Can there ever be enough books that encourage kids to accept themselves for who they are? We think not! Rose and Her Amazing Nose is a picture book that does just this: it teaches kids the importance of accepting themselves.
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By: JOANNA MARPLE,
on 1/29/2016
Blog: Miss Marple's Musings (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: friendship, mime, self-acceptance, Marcel Marceau, salina yoon, Perfect Picture Book Friday, teachers' resources, Be Friend, Add a tag
By: JOANNA MARPLE,
on 10/9/2015
Blog: Miss Marple's Musings (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: diversity, picture books, Fran Manushkin, pre-K, self-acceptance, Lauren Tobia, Perfect Picture Book Friday, HAPPY IN OUR SKIN, Add a tag
By: JOANNA MARPLE,
on 9/7/2015
Blog: Miss Marple's Musings (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: theatre, transgender, LGBTQ, GEORGE, self-acceptance, upper elementary, 2015 Diversity Reading Challenge, Alex Gino, Grades 2 to 5, transgender children, upper elementary students, Add a tag
By: JOANNA MARPLE,
on 6/15/2015
Blog: Miss Marple's Musings (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: bullying, diversity, MIDDLE GRADE, transgender, LGBTQ, self-acceptance, we need diverse books, 2015 Diversity Reading Challenge, GRACEFULLY GRAYSON, Add a tag
By: shelf-employed,
on 11/3/2010
Blog: Shelf-employed (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: storytime, individuality, E, self-acceptance, book review, Add a tag
Maclear, Kyo. 2010. Spork. Ill. by Isabelle Arsenault.Tonawanda, NY: Kids Can Press.
Spork - a touching book that tells the happy story of how a Spork who didn't fit in, found his true place and purpose in life - a positive message with illustrations to charm your heart.
Using minimal colors (the silver tones of cutlery and toasters, the green of cooked peas, and the tomatoey hue of pasta sauce), Aresenault has crafted the darling denizens of the silverware drawer and one Gerber inspired human. "The artwork in this book was rendered in mixed media and assembled digitally." I'm not sure exactly how that's accomplished, but the finished result is wonderfully, happily, sporkishly delightful!
Don't take my word for it. View a slideshow off the artwork at Isabelle Arsenault's website. You'll fall in love with Spork, too!
And here is author, Kyo Mclear's introduction to Spork.
(I think I'm a fan of cutlery in general. I'm also fond of Spoon.)
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By: shelf-employed,
on 5/28/2010
Blog: Shelf-employed (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: funny, E, self-acceptance, Advance Reader Copy, rhyming, book review, Add a tag
(This is a review of an Advance Reader Copy received from LibraryThing Early Reviewers.)
Pulley, Kelly. 2010. Ten Unusual Features of Lulu McDunn. Saint Clair Shores, MI: Gauthier.
Ten Unusual Features of Lulu McDunn is a rhyming narrative in a sing-song cadence similar to that of a Dr. Seuss book,
Counting from 1 to 10, the story describes Lulu's unusual features (and some of them are quite unusual!) and follows with Lulu's upbeat perspective on each particular anomaly,
The message of self-acceptance may be a little too obvious here, but the Seussical rhymes will appeal to preschoolers and they will have fun going back through the book and spotting the partially concealed precursors to Lulu's ten unusual features.
