Messages of Strength and Kindness for Today

Sometimes when I venture to the library and have no specific plan but to browse for any book that appeals to me for one reason or another, I grab a bunch of picture books. Not long ago I brought home over a dozen books. Of these, I discovered two I especially liked beyond their large titles, bubbly fonts, and large-eyed characters pictured on the covers. Both books provide messages that I feel are definitely timely thanks to the climate (and I'm not talking about weather right now) in the world presently.

Poor Little Guy Written and illustrated by Elanna Allen (c) 2016
Dial Books for Young Readers (publisher)

A new addition to my Wrinkle Award list features a little yellow fish with glasses who the other ocean creatures, of varying sizes, think is adorable. Not only is he adorable to look at, he's adorable to play with, and according to the octopus, the little guy probably even tastes cute.

The story reminds me of the time I saw a cat playing with a chipmunk. The cat held it and then released the chipmunk, who would take a few steps away, and then appear to wait before becoming a play toy again. Unlike the yellow fish, the chipmunk seemed resigned to its fate and I had to stop watching because I did not want to be around when and if the poor little guy met its demise. The yellow fish, or Little Guy, though, is not resigned to his potential fate and has a surprise in store. Looks can be deceiving.

Allen illustrated the pages in shades of sea green, white, and eventually grey-blue that increasingly darkens as the story approaches its climax, and then lightens after the satisfying conclusion. The hand lettering for the story text follows the flow of each illustration. Only Little Guy, the fish, is in bright yellow.

Unlike chapter books, I did not "vet" this book before I read it to Little Sapling. It is a bit disturbing, dark, yet funny, but Little Sapling thought the book was a little scary. Despite the darkness in the tale, Little Sapling claims to like the book, especially when seeing the faces of the other animals in response to Little Guy's surprise.

I love stories where the "little guy" wins. This picture book is a simple and fun story that reminds us that no matter how little we may be or how others view us, we each have power in some form, to fight back.
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If You Plant a Seed Written and Illustrated by Kadir Nelson (c) 2015
Balzer + Bray (publisher)

I like picture books where the illustrator brings me to the level of the characters where I can literally see what they see through their eyes, at their eye level. The story begins with a rabbit and a mouse planting a tomato, a carrot, and a cabbage seed. By taking care of the seeds, over time, they grow. As the animals enjoy their eventual bounty, five birds fly down and want to share the food. The rabbit and mouse do not have interest in this idea. Through the detailed, realistic, and colorful images, the reader and viewer of the book can see the emotion in the facial expressions of the animals, and the chaos when selfishness ensues. It is only when everyone takes a look at themselves that they appear to recognize the ridiculousness of how being selfish does nothing but create a mess. Being kind is what leads to everyone getting along, and it really does not even take long.

Nelson's message is simple and honest with few printed words. Instead, it's his vivid illustrations via full color oil paintings with near life-sized animals that tell the story by beautifully bringing the viewer to the eye level of the animals. One can argue that the story is not necessarily so great as it was the rabbit and the mouse who lovingly cared for their seeds and grew the vegetables. Did they have to share with anyone else? Perhaps not, or perhaps they created more than they truly needed and we know that fresh produce does not always last long once picked. The birds could have easily just helped themselves, but instead they approached the rabbit and mouse first. In the end, when everyone tries to get along and work together, the rewards are greater than they would have been had the rabbit and mouse kept everything to themselves.

The intended audience is within the age range of 4-8 years olds. My daughter, at age five, has not questioned about the rabbit and mouse doing the initial work and why they even needed to share. She identified the lack of sharing and was able to see that when the animals did share, it made everyone happier. She could name this through her listening to the words and her interpreting the illustrations.

Simple messages are welcome in this complicated world we now live. If children understand these messages, adults should be able to, too.

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What are some books or stories that you feel share messages of strength, sharing, and kindness? Leave a comment with some of your favorites (geared for any age group) below.

Thank you again for reading my musings.

Today and tomorrow,

~Tamara Riva

A Story I Didn't Know, A Voice of Value

Growing up Jewish and attending Hebrew School six to eight hours per week from third grade through my senior year of high school, I started learning about the Holocaust from a young age. I remember presentations that included photos and film clips of men and women starved to the bone, crammed in sleeping shelves, wearing striped clothing or nearly nothing at all. We learned about Hitler and his quest to annihilate the Jews. As I grew older, outside of Hebrew school, I learned that the dictator's quest went beyond only Jews. The Holocaust, I learned, was only one major aspect of World War II.

History and Social Studies was not "my thing" in school. Yes, I passed my classes with A's and B's, but I retained little. The content was rarely presented in a way that seemed meaningful to me. So, I went through the motions of learning what I needed, when I needed it, and then letting it go.

When I came across the book, Sachiko: A Nagasaki Bomb Survivor's Story, my apparent naivete about history led me to say to myself, "I honestly didn't realize people survived the bombing of Nagasaki." Laugh if you will, or shake your head. I am sure I am not the only one who did not know this fact. Today, I value learning about history and other cultures as an important aspect of understanding each other in the present. Learning about history can help us to not repeat past failures, and to grow from these mistakes. We can learn from past successes and build off of them. We can learn from other cultures and gain ideas for trying something differently in our own life, or gain a different appreciation for what we have.

Sachiko: A Nagasaki Bomb Survivor's Story by Caren Stelson (c) 2016
Carolrhoda Books (Publisher)
National Book Award Longlist

"What happened to me, must never happen to you." ~Sachiko Yasui

I have heard a similar sentiment over the years from Holocaust survivors. It pains me to hear and read the stories shared. Caren Stelson felt that Sachiko's story needed to be told, and I believe she was right.

