Lessons without preachiness are worth their weight in gold when you can find them in kids’ books. And I have not one but two about the value of persistence!
Anything Is Possible, by Giulia Belloni & Marco Trevisan
OwlKids, ISBN: 978 1 92697 391 3
Just in time for next month’s Wright Brothers Day, this story features an adventuresome duo bent on trying to fly. the wolf was initially dubious, but the sheep’s enthusiasm and detailed plans won him over and he joined the attempt. The first one? A flop. The second, no better. But the third time is a charm, and the wolf admits that anything really is possible for those who dare to dream.
This is a short and simple take on this, and while it could have even been expanded, this makes it a good one for sharing with kids in younger grades, kinders/preschoolers to grade 1, I’d say. The illustrations for bold and include collage elements that I thought worked well for these chunky and somewhat comically rendered animals. This one’s a winner!
Hello, My Name is Ruby, by Philip C. Stead
Roaring Brook Press, ISBN: 978 1 59643 809 5
Ruby keep introducing herself to different birds. They are each a little unique and each interesting, but Ruby doesn’t feel like she belongs, quite, with any of them. Just as she begins to feel quite down, she meets a bird who said she’s heard a bird that sounded just like her before – and takes her to a tree full of birds like her! As pleased as she is about this, however, Ruby doesn’t forget the friends she has made, and brings her new clan to meet her friends.
This is a really very sweet little story, though not so much as to give you a toothache. Rather, it’s about belonging and about friendship and finding family, all heartwarming topics. The illustrations are also charming, full of sketches of very human-looking birds, and colours that are lively and clear, but not so bold as to be too cheerful for the story. I’m pretty taken with this one, and suggest it for anyone looking for a story about finding your people. Or birds.
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