Shrubaboti Bose's Blog - Posts Tagged "children"

The Scar: An African Marvel Legend of a Waterfall by Eva Fogel

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


A little folktale about the origin of waterfalls in the land of Africa

Children often ask endless questions, many of which might not likely have a simple explanation and it is during those incidences that a myth or folktale comes to use. As humans we are always curious to know about the things surrounding us, children even more so because everything around them are unfamiliar, new and intriguing. While most storybooks for children dwell on keeping the language easy to grasp or the pictures enticing enough to hold the attention of a child, this book in addition to those points, also attempts to cover significant topics like parental abuse, the sense of a community, the importance of nature and of course, the origin story of waterfalls themselves.

Although the language seems to need a little editing as it lacks the kind of smooth flow one would expect in a children's book, the manner in which the author deals with the heavy themes is admirable. Instead of pointing out bluntly what is right or wrong, the narration lets the reader experience the pain of the little child who undergoes emotional stress due to the treatment he receives from his own family. The boy feels isolated and heartbroken. Through the character of the speaking tree, we are invited to sympathise with the boy's predicament and towards the end, despite the fantastic nature of the story, we find ourselves relating to it.

What is special about this book is how it manages to retain its traditional form of an enigmatic folktale and simultaneously doesn't overwhelm the reader. In the span of such a short tale, it inspires children to be kind to others, to preserve our environment, to respect nature and appreciate its gifts and finally, it also teaches parents to be more understanding and patient. Children deserve all the love and care they can get and this sensitive African folktale upholds the same universal belief. Recommended for kids and for parents to read it out loud to their children.

(Note: ARC obtained on Reedsy Discovery)



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What Do I Do With This? by Latoshia Martin

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Uplifting and beautifully illustrated children's book that encourages parent-child bonding through reading

Introducing children to the habit of reading is special, not only for the family but also for the child. This story helps to spark interest among young readers and encourages parents to spend quality time with their children. The innocent, wide-eyed curiosity of Isaiah is endearing, his little antics with his birthday present (the book) squeezes necessary humour into the narration and the manner in which the entire family remains engrossed with the child's reactions is particularly wholesome.

But what is most interesting in this book is the way in which Isaiah's unawareness about reading or books in general, becomes a subject of great amusement to his siblings and other family members. It also reflects the tenderness with which one must teach children new things in life, without shaming or frightening them for their mistakes. Learning is a part of life and one should never be afraid of making mistakes. The story does not preach, nor does it impose any of its well-intended advices. It inspires parent-children bonding in an organic manner, through the shared connection that they would develop while reading a book together.

The simple and expressive illustrations are a great addition to the book. They add to the meaning and experience of the reading process, especially significant for those kids who enjoy reading picture books. Parents can even point out different objects in the picture and help kids learn new words. Also, personally I believe, in a world full of generally misrepresented children's books, the presence of a coloured family in this one is undoubtedly refreshing. Recommended for children and new parents wishing to find methods to reconnect with their kids.

(Note: Obtained ARC on Reedsy Discovery)



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Katie Gets Her Spots by Deborah Albers

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


A journey of self-discovery and an interesting mode of introducing children to new vocabulary

The structure of the story is very cleverly built, it is episodic in nature such that the narrative breaks off at odd intervals to allow the parent dogs, Chief and Sassy to introduce a new skill to their young puppy Katie. But keeping our readership in mind, Katie is the protagonist who everyone relates to, and when she learns new words in the story, naturally it is the book's way of encouraging the children reading it to also pick up the new words and learn them like Katie did. This structural ingenuity may be a common trope but it always works for children's stories where repetition and patterns are an accepted norm.

It is important to note that while the whole story is written with an objective of motivating children to learn new vocabulary, the characters are not humans but dogs. This shows how growing up, learning new things, humans might not be so different from other animals, like dogs. Learning new words is like learning new modes of expression, and whether one is human or animal, it is essential to be able to express your emotions. That is what makes the story kind of a quest for self identity. The words are nothing but markers to figure out who we are and which words describe us the best.

Throughout the whole story, Katie is impatient and excited to get her new spots, that signifies her coming of age, her puberty. Finally when the spots appear, she becomes a complete Dalmatian, before which one wouldn't have been able to recognise her at all. Realising one's own potentials comes after a huge journey and quest, but what you ultimately decide to live as is the choice that matters. Katie has so many kinds of potentials but in the end, she chooses to be the helpful kind of dog and it's as noble a type as any others.

