Picture book, 40 pages. Harry N. Abrams, publisher, 2018.
Does it frighten you?
Well, life frightens me sometimes, and I know it frightens my grandchildren at times - a small voice saying at bedtime "Nonna, the shadows are different than at home" is a big give-away. But their bedtime routine includes sweet, strong songs about love and kindness and safety for just this reason - it drives away the shadows.
Angelou's poem is a call, a reminder to be defiantly self-confident in the face of the day-to-day things like shadows on the wall or a new classroom. And Basquiat's art is just as defiantly vivid in depicting the things which scare us. (This might not be a good book for very little persons who still get nightmares....) Maya Angelou
Angelou, an American author, poet and civil rights activist, rose to prominence with the publication of “ Know Why the Caged Bird Sings in 1969. Angelou, who died in 2014 at the age of 86, was honored with the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2010 by President Barack Obama.
Jean-Michel Basquiat
Basquiat was an American artist who rose to success during the 1980s as part of the Neo-expressionism movement and become a cultural phenomena. He used his art to speak about complex social issues which are still relevant today. Steptoe's picture biography, Radiant Child, is an excellent introduction to Basquiat.
Five Resilience-Building Habits for Children Ideas for Making it Real
There are many ways for your kiddo to not only face their fears, but to defy them!
Picture book, 40 pages. Greystone Kids, 2022. A New York Times / New York Public Library Best Illustrated Children's Book of 2022. Named Best Picture Book of the Year by Kirkus Reviews.
Electric with Joy!
Noodle prefers the Boss to Nonna - Noodle's little body simply becomes electric with joy when she sees Boss.
She loves a little cuddle from me, but as soon as she see Boss I become chopped liver. Every. Single. Time. Recently, Boss traveled for a few weeks and Noodle missed seeing him something fierce. Whenever I visited, it was "Nonna!" with a smile. And then, "Boss?" with a sad, puzzled face - even her little body seemed to slump a bit. But when he came home - wow! - she would not let him go for hours. Even if I am chopped liver, I love seeing how much Noodle adores the Boss! The best way to cultivate our children's joy is to build deep, strong loving bonds with them. Still This Love Goes On is an inspiration to think about the people and the places we love - when we do, joy goes on and on as well. Buffy Sainte-Marie
Sainte-Marie is a world-renowned and Academy Award-winning Cree singer-songwriter, activist, educator, and visual artist. Her other books for kids include Hey Little Rockabye, illustrated by Ben Hodson, and Tâpwê and the Magic Hat.
Juliet Flett
Flett is a Cree-Métis author, illustrator, and artist who has received numerous awards for her books, including two Governor General's Awards and the American Indian Library Association Award. Her books Birdsong and We All Play are also critically acclaimed.
Five Resilience-Building Habits for Children Ideas for Making it Real
Learn Sainte-Marie's song with your kiddo! The sheet music with lyrics is included in the book and you can find a Sainte-Marie video of the song on YouTube.
Picture book of Langston Hughes's "Dream Variation," 32 pages. Schwartz & Wade Books, 2017.
The Power of Poetry
Most people can remember the first time they read a Langston Hughes poem - they are just so powerful. As Miyares' says in the illustrator's note, we are moved by "the raw power of poetry - its ability to peel back a facade and reveal deep truths that my be hard for us to see."
I love picture book illustrations of poetry, especially when the artist understands and has the skill to depict the heart's response to the truth behind the facade. This is one of those books - perfect. Langston Hughes
Hughes (1901-1967) was a poet, novelist, essayist, playwright and journalist, as well as a prominent leader of the Harlem Renaissance. This short summary simply does not give this artist his due -- Hughes is a monumental figure of 20th century American literature.
Daniel Miyares
Miyares is a critically acclaimed picture book author and illustrator with the Boston Globe calling Float, "a perfect wordless book." He also illustrated Surf's Up, by Newbery Medalist Kwame Alexander. Miyares believes that our stories have the power to connect us all.
Five Resilience-Building Habits for Children Ideas for Making it Real
Peeling back facades, reaching the truth is essential in developing resilience. But I think dreaming big dreams is just as important, if not more so. Big dreamers often run into resistance and naysayers and bumps in the road - these are perfect opportunities to practice resilience muscles.
After reading That is My Dream! with your kiddo, ask if he has any dreams for the future. If your child is young, like my Noodle and Little Guy, his dreams may be something quite close in time and be related to candy, playing or candy. But it's worthwhile to begin asking this question early - it will be so much easier to keep the conversation about big dreams going as they grow older if your kiddo knows his dream is important to you. And it is more likely you will learn of the obstacles your child must overcome to make their dream a reality. |