Ojiichan’s Gift by Chieri Uegaki & Genevieve Simms

Ojiichan’s Gift by Chieri Uegaki & Genevieve Simms tells the story of Mayumi, who visits her grandfather in Japan each summer. When Mayumi was born, her grandfather created a very special garden for her- a Zen rock garden. Mayumi loved her times visiting her grandfather and working the rock garden. Her favourite thing is the sound of the rake through the pebbles. Then comes the summer when Mayumi finds the garden untended. Her grandfather is now wheelchair bound, and has to move. Mayumi finds a way to send the garden with her grandfather, and bring it home with her as well.

I read this with my cubs, and we all enjoyed the touching story. The artwork is just beautiful as well. It was perfect for the story told. This did make me tear up later, recalling my own childhood, spent on my grandparents farm. It was a horse farm, but my grandmother always had a garden. As the years went by, the gardens grew smaller, until they simply couldn’t work them. I liked that there was a scattering of Japanese throughout. A glossary in back provides definitions. Highly recommended!

***Many thanks to Netgalley and Kids Can Press for providing a copy in exchange for a fair and honest review.

 

Mine. Yours. by Marsha Diane Arnold & Qin Leng

Mine. Yours. by Marsha Diane Arnold & Qin Leng is a book of few words, letting the artwork tell most of the story. Little Panda has wandered into Big Panda’s den. After trying to get Little Panda to leave, Big Panda gives him a kite. Little Panda runs off to play with the kite. In the process, he tangles up several jungle residents in the kite string.

I read this with my cubs and we all enjoyed it! The art is just gorgeous! It’s a simple story with a deep lesson on both boundaries- mine vs yours- and sharing- ours. I loved that the artist included a pangolin among the critters Little Panda meets! All of the animals are appropriate to the panda habitat, and others include fishing cat, raccoon dog (tanuki), and red panda. It prompted interest in these creatures, so we researched them afterwards! Recommended for preschool/kindergarten classrooms particularly!

***Many thanks to Netgalley and Kids Can Press for providing a copy in exchange for a fair and honest review.

 

Karate Kakapo by Loredana Cunti & Stacey Curtis

Karate Kakapo by Loredana Cunti & Stacey Curtis is a cute book about Kakapo, a little bird who just loves martial arts. Her favourite is karate and Kakapo has been practising hard. It’s almost time for her black belt test. She’s just hoping she won’t be asked to do a flying kick. (Here’s a secret about kakapo birds- they can’t fly!) Whatever will Kakapo do? A wise flamingo assists. My cubs and I read this book together, and we all just adored it! There’s a great lesson about gaining and keeping confidence, and about looking at problems in different ways in order to find solutions. Highly recommended!

***Many thanks to Netgalley and Kids Can Press for providing an ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.

 

Alycat and the Friendship Friday written by Alysson Foti Bourque/ illustrated by Chiara Civati

Alycat and the Friendship Friday written by Alysson Foti Bourque, and illustrated by Chiara Civati follows Alycat as she’s off to school for a field trip. Aly hopes to be able to sit with one  of her favorite friends. Big surprise! There’s a new student in Aly’s class, and this leaves her to sit alone on the bus. At first she’s jealous, and feels a bit betrayed. Then she gets to thinking, and figures a way to feel included, and make a new friend to boot! Besides the lessons about jealousy and friendship, a health lesson is slipped in at the beginning. Aly wants a very unhealthy breakfast, and her mum counters with a healthy option. I read this book with my younger cubs.

***Many thanks to Netgalley and Mascot Books for providing an ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.