Posted on: 31/10/2024
Humans and animals are innately curious about the world but are we innately kind? In one of this month’s books that we’ve reviewed (There’s no such thing as a Silly Question) this could even be one of the questions asked. But how would we actually know the answer? And where matters of kindness and curiosity are concerned, does courage become a factor? We think so. Being kind can sometimes mean flowing against the tide of others or risking rejection; being curious can mean facing the unknown and this can be scary. Through the gorgeous books we’ve selected for review this month, we delve into ancestry and we also take a look at the inspirational stories of women whose scientific curiosity – often taking courage to overcome adversity – has led to some of the greatest discoveries of our time. And we celebrate the importance of playing, exploring and investigating the world, going forth with kindness, curiosity and courage.
We All Play - kimêtawânaw by Julie Flett
(Greystone Kids, 7th November 2024)
This is one of the most delightful board books we’ve seen. Written by Cree-Métis author, Julie Flett, this is a dual-language book, with the translation from English to Plains Cree by the Cree Literacy Network. We journey through a day of play; of rabbits that ‘hide and hop’ and owls who ‘peek and peep’. And the children? ‘We play too!’ they shriek delightedly. We all play in and around water, too: beluga and seals, geese... The children dive and surf. But everyone is sleepy now… and so are the children.
The Hare Who Wouldn't Share by Steve Small
(Simon and Schuster Children’s , 24th October 2024)
This book is the perfect modern day fairy-tale/fable: creatures - check; a woodland setting - check; meanness - check; a threat - check and a very unexpected turn of events culminating in a complete 180 for our main protagonist…
‘There was once a hare who lived in a dark wood and grew turnips.’ Sharing is out of the question: less for him! But then one day a family of rabbits move into the woods and wonder if Hare might be able to spare some food seeing as their cupboards are bare (see the rhyming pattern??). Of course, Hare refuses but the other animals are more welcoming.
The rabbit is undeterred, though, inviting Hare to join them to share soup, made out of their newly grown carrots. And it is almost as if Hare is enraged by such kindness… until an encounter with Boar, the latter nicking turnips from the former, makes Hare realise that the rabbits’ crop is in real danger… Can Hare act quickly enough to protect the carrots? Will he become a better person after?
Such a lovely text and perfect for children in Year 1 and year 2.
Navya Sings for Navarathri by Lakshmi Thamizhmani illustrated by Avani Dwivedi
(HarperCollins, 10th October 2024)
This is a beautiful, joyful and authentically voiced and illustrated book. In the author’s note at the beginning, Lakshmi explains that the celebrations in this story are based on recollections from her own childhood. Navaratri is a nine-night festival. And, arrangements aside, is a woman only celebration. In the story, main protagonist Navya desperately wants to sing at the festival concert that is taking place on the ninth and final night of the festival. Each day, they all sing in worship of the goddesses. But Navya is frightened. Although she has a beautiful voice and sings confidently when by herself, ‘Fear chased her voice away like a fierce bull’ whenever there were others around. There’s no way she’ll have the courage to sing at the final night of the festival!
But then on the fifth day, her aunt develops a terrible cold and it is at this moment that Navya has an idea… with her cousin’s support, will she be able to perform in front of an audience in her auntie’s stead?
With the inclusion of some brilliant explanations of the festival, some music and even a recipe, this is such a wonderful and celebratory book about overcoming fears, courage and -most importantly – celebration.
The Brighter I Shine by By Kamee Abrahamian, illustrated by Lusine Ghukasyan
(Lantana , reissue 2024)
A young girl celebrates her birthday- The day that I celebrate the first day of my life. Her Mama tells of her arrival story: They say I first came to them in a quiet dream and that I was a gift from our ancestors.
The spirit of the family’s ancestors is in the wind and it was felt the day the girl was born; the story of the family’s ancestors is in objects, traditions and scent. But there is the worry that the language and traditions will disappear…and the girl has a realisation: her mama tells the stories because everything and everyone is interconnected. Knowing who we are and where we’re from helps us to shine bright.
