MONDAY FUNDAY – April 1, 2019

It’s Monday, What Are You Reading? is hosted by Kathryn at The Book Date, and adapted by Kellee at Unleashing Readers and Jen at Teach Mentor Texts with a children’s/YA focus. The Sunday Post is hosted by The Caffeinated Book Reviewer. These weekly roundups are a great way to discover new blogs and bloggers, share some of the titles you’ve been enjoying, and add to your ever-growing to-read list.

It might be April Fool’s Day today, but don’t worry, friends, there’s no tricks and nothing but treats in this week’s reading roundup!

Little Whale – Jo Weaver

This stunningly beautiful picture book follows a Gray Whale and her baby as they migrate North for the very first time. A lovely blend of factual information and lyrical text, with a more life-like, realistic tone than many picture books about animals. Perfect for budding marine biologists, and all little ones who love beautiful books.

Backyard Fairies – Phoebe Wahl

A little girl searches high and low for the magical neighbours she’s just sure are sharing the woods near her home, but every time she thinks she’s found them, the magical creatures seem to vanish without a trace. While the protagonist can’t seem to find the sneaky fairies, readers will be able to spot each hidden friend. Young fairy hunters, dreamers and wishers will delight in this beautifully illustrated picture book, with lush, highly detailed, mixed-media illustrations that children will enjoy pouring over. Author/illustrator Phoebe Wahl references her “free-range” childhood in her author bio, and this is very evident in her art, which depicts a little girl spending her time exploring and experiencing the natural world around her, which is home to wonders both everyday and magical.

Source: Penguin Random House Canada / Tundra Books

We are Brothers – Yves Nadon, Jean Claverie

Every summer, the narrator and his older brother swim to a special rock above a lake, a massive rock so solid, so immense that it seems to the young narrator like a mountain. Every summer the older brother climbs the rock and jumps off, diving confidently into the lake below while his little brother cheers him on. This year, however, the older brother has decided that his little brother is finally ready to climb to the top of the rock and jump off for the very first time. While the young boy is proud of his big brother’s faith in him, he’s also obviously terrified by the prospect of jumping from such a height. What if he slips? What if he misses? What if he dies? But with his brother’s quiet support, the little boy conquers his fears, and experiences the thrill of flying through the air like a cat, before splashing into the water like a fish.

This is a beautiful, beautiful book. It’s a very quiet story that focuses on one simple moment in a child’s life, a moment that might not seem all that significant to an observer, but which means the world to two young brothers. The brothers’ relationship is wonderfully gentle and understated – the older brother doesn’t need to say a single word for his younger sibling to feel their connection. Just knowing that his big brother is there, believing in him and looking out for him, is enough to encourage our young swimmer to take this giant leap of faith.

We Are Brothers is reminiscent of another great picture book about conquering fears through diving, Jabari Jumps. Both books feature loving relationships between male relatives – between father and son in Jabari Jumps, and between brothers in We Are Brother. Both are perfect choices for encouraging children to break out of their comfort zones while reminding them that they never have to face their fears alone.

Source: Raincoast Books

The Happy Book (and other feelings) – Andy Rash

Happy Camper is as happy as a clam, and Clam is one happy camper! But when Camper gobbles up the friendship cake that Clam baked for them, without leaving a single piece for Clam, the pair discover that there are more feelings out there than happy, and that while those other feelings aren’t always comfortable, they are all natural, and can even help bring us closer together. Andy Rash’s vibrant, colourful, cartoony illustrations help make talking about feelings much more fun and much less intimidating than it might otherwise be for some children. Camper and Clam are very open with their feelings, expressing worries and concerns that feel very natural, and that young readers will easily relate with. The book also cleverly reveals the range of emotions that can arise from a single incident – a fight with a friend can simultaneously make us feel angry, scared, sad, and so much more, and that’s all ok! Whatever the feeling, the two friends realise that everything is better when you’re open and honest about how you feel, and when you share your feelings with someone who cares. Helping children develop the vocabulary they need to name and express their feelings, and creating an environment in which talking about feelings is natural and normal for any gender, is an important part of encouraging children to develop healthy coping strategies and build life-long resiliency.

Source: Penguin Random House 

And that’s a wrap for this week – hope everyone is having a wonderful start to their week!