The Family Book

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Written & illustrated by Todd Parr


Little, Brown and Company/Hachette Book Group 2010 (originally published in 2003)

Reviewed copy: my own

Back of book:
THE FAMILY BOOK celebrates all kinds of families and shows how each is special in its own way. Welcome to the world of Todd Parr. His books are designed to:

• Develop Early Literacy
• Enhance Emotional Development
• Celebrate Differences
• Promote Character Growth
• Encourage Creativity and Self-Expression
• Make You Laugh!

More from Missus B
The Family Bookis an old favourite I have shared with many children down through the years.

The pages are filled with chunky, child-like drawings in rich, vivid colour.
Through an array of rainbow characters ,we see that the world is filled with many different family types.

Some families look alike
Some families look like their pets

ain't that the truth!
image from Cesar

The book uses opposites to describe families: 

Some families are big...Some families are small.... 

Some families live near each other...Some families live far from each other 

It shows that, while we can live differently, there may be aspects of family life that we all have in common....

.........All families like to celebrate special days together!

..........All families can help each other be strong!

A range of family types are depicted in the story including :single parent families, large families, small families, blended families, adoptive families and families with same-sex parents.

Diverse family groups are represented
with colourful animal and cartoon characters

The text is large and uses simple lettering for beginner readers. The use of opposites and simple sentences makes it easy for children to memorize and join in with the story. As a read-aloud book, I like that the large font  is visible for little listeners. The text is mainly black, but on some pages rainbow colours are used on a bright background -sometimes I find this hurts my eyes as the letters seem to jiggle on the page. None of my little listeners have complained about this jumpy effect though- so maybe I need an eye test!

Learning & Discussion (PSHE/SPHE)

The Family Book helps children to learn about family units and understand that  not all families are the same. The  book  encourages children to reflect on their own idea of what constitutes a family as well as being introduced to new family types. At Circle Time we have considered some questions  like:

• What people are in your family?
• Where does your extended family live?
• Have you ever lost a family member you have loved?
• Are there pets in your home?
• What things does your family celebrate? 
• How is love expressed in your home? (maybe not all families are the huggy type!)
• What is your favourite family meal?
• Are there messy or quiet people in your family? Describe some other family characteristics
• Do you look like anyone in your family? 

Extension exercises could include:

• Family drawings
• Making family hand prints
• Family photo collages
• Making family trees

Happy Reading,
Missus B

Book available at these affiliate links:
                
The author has a great collection of books available here on Todd Parr's AMAZON.COM Page or  Todd Parr's AMAZON.CO.UK Page

Books Always Everywhere

My Little Moomin helped me out with this review

Text by Jane Blatt

Illustrations by Sarah Massini
Nosy Crow 2013

Reviewed copy: my own.
Photographs in this post are of the hardback edition,book is also available as board-book/paper back.
Back of Book:
For the very young, books can be anything-a chair, a tower, to a hat-but the best thing they can can be...is a book...and it's never too soon to share a good book with your little ones.
Missus B says:
Books Always Everywhere,celebrates books - the real ones that you can hold, carry, flick through (or cuddle and sniff if you're like myself).

Books can be wide, books can be tall, they can be big, they can be small. They can be read in the park or at the book store, they can be read when its rainy or when it's sunny. Stack them to make a chair, pop one on your head as a hat, give a book as a gift, or share a story together. 

Each double page spread has simple, descriptive, rhyming text e.g. Book big   Book small   Book wide   Book tall

The book features toddlers, babies and some cute animal characters. While it appeals to the young child, the quirky illustrations and text within the images will interest older children and adults too.

The illustrations include LOTS of books,with their titles and text visible for reading e.g. a little girl relaxes on the beach with her 'Happy Days' book, it's back cover reading:

In sunshine or in rain, every day is a story day.

A monkey swings from a tree with a board book that reads:

What kind of key opens a banana? A monkey!
(if you didn't get that...just go back and read it again...slowly)

A little girl reads a book about animals which says:

Chimpanzee: A gregarious and intelligent anthropod ape, inhabiting forests in central West Africa.

(For added kicks, sometimes you have to turn the book upside down to read the text) 

There's a whole range of books within the images: Board Books, Peek-A-Boo books, Buggy Books, Joke Books, Nature Books, Fairy Tales and some classics like Wuthering Heights...there's even a Visitor's Book.

The story opens discussion about size, shape and opposites as well as various book types. The illustrations are deliciously cute and offer much to smile about .....A diverse group of toddler characters are clad in lovely, patterned clothing....A playful mouse can be found in each of the pages.... A flock of sheep gather for a bedtime story (with number sweaters-to make counting them easy of course.) .....And, a group of playful monkeys appear on the 'Book funny' page.

