Ease the return to class
Imagine if you had to go to a huge party by yourself where you might know some of the people or you might not know anyone. Perhaps the invitation wasn't clear about the kind of party, and you worry about what to wear.
You might enter the room and everyone is engaged in conversation, but not with you. Suddenly the music starts and everyone is dancing, but you have no partner. Sounds a little uncomfortable, doesn't it?
You bet.
It's no different with children and the start of a new school year. Most children are nervous about returning to school. There are concerns and worries about many things, and these anxieties are very real.
This week's reviewed books take a look at some of the social issues children may be confronted with when they return to school.
Whether it's about telling the truth, being anxious about public speaking, or making friends, all are excellent books and can act as a springboard for discussion with the child in your life.
The following book is available at many public libraries."That's Mine, Horace" written and illustrated by Holly Keller; Greenwillow; 24 pages; read aloud: age 4 and older; read yourself: age 7 to 8 and older.One day Horace found a toy truck in the schoolyard. It was the best truck he had ever seen. It was also small enough to fit in his pocket. When the bell rang, Horace waited a moment for someone to claim the truck. No one did, so he stuffed it into his pocket.Later that afternoon at snack time, Horace took the truck out and played with it.Walter quickly noticed the truck. "Hey, that's mine!" Horace slid the truck back into his pocket. When his teacher questioned him, Horace lied and said the truck was his. His teacher smiled and said she knew Horace would never fib.In his heart, Horace knew he was wrong, but he didn't know how to undo what he had already done. Fortunately for Horace, he had some help from one he least suspected.A perfectly balanced story that teaches right from wrong and the power of forgiveness, this selection is a real gem.
<B>Library:</B> Saxonburg Area Library, 240 W. Main St., Saxonburg<B>Library Director:</B> Steve Twentier<B>Children's Programmer:</B> Judy O'Brokta<B>Choices this week:</B> <B>"Picasso the Green Tree Frog"</B> by Amanda Graham; <B>"Joseph Had a Little Overcoat"</B> by Simms Taback; <B>"Tangerine"</B> by Edward Bloor
The following books are available at favorite bookstores.<B>"The Blabber Report" </B>written and illustrated by True Kelley; Dutton, 2007; 32 pages; $15.99 hardcover; read aloud: age 6 to 8; read yourself: age 7 to 8.Blabber is a little mouse with a big talent for talking. Blabber talks and talks and talks, and sometimes he talks too much. But when his teacher assigns oral book reports to the class, Blabber the talker is terrified.While all of Blabber's classmates are busy working on their book reports, Blabber doodles, tells jokes, talks with his friends — anything to avoid working on his report.As the days pass and oral book report day gets closer, Blabber becomes more and more nervous. Will he ever be able to do this scary thing?Full of humor, wisdom, and encouragement, "The Blabber Report" is ultimately a story of kindness and empathy on many levels.<B>"Lissy's Friends"</B> written and illustrated by Grace Lin; Viking, 2007; 36 pages; $15.99 hardcover; read aloud: age 4 and older; read yourself: age 7 to 8."Lissy was the new girl at school. Nobody talked to her. Nobody smiled at her. At the playground, Lissy stood on the merry-go-round by herself."Everybody needs a friend, and Lissy decides to make a friend out of paper — an origami paper crane. But she doesn't stop there; Lissy makes lots of paper friends. Lissy takes her friends with her everywhere, but one day all of her paper friends blow away in the wind, and just at that moment, a new friend approaches — a real girl named Paige.Charming in every way, "Lissy's Friends" is a sensitive, upbeat look at the importance of friendship.