0 Comments on Ten Unusual Features of Lulu McDunn as of 1/1/1900
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By: Kim Wheedleton,
on 11/7/2008
Blog: Bugs and Bunnies (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: identity, The Shamer's Daughter, Lene Kaaberbol, self-acceptance, children's books, Add a tag
Viewing: Blog Posts Tagged with: self-acceptance, Most Recent at Top [Help]
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By: Bianca Schulze,
on 4/21/2016
Blog: The Children's Book Review (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: Ages 4-8, Picture Books, featured, Author Showcase, Books for Girls, Self-acceptance, Social Graces, Poetry & Rhyme, Dedicated Review, Books About Noses, Andrew Fairchild, George A. Raggett, Add a tag
Blog: The Children's Book Review (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: Ages 4-8, Picture Books, featured, Author Showcase, Books for Girls, Self-acceptance, Social Graces, Poetry & Rhyme, Dedicated Review, Books About Noses, Andrew Fairchild, George A. Raggett, Add a tag
By: JOANNA MARPLE,
on 1/29/2016
Blog: Miss Marple's Musings (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: friendship, mime, self-acceptance, Marcel Marceau, salina yoon, Perfect Picture Book Friday, teachers' resources, Be Friend, Add a tag
Title: Be A Friend Author & Illustrator: Salina Yoon Publisher: Bloomsbury Children’s Books, January 2016 Themes: individuality, imagination, friendship Ages: 3-7 Opening: Dennis was an ordinary boy …who expressed himself in EXTRAORDINARY ways. Synopsis: Dennis is an ordinary boy who expresses himself in extraordinary ways. Some children do show-and-tell. Dennis mimes his. … Continue reading
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By: JOANNA MARPLE,
on 10/9/2015
Blog: Miss Marple's Musings (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: diversity, picture books, Fran Manushkin, pre-K, self-acceptance, Lauren Tobia, Perfect Picture Book Friday, HAPPY IN OUR SKIN, Add a tag
Title: Happy in Our Skin Written by: Fran Manushkin Illustrated by: Lauren Tobia Published by: Candlewick Press, 2015 Themes/Topics: diversity, self-acceptance, skin Suitable for ages: 2-5 Opening: Look at you! … Continue reading
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By: JOANNA MARPLE,
on 9/7/2015
Blog: Miss Marple's Musings (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: theatre, transgender, LGBTQ, GEORGE, self-acceptance, upper elementary, 2015 Diversity Reading Challenge, Alex Gino, Grades 2 to 5, transgender children, upper elementary students, Add a tag
I am back with my Diversity Reading Challenge on Mondays and hope to introduce you to a range of texts that you might not automatically select, but which I hope you will read and pass on. Title: George Written by: Alex Gino … Continue reading
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By: Bianca Schulze,
on 8/23/2015
Blog: The Children's Book Review (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: Ages 0-3, Ages 4-8, Friendship, Dogs, Author Showcase, Self-acceptance, Animal Books, Jeff Minich, Renan Garcia, Dedicated Review, Books About Loneliness, Add a tag
Blog: The Children's Book Review (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: Ages 0-3, Ages 4-8, Friendship, Dogs, Author Showcase, Self-acceptance, Animal Books, Jeff Minich, Renan Garcia, Dedicated Review, Books About Loneliness, Add a tag
All the Other Nuggies is Jeff Minich’s second book in his illustrated children’s book series based on life-lessons learned from dogs.
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By: JOANNA MARPLE,
on 6/15/2015
Blog: Miss Marple's Musings (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: bullying, diversity, MIDDLE GRADE, transgender, LGBTQ, self-acceptance, we need diverse books, 2015 Diversity Reading Challenge, GRACEFULLY GRAYSON, Add a tag
Title: Gracefully Grayson Written by: Ami Polonsky Published by: Hyperion, 2014 Themes/Topics: transgender, middle school, orphans, theatre, self-acceptance, bullying Suitable for ages: 8 -12 Opening: IF YOU DRAW a triangle with the circle resting on the top point, nobody will be able to tell that … Continue reading
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By: Sharon Ledwith,
on 12/15/2014
Blog: Sharon Ledwith: I came. I saw. I wrote. (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: Bullying, Friendship, Author interview, Self-acceptance, Self-image, Musa Publishing, Rafflecopter giveaway, Middle Grade Author, Derek Thompson, Superhero Club, Add a tag
Blog: Sharon Ledwith: I came. I saw. I wrote. (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: Bullying, Friendship, Author interview, Self-acceptance, Self-image, Musa Publishing, Rafflecopter giveaway, Middle Grade Author, Derek Thompson, Superhero Club, Add a tag
I want to thank magnificent middle grade author, Derek Thompson for sharing his personal writing journey with us on my blog today. Derek’s book Superhero Club can be purchased from Musa Publishing, Amazon, and other on-line bookstores. Bonus: For a chance to win an ecopy of Superhero Club please check out the Rafflecopter at the end of this post. So let’s get this interview started…
Welcome, Derek! How long have you been writing?