Using simple language and gently spinning the tale with the help of beautiful characters like Chief and Sassy, the story has the power to keep you engrossed in it. Undoubtedly it's a treasure for children who wish to learn some new words in a fun way. Recommended for both children and parents who love reading aloud stories to their children.

(Note: ARC obtained on Reedsy Discovery)



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You Can Choose Your Own Life: Stories for Decision Making by Barbara Kerr

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


"Choose your own adventure" kind of a book that helps children imbibe moral values and understand decision making in a fun, interactive way

As a child the most confusing part of decision making involves differentiating between right and wrong. The younger the child is, the more abstract the logic becomes. So mostly conditions are applied to demonstrate to them what behaviour is acceptable in society and what isn't. For instance, one uses the system of rewards and punishment to reinforce this understanding. If you do a good thing, you shall be rewarded or praised in front of your peers but if you do a bad thing, you will face the consequences of being punished, such as having your videogames confiscated or getting grounded for a week.

This book applies this concept and explores through five different interactive stories how one is supposed to act in a particular situation. The language is simple and lucid making it easily accessible to young audiences. Further, providing the option of three distinct choices helps the participant/reader to engage in the whole process very naturally and allows them to try out every possibility in order to learn the outcomes each route will lead them to.

Children often enjoy adventures and this book beautifully fits in with their urge to satisfy a never-ending curiosity about things despite the risks. In reality the stakes are a lot higher, the punishment scathing and the rewards rare, but through the medium of stories, these young readers are able to make decisions for themselves in a safe manner.

The best part about this book is that it highlights some of the major issues in life, including domestic violence, cyberbullying and handling substance abuse. While these are serious subjects, school children require awareness of such social issues to be equipped intellectually when facing a similarly sensitive situation themselves. These stories prepare them for the uncertain future outside of the safe bubble they grow up in and lets them develop an ability to realise that they have a choice, and they are responsible for whatever action they choose to undertake.

Interesting and engaging in its approach, this book is recommended for both middle-school students and educators who wish to bring up more thought provoking interactions in their classrooms.

(Note: ARC obtained from Reedsy Discovery)



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A Gathering of Tales from a Cosmopolitan Family by Wondering Wandering Writer

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Beautifully inclusive collection of story adaptations from different countries of the world

Just as the title suggests, this collection is a really thought-provoking melange of stories from different countries such as Eritrea, Scotland, Romania and Biafra. Despite their cultural nuances, it is worth noting how the stories do not compete for attention with each other but remains individually and collectively vivid in their depictions. Beautifully illustrated and filled with prompts that encourage young readers to engage with the stories by drawing characters portrayed in it, this is a celebration of colours, languages and multiculturalism. Reflecting the power of inclusivity, it inspires children to be interested about other cultures as well as various languages like Igbo or Romanian and thereby sparks their curiosity.

What is particularly captivating is the absence of gender stereotypes and the use of animal characters to illustrate moral values that are intrinsic towards a fundamental value education for small children. While the book mainly targets a younger audience, it is surprisingly refreshing and holds a nostalgic charm that is bound to move an adult reader too. Both Dreamer Panda and Sturdy Tiger act as role models, occupying the position of parents for the two siblings, Purity and Love, an elephant and a lady bird but this kind of interspecies representation mirrors the pluralist global atmosphere that is common in the contemporary world.

It helps to establish in children a basic understanding at the subconscious level that we should be accepting to everyone around us, including those who are different from us, thinking in terms of one big family. Although the stories are adapted from tales, it is important to note the manner in which they are weaved together seamlessly into the larger narrative by the author. An unusually exciting collaboration between both author and illustrator has resulted in the creation of one of the sweetest children books that I have read in this month. Recommended especially for young children.

(Note: ARC obtained from Reedsy Discovery)



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Sadie and her Swap Shop by Loretta Browne

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Inspiring children to find happiness in little things and to experience how the best things in life are completely free.

This beautifully illustrated children's book develops its story around the central character of Sadie, a young girl who desires to own a brand new bike but lacks the resources to buy it. Introducing the theme of 'value' to young readers, Browne here skilfully presents to us the possibility of a fair exchange. When the school teacher Miss Rose asks the kids to put up a stall during the Summer Fayre, the two friends Sadie and Una wish to open one for swapping toys. They think of a way where people would not require to use money and instead can choose from a collection of different toys available in the stall, to ultimately exchange it for an old toy that they themselves no longer played with.