While librarians may cringe at the thoughts of using a book as a hat or a seat, from what I can see, no books were damaged in the illustrating of this book. I'm sure that Nosy Crow , Sarah Massini and Jane Blatt  can verify the same!  ;p   

So, here's My Little Moomin enjoying Books Always Everywhere....

My 14mth old didnt assemble
this himself...we cheated
Book Build

Spike Milligan and Judge Dredd make a lovely...
Book Chair

  

Book hat

 

                                               Book park

      

Book give.....                                           Book share....

Kisses for the book :) 

Happy Reading,
Missus B

Book available at these affiliate links:

      
                                          Check out this lovely video from Nosy Crow:

You may also like the follow up book Love Always Everywhere

Meh: A Story About Depression

Illustrations and text by Deborah Malcolm
ThunderStone Books 2015

Reviewed copy: my own

Back of book
Have you ever been sad?
Sadness is an emotion that everyone feels at some time or another. But sometimes you might feel a sadness so long and so deep and dark that it seems impossible to find happiness. That kind of sadness is called depression. Meh is a wordless tale that shows one boy's journey through depression.
Did you know?
More than 350 million people of all ages in the world suffer from depression. But there is hope and help available. When you are in a dark place, reach out to someone you can trust.

More from Missus B
Recently it was agreed that, our resource shelf at work was in need of some fresh new books to support children & families with particular life issues. Of course,I was more than happy to take on this task. Working in a family support setting, books are a valuable tool and it's always great to find new material that can help a child, family or group of children. 

Regarding stories that address mental health issues, there's a limited pool of resources out there. Often, the stories are about a parent with depression. These are of course, supportive books but within them, 'depression' is packaged as an adult issue. And maybe that's how we prefer it- after all, childhood depression wasn't even recognised as a disorder until the 1980's. Maybe it's easier to think of this illness as something which affects adults or teenagers only? Yet, at any given time, 5% of children and adolescents are suffering from depression, and children as young as 5 can be diagnosed with it (see links at the end of this post for more info.)

So, when I came upon Meh: A Story About DepressionI was immediately drawn to it, because the main character is a child. Instantly I wanted to know more about the lonely, vulnerable boy on the cover. It's hard to decipher his age-he could be anything from five to ten years. In the opening pages we see him happily enjoying life. He gazes at a cat-shaped cloud in the sky, admires the birds, colours bright pictures, splashes in puddles and reads contentedly. 

 With floating clouds, swishing grass and (on the next page) a water-colour rainbow, there is a positive, warm energy surrounding the boy

But then, we see a dark, curling shape behind him. Nervously, he glances back as it begins to grow . The shadow is connected to him, but something he is frightened of. Suddenly, it swallows him and the boy tumbles downwards. With only gnarly, old trees surrounding him, the page and the boy himself are drained of colour. 

 The absence of words is powerful. It allows the reader to internally process what's happening and connect with the story in their own terms.

Alone in the dullness, he discovers some small, white footprints which lead to a little white cat. New companions, they run and climb through the darkness. The cat comforts and encourages the boy, nuzzling his face and giving him the strength to carry on. The boy becomes more hopeful and the cat grows stronger until together, they have the strength to roar -  literally cracking the walls surrounding them. They escape from the darkness into a warm sunset. 

The white cat could be a symbol for many things-a friend, a helpful adult, or feelings such as hope or courage.

Such symbolic images can help children understand concepts which aren't easily translated into words.The concrete images make it easy for all children to identify with the feelings associated with depression.

I love how this book invites the reader to quietly think, reflect and interpret. The visual narrative alone tells the tale. This is a lovely book for a child to look at alone or for a group of children to discuss together. It gently introduces the topic of childhood depression and at the end, there are questions to discuss. Children are encouraged to explore the meaning of the story, the feelings of the character, their own feelings and what they think depression may be. It's an excellent tool for supporting emotional literacy, self awareness and empathy skills.

Coming out of the darkness and into the light-the boy no longer has a grey, dull appearance and colour has returned to the illustrations

This is a great book- it had me at Meh! So,I ordered a copy for work and bought one for my own personal collection (I would prefer it though, if the book was finished in gloss instead of the matt-like finish of the edition I reviewed. In a picture book, gloss pages are more durable and do the illustrations more justice.)

If you'd like some professional information about Childhood Depression, check out the links at the end of this post.

