In this chaotic time many people feel a bit helpless. We see the news and all the changes and don't feel like our actions make a difference. Imagine what it must be like for the children if adults are feeling this way. Today we are sharing a new picture book about a young girl who decides to take action to try to save the community center. The book is Anjali Can! by Sheetal Sheth and illustrated by Lucia Soto. It is recommended for ages 4 to 8 and is the third book in the Always Anjali Series.
About the Book:
Anjali is back and ready to prove there’s nothing she can’t do, in this third book in the Always Anjali series! When a beloved community center is threatened with shutting down, Anjali must quickly find a way to save the space or risk losing it.The local community center is a second home to Anjali. It's where she met her best friends; it's her favorite spot for game and movie nights; and it's where she learned to play tabla.
Anjali has so many happy memories there, but now the community center is closing! Unwilling to let the center shut down for good, Anjali is determined to keep the place open. Some people may say there's nothing she can do, but Anjali knows better--she can and must take action! There is no stopping her.
From actor, author, and activist Sheetal Sheth comes the third book in the Anjali series and a reminder of the power of one and to always fight for what you believe in.
From Me:
Anjali is upset when she sees the sign that the community center is closing. The community center is a big part of her and her family's lives. They take classes and do different activities there. She meets her friends there as well. She doesn't want it to close so with some encouragement from her parents she decides to take action. She calls her friends and her parents call theirs. The next morning they gather at the community center, but it is a very low turnout. The ones who do show up create letters and pictures of why the community center matters to them and collect signatures to keep the center open. Anjali takes it to city hall, but the security guard tells her she is too late. The vote has already happened, but he promises to get the letters and such to the appropriate person. Disheartened Anjali returns to her parents' car, and they drive by the community center. They now see a big crowd has gathered. When they join the crowd Anjali asks who brought them all there and she is told she did. Then a car pulls up and it is the woman who is in charge of the decision, and she tells them they are keeping the community center open. She discussed it with the mayor, and they wanted to thank Anjali for reminding them how important the community center is.
I love the diversity of the book as well as how Anjali has to find her courage to do her activism. The book also doesn't sugarcoat the issue. At first she thinks she has failed. She was too late with her activism. She is disheartened. Then in the end the community center is kept open because of what she started. It is a wonderful tale of what one person can do and how things can happen when people work together. Anjali gathered the people to work together and made a difference.
This book is perfect for any story time whether at home, the library or school. It is a great way to introduce activism to kids and show them they can make a difference if they let their desires be known and their voices heard. In a time when things are changing so fast and people are so unsure, it is important for us to remember our voices matter. We need to fight for what we want and care about. Anjali Can! reminds us of this and shows young children how they can participate.
