A lot can happen as you get older. Especially in the younger years. Today we are sharing two new picture books released this week about some of those moments of becoming a big kid and standing out. The first book is Bartleby by Matt Phelan. It is recommended for ages 3 to 6.
About the Book:
From New York Times-bestselling and award-winning creator Matt Phelan, Bartleby is a whimsical, yet powerful new modern classic picture book for fans of The Rabbit Listened that follows a dapper polar bear who learns the power of staying true to himself.Everyone says NO sometimes.
Bartleby says, “I prefer not to.”
He says it a lot.
Bartleby does things his own way, in his own time.
And that's what makes him extraordinary.
Matt Phelan's Bartleby is an endearing, adorable, and humorous celebration of being yourself even when you stand out--sure to delight readers everywhere.
From Me:
Bartleby is a bear who says, "I prefer not to," most of the time. As his classmates share their weekend events and sing silly songs, Bartleby sits out. When art class comes, he asks to create something different and in the end his creation is perfect to display everyone's art.
Bartleby stays true to himself. He does not participate when he is uncomfortable doing so. He sits respectfully to the side and listens to his peers and watches them enjoy themselves. At first, I felt sad for him. He was missing out in the fun, but then I thought about it. I know people, including some students, who would not be comfortable doing these things. Bartleby is brave by sharing his own preferences.
This book is perfect for reminding or perhaps teaching kids that everyone is different and it is all right for someone to prefer not to do the group activity. It is okay for people to be different. It also shows how brave and perhaps hard it can be to stick to one's true self and comfort level. It would be wonderful to read this book to young classes and have a discussion about differences in people and their comfort levels. This book reminds me of my school's theory of challenge by choice. We often provide challenges but give kids the choice of not doing it completely if they are uncomfortable or unable.
Our next book is about becoming a big kid and doing things like tying your own shoes. The book is Loops by Jashar Awan. It is recommended for ages 4 to 8.
About the Book:
From Caldecott Honor– and Theodor Seuss Geisel Honor–winning author-illustrator Jashar Awan comes a hilarious and “confidence-boosting” (Publishers Weekly, starred review) picture book about the perseverance and positive self-talk needed to learn to tie your shoelaces!This big kid is wearing his first pair of big-kid shoes, the kind with laces! Even though they’re a little on the roomy side—shoes to grow into, of course—he knows he can take care of them. Except they keep falling off!
Not to worry, he’ll just tie them up again, because he knows how to tie those loops! But wait a second, where did that darn shoe go?
Nothing is ever truly easy when you’re just starting something new; but, just like with any stage in childhood, whether it’s making your first steps, or going down the really big slide, with persistence, doing anything scary or overwhelming quickly becomes a piece of cake! And before you know it, you’re a BIG KID!
From Me:
A young boy is very excited to have big kid shoes with laces. He even learned to tie the laces. He even shows the reader how. There is one problem. The shoes are a bit big so he can grow into them and they keep falling off. He tries to tie them tighter. Where did that shoe go?
This book is perfect for the child trying to be a big kid. It is about independence but still having some struggles. This is normal and this book shares that. It also is great for a child learning to tie shoes. It is a sweet book that is all about growing up and trying something a big kid knows how to do. It is a wonderful book about growing up and that some things are okay to still struggle with even after some success with them. It shows that at any stage in life we need to practice skills to learn them and truly master them. Kids struggle to do things they consider big kid activities, and it is important for growth for them to learn to practice and succeed in the skills. This book shares all of that in a fun way.
This book is perfect for the child trying to be a big kid. It is about independence but still having some struggles. This is normal and this book shares that. It also is great for a child learning to tie shoes. It is a sweet book that is all about growing up and trying something a big kid knows how to do. It is a wonderful book about growing up and that some things are okay to still struggle with even after some success with them. It shows that at any stage in life we need to practice skills to learn them and truly master them. Kids struggle to do things they consider big kid activities, and it is important for growth for them to learn to practice and succeed in the skills. This book shares all of that in a fun way.