Happy Reading,
Missus B
Book available at these affiliate links:

                                  

Check out the Free Android App here



You may also be interested in the collection of books I have compiled on my 'Feelings/Emotions' Page, with titles including  The Huge Bag of Worries , What to do when you worry too much and Worries Go Away!

Further  information/advice about Childhood Depression:

• 'How to spot the signs of depression in children.' Support & Info : St. Patrick's Mental Health Services Ireland
• 'Childhood Depression: What Parents Can Do To Help'  Info from the American Academy of Pediatrics
• 'Is your child depressed?' Information & related articles  from NHS UK
• 'Not Just a Phase: Depression in Preschoolers : Psychology Today: R.T. Muller Ph.D.
• 'Why am I so sad?' Kids Health : Information for children
• 'Depression' Kids Health: Info for Teens

What to Do When You Worry Too Much

A kid's Guide to Overcoming Anxiety


Written by Dawn Huebner, Ph.D
Illustrated by Bonnie Matthews
Magination Press 2006 
ISBN 13: 978-1-59147-414-5
ISBN 10: 1-59147-314-4
Reviewed copy: my own

Back of book:
Did you know that worries are like tomatoes? No, you can't eat them, but you can make them grow, simply by paying attention to them. If your worries have grown so big that they bother you almost every day, this book is for you.

Back of book also describes how cognitive-behavioural techniques, metaphors and illustrations are used to help children address anxiety. 

More from Missus B
What to Do When You Worry Too Much: A Kid's Guide to Overcoming Anxiety (What to Do Guides for Kids) is an excellent support tool for children who need help with fears, anxieties or worries.

The book comes with an informative introduction for adults, which explains a little about the cognitive-behavioural principles used and points about how anxiety can impact on a person.

Nine chapters include activities, pictures and information in an easy to understand format.

If you are a child who worries a lot, you know that worries can make your body feel bad. Worries can cause a sick feeling inside. They can make your stomach hurt, and make your head ache too. They can make you sweaty and cause your heart to pound. 

Children are encouraged to think about how anxiety impacts on them, or where in their body they
may carry their worries.

I love the use of metaphors in the book as they make the concepts easier for a child to grasp. Worries are compared to a tomato plant- once tended to, watered and given time the plant can grow strong and healthy. Anxieties are also described as being like  a 'worry bully' - they need to be stood up to and firmly told to go away.

What will you say to the worry bully on your shoulder?

The book suggests techniques for managing fears like naming/describing the worry, using logical thinking, setting aside a designated time for worrying or visualising worries being tightly locked away in a worry box.

Use logic against worries.....Move your body to re-set your system....Relax with a favourite memory

Importantly, it also suggests techniques a child can use to 're-set your system' or change how anxiety affects us physically.  Readers are encouraged to either  undertake a new activity or engage in relaxation.  

Think of a memory that makes you feel really good inside. Remember as many details as you can. What were you wearing? How did the air smell? What could you hear? How did you feel? What did you see? Draw or write about your special memory.

A great book for supporting  children, opening up discussion and offering practical tips for managing fear. (See resources for other useful info)
Happy reading,
Missus B
Book available at these affiliate links:
     

Resources:

• Check out Dawn Huebner's webpage
• For more support/info about anxiety in children check out WorryWiseKids.org or these 12 helpful tips written by Amy Przeworski in Psychology Today
• You may also be interested in these books : The Huge Bag of Worries and Worries Go Away!

Love Monster & the Last Chocolate

Love Monster and the Last Chocolate
Text and illustrations: Rachel Bright
HarperCollins Children's Books 2014
Reviewed copy: library copy

Back of book:
When Love Monster finds a mystery box of chocolates at his door, he can't believe his luck. But he's soon thrown into a whirlwind of turmoil. Should he keep the chocolates for himself.... or risk sharing his good fortune with his friends?This super-funny-rumbly-tummy-sherbet-explosion of a story shows that when faced with the selection box of life,following your heart brings the best treats of all!

Missus B says:
Oh this monster is deliciously cute! I plucked this book from my library shelf and just had to take this hairy little character home. Those pointy ears, saucer eyes, wonky teeth and bulbous toes make him an adorable little creature. 

The illustrations are wonderfully vibrant and rich. Chunky little characters, lovely patterns, comical background detail and playful text-there's plenty to appreciate. 

The story:
Love Monster has just arrived home from his adventurous holiday and.....well...he's feeling rather depressed. He trundles along with his suitcase in the rain (typical) but wait...hang on -is that a box of chocolates  waiting on his doorstep?! 