It's wonderful to see how such an important lesson as well as message can be delivered through the picture book in just a few simple sentences. One must also note that despite the apparent simplicity of the language, the vocabulary used in the story is age appropriate and help to improve the word strength of the child reading it. Another point that Browne keeps in mind while narrating the story is that it is from the perspective of a child too. This makes it more accessible and relatable to the younger readers. Children can quickly pick up behaviours and tends to repeat actions that garner both attention as well as appreciation as modelled within the text.

Finally, the illustrations are so creative and self-explanatory that when a child sees it for the first time, even if they are unable to comprehend the story from only the words, they can imagine the situation with the help of the pictures. The drawing style is children-friendly and does not intimidate or alienate the reader from the narrative with its heavier stylistic elements. In contrast, the illustrations remain as helping tools for the story to pivot and expand upon, hence, it is the story that is on the centre-stage throughout. Recommended for all children and new parents who wish to explain the meaning of value and happiness to their young ones.

(Note: ARC obtained on Reedsy Discovery)



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City Kitties by Rizwan Asad

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Lovely book of rhymes for children to explain the importance of having different kinds of experiences in life

In this book, the protagonists of the story are the two cats, Mitten and Nessie. They have very contrasting characters but what makes the narrative really interesting is how Rizwan plays with words and effectively incorporates rhymes in them. In fact, Mitten is actually a very mischievous kitten who often hides behind objects and enjoys pranking other animals by suddenly jumping in front of them, but when it comes to Nessie all her efforts go in vain because the older cat seems undisturbed. This made Mitten very curious and she directly asks, "Why can I never catch you" and so Nessie starts recounting the story of her life along with her numerous other experiences.

While this is a small story book, one must keep in mind that the author has taken a lot of efforts to frame the sentences in the form of a nursery poem with each line ending on a rhyming word. Rhymes can be very helpful for the learning process of a child since it is easier for them to memorize a particular sequence of music than a group of random words. Personally, I believe rhymes also set the tone for the story into a light-hearted and cheerful vibe. Furthermore, the illustrations are designed with utmost care. They are not only positioned well, but also feature the nuances of the two characters, displaying both the restless energetic nature of Mitten and the elegant, proud attitude of Nessie.

Overall, the story helps children understand that having a range of various different experiences can enrich our lives and give us a sense of accomplishment, as portrayed by Nessie. It also motivates young readers to find their own adventures respectively and inspires children to become increasingly accepting to differences. Humorous and enchanting, this is a picture book that I would recommend everyone to read!

(Note: ARC obtained on Reedsy Discovery)



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I Can Be Kind by Rainbow Gal

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Introducing social emotional learning to children and encouraging them to be kind to one another.

Oscar, the ill-tempered piranha usually has a very convenient lifestyle, taunting weaker fishes and eating small goldfishes from the adjacent aquarium for his daily meals. But suddenly one day, instead of meeting another frightened goldfish, he is confronted by Marla, a brave little goldfish who remains defiant and unaffected by Oscar's threats. In fact, when Marla starts calling him a 'big bully', Oscar finds himself at a loss of words and gradually becoming intrigued by her courage. They begin to talk with each other. In fact, their unusual friendship marks the turning point for the story because ever since Marla stood up for herself, something within Oscar's personality changed.

Introducing the process of social emotional learning among children is difficult and yet crucial. What is interesting to note in this story is the casual style in which a 'bully' gets transformed into a "kind" person. Although simplistic, the story effectively captures the essence of a bigger problem, insecurities can breed unkindness but in the same way, love can also encourage us to be more empathetic and therefore kind to one another. These are complex emotions and it is no surprise that parents or educators alike, often face the challenges of making such concepts simple enough for children to be able to grasp. That is where this story plays a significant role.

The illustrations might need some more work as we can notice slight deviations in the basic anatomy of the face of the human, nevertheless, they serve as great milestones for every reader, adding to the nuances of the story. Together with the pictures, the story flourishes and becomes a composite of images as well as words that are inter-dependent. Perhaps this is not the most sensational story book out there, but that's not important, because this book is the product of sincere efforts where one can see how the author tries to contextualize and build an interesting model world in an attempt to demonstrate the importance of kindness in our lives to a young reader.

(Note: ARC obtained on Reedsy Discovery)



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