Children’s Book Feature for September 2012

Here are my favorite reads for children this month!

When I recently participated in a bullying bystander empowerment training, it was continually emphasized that bullying often occurs among friends. Children desire to fit in and often tease each other for being different. Although all of the kitty cats that introduce themselves in this book have different interests, when Carlos points out that he is a hairless cat, everyone laughs at him. Naturally, when one of his peers tells him that he must not be a cat, Carlos is devastated. Later, his display of intelligence earns him some respect. This is a beautifully illustrated book that touches on themes such as bullying, empathy, self-esteem and more. There’s even a great list of questions you can ask your children to initiate those important discussions! I can’t wait to see how the author covers other topics such as illness and loss, independence, managing emotions, and being scared of the dark.

The Beautiful Wild Rose Girl struggles with her self-image. She has a huge sack of gold coins from selling her roses, but feels no purpose in life. She is constantly concerned that she smells like the swamp, which constantly reminds her that she is a “stupid ugly girl.” Upon meeting a poor farm boy, the Beautiful Wild Rose Girl is transformed. This book is a great example of how one person can make a huge difference. It’s definitely a refreshing change from the typical damsel in distress who is rescued by her knight in shining armor.

I especially appreciate the philosophy of Mystic World Press, which delivers the beauty, magic and profundity that they profess. Readers may also appreciate the traditional bindings that really transform the reading experience, while also encouraging the owner to treat it with care.

While this title is set to be released on October 1st, this one is certainly worth mentioning. Firebird complains to his mother about the storm and asks why it takes the sun away. For the most part, she says that he will soon find out. One day, she tells him to find out for himself and so he flies above the clouds to find that the sun was there the entire time. He then learns to rejoice in the rain.

I chuckled with this one. A bear walks around asking various critters if they have seen his hat. When he asks the rabbit wearing his hat about the hat, the rabbit responds that he would not steal. The bear continues forth until he realizes that he did indeed see his hat (that wascal!) and reclaims it. This is a great read to see just how perceptive children are!

Disclosure: I was provided the above-mentioned books for FREE in exchange for my review. All opinions are my own.