Illustrated by Cozbi A. Cabrera. 48 p., Random House, 2008.
Baby Girl plays under the quilting frame as the women of her family create the famous quilts of Gee's Bend, Alabama. Listening to them, she not only learns homemaking and parenting skills, but also absorbs the ability to make meaning through art. With a piece of her Grandma's dress at its heart, Baby Girl's first quilt celebrates African American people's strength, hope, and determination in the face of racism, and tells the stories of the heroes in the fight against it. This moving story beautifully stitches together themes of coming of age, the strength of community, triumph over racism, and creativity.
Ages: 6-10
Cultural Context: African American
Sunday, May 31, 2009
Sunday, May 24, 2009
My Friend the Doctor by Joanna Cole
Illustrated by Maxie Chambliss. 24 p., HarperCollins, 2005.
Children may have worries when visiting their doctor for a checkup. This story provides an upbeat role model who is "just like you" in a little girl who tolerates a checkup calmly and copes successfully with the pain of an immunization. It explains what happens at a well-child visit and why, in age-appropriate ways that reflects children's perspectives. For example, when the doctor palpates the child's belly, she says, "That tickles." The upbeat, gentle illustrations and direct, often humorous text (the doctor looks in the child's ears, asking if she has an elephant in there) make it clear to kids that they can feel safe and comfortable at their checkup. An afterword for parents describes ways to support children in coping with any stress they may feel around physician visits. This book can help make it easier for children to manage visits to the doctor.
Ages: 0-4
Cultural Context: multicultural
Children may have worries when visiting their doctor for a checkup. This story provides an upbeat role model who is "just like you" in a little girl who tolerates a checkup calmly and copes successfully with the pain of an immunization. It explains what happens at a well-child visit and why, in age-appropriate ways that reflects children's perspectives. For example, when the doctor palpates the child's belly, she says, "That tickles." The upbeat, gentle illustrations and direct, often humorous text (the doctor looks in the child's ears, asking if she has an elephant in there) make it clear to kids that they can feel safe and comfortable at their checkup. An afterword for parents describes ways to support children in coping with any stress they may feel around physician visits. This book can help make it easier for children to manage visits to the doctor.
Ages: 0-4
Cultural Context: multicultural
Sunday, May 17, 2009
Seeing Things My Way by Alden R. Carter
Illustrated by Carol S. Carter. 32 p., Whitman, 1998.
A second-grade girl named Amanda explains that she has a vision impairment and tells its history. She describes both the ways she copes with it (using Close-Circuit Television to enlarge letters in books, learning Braille, regular medical checkups, physical therapy to address difficulty with balance that's due to limited depth perception) and the everyday things she enjoys (shopping for food with her mother and sisters, going to slumber parties, having her father read to her). Photographs illustrate the contrast between ordinary vision and Amanda's perception. Amanda tells about other kinds of visual impairments and the ways kids cope with them. Acknowledging that she doesn't like being vision-impaired, by admiring both famous and everyday people who have vision impairments, she remains genuinely optimistic. She also acknowledges her personal strength. Realistic, informative, and positive, this story can help both children who have vision impairments and to those who could benefit from understanding others' difficulties with seeing.
Ages: 4-9
Cultural Context: multicultural
A second-grade girl named Amanda explains that she has a vision impairment and tells its history. She describes both the ways she copes with it (using Close-Circuit Television to enlarge letters in books, learning Braille, regular medical checkups, physical therapy to address difficulty with balance that's due to limited depth perception) and the everyday things she enjoys (shopping for food with her mother and sisters, going to slumber parties, having her father read to her). Photographs illustrate the contrast between ordinary vision and Amanda's perception. Amanda tells about other kinds of visual impairments and the ways kids cope with them. Acknowledging that she doesn't like being vision-impaired, by admiring both famous and everyday people who have vision impairments, she remains genuinely optimistic. She also acknowledges her personal strength. Realistic, informative, and positive, this story can help both children who have vision impairments and to those who could benefit from understanding others' difficulties with seeing.
Ages: 4-9
Cultural Context: multicultural
Sunday, May 10, 2009
Think Happy! by Nancy Carlson
34 p., Carolrhoda, 2009.
