Experience great teacher
Thomas Szasz once wrote, "A child becomes an adult when he realizes he has a right not only to be right but also to be wrong." Unfortunately, sometimes adults fail to remember this when it comes to children.
Everyone makes mistakes; that's part of the human condition. But why is it that adults expect children to do everything right, constantly correcting the child? Of course children need guidance, but our greatest teacher in life comes from experience, including the mistakes we make.
Today's reviewed books touch on this subject in a variety of ways. Not only are the books excellent and entertaining, but they also provide reflective thought for young and old alike.
The following book is available at many public libraries.<B>"An Orange for Frankie"</B> written and illustrated by Patricia Polacco; Philomel; 42 pages; read aloud: age 5 to 6 and older; read yourself: age 8 and older.Frankie Stowell's father had driven his horse and buggy all the way to Lansing to buy nine precious oranges to place on the fireplace mantel – one for each of the children. But heavy snow was falling and the family worried that Pa couldn't get home in time for Christmas Eve.As they prepared for the festivities and waited for Pa's return, the family fed several homeless men while Frankie provided something extra — his favorite sweater for the man who had a coat but no shirt. Finally Pa arrived home safely, but unintentionally Frankie lost his orange before he was supposed to have it.Perfectly rendered, this beautiful story of what it really means to give to another will tug at reader's hearts long after the last page is read.
<B>Library:</B> Prospect Community Library, Prospect<B>Library Director/Head Librarian:</B> Jeanne Sarnese<B>Choices this week:</B> <B>"Big Burn"</B> by Jeannette Ingold; <B>"Enders Game"</B> by Orson Scott Card; <B>"The Golden Compass"</B> by Philip Pullman
The following books are available at favorite bookstores.<B>"Billy Creekmore"</B> by Tracey Porter; Joanna Cotler/Harper Collins, 2007; 256 pages; $16.99 hardcover; read aloud: age 10 and older; read yourself: age 10 to 11 and older.Set in West Virginia in the early 1900s, young Billy Creekmore lives a cruel life in the Guardian Angles Home for Boys. Moments before Billy is to be sent to work at a factory that will ensure a life even more bleak than the one he knows, a distant relative comes to claim him and take him home.In a small coal mining town, Billy finds the first warmth of family he has never known. When Billy is old enough, he joins the coal miners, and although the work is hard, Billy loves being a part of it all. But it isn't to last long, for when the miners join the union, violence breaks out and his aunt hurries him out of harm's way.From joining a circus to becoming a con artist, Billy eventually comes to understand who he is, where he belongs, and finds the courage to follow his own path.Beautifully written in every way, "Billy Creekmore" is an engaging and satisfying novel.<B>"Edwardo: The Horriblest Boy in the Whole Wide World"</B> written and illustrated by John Burningham; Alfred A. Knopf, 2007; 32 pages; $16.99 hardcover; read aloud: age 4 and older; read yourself: age 7 to 8 and older.Edwardo was a perfectly normal child. Like most children, sometimes Edwardo would be noisy, nasty, messy, rude, clumsy, rough, and dirty. Unfortunately, the adults in Edwardo's life loudly criticized every wrong step he made. Over and over, Edwardo was told how rotten he was, and eventually Edwardo believed it to be true and did even more rotten things.Then, one day Edwardo accidentally does something that he is praised for, and that small act leads to more and more acts of kindness until the grown-ups declare that Edwardo is the nicest boy in the whole wide world.A cautionary tale about the power of words, this lighthearted story will be enjoyed by children and provide reflective thought to adults about their choice of words and positive reinforcement.
