What does community mean to you? Many early childhood/elementary classes talk about community helpers in class, but how do kids really understand community? Today we are sharing three new picture books that have different themes on community. We will start with Luisa, at Your Service! by Sara Amini and illustrated by Juana Medina. It is recommended for ages 4 to 8.
About the Book:
In this charming picture book that blends English and Spanish, a precocious little girl takes tourists on a delightfully unconventional tour of her hometown in Colombia.Tourists come from all over to Luisa’s hometown of Salento to hike the famous Cocora Valley. But Luisa knows what they should be seeing, so she generously puts off doing her chores to offer extra special FREE tours of the really important spots in Salento.
First there’s her casa—the only dark green house en la plaza! Then the coffee shop where she drinks jugo de mora (which turns her tongue purple) and listens to her cousin Oscar play the guitarra (his papi wishes he would find a girlfriend, but you didn’t hear that from Luisa!). And there’s so many other places to see and people to meet! After all, Luisa lives in the best pueblito in el whole mundo.
This debut picture book from actress and writer Sara Amini is a celebration of the personality, joy, and energy that makes small towns (and small tour guides!) unique, with exuberant illustrations from award-winning illustrator Juana Medina.
From Me:
Luisa loves her community. She gets excited when the tourists come to town and offers them free tours. Her tours are not your standard community tour. She starts with her own house and then shows the tourists the various businesses. While visiting her mother's business Luisa is reminded that she needs to do chores, but she is too busy sharing all that is special to her about Salento. She actually almost forgets to show the tourists the beautiful view of the Cocora Valley that they will hike the next day. To Luisa her community is special because it is home and is so friendly. Plus, she likes to use her tours to get out of those chores.
I love that this book shares the view of Salento from a small resident. It is a huge tourist area, but Luisa wants to share what is special to her. Her home, her neighbors and their businesses. She and her pet chicken, Pablo, are so happy to share how amazing their hometown is. She even forgets sometimes about the beautiful view that there is that actually brings the tourists. It is a fun book to talk about one's own community as well as what is important there. It is a great book for Hispanic Heritage Month as well as for learning a bit about life in Colombia.
Our next book takes a look at a common societal issue today. All the people on the path at the park are focused on themselves until a special moment when they turn to each other in the community. The book is called The Path by Pamela Paul and illustrated by Qin Leng. It is recommended for ages 4 to 8.
About the Book:
This playful yet deep picture book is a celebration of community, nature, and the magic of cooperation.It’s a busy evening at the local park and all sorts of people are taking advantage of the precious natural space. Whether biking or rollerblading, birding or dog walking, there should be room enough for everyone . . . so why does it seem like someone else is always in the way?
Suddenly, a murmuration of starlings erupts from the treetops—one giant winged cloud swirls and spins across the sky, forcing everyone to stop and look up. And after this small, spectacular moment, the park’s visitors begin to interact with a new appreciation for what nature and community add to their lives.
With watercolor illustrations full of personality, movement, and life, this special story reminds readers of all ages that we have a lot to offer each other when we widen our perspectives.
From Me:
The path at the park is busy. There are people roller blading, kids, dog walkers, birdwatchers and parents with strollers. For each of them there seems to be an issue with another person on the path. They are all focused on themselves. Then when many birds take flight they all stop to enjoy the sight. After they all stop and the birds leave, they begin to communicate and share things with one another. They each feel the sense of being a community.
I love how this book shares people focused on their own interests and getting annoyed with each other and ends with them being a community and sharing knowledge and time with each other. I love how the park becomes a community full of people sharing life with strangers. This book teaches about getting outside, enjoying nature and being kind to others. It is a fun and beautiful book. It reminds us to slow down and share the world with others by being kind and thoughtful.
Our final book for today is about the government of a community. It is The Crown: An Epic Tale of Fools, Fate, and Fish Butts by Lauren Stohler. It is also recommended for ages 4 to 8.
About the Book:
A rollicking, laugh-out-loud, fish butt–tastic tale about a fight over a crown—and the power it holds—with a surprising twist ending.Once upon a time, in a peaceful village nearer than you think, a mysterious box appeared outside the gates of a castle. Inside the box was a crown and some instructions (well, one instruction): Whoever has the crown makes the rules! NO exceptions! So naturally, the guard who found the crown put it on and became king.
This led to a dizzying tug-of-war (literally) between the king, the villagers, some fish butt–addicted alligators, and one very, very large orange dragon—all of whom believed the crown and the power were rightfully theirs. Needless to say, the peaceful village? Yeah, not so peaceful anymore.
From Me:
This book is fun and informative. A surprise box arrives and inside is a rule that whoever wears the crown (also in the box) gets to make all the decisions with no exceptions. The community agrees and the guard who opened the box becomes king. He promises to listen to everyone and be fair, but he doesn't. Soon the people get sick of the king's rules and decisions and try to revolt. Only before they can get the crown it is taken by an alligator. Now the castle is full of the moat alligators with one changing all the rules and making a mess of the castle. Plus, dinner is now fish butts! The people and alligators fight and they don't notice the newcomer--a dragon. The dragon says he will be fair to both sides and becomes king. He is fair to both sides by not doing what anyone else wants. The people and the alligators don't like him. Plus, he eats people and alligators and the crown. When he burps up the crown the two remaining fight over it. They decide to feed it to the dragon together. They decide they will take a vote to make all big decisions from then on.
This book is fun and hilariously stupid. It will have kids laughing and finding it crazy, but it also teaches an important lesson. It is an amazing example of a dictatorship/monarchy versus a democracy. Besides for the 4- to 8-year-olds it is perfect for discussing different governments and how they work. It shares how a democracy everyone has an equal say. I could see it used in a social studies class for older children to show an example of why voting works. With the election coming up soon, it is perfect timing to introduce voting!! The book also works as an introduction to voting. It is fun and silly and kids will enjoy it. It is perfect to be read aloud!