I lovedwriting stories as a young child, and the way you could start to create a world or a situation that then, somehow, pulled you into it. My interest in novel writing really took hold in my teens. Writing became a way of exploring ideas, making sense of the world around me, and finding out who I was.
Very inspiring for younger writers! Where did you get your idea and inspiration to write Superhero Club?
Generally, I start with the central character and what I learn about them takes the story forward. In the case of Jo, once I understood her that gave me the main challenges and relationships.
I was an exam invigilator at a local school, which also included one-to-one support for children with additional educational needs (reading, handwriting or explaining some key words and terms). Being back in a school environment allowed me to see how real children behave with one another, and it also made me think about my own schooldays.
Putting all that together, I wanted to create fully realised, living, breathing characters that readers would care about enough to share their journey.
Sounds like you’ve done a top-notch job! What sets Superhero Club apart from other books/series in the same genre?
That's a good question! Superhero Club is set in the present day and touches upon some of the issues that young people face: self-image, bullying, fitting in at school, food issues and modern families. All that said, the book also deals with the importance of friendship, creativity, transformation and self-acceptance. It's written with humour and, first and foremost, is an entertaining read that will have you rooting for Jo, the main character. My hope is that it will also stimulate discussion about the issues raised and encourage anyone who is having any of Jo's challenges to talk to someone about it.
Hmm…I bet a readers’ guide for this book would be a great investment! As a middle grade author, what is your writing process?
The character came first and once I 'heard' her voice clearly it as a case of allowing her to tell her own story. I didn't have a fixed idea about where the story was heading until about halfway through the writing.
How long did it take for you to start and finish Superhero Club?
Once I understood Jo and her situations it was a fairly smooth process - I'd say around a month to put it together and then refine it. There were some ideas I had originally that, on further reflection, were too ambitious for this book. However, they may reach the page in some other form in the future.
A month? Wish I had your typing fingers! Do you have any advice for other writers striving to write in your genre, Derek?
The most important thing is to understand the lives of young people, as well as what they are reading. Stories need to be relevant to your readers, and emotions need to be authentic. One aspect of fiction that's largely overlooked, I think, is its capacity for enabling and encouraging us to feel. Emotional literacy is as important as literacy itself.
Above all, write! Worry about all the other stuff later - the editing and pacing can all be worked on, but only if you have a completed story to work with. I'd also say that it's important to have fun with it. Make your readers laugh, cry, think differently and even gasp with surprise.
Get feedback from young people and school staff if you can - it will give you valuable insight into how your ideas and your writing are received.
Truly, it’s all about how you make readers feel. Wonderful advice! So, what’s next for Derek Thompson the author?
I've written two contemporary adult British thrillers (I'm a Brit) that are under review by a UK publisher - best described as an updated British noir. I've also written a standalone transatlantic comedy drama, loosely based on a year I spent living the American Dream in New York and California.
As regards writing for children, I have some early draft books that need dusting off, and I'm now thinking about another adventure for Jo and the Superhero Club.
All things considered, 2015 is going to be an exciting writing year!
Wishing you all the best in 2015, Derek! Okay, here’s one for me, since I’m writing a time travel series—If you could time travel anywhere into Earth’s past, where would you go and why?
Well, having grown up with Dr Who, time travel has always held a bit of a fascination for me. I'm going to be greedy and choose three journeys through time:
I'd like to go back into my own timeline (always tricky!), to see myself as a child and to see my family again at that time. Part curiosity and part therapy!
Next, it would have to be Ancient Egypt. I've been on two trips to Egypt and felt a real sense of connection with the Egyptian history and culture. In particular, Karnak temple at Luxor at the height of its influence and the wondrous Nile would be an amazing sight.
