Tag: refugees

The Someone New (Jill Twiss)

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Hello, friends! Our book today is The Someone New, written by Jill Twiss and illustrated by E.G. Keller, a sweet tale of courage and kindness in the face of change.

Jitterbug the chipmunk wakes up with the rumble in her tummy – Something New is coming. See, Jitterbug’s tummy can always tell when things are about to change because Jitterbug is not a fan; she prefers that things stay the way they are, especially her peaceful forest home and the company of her friends (a butterfly named Toast, two otters named Duffles and Nudge, and a goose named Geezer). The nervous chipmunk checks in with her pals, but finds them going about their daily routines. With growing trepidation over the Something New, she turns to find that the something… is a someONE. Pudding the snail has travelled to the forest after a flood has destroyed her garden and left her alone, and she hopes to make a new home in the forest. Filled with swirling irrational thoughts of what MIGHT go wrong, Jitterbug dismisses the snail immediately. She instantly feels calm.. until her friends point out that her actions were cold and irrational. With the help of her friends, can Jitterbug come to understand the importance of compassion, even in the face of change?

Lovely. The main storyline features a lot of good lessons in empathy, especially Jitterbug being talked out of her kneejerk reaction; her friends patiently convince her that while change is unavoidable, kindness is a choice. Pudding’s story, and later some of the friends’ stories as well, give nods to the plight of refugees and other groups in need, gently showing how those in need can often have their lives upturned in a moment, and how the acceptance and goodwill of others can often be a life-changing gesture. Keller’s animals are an adorable mix of realism and anthropomorphized characteristics, and the language of the story is light, yet impactful exactly when it needs to be. The length was fine, and JJ loved it. A lovely tale of empathy, and it’s Baby Bookworm approved!

A Different Pond (Bao Phi)

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Hello, friends! Today, we’re reviewing A Different Pond, written by Bao Phi and illustrated by Thi Bui, a quietly powerful story of family and fortitude.

A young boy wakes early with his father, both moving quietly so as not to wake the rest of the family. He helps his father load the car with their fishing supplies. They drive to the bait shop, where the owner remarks that they are up very early this morning. The boy’s father explains that he got a second job, and when he and the boy arrive at the lake, the boy wonders aloud: if his father has two jobs now, why must they still fish for food? The father explains that in America, everything is very expensive, and the boy helps him ready his line and light a fire for warmth. In the quiet solitude of the dark morning, the boy’s father tells him about the pond he would fish in when he was the boy’s age, with the brother he lost in the war. The boy and father catch enough fish, and return home to an apartment filled with the warmth and love of their family. The boy takes great pride in their bounty – he helped to provide dinner.

Wow. This was an incredible book. The story of father and son and their early-morning fishing trip is moving on many levels, but what makes it remarkable is its broad appeal across ages. The text on each page is chosen carefully, openly appealing and interesting to little ones yet conveying meaningful subtext to older readers in an economy of words. It’s beautiful and powerful, and leaves those of any age with much to think about. The art is perfect, capturing the mood and and emotions of the characters and environments in soft, soothing tones, making the reader feel as safe and at home as the little boy in the story. The length was fine for JJ, and we both loved it. This is a piece of art in picture book form, and a must-read for all ages. Baby Bookworm approved!

Kings Of The Castle (Victoria Turnbull)

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Hello, friends! Today, we’re reviewing Kings Of The Castle by Victoria Turnbull, a lovely story of friendship breaking through barriers.

When night falls, young monster George is excited. He won’t waste a moment of the moonlight; tonight, his goal is to build the biggest sand castle ever. Unfortunately, his excitable dog Boris keeps impeding his progress. He is about to give up when a very strange and different-looking monster appears from the waves. George tries to say hello, but the monster, though friendly, doesn’t understand his language (though the new monster, Nepo, and Boris seem to understand each other’s yips and barks). George is ready to leave the new arrival, but Boris convinces him to give the newcomer a chance. And with a bit of creative thinking, George and Nepo find that they have much in common – including the desire to build a sandcastle more amazing than either could build alone.

This was a gorgeous story with a subtle yet powerful message. The adorable pair of George and Nepo, plus Boris, are illustrated in a gorgeous dreamlike style, with soft soothing colors that evoke a shoreline at night. But the story here is key: it’s a tale of reaching out, making connections, and showing kindness to those who may not look like you or even speak your language (to hear that Turnbull was drawing parallels to refugees is not a surprise). So while the characters and settings are firmly fantastical, the message of acceptance is as real and pertinent as it gets, and is imparted beautifully. The length is great, and JJ really enjoyed this one, so we are definitely calling it Baby Bookworm approved!