Children will learn the value of love & wisdom in this inspiring story… with a twist!


A little girl is moved by compassion for the hungry children on the other side of A Very Wide River! She tries to help to no avail. Plan B seems to go even worse! Two crocs are called upon to transport her apples from her very own tree across the river on their backs. Little did Amelia know, all her hopes would come crashing down! At least, they would appear to! At the end of the day, Amelia comes to find that you should never judge a croc by its scales (or its bite!). Amelia discovers that when all her plans seem to fail, there is often a greater plan in the works. She learns one of the most precious lessons of all: to see beyond what can be seen.
In this unique story, children are inspired to think bigger and look deeper than ever before. Love and wisdom work together wonderfully in this enjoyable short story. While love leads to action, only the wisest actions lead to change that will last forever!
While AVWR is ideal for 4-9 year-olds, adults of all ages are also able to find much inspiration from the storyline. The story helps to motivate a mentality of big thinking and investment in the future. The story could also be a great conversation starter for introducing children to the subject of poverty and helping those in need.


AVWR has been beautifully illustrated by Alland Wijaya with great care and attention to detail. Since Alland worked with the author’s sketches, he could bring to life the author’s own imagination. His unique and colorful designs are there to encourage full emotional engagement as you approach the happy ending!


We hope you enjoy our book 🙂

Book Details

  • Title: A Very Wide River: A Short Moral Story About Love and Wisdom Working Together
  • Author: Asa Childress
  • Genre: Children’s
  • Publication Date: 23 March 2022
  • ISBN or ASIN: B09WF8KVGM
  • Number of Pages: 26
  • Minimum Audience Age: 5

Book Themes

(Note: 0=none, 1=a few, 2=considerable, 3=pronounced, 4=excessive)

  • Sexual themes: 0
  • Religious themes: 0
  • Violence, self-harm, etc.: 0
  • Crude language, expletives, swearing, etc.: 0
  • Other adult themes: 0

Children’s Book Features

  • Good role models for younger ones: Yes
  • Moral values: Yes
  • Good social manners: Yes
  • Age-appropriate language and topics: Yes
  • Age-appropriate illustrations: Yes

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By The BREWer

As a caterpillar goes out of its dark cocoon, grows its wings, and flies high up in the sky, I acknowledge my role in the entire process of the written word's metamorphosis through The Chrysalis BREW Project. I believe that beauty and goodness exist in everything and everyone - may we let that emerge and shine in each word we read, concoct, write, or share.

2 thoughts on “Featured Book: “A Very Wide River” by Asa Childress”
  1. Helping those less favored than us is crucial, but I also find it very important to give little ones the peace of mind of knowing that, despite setbacks, there’s always a bigger, better plan. What a lovely book!

    1. Absolutely! Instilling hope and resilience in children is as important as providing support. This book sounds like a heartwarming read for both kids and adults alike.

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