Lastly, I'd love to see a glimpse of Victorian London, when the railways were the lifeblood of the nation and the London Underground was developing. I would walk along cobbled streets and read about the adventures of a certain Mr. Sherlock Holmes.
Mini synopsis for Superhero Club:
You only find out you're a butterfly if you spread your wings.
Twelve year-old Jo has never fit in at school, what with being overweight and over-sensitive. Since Dad moved out, Mom forgets who's who in the whole mother-daughter relationship. Jo has one ambition in life: to be normal. Not gifted, or gorgeous, or even particularly popular. Just normal.
When Jo's counselor offers her a lifeline, there's a bunch of other misfits sharing the rope. Group sessions could help them to help each other, but Chris doesn't like speaking and Alistair's a self-confessed geek. Like Stevie, the joker, says, “Oh yeah, right bunch of bloody superheroes we are!”
Sometimes the most heroic thing is to trust a group of strangers, who also have a lot at stake. Jo may find the unlikeliest of friends, and a way to transform her life from the inside. The Superhero Club could give her all that in the blink of an eye. Well, maybe a double-blink!
Sales links:
Connect with Derek:
Pinterest link showing covers and sales link for my books, ors book that contains some of my writing: http://www.pinterest.com/derekwriter/derek-thompsons-books/
Twitter: @DerekWriteLines
Author Bio:
Derek is an adventurer with words, creating fiction, non-fiction and comedy material. He believes in the power of the imagination and the magic of 'what if' to open our eyes to possibility. He is also a magazine columnist and freelancer - see his blog for details.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
0 Comments on In the Limelight with MG Author: Derek Thompson… as of 12/15/2014 5:36:00 AM
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By: Guest Posts,
on 8/6/2014
Blog: The Children's Book Review (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: Ages 4-8, Diversity, Picture Books, Cynthia Rylant, Linda Sue Park, Jane Austen, Self-empowerment, Kate DiCamillo, Self-acceptance, Harper Lee, Jhumpa Lahiri, Animal Books, Social Graces, Anna Kang, Celeste Ng, Christopher Weyant, Add a tag
Blog: The Children's Book Review (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: Ages 4-8, Diversity, Picture Books, Cynthia Rylant, Linda Sue Park, Jane Austen, Self-empowerment, Kate DiCamillo, Self-acceptance, Harper Lee, Jhumpa Lahiri, Animal Books, Social Graces, Anna Kang, Celeste Ng, Christopher Weyant, Add a tag
Children notice and point out differences all the time, and it’s natural. But hopefully as we mature, we learn that all individuals are unique and that everyone is “different.”
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By: Bianca Schulze,
on 8/5/2014
Blog: The Children's Book Review (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: Ages 4-8, Picture Books, featured, Books for Boys, Author Showcase, Self-empowerment, Self-acceptance, Social Graces, Poetry & Rhyme, Mike Motz, Jimmy Vee, Add a tag
Blog: The Children's Book Review (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: Ages 4-8, Picture Books, featured, Books for Boys, Author Showcase, Self-empowerment, Self-acceptance, Social Graces, Poetry & Rhyme, Mike Motz, Jimmy Vee, Add a tag
As a children’s entertainer, Jimmy Vee has combined his love for kids and passion of children’s books in his rhyming picture book by using his “Same Is Lame” philosophy—a philosophy that is all about self-‐acceptance and knowing it’s okay to be different, as well as embracing the differences of others.
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By: Bianca Schulze,
on 8/5/2014
Blog: The Children's Book Review (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: Ages 4-8, Picture Books, Books for Boys, Author Showcase, Self-acceptance, Social Graces, Poetry & Rhyme, Jimmy Vee, Add a tag
Blog: The Children's Book Review (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: Ages 4-8, Picture Books, Books for Boys, Author Showcase, Self-acceptance, Social Graces, Poetry & Rhyme, Jimmy Vee, Add a tag
Jimmy Vee has dedicated his life to helping people discover what makes them unique and showing them how to capitalize on it.
