I came across this book and thought it would be a great read for kids. It forces them to capture the beauty in everything they see and to appreciate the world around them. It's a wonderful book that highlights the brilliance of diversity and teaches kids to embrace who they are and what they have.
There aren't many culturally diverse books out there for kids to get stuck into like this. There have been many talks on how we need to see a rise in diverse and ethnic characters being featured in books and I agree. This book has gotten some really good reviews and so I thought i'd share.
A description of the book is below:
'After church on Sundays, CJ and his nana wait for the bus. It's a familiar routine, but this week CJ is feeling dissatisfied. As they travel to their destination, the boy asks a series of questions: "How come we gotta wait for the bus in all this wet?" "Nana, how come we don't got a car?" "How come we always gotta go here after church?" CJ is envious of kids with cars, iPods, and more freedom than he has. With each question, Nana points out something for CJ to appreciate about his life: "Boy, what do we need a car for? We got a bus that breathes fire." These gentle admonishments are phrased as questions or observations rather than direct answers so that CJ is able to take ownership of his feelings. After they exit the bus, CJ wonders why this part of town is so run-down, prompting Nana to reply, "Sometimes when you're surrounded by dirt, CJ, you're a better witness for what's beautiful." The urban setting is truly reflective, showing people with different skin colors, body types, abilities, ages, and classes in a natural and authentic manner. Robinson's flat, blocky illustrations are simple and well composed, seemingly spare but peppered with tiny, interesting details. Ultimately, their destination is a soup kitchen, and CJ is glad to be there. This is an excellent book that highlights less popular topics such as urban life, volunteerism, and thankfulness, with people of color as the main characters.
You can purchase this book online at Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/0399257748?qid=1417453479&sr=8-1&vs=1
No comments:
Post a Comment