https://padlet.com/rlcondon/au9fhesb8hj8mjp2 For LIS 617 Materials for Children en-us 2020-05-23 22:27:56 UTC 2023-12-28 13:31:17 UTC hello@padlet.com rlcondon https://padlet.com/rlcondon/au9fhesb8hj8mjp2/wish/590792322 The primary story of this book is Mouse trying to catch up to Gorilla, and he needs the readers’ help to show him the way! However, there’s a lot of story beyond the text. The pictures are full of recurring characters with their own dramas. That cat and monkey are in love! That other ape is a wanted criminal! That hippo can sleep anywhere! There’s more than enough detail for finding new things when rereading. The art is bright and the character designs are crisp. There are helpful arrows to guide the reader along the right path. This book would be good for kids up to about the age of seven, though it could be read to children quite early.


]]> 2020-05-23 22:34:59 UTC https://padlet.com/rlcondon/au9fhesb8hj8mjp2/wish/590792322 rlcondon https://padlet.com/rlcondon/au9fhesb8hj8mjp2/wish/590796473 This book is about Anne, from Anne of Green Gables, imagining all the things she would want to be if she couldn’t be herself. It’s a story about imagination and self-acceptance. It has gorgeous artwork done in pastels that makes one want to linger on each page. The book could be best enjoyed by middle and upper elementary kids, and it has a few choice vocabulary words (like ghastly and dryad). It gets a bit meta at points, so even older kids that are fans of Anne of Green Gables would enjoy flipping through it once or twice. ]]> 2020-05-23 22:45:10 UTC https://padlet.com/rlcondon/au9fhesb8hj8mjp2/wish/590796473 rlcondon https://padlet.com/rlcondon/au9fhesb8hj8mjp2/wish/590797842 This is a story about a boy on his first day at a new school. David doesn’t know anybody in his class, and this makes him anxious. When the bell rings for recess, he goes looking for someone to play elastic skip with him. While most of the other students are lost in their own activities, David finds a few who are happy to play with him. This story would be good for lower elementary grades. The art is nice, made with airbrushing. The use of negative space creates feelings of vastness. This book would be excellent for kids in a new situation, especially who might feel intimidated like David. There are characters of various races in the background, and one student uses a wheelchair. ]]> 2020-05-23 22:47:48 UTC https://padlet.com/rlcondon/au9fhesb8hj8mjp2/wish/590797842 rlcondon https://padlet.com/rlcondon/au9fhesb8hj8mjp2/wish/590798935 This book is a series of wishes a mother has for her child written in verse. The wishes are drawn from the Quran, which is great for Muslim children, but they are relatively universal hopes that focus on well-being and moral character. This book would be a good one for kindergarten and first grade children. The wishes rhyme and could be used as a bedtime story or to calm kids down. The art is smooth, and most figures have line art that’s a different color than the main body. The color pallet is soft but rich, with reds and oranges accentuated by blues and greens. This book could be used to start a discussion about personal goals or character traits one should try to embody. Most of the characters in the book are brown, and one is a wheelchair user. ]]> 2020-05-23 22:49:48 UTC https://padlet.com/rlcondon/au9fhesb8hj8mjp2/wish/590798935 rlcondon https://padlet.com/rlcondon/au9fhesb8hj8mjp2/wish/590799897 This the story of the Mars rover on the days leading up to the anniversary of its landing. It gets more and more excited about the party that the entire universe is invited to! The fact that the party will be held on Mars where it is the only occupant shouldn’t be a problem, right? The story is contained in daily logs by the rover and accompanied by information about the (real life) rover and its activities on Mars. Much of the humor is in subversion of expectations. The figures are drawn without line art and the backgrounds are very detailed. The pallet is fairly mild, with brighter colors in certain spots or scenes, like the rover’s orange invitations or the splash-page of the rover’s party at the end. This book would be best for upper elementary grades, but could work as a read aloud for younger children. A good pick for kids whose Curiosity (get it?) about space or mechanics has been piqued ]]> 2020-05-23 22:52:02 UTC https://padlet.com/rlcondon/au9fhesb8hj8mjp2/wish/590799897 rlcondon https://padlet.com/rlcondon/au9fhesb8hj8mjp2/wish/590801024 This book tells the story of a young Indian-American girl and her relationship with her immigrant Ba (grandmother). Babi Ba tells Piya about India while they make rotli (a kind of flatbread). When Piya’s Ba grows homesick during the winter, Piya finds a way to bring a bit if India to Babi Ba. The stylized art is both simple and intricate, and you might find yourself staring at the patterns. This is a good book about embracing one’s cultural heritage and acceptance of others’ differences (the other students ask about Priya’s cultural practices when they don’t understand, but she never has any fear that they will be anything but accepting). There is a glossary in the back. Good for any discussion of culture, particularly for those who are early-generation Americans or whose cultural practices are differ from the mainstream. Ideal for third grade and up. It could probably also be read to second graders. ]]> 2020-05-23 22:54:45 UTC https://padlet.com/rlcondon/au9fhesb8hj8mjp2/wish/590801024 rlcondon https://padlet.com/rlcondon/au9fhesb8hj8mjp2/wish/590801796 This book is a lovely celebration of the diversity of people with brown skin and inspires self-love and acceptance. This is more a series of affirmations than a story, but the pictures show various charming scenes of the characters’ lives.  The art style is smooth and rounded, and the illustrator uses a wide pallet. This book is best for children who can read on their own as it is the text hops around. This book is particularly relevant to brown children, but important for all children. ]]> 2020-05-23 22:56:42 UTC https://padlet.com/rlcondon/au9fhesb8hj8mjp2/wish/590801796 rlcondon https://padlet.com/rlcondon/au9fhesb8hj8mjp2/wish/590803135 This is a story written in verse about a young child and her family leaving their home one night and finding a new one. The main character says lilah tov (good night) to everything they pass on their way to their new home. The art style is soft and vivid, and it evokes wonder as well as uncertainty. This would be a good bedtime story for younger readers, and something worth revisiting when children are old enough to understand the family are refugees.

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