interior design by Dorothy Lee

Table of Contents

PREFACE

CHAPTER ONE

Loving Light

CHAPTER TWO

Over The Rainbow

CHAPTER THREE

Our Solar System – God’s Amazing,Ever-Moving Puzzle

CHAPTER FOUR

Water - Life and Mercy

CHAPTER FIVE

About Ships and Navigation

CHAPTER SIX

Fountains

CHAPTER SEVEN

Flowers and Gardens - Glimpses of Paradise

CHAPTER EIGHT

Trees Have Arms That Reach Up to Heaven

CHAPTER NINE

The Insects and Animals -Our Brothers and Sisters

The Ant, Diligent Builder

The Bee, Selfless Worker

The Spider, Weaver of the World

The Butterfly, Miracle & Possibility

The Birds, Heavenly Creatures

The Dog, Loyal Friend

The Elephant, Compassion & Kindness

The Bear, New Life

The Horse, a Most Noble Creature

The Turtle, Heavenly Bodies

CHAPTER TEN

Mountains and Caves -Adventures Inside and Out

A Famous Story about a Cave

CHAPTER ELEVEN

Shapes and Numbers -Forms That Surround Us

CHAPTER TWELVE

Our Human Form and Intelligence -

PREFACE

One starry night, four adventurous children were lying in bed dreaming of taking a fantastic journey through the clouds, maybe even flying with the birds. They didn’t feel like sleeping at all and they really wanted to have an adventure, especially Hanan and Yasin. But all of them, Ayla, Hanan, Yasin and Ali, wanted to go on a fun treasure hunt, far away from home, away from their parents, and search for a secret treasure. They closed their eyes as they were talking about this when all of a sudden a handsome griffin appeared, right in front of their beds! With his majestic eagle wings layered in golden feathers and his strong body of a lion covered with the softest fur, a griffin is a mythical creature and often appears in treasure hunting stories. It is no wonder that he is a symbol of great strength and the children were eager to find out more about him!

The griffin addressed them in a friendly way and said, "AsSalamu Aleikum – Hola and Bonsoir to you my four lovelies. My name is Griffin and I’m delighted to take you on your journey. The treasure you are looking for is very precious and you should really try to find it. So, hop out of bed, jump onto my back and hold on! We’re going to be flying through the skies, over the mountains and through the clouds because our special treasure just might be at the end of a spectacular rainbow!"

The children were very excited. They didn’t even change out of their pajamas. They just jumped onto kind Mr. Griffin’s back ready for their great adventure. Out of the window they flew, into the night sky, holding on to his soft feathers. They could see the stars and moon, but before they knew what was happening, it was daytime again. Had Mr. Griffin flown with the children to the other side of the world?

Look at the clouds clearing and the bright sunlight peeking through them! Griffin exclaimed as he slowed down and started to float slowly in the pure air. "We don’t think about light very often because we are so used to having light all around us. But if you think for a moment, it is amazing that light is everywhere, all around us, but it can’t really be ‘seen’. You all know the verse in the Quran: ‘Allāhu nūru al-samāwāti wa-al-arḍ’ – ‘God is the Light of the Heavens and Earth.’" The children were still too excited with their sailing ride through the sky to think about symbols, but after they heard the Quran, everyone calmed down.

CHAPTER ONE

Loving Light

B ut, what does light really mean? Is it what we call a symbol? Yasin asked. Yes, exactly, replied the wise griffin. "Because clear light is the great symbol of the knowledge of God and the presence of All ā h Who is with us all the time, just like the light that surrounds us on our journey and everywhere. God is everywhere and we can learn about Him everywhere. Light reminds us that God is everywhere. Just as nothing can exist without God wanting it to exist, nothing can exist without light. Even the plants living at the very bottom of the sea on the ocean floor need a tiny bit of light to grow. Light surrounds us all the time, even at night when we think it is very dark, there is still the light of the moon reflected from the sun. Light can remind us of God