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By: TCBR Contributor,
on 3/25/2014
Blog: The Children's Book Review (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: Self-acceptance, Feelings, Emotional Intelligence, Howard Binkow, Social-Emotional, Social Graces, Emotions & Behavior, Annick Masson, Desideria Guicciardini, Jeremy Norton, Marie-Isbelle Callier, Reverend Ana, Sue Graves, Susan Cornelison, Tamara Levitt, Listening, Ages 4-8, Defiance, Picture Books, Book Lists, Happiness, featured, Anxiety, Fears, Add a tag
Blog: The Children's Book Review (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: Self-acceptance, Feelings, Emotional Intelligence, Howard Binkow, Social-Emotional, Social Graces, Emotions & Behavior, Annick Masson, Desideria Guicciardini, Jeremy Norton, Marie-Isbelle Callier, Reverend Ana, Sue Graves, Susan Cornelison, Tamara Levitt, Listening, Ages 4-8, Defiance, Picture Books, Book Lists, Happiness, featured, Anxiety, Fears, Add a tag
When a child experiences big feelings or emotions, it can be confusing, deflating, and sometimes scary for parents and the child. The 5 books listed here can help parents and children talk about and navigate the sometimes windy road of emotions.
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By: shelf-employed,
on 11/3/2010
Blog: Shelf-employed (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: storytime, individuality, E, self-acceptance, book review, Add a tag
Spork - a touching book that tells the happy story of how a Spork who didn't fit in, found his true place and purpose in life - a positive message with illustrations to charm your heart.
Using minimal colors (the silver tones of cutlery and toasters, the green of cooked peas, and the tomatoey hue of pasta sauce), Aresenault has crafted the darling denizens of the silverware drawer and one Gerber inspired human. "The artwork in this book was rendered in mixed media and assembled digitally." I'm not sure exactly how that's accomplished, but the finished result is wonderfully, happily, sporkishly delightful!
Don't take my word for it. View a slideshow off the artwork at Isabelle Arsenault's website. You'll fall in love with Spork, too!
And here is author, Kyo Mclear's introduction to Spork.
(I think I'm a fan of cutlery in general. I'm also fond of Spoon.)
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By: shelf-employed,
on 5/28/2010
Blog: Shelf-employed (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: funny, E, self-acceptance, Advance Reader Copy, rhyming, book review, Add a tag
Pulley, Kelly. 2010. Ten Unusual Features of Lulu McDunn. Saint Clair Shores, MI: Gauthier.
Ten Unusual Features of Lulu McDunn is a rhyming narrative in a sing-song cadence similar to that of a Dr. Seuss book,
Two was the number of eyes in her head. Her left eye was green and her right eye was red. They were spaced far apart and they weren't quite in line. But to Lulu the two of her eyes matched up fine.The rhythm is perfect. No practice necessary before reading this one to a group of preschoolers.
Counting from 1 to 10, the story describes Lulu's unusual features (and some of them are quite unusual!) and follows with Lulu's upbeat perspective on each particular anomaly,
She wasn't embarrassed when people would stare. She was proud of her belly with buttons to spare.On first reading, the bright and simple comic-style artwork cleverly hides Lulu's unusual features until they are highlighted in the story, revealed one at a time. Only on the final page do we see Lulu sporting all of her unusual features - everything from seven hairs on her nose to four knobs on each knee. And though, in her entirety, she looks a little peculiar, by the final page, the reader is predisposed to like the cheerful little gal.
The message of self-acceptance may be a little too obvious here, but the Seussical rhymes will appeal to preschoolers and they will have fun going back through the book and spotting the partially concealed precursors to Lulu's ten unusual features.
0 Comments on Ten Unusual Features of Lulu McDunn as of 1/1/1900
By: Kim Wheedleton,
on 11/7/2008
Blog: Bugs and Bunnies (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: identity, The Shamer's Daughter, Lene Kaaberbol, self-acceptance, children's books, Add a tag
Strictly speaking, it wasn't really Cilla's fault that I was bitten by a dragon. It was probably sheer coincidence that she decided to throw a bucket of whey in my face on the very day the man from Dunark came. But every time my arm hurts...every time I miss Cherry Tree Cottage and the pear trees and the chickens we had...I get mad at Cilla all over again.
