Translated by J. Alison James. 25 p., North-South Books, 1996.
Preschool-age Marie imagines she is a princess and, as she gets inside a cardboard carton, tumbles into Boxland. There she meets the king and queen, who wear one box for clothing and a box each for crowns. She has several adventures, sailing in a paper boat and outwitting the royal lion, before she has to go home. This story shows kids how to transform an ordinary object into the gateway to imaginary adventures.
Ages: 2-5
Cultural Context: multicultural
Sunday, November 26, 2006
Sunday, November 19, 2006
A Family for Jamie: An Adoption Story by Suzanne Bloom
24 pages. Clarkson N. Potter, 1991.
Molly and Dan can make almost anything, from cookies to bird houses, but although they wish for a child to share these with, they can't make a baby. They decide to adopt a baby, and visit a social worker. As they wait through the winter, spring, and summer for a baby, they anticipate the fun things they'll do with their child during each season. At the same time, they acknowledge the child's individuality, realizing that the child might not enjoy doing the things they enjoy. Finally, in the fall, the social worker has found a baby for them, and they're full of joy as they bring baby Jamie home. Their family and friends are happy with them. This story will help young children understand the adoption process in a positive, age-appropriate way.
Ages: 1-4
Cultural Context: multicultural
A Family for Jamie: AN ADOPTION STORY
Molly and Dan can make almost anything, from cookies to bird houses, but although they wish for a child to share these with, they can't make a baby. They decide to adopt a baby, and visit a social worker. As they wait through the winter, spring, and summer for a baby, they anticipate the fun things they'll do with their child during each season. At the same time, they acknowledge the child's individuality, realizing that the child might not enjoy doing the things they enjoy. Finally, in the fall, the social worker has found a baby for them, and they're full of joy as they bring baby Jamie home. Their family and friends are happy with them. This story will help young children understand the adoption process in a positive, age-appropriate way.
Ages: 1-4
Cultural Context: multicultural
A Family for Jamie: AN ADOPTION STORY
Sunday, November 12, 2006
Amber on the Mountain by Tony Johnston
Illustrated by R. Duncan. 32 pages. Dial, 1994.
Amber lives in an isolated mountain community where there is no school. She longs to read, but has never had a chance to learn how. When Anna's father comes to the mountain to build a road, Amber meets and becomes friends with Anna, who decides to help her learn to read. Athough it's frustrating for Amber, Anna encourages her to be stubborn about it, and she does learn. Then Anna decides she's going to teach Amber to write. But she doesn't have the opportunity - her father has finished the road, and her family is moving away. As a going-away gift, she gives Amber the book that inspired her to read, and Amber gives her a clay mule, representing the determination that Anna helped her find in herself. When Amber receives letters from Anna, she decides to teach herself to write. With the tenacity she's found through Anna, she succeeds, and writes Anna a letter. The two friends maintain their connection through letters even though they're far apart. Children will understand that encouraging the development of each other's strengths and feeling joy in each other's successes enrich friendships.
Ages: 6-10
Cultural Context: European American
Amber lives in an isolated mountain community where there is no school. She longs to read, but has never had a chance to learn how. When Anna's father comes to the mountain to build a road, Amber meets and becomes friends with Anna, who decides to help her learn to read. Athough it's frustrating for Amber, Anna encourages her to be stubborn about it, and she does learn. Then Anna decides she's going to teach Amber to write. But she doesn't have the opportunity - her father has finished the road, and her family is moving away. As a going-away gift, she gives Amber the book that inspired her to read, and Amber gives her a clay mule, representing the determination that Anna helped her find in herself. When Amber receives letters from Anna, she decides to teach herself to write. With the tenacity she's found through Anna, she succeeds, and writes Anna a letter. The two friends maintain their connection through letters even though they're far apart. Children will understand that encouraging the development of each other's strengths and feeling joy in each other's successes enrich friendships.
Ages: 6-10
Cultural Context: European American
Sunday, November 5, 2006
When I Care About Others by Cornelia Maude Spelman
Illustrated by Kathy Parkinson. 24 pages. Whitman, 2002.
A little bear recounts some of the ways that others care about him or her, and realizes that s/he can care about others in similar ways. The bear presents the important insight that other people have the same kinds of feelings that the bear does, and shows how to use this to make decisions about interpersonal behavior. Since the bear dislikes being teased or pushed, s/he doesn't tease or push others. Since the bear likes it when others act friendly, share, and compliment, the bear extends friendliness, sharing, and compliments to others. Notes for parents and teachers explain how children develop empathy and compassion, and give specific suggestions for promoting these qualities. Children will learn how to use their own feelings to get along with other people in a positive way.
Ages: 2-5
Cultural Context: non-human
A little bear recounts some of the ways that others care about him or her, and realizes that s/he can care about others in similar ways. The bear presents the important insight that other people have the same kinds of feelings that the bear does, and shows how to use this to make decisions about interpersonal behavior. Since the bear dislikes being teased or pushed, s/he doesn't tease or push others. Since the bear likes it when others act friendly, share, and compliment, the bear extends friendliness, sharing, and compliments to others. Notes for parents and teachers explain how children develop empathy and compassion, and give specific suggestions for promoting these qualities. Children will learn how to use their own feelings to get along with other people in a positive way.
Ages: 2-5
Cultural Context: non-human