Posted on: 30/09/2024
One of the most important roles we play for the children in our lives is to guide them to develop a strong sense of self. Identity can be such a tricky thing to nurture: children learn from parents, family, teachers and peers and how they identify- their way of being and what makes them tick- isn’t something we have control over and nor should we. But if we are to support children to find their way in life and, indeed, their way of being then we have to help children try things out; express themselves. And we also have to ensure that the sorts of books that explore identity and expression fall into little hands. Because the little hands will one day be big hands, the owner of which we hope feels able to be authentically and unashamedly themselves. This month’s edit includes seven shiny new titles all with themes of identity and self-expression at their hearts.
Written by Ziggy Hanaor, illustrated by Elliot Kruszynski
(Cicada, 3rd August 2024)
A little creature – with a great flourish – exclaims, I am a potato! But any joy experienced at this is short-lived because along comes a friend to set the creature straight: No. You’re not a potato. It’s quickly established that because the creature doesn’t grow underground, they’re definitely not a potato. So begins an existential crisis… a cast of other creatures join one by one in asking the creature questions to help them self-identify. Clue: they are not a potato. Gorgeously illustrated with a combination of sequences of pictures and full-page spreads there is skilful depiction of the creature as they experience the full range of emotions. And author Ziggy Hanaor is no stranger to writing books for children about identity (Alte Zachen, 2022 and Snail Trail, 2022). This is a brilliant book to support not only the development of self-awareness but also the science curriculum for when looking at animal classification and how to ask the right sort of questions to guide someone toward their own learning. Perfect for children in EYFS.
Writteny Lily Murray, illustrated by Kirsti Beautyman
(OUP Oxford, 3rd October 2024)
This gorgeous book – a Hanukkah story – is as much about identity as it is friendship, imagination and the very relatable experience of moving house. Eva and her family have moved away from all that Eva knows and things are strange and a little lonely. Eva worries that Hanukkah this year will be quiet. But no matter: she’s got constant companion… Spark! Spark is an adorable little dragon. Not everyone can see him but he’s always there if you really look and believe. The trouble is that Spark is lonely – he doesn’t even want to eat chocolate spread on toast for breakfast. Maybe if Eva can help him find a friend, then he’ll feel a little better? And so begins a delightful story of how Eva and Spark are both discovered and then welcomed by another child all because of the flickering flame of the first candle of Hanukkah. Such a fabulous storyline with a strong non-fiction element too, both in the celebration of Hanukkah depicted in the story as well as the explanation of the festival at the end of the book. Perfect for children in EYFS and Year 1 and would make a lovely companion text to The Comet by Joe Todd-Stanton.
Words by Monique Duncan and illustrations by Oboh Moses
(Lantana, 3rd October 2024)
Endorsed by Amnesty International, this is an authentically voiced, hope-filled story of spirit, courage and cultural identity. In Columbia, South America, Nemy’s life as an enslaved young woman is relentless. But one night, when she follows Big Mother, she is enthralled to discover a group of women braiding each other’s hair. This evokes memories of her own Nana: the scent of butters, herbs and oils that were once rubbed into her scalp. And so Nemy begins to braid too: her fingers deftly remembering the skills of yore. Then, a miracle rose from tireless fingers. The braids hold messages and codes: some identify enslaved women who want to escape to freedom; others map out routes of roads and rivers; others still conceal seeds to be planted in free soil.
This is an utterly stunning story, inspired by historical events surrounding the Transatlantic Slave Trade, where braiding was used as a means of communicating plans for escape. The illustrations are sensitive and authentic in their representation and the use of shading and toning is extraordinary. There’s a brilliant author’s note at the back of the book that explains the history further and two double-page spreads (one at the beginning and one at the end) that identifies and illustrates different types of braid, all labelled in Spanish. The perfect book for any key stage 2 classroom and ideal to support with studies of Black History and Black Identity year-round.