A beautiful and affirming book, cleverly illustrated and with an insightful letter from the author to the reader. In this letter, we are told of the author’s own American-Armenian heritage; her acknowledgement that she ‘grew up in Canada as an uninvited guest on the traditional territory of Mississaugas of the Credit, Anishnabeg, Chippewa, Haudenosaunee and Wendat peoples.’
A perfect book for children in lower key stage 2 and will be brilliant for in-depth discussion around rightful ownership of land.
There’s no such thing as a Silly Question by Mike Rampton, illustrated by Guilherme Karsten
(Nosy Crow, 10th October 2024)
This is such a fun book: for those children in particular who want to know everything about the world NOW (and – in some respects – rightly so!) this will keep them busy at least for a little while. The book’s cover proclaims that readers will get 213 weird questions, expertly answered. Everything has been illustrated to perfection, making clear that whilst the questions have been taken seriously (all are ‘expertly fact-checked’) there is so much humour to be had in idle ponderings. Take the question, What do animals do if they need glasses? The initial, pithy response is, Nothing – they don't know they need glasses. But then a brief insight (forgive us for that one…) into how some animals see is given before rounding the section off: They don't need glasses though, which is a shame, as a cat with a little pair of specs is quite a sight. There’s also the brilliant question, How long would it take to run around the world? A lengthy response is provided for this one involving many variables BUT astonishingly, Kevin Carr – a British man – actually succeeded and, with occasional flights, achieved his attempt in 621 days!
A lovely book for class and school libraries for children to pore over.
Eurek-HER! Stories of inspirational women in STEM
by Frances Durkin, illustrated by Nur Ventura
(b small, 1st September 2024)
This is a feast for the curious! From the contents page, arranged as it is as a timeline showing Mesopotamian whizz Tapputi Belatetekallim at the very start all the way up to Kenyan 1992-born Nzambi Matee (more about her shortly!) All the women featured, many of whom we’re ashamed to say we hadn’t really heard of before now, have had a burning question or problem that has needed a solution and they make it their life’s work to find solutions. And without exception, each woman’s achievements, inventions and discoveries were acts of kindness.
The Steiff name is synonymous with traditional little brown bears: exquisitely hand-crafted and highly collectible. But what we didn’t know was that Margarette Steiff had loved sewing at school, in spite of the chronic pain in her right arm, a residual effect of polio and it was she who invented soft toys. All of this was borne out of the kindness of her sisters who saved enough money to buy Margarette a sewing machine. So successful were the little stuffed elephants and other animals that a factory was set-up. And this is where Steiff’s nephew designed the bear with moveable limbs, loved the world over still today.
Physics graduate and self-taught engineer Nzambi Matee invented the incredible recycled plastic paving blocks in response to the pollution she witnessed so close to home. Her production cannot keep up with supply and demand but the business is currently being scaled up and Matee hopes that, one day, she will be able to recreate house-bricks in the same way.
Perfect for school libraries.
Rani Reports on The Copycat Crook by Gabrielle and Satish Shewhorak, illustrated by Navya Raju
(Rock the Boat, 5th September 2024)
Following the success of the first in the series – Rani Reports: on The Missing millions (Jun 2023), this second book features award-winning reporter and budding investigative journalist Rani and her brilliantly funny, slightly badly-behaved grandmother – Nani. Oh and an African Grey parrot called Cookie who helps with Rani’s endeavours … to a point. We are catapulted into the action in the first few pages: Jack Sheridan, once an investigative journalist himself, and now the novelist behind the narratives that inspired the exciting ‘Baldini’ detective film franchise, is in town. And even more exciting is that part of the latest film is to be shot in Camberford, Rani and Nani’s home. The problem is that the filming has been disrupted – some even say that the set may be cursed… mysterious incidents have plagued production. Then Rani develops a theory: all of the goings-on seem to mirror events in Sheridan’s novels. Could someone be copying the fictional crimes and turning them into a sinister reality? Rani will need to use her innate curiosity and growing sleuthing skills to solve the mystery.
A fun-filled novel, perfect for children in years 4-6 with brilliantly likeable characters and with strong messaging around ambition and aspirations.
Posted in: Literature Review
