Illustrated by R. W. Alley.32 p., Dial, 2006.
Gender prejudice can limit children's experience of their choices. When Nate's kindergarten class attends a performance by a ballet school, he falls in ove with ballet. Nate's brother, Ben, repeatedly tells him that he can't study ballet, because he's a boy, and that ballerinas have to wear a dress and pink shoes. Nate's parents calmly dispel these myths, and Nate asserts his right to dance. But Nate wants passionately to learn ballet, and until he can begin classes, he dances at home, in his yard, and on his driveway, and reads books about ballet. When he does begin classes, he's a bit alarmed to find that he's the only boy there. but he loves his teacher and he loves the class. In response to Nate's continuing discouragement about whether he can really be a ballerina, his mother takes him to a professional ballet, where he is not only stunned by the beauty of the performance, but also sees that half of the dancers are men. Afterward, his mother takes him backstage, where he meets one of the male dancer, who explains that the word ballerina is reserved for women who are the top dancers in a company - and that the equivalent term for men is ballerino. Now he knows he can truly be a ballet dancer. Playfully illustrated, this story shows children that it's possible to follow your heart even in spite of gender stereotypes.
Ages 3-8
Monday, December 26, 2011
Monday, December 19, 2011
Uncle Bobby's Wedding by Sarah S. Brannen
32 p., Putnam, 2008.
When your favorite uncle gets married, you might worry that you'll lose the special relationship you have with him. Such is the case for little guinea pig Chloe, when her favorite uncle, Bobby, announces his engagement. Bobby welcomes Chloe's concerns and reassures her that she'll always be special to him. When Chloe goes to the ballet and sailing with Bobby and his fiancé, Jamie, she discovers that she can have great fun with both of them, and finds herself wishing that they were both her uncles. Bobby explains that when he and Jamie are married, that's exactly how it will be. Chloe is Bobby and Jamie's flower girl, and she chooses the wedding cake. She's able to participate joyfully in the wedding. Illustrated with colorful, tenderly expressive watercolors, this story is full of acceptance and reassurance.
Ages 4-8
When your favorite uncle gets married, you might worry that you'll lose the special relationship you have with him. Such is the case for little guinea pig Chloe, when her favorite uncle, Bobby, announces his engagement. Bobby welcomes Chloe's concerns and reassures her that she'll always be special to him. When Chloe goes to the ballet and sailing with Bobby and his fiancé, Jamie, she discovers that she can have great fun with both of them, and finds herself wishing that they were both her uncles. Bobby explains that when he and Jamie are married, that's exactly how it will be. Chloe is Bobby and Jamie's flower girl, and she chooses the wedding cake. She's able to participate joyfully in the wedding. Illustrated with colorful, tenderly expressive watercolors, this story is full of acceptance and reassurance.
Ages 4-8
Monday, December 12, 2011
I Remember Miss Perry by Pat Brisson
Illustrated by Stéphane Jorisch.32 p., Dial, 2006.
The sudden death of a caring teacher is a painful loss. As this caring, warm-hearted story begins, Stevie has just moved and started attending a new school. He feels lonely and worried until his teacher, Miss Perry, empathizes with him and invites him to join her for lunch, using the charming phrase that this is her "fondest wish." It turns out that Miss Perry has fondest wishes about many things, including classroom activities and appropriate behavior. Then, one day, Miss Perry isn't at school. The principal teaches the children in the morning, and after lunch, all of their parents are there. Gently, the prinicipal explains that Miss Perry died in a head-on collision on her way to school that day. Children cling to their parents, cry, and ask questions, which the principal answers kindly. The principal and school counselor spend the next day with the class. Normalizing the children's tears, the counselor asks them to tell her about Miss Perry. With the principal's encouragement, they recall together the good times they'd had with her - and her fondest wishes. The counselor invites the children to consider what Miss Perry's fondest wish would be for that day. Although they're sad, the children are able to suggest tributes to Miss Perry: not being too sad, remembering the fun they'd had with her, getting along well with one another, learning a lot in school, and finally, being happy the way Miss Perry had been. The gentle ink, watercolor, and gouache illustrations clearly convey the characters' emotions. Children who have had a loss like Stevie's will feel supported and will better understand the process of grieving.
Ages 5-8
The sudden death of a caring teacher is a painful loss. As this caring, warm-hearted story begins, Stevie has just moved and started attending a new school. He feels lonely and worried until his teacher, Miss Perry, empathizes with him and invites him to join her for lunch, using the charming phrase that this is her "fondest wish." It turns out that Miss Perry has fondest wishes about many things, including classroom activities and appropriate behavior. Then, one day, Miss Perry isn't at school. The principal teaches the children in the morning, and after lunch, all of their parents are there. Gently, the prinicipal explains that Miss Perry died in a head-on collision on her way to school that day. Children cling to their parents, cry, and ask questions, which the principal answers kindly. The principal and school counselor spend the next day with the class. Normalizing the children's tears, the counselor asks them to tell her about Miss Perry. With the principal's encouragement, they recall together the good times they'd had with her - and her fondest wishes. The counselor invites the children to consider what Miss Perry's fondest wish would be for that day. Although they're sad, the children are able to suggest tributes to Miss Perry: not being too sad, remembering the fun they'd had with her, getting along well with one another, learning a lot in school, and finally, being happy the way Miss Perry had been. The gentle ink, watercolor, and gouache illustrations clearly convey the characters' emotions. Children who have had a loss like Stevie's will feel supported and will better understand the process of grieving.
Ages 5-8
Monday, December 5, 2011
Baby Can by Eve Bunting
Illustrated by Maxie Chambliss.32 p., Boyds Mills, 2007.
When there's a new baby in the family, sometimes the older child feels as if the baby gets all the attention. In this story, adults get excited when baby James does things like smile, roll over, and even burp. Big brother Brendan responds by showing how well he can do each of these things. When James finally learns to walk everyone wants him to walk to them, but James walks to Brendan for a hug. Brendan is happy, and Mom describes this as evidence of James's love for him. Charmingly illustrated in watercolors with a primarily pastel color palette, this story supports the unique importance of the older sibling.
Ages 2-4
When there's a new baby in the family, sometimes the older child feels as if the baby gets all the attention. In this story, adults get excited when baby James does things like smile, roll over, and even burp. Big brother Brendan responds by showing how well he can do each of these things. When James finally learns to walk everyone wants him to walk to them, but James walks to Brendan for a hug. Brendan is happy, and Mom describes this as evidence of James's love for him. Charmingly illustrated in watercolors with a primarily pastel color palette, this story supports the unique importance of the older sibling.
Ages 2-4