Feature Articles: Bookworm

It’s tough to navigate feelings at any age, but especially when you’re little and can’t truly verbalize them. And there’s nothing worse than feeling misunderstood. Just ask the puffin. “Look at the funny little penguin!” and “What a silly-looking penguin!” Hearing this all day long is enough to make any little bird angry, especially when he is decidedly NOT a penguin. The Angry Little Puffin by Timothy Young is the story of a puffin who is upset that he’s constantly mistaken for a penguin. Even the zoo has placed him with his flightless brethren, with only a small sign to distinguish the two. And nobody reads the sign.

It wasn’t too long ago when children’s television and family sitcoms were full of teachable moments. Nearly every episode featured the characters encountering a situation that required them to make a moral or ethical decision of some kind. Soon, those lessons cloaked in humor faded out and “very special episodes” became a trope associated with the past. The new generations of kids were thought to be too savvy to be preached to; they wanted sarcasm, attitude, and chaotic comedy. But is that what kids really need? The Principles of Our World is a book series designed to help children develop a strong sense of character and ethics.

Moms who have really done their homework know that one of the most important things they can do for their child’s development is breastfeed if they are able, and then start the child on a high-quality diet with vitamins, minerals and other nutrients. This dietary transition can be a tough. Many commercially-made baby foods are not organic, thus running the risk of exposing a child to pesticides, or contain additives. That is why many mothers make their own baby foods at home, and Ruth Yaron’s book, Super Baby Food, gives great guidance on making baby purees and on what and when to feed babies to keep them healthy and support their growth.

Take a pinch of magic, wish hard and get transported to a far away land where children stay young forever. That is the spirit behind a book that is a sure-fire fave designed to win the hearts of kids, especially girls aged six to ten. The Never Girls: A Pinch of Magic is the seventh entry and newest in the blockbuster series by writer Kiki Thorpe who has already rocked the pre-teen world with the earlier Never Girls books including The Space Between, A Dandelion Wish and The Space Beyond. Thorpe sets the stage for wishing, dreaming and, most of all, reading — an activity parents are beyond thrilled to have their daughters pursue.

Many families with children understand the struggles of raising a picky eater. Some younger kids may only be interested in one or two dishes, while others will only eat food of specific colors or shapes. In older children, pickiness tends to be more about resistance to change, leading to an unwillingness to try unfamiliar foods. Parents of a picky eater generally want to fix the situation, but find that forcing the issue with threats and punishments is no use; they either have to wait it out or inspire the child to make a change using fun, interactive methods. The latter option is the premise of Joanne Oppenheim’s The Prince’s Breakfast.

As the world of nature disappears faster than we appear to be doing enough to stop it, stories of this part of life teach important lessons. Squirt the Otter is a true story of an orphaned baby critter who was found, in all places, in a farmer’s field. Tracy, a zookeeper, together with her dog Muffin, befriended the baby otter and took her into their home, caring for her to enable her to grow into a healthy adult. This warm tale by Tracy L. Mikowsky, the actual Tracy of the story, shows how compassion and friendship transcend the species, giving concrete examples of the bond between humans and animals and the benefits to both of forming close, caring connections.

Irwin Snackcracker is a fun kid with a wacky sense of humor, but he’s pretty normal for the cartoon world in which he lives. Like most kids, he loves ice cream, and tries to get his hands on the frozen treat whenever he can. Little does he know that his pursuit of the frozen delicacy will change his life forever and set him on the road to an epic adventure. Author Todd Clark’s illustrations for The Ice Cream Kid: Brain Freeze! help the book to come alive for kids and make them want to keep turning pages to watch the story unfold.

In her new children’s chapter book, Scary Spring: Our Polio Fright of 1955, author C.A. Hartnell seeks to bring the spirit of the ‘50s alive for elementary school-age readers. The events are seen through the eyes of 11-year-old Carol-Ann and her friend Pete, whose adventures in their neighborhood are a mix of classic youthful mischief (finding a stray puppy, spying on the local “crabby old man”) to more serious themes like witnessing the dangerous consequences of hot rod racing and facing the realities of polio. Pete and Carol-Ann’s friendship is a good old-fashioned coming of age buddy adventure.

I went to sleep with gum in my mouth and now there’s gum in my hair and when I got out of bed this morning I tripped on the skateboard and by mistake I dropped my sweater in the sink while the water was running and I could tell it was going to be a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day. Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day has gone on to sell over 2 million copies since its initial publication in 1972. Now, even younger audiences can enjoy this Judith Viorst classic. Released as a board book for the 6 to 9-year old set, the new version contains the same text but focuses on images of Alexander.

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