When children are feeling unhappy, it's easy for them forget what makes them feel good. With a suggestion on each page, this book is full of wonderful reminders. These include telling yourself you're cool, thinking positive thoughts, speaking up for yourself, and asking for help; having fun by playing outside or having a party; and taking good physical care of yourself by getting good sleep and exercise. The author also encourages kids to have positive interactions with others, to soothe themselves, and to reassure themselves that they're loved. Many of these ideas may be helpful for kids who are feeling angry or worried, as well as those who are feeling sad. And it's hard to be unhappy when you look at the brightly-colored illustrations. Not all of the ideas will work for all children all the time, but this "coping tool kit," provides lots of constructive places to start.
Ages: 5-9
Cultural Context: non-human
When children are feeling unhappy, it's easy for them forget what makes them feel good. With a suggestion on each page, this book is full of wonderful reminders. These include telling yourself you're cool, thinking positive thoughts, speaking up for yourself, and asking for help; having fun by playing outside or having a party; and taking good physical care of yourself by getting good sleep and exercise. The author also encourages kids to have positive interactions with others, to soothe themselves, and to reassure themselves that they're loved. Many of these ideas may be helpful for kids who are feeling angry or worried, as well as those who are feeling sad. And it's hard to be unhappy when you look at the brightly-colored illustrations. Not all of the ideas will work for all children all the time, but this "coping tool kit," provides lots of constructive places to start.
Ages: 5-9
Cultural Context: non-human
Sunday, May 3, 2009
Sarah's Waterfall by Ellery Akers
Illustrated by Angelique Benicio. 52 p., Safer Society, 2009.
When children have been sexually abused, they may feel fearful, ashamed, guilty, sad, and different from other kids. As this story opens, elementary-school-age Sarah, who has been sexually abused by her stepfather, describes these feelings. Written in the form of her journal, Sarah's Waterfall chronicles her healing from this traumatic experience. Sarah's mother has died, and she lives with her Gram. Sarah is safe with Gram, who reassures her that she is beautiful and good. When Sarah is sad, Gram assures her of her devotion to her and her willingness accompany her through the process of her recovery. Gram also provides a loving, ordinary life for Sarah, playing cards with her, taking her to museums and out to lunch, and taking care of her when she has a cold and when she needs glasses. Sarah also participates in a group for sexually abused girls that is led by her school psychologist, Mrs. Bell. The group does exercises to help work through their painful feelings and to learn to feel strong again. One of the most significant for Sarah is drawing; in particular, drawing what it feels like to feel clean. In the group, Sarah meets a new best friend, Paula, who is also a wonderful source of support. By the end of the story, Sarah has moved through her fear, shame, and aloneness, and is taking delight in everyday things. This story can be a source of empathy, support, and hope as children recover from the trauma of sexual abuse.
Ages: 7-12
Cultural Context: multicultural
When children have been sexually abused, they may feel fearful, ashamed, guilty, sad, and different from other kids. As this story opens, elementary-school-age Sarah, who has been sexually abused by her stepfather, describes these feelings. Written in the form of her journal, Sarah's Waterfall chronicles her healing from this traumatic experience. Sarah's mother has died, and she lives with her Gram. Sarah is safe with Gram, who reassures her that she is beautiful and good. When Sarah is sad, Gram assures her of her devotion to her and her willingness accompany her through the process of her recovery. Gram also provides a loving, ordinary life for Sarah, playing cards with her, taking her to museums and out to lunch, and taking care of her when she has a cold and when she needs glasses. Sarah also participates in a group for sexually abused girls that is led by her school psychologist, Mrs. Bell. The group does exercises to help work through their painful feelings and to learn to feel strong again. One of the most significant for Sarah is drawing; in particular, drawing what it feels like to feel clean. In the group, Sarah meets a new best friend, Paula, who is also a wonderful source of support. By the end of the story, Sarah has moved through her fear, shame, and aloneness, and is taking delight in everyday things. This story can be a source of empathy, support, and hope as children recover from the trauma of sexual abuse.
Ages: 7-12
Cultural Context: multicultural