Overview:
Ten-year-old Dina Tonerre has very special eyes, but no one wants to meet them. Even her own friends gradually stop looking directly at her, and don't play with her anymore. She inherited those eyes from her mother, The Shamer. A Shamer is a person with the gift of reading a person's soul, of being able to see everything a person is ashamed of. But as Dina soon learns, it is a gift that is both blessing and curse, and she's not at all sure she wants it.
Her mother is sentenced to be fed to the dragons because she won't condemn a boy accused of murder - a crime that, after looking into his eyes, she is adamant that he did not commit. Dina is tricked into joining her mother at the castle where she is being held, by the very man who has decided her mother's fate. But when she meets the accused boy, she sees what her mother did - that he is innocent.
With the help of unlikely allies, Dina embarks on a perilous journey to discover the true killer, and to save her mother and the boy. Along the way, she learns about trust and friendship, and finds the courage to accept who she is.
For Teachers and Librarians:
The Shamer's Daughter is a dark fantasy with heroic proportions. There are fantastic themes here of good vs. evil, self-acceptance, trust, courage, ethics, and seeking identity. From the mystery angle, have your students keep notebooks and fill them with clues Dina discovers, as well as any other tidbits they feel are important to finding the real killer. Let them discuss the feelings Dina struggles with as she comes to grips with inheriting the Shamer's eyes. Have them chart the good things Dina discovers she can do, as well as the more unpleasant aspects of her gift.
You could also go with the political angle. Who stands to gain from the murders committed? Why? Or, have your students explore the friendship/trust theme: Dina misses having a true friend, and laments that her Shamer's eyes have scared them all away. What does her mother tell her about this? What do your students think she means by that? When does Dina discover the truth of her mother's words? When is she confused by them?
Go with the fantasy angle, and delve into dragons - where do they appear in history? How have they been described in literature? Are they based partly in fact? So many ways to use this book...which will you choose?
For Parents, Grandparents and Caregivers:
The Shamer's Daughter is most appropriate for your older kiddos - probably age 9 and up. It is a gripping story, part mystery, part self-discovery, part fantasy, and they won't be able to tear themselves away. (And neither will you - you should read it, too!) It offers valuable lessons in self-acceptance, trust, and courage, but it's not at all preachy. It comes across in a totally organic way, and is seamlessly woven into the plot. Be available as they read, to explain things they may not understand, and to discuss words they may not have heard before.
For the Kids:
The Shamer's Daughter has lots to like: dragons, castles, mystery, a girl with strange and powerful gift, action, adventure, and did I mention dragons? You will not be able to put this one down. And guess what? The author has written three more books in this series! Try it - and see what you think.
For Everyone Else:
Though The Shamer's Daughter is a novel for the youngish set, adults will be completely drawn into this fantasy. Full of action, adventure, political intrigue, dragons, and no small amount of soul-searching, it is a book that will grab your attention and never let go. And the great thing is, once you finish, there are three more books in the series, so you can continue the adventures just a little longer.
Wrapping Up:
The Shamer's Daughter has something for everyone, no matter what your age. So go find it, and get reading!
Title: The Shamer's Daughter
Author: Lene Kaaberbol
Pages: 235
Reading Level: Ages 9-12
Publisher and Date: Henry Holt and Co., 2004
Edition: First American Edition
Language: English
Published In: United States
Price: $16.95
ISBN-10: 0802075410
ISBN-13: 978-0805075410
2 Comments on Book Review: The Shamer's Daughter, by Lene Kaaberbol, last added: 11/19/2008
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Lene Kaaberbol is a wonderful author. Have you read 'The cruel empress'. Its thrilling!
I haven't read The Cruel Empress. This is the first book by Kaaberbol that I've read - but I definitely want to check out her other titles.