This work gently encourages kindness and empathy—and delivers fanciful illustrations that will draw the eyes of young...
A poem introduces the idea of finding peace through understanding others in this picture book.
Beginning with the proposition that all people—identified by Cummings (Like Rain Water, 2019, etc.) as “you” and “me”—have to share Earth, the poem presents the concept of both existing in your own space and learning from neighbors. While telling young readers that they don’t have to think the same way as other people, the author soothingly shares in rhyming phrases an important idea. They should try to recognize someone else’s viewpoint: “I promise to hear you and when I don’t like what I see, / I will try to see you through your lens, not the one made for me.” The message is a poignant one, and though the poem provides few tools for finding that sense of perspective other than offering respect and compassion, the beauty of the notion comes through clearly. Extensive endnotes supply discussion questions, quotes from famous figures on the topic of peace, and space for independent readers to write their own responses. Mosley’s (Tied In, 2018, etc.) lovely, whimsical images combine cartoon and painterly elements. The wide variety of children pictured—as well as a tip of the hat to Spanish in this English-language book—reinforces the themes of the poem.
This work gently encourages kindness and empathy—and delivers fanciful illustrations that will draw the eyes of young readers.Pub Date: N/A
ISBN: 978-1-951218-18-8
Page Count: -
Publisher: Lulu Publishing Services
Review Posted Online: Nov. 5, 2019
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
BOOK REVIEW
PROFILES
Broccoli: No way is James going to eat broccoli. “It’s disgusting,” says James. Well then, James, says his father, let’s consider the alternatives: some wormy dirt, perhaps, some stinky socks, some pre-chewed gum? James reconsiders the broccoli, but—milk? “Blech,” says James. Right, says his father, who needs strong bones? You’ll be great at hide-and-seek, though not so great at baseball and kickball and even tickling the dog’s belly. James takes a mouthful. So it goes through lumpy oatmeal, mushroom lasagna and slimy eggs, with James’ father parrying his son’s every picky thrust. And it is fun, because the father’s retorts are so outlandish: the lasagna-making troll in the basement who will be sent back to the rat circus, there to endure the rodent’s vicious bites; the uneaten oatmeal that will grow and grow and probably devour the dog that the boy won’t be able to tickle any longer since his bones are so rubbery. Schneider’s watercolors catch the mood of gentle ribbing, the looks of bewilderment and surrender and the deadpanned malarkey. It all makes James’ father’s last urging—“I was just going to say that you might like them if you tried them”—wholly fresh and unexpected advice. (Early reader. 5-9)
Pub Date: May 1, 2011
ISBN: 978-0-547-14956-1
Page Count: 48
Publisher: Clarion Books
Review Posted Online: April 4, 2011
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 1, 2011
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
A sweet, soft conversation starter and a charming gift.
A paean to teachers and their surrogates everywhere.
This gentle ode to a teacher’s skill at inspiring, encouraging, and being a role model is spoken, presumably, from a child’s viewpoint. However, the voice could equally be that of an adult, because who can’t look back upon teachers or other early mentors who gave of themselves and offered their pupils so much? Indeed, some of the self-aware, self-assured expressions herein seem perhaps more realistic as uttered from one who’s already grown. Alternatively, readers won’t fail to note that this small book, illustrated with gentle soy-ink drawings and featuring an adult-child bear duo engaged in various sedentary and lively pursuits, could just as easily be about human parent- (or grandparent-) child pairs: some of the softly colored illustrations depict scenarios that are more likely to occur within a home and/or other family-oriented setting. Makes sense: aren’t parents and other close family members children’s first teachers? This duality suggests that the book might be best shared one-on-one between a nostalgic adult and a child who’s developed some self-confidence, having learned a thing or two from a parent, grandparent, older relative, or classroom instructor.
A sweet, soft conversation starter and a charming gift. (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: March 1, 2017
ISBN: 978-1-943200-08-5
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Compendium
Review Posted Online: Dec. 13, 2016
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 2017
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