Media Matters

 Picture book by Eric Litwin. Fun to read story, with a great message about not sweating the small stuff and making lemonade out of life’s lemons. Another highly recommended book in this series is “Pete the Cat and His Four Groovy Buttons”. The message of that one: “Buttons come and buttons go, but do we cry? Goodness, no! We keep on singing.” There is also some basic subtraction thrown in.

 Novel by Anne Blackman. This is a wonderful book told from the perspective of three eleven year old girls in alternating chapters. Historically, it is set in the Soviet Union, with some chapters during WW2 and most chapters set in the 80’s immediately following the Chernobyl disaster. It touches on some heavy topics such as child abuse and anti-Semitism. But it also focuses on love, forgiveness, and friendship. Highly recommended for ages 10+.

 Picture book by Minh Le. A graphic novel style picture book about a magic elevator button, and the friendship between a girl and her little brother. I loved this one!

 Graphic novel by Victoria Jamieson and Omar Mohamed This was a phenomenal book! It is the true story of the author’s experiences growing up in a refugee camp in Kenya with his little brother. The story is told beautifully and simply in a graphic novel format. There were so many poignant moments and truths expressed, so much faith in God, so much determination to become educated, so much family and community love and support... I can wholeheartedly recommend this book to anyone and everyone. It is even appropriate for elementary age readers.

 Picture book by Gloria Whelan. This darling picture book is based on the true story of the machine Prince Albert designed so that his wife could swim in the ocean. I appreciated the loving way their marriage and family life was depicted. The illustrations with all of their children were particularly fun, and the rhyming prose was hilarious. Activity idea: Swim in the ocean together.

 Picture book by Ed Vere. Leonard the lion is a gentle poet. His lion friends think the only right way to be a lion is to be fierce. Can his poetry convince them otherwise? Activity idea: Write a poem.

 Picture book by Mo Willems. It takes courage to question societal norms (Why not?) Wilbur the naked mole rat likes to wear clothes, so he does, much to the consternation of the other mole rats. My favorite thing about this story is that in the end, some of the mole rats wear clothes, and some of the mole rats don’t, yet they get along and have fun together despite their differences of opinion. Activity idea: Play with some dress up clothes.