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Special thanks to my local library for hosting my picture book soak! We love Fairview!

I am not an educator. I do not interact with children on a regular basis so my "teachability" conjectures come from a layman...

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General: Disclaimer is that I'm super biased for Polacco and I couldn't do an assignment like this without her...That being said, this book connects audiences with a love to read among humor. There is a great emphasis on community and for intergenerational connection and tradition.

Polacco often refers to the beauty of her Ukrainian culture through these personal tellings, artwork and dedication pages.

Teachability: Don't go pouring honey on books, but--there is a very clear moral of the "adventure" of reading which can become a fun scavenger hunt.

You can also ask audience members of their family traditions and community members that make them feel connected and grounded. Also--at the end of the book they all eat the honey--most folks like snacks!

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The End of Something Wonderful: A Practical Guide to a Backyard Funeral - Stephanie Lucianovic

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The End of Something Wonderful: A Practical Guide to a Backyard Funeral - Stephanie Lucianovic

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General: This book is something wonderful! It is an expertly crafted, digestible and even funny introduction to a very difficult topic!

Loss, bereavement and death are never easy but taking an (arguably typical) experience such as losing a pet and making it humorous and meaningful is an absolute feat!

Lucianovic's strongest stylistic choices came with her tone and execution. The instructional approach versus a typical narrative grabs your attention. Throughout the book, she'd have "facts" or "disclaimers" such as

Warning: don't get excited and bury something that isn't dead. Not only is it rude, but it is also annoying when the Something Dead walks away before the funeral is even over.

A Fact: R.I.P. on a tombstone actually means "Rest In Peace." If you were supposed to dig up Something Dead, the tombstones would say "Rest Until Someone To See How Things Are Going," and R.U.S.W.T.S.H.T.A.G. really doesn't fit as nicely.

Along with her humor and Ermos's befitting illustrations, they also remain sensitive to the events.

A Promise: Crying because of how much you loved your Something Wonderful before it became Something Dead is not bad or embarrassing at a backyard funeral or at any other time. In fact, crying can often make you feel a bit better. Even if it might not seem like it at the time.

She also invites to the differences in grieving at the end.

Maybe you just want to sit with your Something Dead and be quiet for awhile.

Whatever you want to do is just fine...Just remember it's not the end of everything. You can always begin something wonderful again.

I would recommend this to anyone. Grief does not get easier and it is not a static experience. Being able to blend so many emotions in a short span of time takes a lot of talent and Lucianovic certainly proved it.

Teachability: Doubt there is more I can say other than this is a wonderful medium to describe loss in digestible terms.

Kids already understand complex things. They just need the tools to articulate it.

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My Heart Fills With Happiness - Monique Gray Smith

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My Heart Fills With Happiness - Monique Gray Smith

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General: I appreciate the intercultural subtleties within the book. Really nice and simple illustrations with contrast. Reminds you to appreciate the small things from others and yourself.

Teachability: I think the best part about this book is that there are many ways to engage with your audience. At the end of the book Smith even asks you what makes your heart happy. Facilitate joy :)

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General: A cute anthropomorphic tale about body acceptance. Nothing was too extraordinary about it. A quick and digestible read.

Really appreciated the use of colors and art style! The cats are really cute...

Teachability: Not too sure in all honesty...I appreciated Pilkey's distinction of a "true friend" toward the climax of the story. Despite everyone's taunting earlier, "because he was a true friend" the main character saves them.

Maybe ask your audience what makes a "true friend" and write down their favorite things about their friends and ourselves.

Also potential for teaching about disability and accessibility. It's hard for the main character to sit comfortably in their desk chair and hard for them to catch up to their friends during trick or treating. Remember to ask friends if they're okay/need help.

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My Grandfather's Song -  Phùng Nguyên Quang and Huynh Kim Liên

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My Grandfather's Song -  Phùng Nguyên Quang and Huynh Kim Liên

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General: The art is absolutely stunning! A beautiful depiction of nature, intergenerational connection, growth, immigration experience and cyclic nature of change and tradition.

I think the first and last spreads of the book speak the loudest as it begins and ends with the same question but now the child is speaking to his son.

It also briefly addresses loss which is good to introduce at a young age.

Best is the author's note and subsequent letter as Quang and Liên describe their experiences as Vietnamese immigrants and their acknowledgement of climate change.

Teachability: Tread carefully with enunciations (I definitely struggle with this too as a monolingual individual...) and potential appropriation.

There's so much to do with this book from appreciating nature, immigration experiences, what home means, who family is, change etc.

I can't think of specific activities, but there are so many beautiful moments you can use.

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The Storyteller's Handbook - Elise Hurst

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The Storyteller's Handbook - Elise Hurst

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General: ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL!!!

Essentially, visual prompts for storytellers and creators. Offers reasonable accessibility with the lack of reading so anyone of any language can use. There are small interludes in English but do not change your experience with the book.

Teachability: There's so much to do! It can be very interactive from naming things in the picture, counting, colors, themes, and--storytelling! If it is possible, put this book up on a doc cam / projector and let folks go for it!

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The Pumpkin Seed's Secret - Hannah Barnaby 

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The Pumpkin Seed's Secret - Hannah Barnaby 

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General - Mid at best. I appreciate the use of poetry and couplets, bright colors as well as the diagram at the end and recipes...but as far as nonfiction goes, it was hard for me to engage and get interested.

Teachability: Easy way to discuss the life cycle and nature. Mention decomposers and ecosystems.

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Carol and the Pickle Toad - Esmé Shapiro 

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Carol and the Pickle Toad - Esmé Shapiro 

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General: I loved this book! The art is adorable and the story took me by surprise and has an amazing message with something I still struggle with (finding your own voice and community.) So it is adorable and has a good message in an original way. It's super reassuring when a book can speak to any and all audiences regardless of the demographics.

Teachability: So much you can do with this! People can create their own "hats" and imagine the people in their communities and others' hats or lack of.

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General: An interesting concept of around-the-world animals and cool idea for the flipside being for nighttime differences.

Concept was very good, execution very very poor. It was difficult to read this on my own because the color scheme was distracting and the book literally falls out if you're not careful.

It is meant to be shared since the spread is so large but it is physically difficult if there is only one presenter/reader/storyteller.

Book itself was very dull and distracting due to visual and artistic choices.

Teachability: Once again, physically sharing this book may prove to be a bit difficult. I did not pay enough attention to the contents because of its physicality and the audience might have the same experience.

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General: I'm biased for dogs and the art was very cute. The dedication page was also funny: "for Steve Malk who likes cats more."

Boot and Shoe are siblings and they do everything together and the one day they get all turned around they wait all day for each other. Cute, but not too interesting.

SPOILER: Best part is the end when Frazee says

Even though the day was just beginning Boot and Shoe decided the exact perfect thing for them to do was go right to bed.

That is too relatable...

Teachability: I don't think there is too much you could do with this book. Once again it's about how important their bond and routine is (which as an autistic person I can certainly understand...)

So maybe get your audience to think about their own routines and siblings. Have some sort of connection there. Or, what to do when your day gets all messed up and how to cope (which Boot and Shoe did not do too well...)

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The Princess and the Pit Stop - Tom Angleberger

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The Princess and the Pit Stop - Tom Angleberger

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General: A quick tale with some stakes. Best part of this book are the fairytale allusions and satire. I also appreciate a circular ending.

Teachability: It does refute some gender stereotypes and the princess is an active (and competitive) character versus a static aesthetic. Gives me Vanellope vibes from Wreck it Ralph. The pictures can be interactive as the audience can point out some of the well known racers.