Title: Amanda the Angel Series
Author: Patricia Goskowski Kubus
Publisher: AuthorHouse
ISBN: 979-8-8230-2263-7
Pages: 48
Genre: Illustrated Children’s Book / Faith / Love
Reviewer: Beth Adams

Read Book Review

Author Patricia Goskowski Kubus brings to literary life Amanda, as an angel in her book,
Amanda the Angel Series, celebrating the brief life of her lost infant daughter due to a
birth defect affecting her breathing, and living only 20 days after being born. Medically,
the condition is named CDH, congenital diaphragmatic hernia, which although is rare
being 1-in-2,500 births, it does affect about 1,600 cases annually. Creating these
moral-driven themes showcasing issues children face commonly in daily life, is a
beautiful way to honor her loving memory of Amanda.

Amanda the Angel Series consists of a half-dozen little stories about children facing
various issues – when Amanda appears to each as an angel aiding in comfort and
wisdom to make a life-long memory for each of the characters. First, we are introduced
to Becky who tragically loses her dog Max due to a hit-and-run car accident. In the
veterinarian’s treatment room tears flow like rivers out of Becky’s eyes as she holds Max
during the dog’s last moments. The incident so imprinted animal care in Becky’s mind
that later in life she became a veterinarian herself. Next, we meet Sarah, who has
anxiety about going to school for the first time Amanda appeared in a vision among
various dolls and asked Sarah which doll she would like to play with? Sarah chose the
“mom” doll, at which point she began to understand how her mom was helping her to
overcome the fear of going to school, making her “the best mom ever!”

Kristy is a young girl who inadvertently strays away from her mom in a large department
store and realizes she is lost, causing her to not know how to find her mom. So, Kristy
goes into the store’s elevator and presses all of the buttons causing the elevator to stop
and the alarm sounding. Now trapped in the elevator by herself, Amanda appears to
stay with Kristy until help comes to rescue her. The illustration shows the two coloring
with crayons on the floor of the elevator car passing time – again the moral is how
Amanda helps calm and provide safety to those in need.

Other stories involve Daryl having his tonsils removed when Amanda appears in a
dream; Peter fishing as a child seeing Amanda in the reflection in the water; and Danny,
who gets bullied in school as Amanda soothes his emotions. Each story is peppered
with artfully drawn illustrations showing the characters, allowing for readers to get a
visual image in their minds of each of the individuals. But most impactfully Amanda is
portrayed with angel wings, bringing a theologically rich presence to each of the morals
of these stories.

Amanda the Angel Series is an excellent choice for parents to read to youngsters – as
the galley text is verbose and descriptive while the illustrations are filled with emotions.
The book can be read in its entirety, or paused at any point, as each story has a
beginning and an end. Patricia Goskowski Kubus has undoubtedly been influenced by
the loss of Amanda and has brought her unyielding love to incarnate her daughter’s
memory in this very creative book. Highly recommended for families and children’s
libraries alike!