32 p., Holiday House, 1996.
Zork, an extraterrestrial, gives extraterrestrial audience a slide presentation about the ways that he or she has observed that humans make friends. Zork gives examples of how and where friends meet and what they might do together and talk about. Zork explains the ways that humans do (for example, by taking turns and listening) and don't (for example, acting bossy or selfish) get along with each other, and identifies some of the feelings people have in each case. Zork explains how humans work out conflicts, admit their mistakes, and apologize to and forgive one another. Zork's lecture ends with information about types of friends (for example, close or casual friends) and ways to keep in touch (for example, phone, letters, and email). Zork tells readers that friends get along by keeping secrets and don't get along when they "blab" them; children may need to be reminded that they should tell a secret if it makes them uncomfortable or could cause someone to get hurt. Otherwise, this book is full of practical, accessible information about friendship and social skills.
Ages 3-8
Monday, March 5, 2012
Monday, February 27, 2012
Little Raccoon's Big Question by Miriam Schlein
Illustrated by Ian Schoenherr.32 p., Greenwillow, 2004.
A little raccoon asks his mother when she loves him most. He guesses that she might love him most at times when he's adorable, or compliant, or plays well with other raccoon children, or shows his skills. Mother Raccoon explains that she loves him most now, because it's always now. This book is especially nice as a bedtime story, because it not only expresses a soothing message of unconditional love, but also ends with the little raccoon's bedtime.
Ages 3-7
A little raccoon asks his mother when she loves him most. He guesses that she might love him most at times when he's adorable, or compliant, or plays well with other raccoon children, or shows his skills. Mother Raccoon explains that she loves him most now, because it's always now. This book is especially nice as a bedtime story, because it not only expresses a soothing message of unconditional love, but also ends with the little raccoon's bedtime.
Ages 3-7
Monday, February 20, 2012
Abuelita's Paradise by Carmen Santiago Nodar
Illustrated by Diane Paterson.32 p., Whitman, 1992.
As this story begins, Marita's father gives her her grandmother's rocking chair, saying that Abuelita wanted her to have it. Marita sits in the chair and remembers sitting in Abuelita's lap in the chair as she told her stories of her childhood on a sugar cane farm in Puerto Rico. Abuelita tells Marita that Puerto Rico is paradise. Toward the end of the book, the author tells us that Abuelita has died. Marita's mother sits with her in the rocking chair and both feel embraced by Abuelita's presence, shown in the illustrations as a shadowy image. Marita daydreams about traveling to Puerto Rico someday, feeling that she truly has her Abuelita with her. Children will understand that when someone close dies, their stories are still a part of you.
Ages 3-8
As this story begins, Marita's father gives her her grandmother's rocking chair, saying that Abuelita wanted her to have it. Marita sits in the chair and remembers sitting in Abuelita's lap in the chair as she told her stories of her childhood on a sugar cane farm in Puerto Rico. Abuelita tells Marita that Puerto Rico is paradise. Toward the end of the book, the author tells us that Abuelita has died. Marita's mother sits with her in the rocking chair and both feel embraced by Abuelita's presence, shown in the illustrations as a shadowy image. Marita daydreams about traveling to Puerto Rico someday, feeling that she truly has her Abuelita with her. Children will understand that when someone close dies, their stories are still a part of you.
Ages 3-8
Monday, February 13, 2012
Henry's Show and Tell by Nancy Carlson
32 p., Viking, 2004.
Shyness can make some parts of life really difficult. Little mouse Henry loves everything about kindergarten except for Show and Tell. He feels too scared and shaky to speak in front of his class. His sympathetic teacher suggests that he bring something that he enjoys talking about and practice his presentation in front of a mirror. Henry takes her advice and brings his pet lizard, Wallace. But just as he's about to talk, Wallace escapes. By the time he catches Wallace, Henry forgets to be shy, and easily tells his class all about lizards. When it's time for Show and Tell again, Henry is silent. He explains that he has nothing to talk about because his pet spider has escaped. As his teacher calls recess, the story ends. With its bright, child-friendly illustrations, this empathic story shows children that they're not alone in their shyness, and that it's possible to overcome it even when - and possible because of - unexpected events.
Ages 4-7
Shyness can make some parts of life really difficult. Little mouse Henry loves everything about kindergarten except for Show and Tell. He feels too scared and shaky to speak in front of his class. His sympathetic teacher suggests that he bring something that he enjoys talking about and practice his presentation in front of a mirror. Henry takes her advice and brings his pet lizard, Wallace. But just as he's about to talk, Wallace escapes. By the time he catches Wallace, Henry forgets to be shy, and easily tells his class all about lizards. When it's time for Show and Tell again, Henry is silent. He explains that he has nothing to talk about because his pet spider has escaped. As his teacher calls recess, the story ends. With its bright, child-friendly illustrations, this empathic story shows children that they're not alone in their shyness, and that it's possible to overcome it even when - and possible because of - unexpected events.
Ages 4-7
Monday, February 6, 2012
Grandmama's Pride by Becky Birtha
Illustrated by Colin Bootman.32 p., Whitman, 2006.