By Michelle Lam
(Faber and Faber, 12th September 2024)
In this the second volume of Meesh’s adventures (the author Michelle having written herself into the stories and describing Meesh the Bad Demon as herself when she was a child) we reunite with Meesh as she’s learning to harness her powers whilst acclimatising to her newly discovered identity as the Guardian of the Underworld. It’s going to be a lot of fun, she assumes. People are already asking for her autograph! But when her wolf-friend Chai is driven away, Meesh must try and protect Ponderosa from the evil threat; restore peace and ensure everyone can live safely. Is it all as it seems, though? Or is there more to this than Meesh realises? Will Meesh succeed? And most importantly of all, will she finally start to believe in herself?
A clever graphic novel by renowned story artist Lam whose credits include work for Netflix Animation. In her bio, Lam says she wanted to write stories that reflect her own Chinese-American upbringing so that other children can see themselves in a text and realise that you’re truly powerful when you love yourself, despite your inner demons. Perfect for children in upper key stage 2, especially for the more reluctant readers given that whilst the story is rich in theme, it is light in terms of written word.
By Olly Pike
(Pop and Olly, Autumn 2024)
We were delighted to receive a copy of Olly Pike’s latest book which was written in response to the widespread riots that, sadly, took place earlier this summer in the UK. Olly Pike – founder of Pop'n'Olly, the UK’s leading provider of LGBT+ educational resources for primary children, parents, carers and teachers, says that Pop'n'Olly’s mission is ‘sparking joy, eradicating shame and empowering all children, teachers, parents & carers through LGBT+ inclusive education and storytelling.’ In a super-cute imagining of a little creature that has ears that look a little ‘rabbit’ but a tail that is more beaver in appearance, we ‘meet’ a ‘Normal’: Have you ever seen a ‘Normal’? If you have, you’re telling lies. Because a Normal can’t exist, even if it tries. And through a delightful exploration of how there are no normal feelings, heights, families, colours… no normal ways to ‘be’, the message of ‘being you’ is conveyed. Written in rhyming couplets, this is the kind of book that helps instil in children not just a sense of their own identity but the understanding that others’ identities are just as unique and that they have every right to live authentically too. Brilliant for children in EYFS.
Written by Rashmi Sirdeshpande and illustrated by Jason Lyon
(Wide Eyed Editions 17th October 2024)
This book is a visual and literary feast! In the author’s introduction, we – the readers – are told that we will dive deep into this vast and epic continent, looking at its incredible past, its fascinating present, and its exciting future. Sirdeshpande then continues to draw the reader in with a simple but comprehensive list of first the 5 geographic regions and then what we’ll learn. At the start, there is a wonderful double-page spread of flags, each captioned with a fact about the country. Organised into sections by geographical region thereafter, the reader is taken on a tour of Asia – the largest continent – learning the facts, the history and the popular culture of the countries within each region. The journey into each geographical region begins with a map (not drawn to scale and not an ‘Atlas’ map – this is explained as part of the introduction) and then a page that cleverly shows the chronology of the region’s history in a Journey through Time section. However, as much as this is a geography book and also a history book, it is so much more: at the end of the book, there is the ten ways Asia has influenced the world section. brilliant for exploring a range of Asian identities, customs and ways of being. Beautifully and engagingly written and presented, we think this is a book that will be perfect for class and school libraries as well as school staff room (and living room!) coffee tables.
Written by Satu Hämeenhao-Fox and illustrated by Léonie Després
(DK Children, 3rd October 2024)
The concept of this book is simple but so effective: Van Gogh has become lost in time! He then travels through scenes inspired by ten artists hailing from two centuries: there’s Katsushika Hokusai of the ‘Great Wave’ fame; so-called ‘Mother of American modernism, Georgia O’Keeffe, whose work was often inspired by her surroundings in the Mexican desert; there’s installation artist, Nellie Mae Rowe who created a work of art out of her entire home and there’s Salvador Dalí: surrealist extraordinaire who could take everyday objects and incorporate these into masterpieces (telephones, clocks, furniture). All artists have such a sense of identity through their work and freely express their thoughts and ideas. On each glorious double-page spread, we are met with a riot of colour and invited to spot the artist within the bustling scenes (all styled to ‘fit’ each artist) as well as many other things, an artistic-take on ‘Where’s Wally’, if you will! A brilliant book for artists or those who have an interest in art, young or old.
Posted in: Literature Review