Someone has a bad case of PTD! (that's post-travel depression)

At the sight of these treats, his holiday blues are tossed aside and Love Monster drools as he thinks of the wonderful sweeties waiting for him.....

In a double-page spread, we see a collection of lovely chocolates with their names written underneath. I love the descriptive text and mouth watering vocabulary:

Tutti-Frutti Splodge
Chocahedgehog
Wonderfully Whippy Walnut One
Toothbreaker
Extra-Fizz-Banger-Sherbet.....

Love Monster cannot wait to open the box and tuck in....

But THEN he had a thought that he just couldn't unthink.
Hmmmmpf.
He should probably share the chocolates with his friends.
BUT...
...what if there weren't enough?
Or...
what if someone took the one HE wanted he most?
Or, WORST of all...
...what if the only one left for him was THE COFFEE ONE??!
EUUUUURGGGHHH!

Nothing worse than seeing your favourite choccy being devoured by someone else.
Looks like the Double Chocolate Strawberry Swirl is a popular sweety!

Oh dilemma dilemma! Scratching his head, twiddling his toes... Love Monster weighs up the situation and decides that it's 'kinder and better for everyone if he kept the chocolates ...just for himself.'

One of my favourite pages- I love the wide, guilty eyes, the cutesy curtains and lovely mix of colour in this scene.

Behind closed doors, Love Monster puts the kettle on, and settles himself down for the chocolate-eating event. But, just before he opens the box, he glances at a photo of his friends,suddenly feeling a rush of guilt. 

Cup of tea.... Snuggly Arm Chair.... Box of Chocolates..... Perfect!
Oh hang on....
Group photo of Buddies...
Buddies LOVE chocolate....
Oh, for Goodness sake- the GUILT!
Cannot eat chocolates without sharing...
Must relieve conscience and do so!

So, driven by guilt, he decides to share with his friends and then discovers that, there has just been one chocolate in the box all along. His thoughtful buddies have kept him a 'Double-Chocolate-Strawberry-Swirl' because they missed him while he was away. 

 'sometimes, it's when you stop to think of others...that you start to find out just how much they think of you.' 

This is a sweet and funny story with a message about sharing and thinking of others.

Happy Reading,
Missus B

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Feelings Series: Angry

Written by Sarah Medina
Illustrated by Jo Brooker
Heinemann Raintree Library 2007
Reviewed copy: from my resource shelf at work

Back of Book:
The 'Feelings' series helps readers explore their emotions-what they are, how they recognize them, and appropriate action to take when they have them. The clear text and colourful, humorous illustrations help enhance children's understanding of their feelings and those of other people.

Missus B says...
An excellent tool for developing emotional literacy and helping children to recognise, name and understand feelings.
The inner back of the book gives a helpful 'Note to Parents and Teachers' with some tips about discussing the text and illustrations with children.

There are 24 pages in the book and each of the double-page spread opens with a question. The questions are answered with  five or six simple, short sentences. 

E.g. pages 14 & 15:

Will I Always Feel Angry?
Feelings change all the time. Your angry feelings will not last forever. You will feel better very soon. Sometimes other people may feel angry.  Remember, they will not stay angry for long.

Through ten questions, children can explore the topic of anger and learn things such as: what may happen when we feel angry, how to tell if someone else is angry or things to do when faced with anger.

What is anger?

While the questions can open up discussion, the images also offer lots of talking opportunities. My little listeners like to suggest what the story characters may be thinking, feeling or discussing in each scene. This book has led to some great circle-time discussions and has given me some interesting insight every time I've shared it!

I love, love the illustrations! Each page is filled with colour, texture and some lovely patterned detail. Diverse groups of children  are represented and the characters have a cute, chunky appearance, almost looking like children's drawings.  The scenes are easy for children to relate to with some cute background action- a pair of mice getting up to mischief or the cat and dog sometimes mirroring angry body language. The antics of the animals brings a comedy element to the story e.g. on page ten, a mouse is peeping its head out of a little girls school bag, while another is standing with his arms folded copying the body language of the adult character.

Spot the mischievous little mouse reading under the coffee table!

At the end of the book, there are four photographs of children with different facial expressions and the reader is asked  to describe the feelings in each picture.

This book is an ideal resource in a PSHE/SPHE curriculum.
Happy Reading,
Missus B

You may also be interested in the collection of books I have compiled on my 'Feelings/Emotions' Page

Book available at the below affiliate links: 


                              

'Feelings' Puppets- a handy extra when sharing this book

Feelings Classroom Poster