How can a child make sense of pervasive, inexplicable prejudice? When 6-year-old Sarah Marie and her family visit her Grandmama in the South in 1956, adult relatives protect her from segregation. Instead of telling her she isn’t allowed to drink from a drinking fountain because she is African American, Grandmama simply advises against it, suggesting that it might not be clean, and promises her homemade lemonade instead. Grandmama refuses to ride segregated buses before the organized bus boycotts, but Sarah Marie doesn’t know that; she just knows that Grandmama never rides the bus. During her visit to the South, Sarah Marie’s aunt teaches her to read. Soon she can read the signs that reserve rest rooms for “White Women” and drinking fountains for “White [people] only.” When she asks Grandmama what these mean, Grandmama explains what segregation is, adding, “’you don’t want that city water anyway … It isn’t even cold.’” Now that she can read, Sarah Marie begins protecting her 5-year-old sister in the same ways her mother and grandmother have been protecting her. By the next summer’s visit, laws have changed, and these forms of segregation have ended in Grandmama’s town. When Grandmama explains this to Sarah Marie, her triumph is clear. The watercolor illustrations are especially evocative of summer light and long-ago memories. This story shows children that with the support of a loving family, it’s possible to maintain your own internal sense of who you are, even in situations of blatant, inexplicable prejudice.
Ages 5-10
How can a child make sense of pervasive, inexplicable prejudice? When 6-year-old Sarah Marie and her family visit her Grandmama in the South in 1956, adult relatives protect her from segregation. Instead of telling her she isn’t allowed to drink from a drinking fountain because she is African American, Grandmama simply advises against it, suggesting that it might not be clean, and promises her homemade lemonade instead. Grandmama refuses to ride segregated buses before the organized bus boycotts, but Sarah Marie doesn’t know that; she just knows that Grandmama never rides the bus. During her visit to the South, Sarah Marie’s aunt teaches her to read. Soon she can read the signs that reserve rest rooms for “White Women” and drinking fountains for “White [people] only.” When she asks Grandmama what these mean, Grandmama explains what segregation is, adding, “’you don’t want that city water anyway … It isn’t even cold.’” Now that she can read, Sarah Marie begins protecting her 5-year-old sister in the same ways her mother and grandmother have been protecting her. By the next summer’s visit, laws have changed, and these forms of segregation have ended in Grandmama’s town. When Grandmama explains this to Sarah Marie, her triumph is clear. The watercolor illustrations are especially evocative of summer light and long-ago memories. This story shows children that with the support of a loving family, it’s possible to maintain your own internal sense of who you are, even in situations of blatant, inexplicable prejudice.
Ages 5-10
Monday, January 30, 2012
Being Me by Julie Broski
Illustrated by Vincent Vigla. 32 p., Children's Press, 2006.
Disability is only one part of who we are. In this story, a little girl tells about the things she likes to do (for example, play dress-up, paint, play with friends) and her capabilities (for example, she can add and subtract, do cartwheels, and help with chores). Each of these is part of who she is - as is being deaf and signing. She acknowledges both differences and similarities with the reader, saying that she loves the reader for her/his unique self, and feels confident that the sentiment is reciprocated. With cheerful, rather edgy illustrations, this story communicates acceptance of a range of human experience.
Ages 3-7
Disability is only one part of who we are. In this story, a little girl tells about the things she likes to do (for example, play dress-up, paint, play with friends) and her capabilities (for example, she can add and subtract, do cartwheels, and help with chores). Each of these is part of who she is - as is being deaf and signing. She acknowledges both differences and similarities with the reader, saying that she loves the reader for her/his unique self, and feels confident that the sentiment is reciprocated. With cheerful, rather edgy illustrations, this story communicates acceptance of a range of human experience.
Ages 3-7
Monday, January 23, 2012
The Forever Dog by Bill Cochran
Illustrated by Dan Andreasen.32 p., HarperCollins, 2007.
Mike loves his dog, Corky, dearly. Not only do they do everything together, but also, Mike can tell Corky anything. They plan to be best friends forever. But one day, Corky is at the vet when Mike comes home from school, and his mom explains that Corky is very sick. By the next morning, Corky has died. Mike and his parents bury Corky, and Mike is unbearably sad. But he's also angry with Corky for breaking his promise to be best friends forever. After a week of anger, he tells his mom about this. She reminds him of all the special times that he and Corky had together. When Mike says he'll never forget these times, Mom explains that this means that Corky had, in fact, kept his promise - he would always be with Mike in his heart and in his thoughts. She explains Mike's pain as Corky "trying to get comfortable in his new home ... in your heart.'" When Mike is able to let Corky into his heart again, he feels warm inside. With softly colored, expressive illustrations, this story empathically acknowledges children's grief shows them a way through it.
Ages 4-8
Mike loves his dog, Corky, dearly. Not only do they do everything together, but also, Mike can tell Corky anything. They plan to be best friends forever. But one day, Corky is at the vet when Mike comes home from school, and his mom explains that Corky is very sick. By the next morning, Corky has died. Mike and his parents bury Corky, and Mike is unbearably sad. But he's also angry with Corky for breaking his promise to be best friends forever. After a week of anger, he tells his mom about this. She reminds him of all the special times that he and Corky had together. When Mike says he'll never forget these times, Mom explains that this means that Corky had, in fact, kept his promise - he would always be with Mike in his heart and in his thoughts. She explains Mike's pain as Corky "trying to get comfortable in his new home ... in your heart.'" When Mike is able to let Corky into his heart again, he feels warm inside. With softly colored, expressive illustrations, this story empathically acknowledges children's grief shows them a way through it.
Ages 4-8
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About the Author
- Jacqueline Golding, Ph.D.
- Jacqueline Golding, Ph.D. is a psychologist in private practice in Pleasanton, California who works with children, teens, and adults. A graduate of Yale University, Dr. Golding earned her Ph.D. in psychology at the University of California, Los Angeles and completed a post-doctoral fellowship at the Central Contra Costa County Child, Adolescent, and Family Mental Health Service in Concord, California. She holds an appointment as Professor Emeritus at the University of California, San Francisco and has published over 100 articles in scientific and professional journals on topics such as trauma, depression, and cultural issues in mental health. Dr. Golding is represented by the Levine Greenberg Literary Agency.
