Gayle H. Swift's Blog, page 13

Souping Things up

A bagpiping cat, a banjo-strumming squirrel and a singing duck joyfully prepare marvelous pumpkin soup. "Everyone has his own job to do. Everyone is happy. Or so it seems..." Then the story shifts to a new direction. No longer about collaboration and pooling of scarce resources, Pumpkin Soup now focuses on the tension among the former friends.... The book does a great job of capturing the character's frustration, remorse and most importantly their commitment to their friendship as well as their willingness to repair the breach. Their solution provides an excellent template for readers to embrace.

Ditch Perfect. Embrace OK.

Young children dream of being the best super hero, athlete, or most-liked friend. Their fantasies overflow with images of themselves shining above the competition. Such magical thinking rarely that it takes time consuming effort and practice to achieve such excellence. Much to their chagrin, they must work through the often-discouraging process--and hard work--of being a beginner who struggles and fails through multiple attempts. All too often, their spirits waiver and they give up. This book reinforces the idea that OK is the first step on the long road to expertise.

Libraries Open Worlds and Conversations

Lola at the Library portrays three strong messages. The most obvious: the library is a fun place to visit. Second, Books captivate Lola's imagination and she loves choosing and reading. Third, mother certainly values reading. After all, she's spending her time and energy to take Lola to the library and to read her selections to her. A fourth important, although more subtle, message is that mother values reading for herself too. Young readers will intuit this because each time mother and Lola visit the library, mother also selects her own reading material.

Rollercoaster! Fear and Adoption

Fear pulses through the crowd; some shiver with anticipation. While others quake as they wait. "At least one of them has never ridden on a roller coaster before,...ever."...Readers--child and parent both--will delight in scrutinizing the detailed illustrations for hints about how the characters are feeling

Shades of Black: A Celebration of Our Children

Beyond the obvious message of appreciating the rainbow of humanity's color, this book invites discussion of race, of difference, of acceptance and of respect. Some might argue that the book reinforces the belief that anyone of a mixed heritage which includes only the slightest bit of African-American ancestry might more accurately consider themselves of mixed race and not simply as black. These are important topics for adoptive families yet they are not easy to introduce; this book offers an excellent gateway.

Boxing Kids In

Nobody likes to be boxed in. But in this group of of three books, readers will discover the creative power that exists in the possibility of an empty box. Whether for fun or for a critical purpose like post-war relief, these stories feature children actively engaged in their own lives.

“You’re Lovable to Me” Forever

Sends a reassuring message to children that their parents will love them unconditionally. Adopted children benefit from frequent reassurance that they are fully accepted into the family, that their belonging exists independent of their measuring up or behaving in a certain way. The story does this well. It's gentle illustrations exude a sweet nurturing feel. Moreover, the behaviors and emotions that the story mentions cover a broad spectrum.

Ribbit: An invitation to Friendship

In "Ribbit" readers meet a pig with personality and an interest in making friends in unusual places. At dawn one morning Pig announces her presence to a community of startled frogs. Suspicious and unwelcoming, the frogs demand that pig explain herself...There are many things to appreciate in this story. First, it easily lends itself to discussions that invite children to wonder about Pig's motives, to consider why the frogs are so overly cautious and inhospitable. Second, parallels between a child's own experience either as the "new " arrival or as being on the flip side of the equation as "gatekeepers" of an established group.

One Family

One Family by George Shannon and Blanca Gomez presents a fascinating introduction into counting with a twist. The reader meets many types of family; each is one example of one kind of family. We discover that a family can include...

A Taste of Asia: Four Books That Expand Children’s Multiculturalism

AQ Lens: Beyond the obvious benefits of putting children in touch with their cultural roots, by their very existence these books send a message that these traditions are worth noting, following and showcasing. It is an easy step to carrying the same sense of value to a child's roots. Coming from another culture makes one "different." But it isn't something to hide; it is something to share and honor. Readers will notice the effort and determination which the main characters demonstrate. Skills and capabilities grow out of hard work. This is a great message for them to absorb!

These books also demonstrate the universality of common daily activities: dressing, enjoying time with grandparents, preparing meals, celebrating holidays. As the reader follows the main characters through the narrative, children can note the value of self reliance, connection to family and of being part of a history--personal, familial as well as cultural. Children will enjoy learning about other cultures, whether it is part of their history or not. By expanding our children's exposure to a variety of cultures and traditions, we better prepare them for life in this increasingly interconnected world. It is important for us to prepare them for this global citizenship.