The Big Umbrella                                             

 By Amy June Bates and Juniper Bates

This is just a lovely book to begin conversations around inclusion in a gentle, poetic way. You can't help but smile at the wistful, cheerful illustrations...because despite the rain, the umbrella is so darn cute! And the message is inspiring and done in a way that is accessible for young children.  Perfect for an interactive read-aloud.

The story line is simplistic: it's a rainy day and everyone is looking for shelter from the storm. From the dust jacket flaps: 

Here is an umbrella.
It is big.
It is friendly.
But it is just one umbrella.
Who will fit underneath?

The use of watercolour gouache and pencil in the illustrations effectively echos the stormy, watery nature of the story. The gutter is utilized to great effect both to highlight the isolation and separateness of the characters who are unable to fit under the umbrella in several openings and also to bring together characters as they find shelter under the ever-growing umbrella.  Of course the overall message of the book is one of diversity, love and inclusion; all find space and shelter under the big umbrella.

The story behind the book is also heart-warming. The Big Umbrella was written by a Mother and Daughter team, who decided to write the book as a response to all of the divisiveness they observed leading up to the most recent election in the United States. To quote Juniper (who is 11), "The umbrella (also) represents communities and towns that accept people from different countries, different families, or clubs or neighborhoods."  See here for the full interview: https://www.romper.com/p/for-this-mom-daughter-resistance-meant-writing-a-childrens-book-7835909

I think that message is needed now more than ever.


Amy June Bates website:
http://www.amyjbates.com/

Jabari Jumps  
by Gaia Cornwall

I'm excited to share this picturebook with my students when we return to school after the break.

Overall, it's a great story about how one little boy confronts and overcomes his fears. We follow Jabari's initial bravado about jumping off the high diving board, which progresses into some diversion tactics when he realizes just how high it is. (I can relate...) Ultimately though, Jabari and his dad discuss facing his fears and he persists...and loves it!

I already have so many ideas about how students could use this book as a jumping off point to discuss and write about their own fears and successes. The diving board metaphor works well: taking a big leap can be hard!

Gaia employs perspective in a masterful way to illustrate Jabari's fear of heights. In particular, this bird's eye view effectively portrays the magnitude of what Jabari is facing by making the people in the pool appear small and such a great distance away.

The side view of his plunge into the pool after his jump portrays the waves from his splash and his movement down, down, down to the bottom of the pool...and the reader is able to watch his expression transform into one of joy at the completion of his goal.

Book Trailer: 

 

Gaia Cornwall's website: https://www.gaiacornwall.com/

The Bad Guys in Alien vs. Bad Guys (#6)
by Aaron Blabey

Ages: 7-9 and kids of all ages!

This beginning chapter book series is difficult to keep on the shelf in my grade two classroom. Accessible text, potty humour, non-stop action and panelled comic-style black and white illustrations make it a big hit!

The latest addition to the series is no exception.  In this installment, Mr. Wolf, Piranha, Legs (the tarantula),  Snake and Shark have to battle an alien with many 'butts' (yes, you read that correctly). You see, this group of 'bad guys' has to constantly battle their own natural instincts to be top predators in order to maintain their good reputations.

Some people might not approve of all of the fart and butt talk in this book, but overall the message of friendship and sticking together won me over.  And let's face it, kids love that humour and whatever will hook them on reading works for me.

Word on the street is that DreamWorks is planning a feature animated film based on the series as well!  See here for more info:

http://www.comingsoon.net/movies/news/929131-dreamworks-animation-developing-the-bad-guys-film-adaptation

Book Trailer from Scholastic featuring the author, Aaron Blabey himself:

Aaron Blabey's website: http://www.aaronblabeybooks.com/