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Bears, Emotions, Fear, Friendship, Perfect Picture Book Friday, Picture Books Reviews Fiction, Worry

Perfect Picture Book Friday: The Worry Box by Suzanne Chiew

By Rene` Diane Aube-Jackson

Worry?? Who worries?? Not me … *cough cough cough* … yeah, right! I wish that were true.

Those of you that know me well are very aware that I could teach the art of worrying. I suppose that is nothing to brag about, but lo and behold, I wouldn’t want anyone to be under false impressions about me. Unfortunately, worrying seems to one of the crosses I bear. That said, today’s book is a great one to consider reading with your worrisome child and maybe even another adult!

TITLE:                       The Worry Box

AUTHOR:                  Suzanne Chiew

ILLUSTRATOR:        Sean Julian

PUBLISHER:             Tiger Tales © 2018                           PB 4 – 8 years

THEMES:                   Worrying; Friendship

FIRST TWO PAGES:

High up on his thinking spot, Murray Bear looked out across the valley. “There you are!” called his sister, Molly. It’s time for lunch.”

“I’m not hungry,” Murray sighed.

“You’re always hungry!” giggled Molly. “Come on, or we’ll be late meeting Oliver at the waterfall.”

“I don’t want to go!” sniffled Murray. “What if the waterfall is too LOUD? What if it’s so BIG that I get swept away!”

SUMMARY (from book jacket):

Murray Bear is supposed to go to the waterfall with his sister, Molly, to meet a friend, but Murray is worried. “What if it’s too LOUD?” he cries. “What if I get swept away!” So Molly tells him about her special worry box. “When I’m worried about something,: she says, “I write it down, then put it inside.” She offers to help make one for Murray, and he takes it on their journey – but will it really help?

WHAT I LIKE:          

This story has a very gentle way of helping readers who are worriers to harness their feelings and give those feelings boundaries thus setting them free to experience new things and make new friends. As Murray and readers learn, he’s not the only one in the forest who worries, and therefore shares what he learned from his sister. This story has a nice emotional arc and resolution.

Though, as Christians, we know that worries really need to be left at the foot of the throne of Jesus, The Worry Box gives children a concrete way to deal with their fears and worries.  

You can find other picture book reviews from Perfect Picture Book Friday at Susanna Hill’s blog.

ACTIVITES:             

Design a worry box with your child. Encourage him/her to write down the fear/worry, then pray to Jesus for help and finally drop his worries into the box.

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ANIMALS, Bears, Friendship, Perfect Picture Book Friday, Picture Books Reviews Fiction, Prejudices, SEASONAL, Sharing, Spring

Perfect Picture Book Friday: BEAR AND BEE by Sergio Ruzzier

By Rene` Diane Aube-Jackson

After watching Sergio Ruzzier’s 12×12 webinar replay in December, I borrowed all the books I could find that he illustrated/wrote from my library system. Not only to familiarize myself with his work, but to continue my quest in learning how to write a great picture book. (Which kind of goes along with Reading for Research Month, coming up in March.) On my trip through Ruzzier land, I discovered what will be one of my all-time favorites, BEAR AND BEE. And since Spring is on it’s way and knowing that bears and bees will soon be waking up from their long winter’s nap, what better time to review this delightful book for Perfect Picture Book Friday.

TITLE:  Bear and Bee

AUTHOR/ILLUSTRATOR: Sergio Ruzzier

PUBLISHER:  Disney Hyperion Books, New York ©2013

GENRE: Picture Book, Fiction, Read Aloud

INTENDED AUDIENCE: 3 – 5 years

THEME: (credits page) 1. Bears – Fiction 2. Bees – Fiction 3. Sharing – Fiction 4. Prejudices – Fiction

OPENING PAGE: “I’m hungry,” says Bear.

SUMMARY: (credits page) A hungry bear discovers that bees are not terrible monsters who never share their honey.

WHY I LIKE THIS BOOK: I don’t like it! I LOVE it! I have been reading this book over and over and over and…well, you get the idea. (Everyone that stepped foot into my house last weekend endured story time.) I digress. My favorite part is in the middle ~ but I don’t want to spoil it for you, so that’s all I’ll say on that point. End papers effectively set the mood and draw the reader into the story and on to an oh-so-sweet ending. Illustrations are delightfully expressive. Sparse text characterizes Bear and Bee with just enough emotion to add richness while reading. And when Bear discovers his misconceptions, readers/listeners receive the added pleasure of a good belly – laugh. All this while learning, gently, to be careful of judging others by your own perception of reality.

This is one that I find highly re-readable. I’ve read it at least four times a day over the past four days and laughed every time!

ACTIVITIES/RESOURCES: I can see this as a great catalyst for a study on bears and bees. Coloring pages for little ones, a visit to a bee farm, tasting honey, learning about bee keeping would all be fabulous activities, too.

You can find more Perfect Picture Book Friday reviews on Susanna Hill‘s blog. In fact, you can even join the fun!