It has been a long time since a book, particularly a children's book, made me cry. The narrative of Sachiko on the fateful day she starts off by playing outside with friends, tore at my heart. The bomb falls and the intense heated wind rushes through. I could visualize the details described. Then, when Sachiko's uncle eventually rescues her from the dirt and rubble, they discover her deceased playmates and later family who survived, and family who died.

While Sachiko's family is forever changed, her parents do what they can to move forward--both physically and emotionally--despite Sachiko's siblings and other relatives dying over time from sicknesses related to radiation exposure. Sachiko's father inspires her with his words of how to see peace in the only world they live. He tells her about Gandhi and his philosophy of nonviolence and peace. Sachiko carries her father's words in her mind throughout her life.

The reader follows Sachiko as she encounters bullying related to her appearance and lack of knowledge when she begins school. The reader sees how Sachiko replays the final words of an older brother to "take care of everyone", how she fears she cannot, and how her mother works with her to write her name with a stick to help Sachiko believe she can achieve in school.

As Sachiko grows into an adult, she reflects on the teachings from her father.  She remembers and studies about Gandhi. She also finds inspiration in the words of Helen Keller, and later, Martin Luther King Jr.

Considering Martin Luther King Jr.'s words, "Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter", and Gandhi's words, "You must be the change you wish to see in the world," Sachiko wonders how she can use her own voice to make a difference. Would there be a purpose for sharing her story? Until another tragedy touches Sachiko, she dismisses requests to speak publicly as a survivor.

On the 50th anniversary of the bombing of Nagasaki, Sachiko ends her silence and speaks at an elementary school. This begins her journey of sharing her story. And, thanks to Caren Stelson, Sachiko's story can be shared with all, even if we do not get the privilege of hearing Sachiko speak in person (which is what initially ignited Stelson's interest in learning more and ultimately writing Sachiko's story).

Stelson's research involved travel to Nagasaki over the course of five years to interview Sachiko in person. While the book mostly focuses on Sachiko's story, Stelson also intersperses additional historical facts, photos, and information to show the timeline of events, the political sides of events, the key leaders along with their roles as the events played out during the war, and more. Stelson writes with clear language, as if she is talking to a group of youth, and does not bog down the story with excessive amounts of dates, data, and facts.

Sachiko: A Nagasaki Bomb Survivor's Story is the most moving, heartbreaking, and hopeful work of children's nonfiction I have read in a long time. The book is geared for youth between 5th and 12th grades, but I believe there is definitely no upper age limit if you have an interest in learning history, but feel overwhelmed by the information written in books for adults. Reading nonfiction in books written for children and young adults makes history accessible and often more relatable. Stelson accomplished this in my view. I learned something, and believe I will retain it this time around.

Thank you for reading my musings, 
~Tamara

Being Present...This is What I Need

NOTE: In online references to my daughter--who is now 5 and 3/12 years old (starting early with the fractions)--you will see "Little Sapling." Her name actually means tree, as mine is palm tree. Just one of those privacy things I keep in place. Those of you who know me in person, know her real name.
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Back in November 2016 I did a final post on Facebook and chose to take a break. I have not been back since. I do plan to return, but I have somehow slipped back to a past mode of finding it easier to isolate myself than to engage in "small talk" and try to be my real self in front of people online. I felt that if I shared my opinion about an issue (and we all know this past fall there were a LOT of issues) no matter what, I was likely to be wrong.
I questioned my parenting skills. I was taking two grad classes toward my media license, working full time, and trying to be a good parent who does not let her "craziness" rub off on her child.
The negativity in the world, both close to home, and in parts of the world I only see through the news and social media was wearing me down. My own self-doubts about my parenting skills were wearing me down. I worried that I was totally depriving my child because I wasn't taking her on numerous outings and adventures as I saw others doing with their children. Finally, my beating myself up about my avoidance of creatively writing because I continued to feel that everything else had priority, was wearing me down.

I finished the two classes and continued to maintain my grades, surprising me. I won't say much about my job beyond that it continues to consume me--entering my thoughts each day, each weekend, at night, and in my dreams. I find it difficult to feel fully present when my thoughts are in the future and the past, as these are the places where worrying takes us. I fantasize often of my life being different because I am expressing my creativity and collaborating with children and colleagues in a school media center. This is my future.
I fantasize that I am engaging with children at readings of my published books.
These are both where I want to be.

During early December my daughter and I attended a birthday party with friends--one we see regularly, and others we see a couple times per year. We were invited to extend the gathering at a movie. This was not on my agenda as I had two major papers to write for grad school, but I did need a break, and what was a couple more hours?
Five children, and three adults sat comfortably in the back row of a theater. One of the moms purchased kid-sized popcorn for each child. Sitting beside Little Sapling, watching the movie, listening to the children crunch on their snack, was priceless. And in the end, I suddenly had a thought--it was not about the quantity of big activities I do with my daughter that is what creates strong memories, but rather the quality. This is what I need to remind myself.

Finally, New Year's Eve day, I reconnected with dear friends. Little Sapling and their son, who is a year older, played together, while the adults visited. The wonderful thing about great friends is that even after not talking to each other in awhile, we are able to rekindle our relationship and talk with a stream of consciousness format where one topic leads to another and another with comfort and ease. I saw a book about chakras (the seven points of energy) on a table. Now I know some readers will think this is silly or too new age-y, but I am someone who believes that the world and nature is amazing. I believe in interconnections of mind, body, and spirit. I believe that many concepts are only different ways of looking at something and it's up to each of us to identify the perspective that speaks most genuinely to our values and beliefs.

Through talk and some study of my own (a good source of information about chakras is http://www.chakras.info/ ) I learned that perhaps my throat and heart chakras need unblocking. According to the website (noted above) a block in the throat chakra can contribute to (not cause)feelings of insecurity, timidity, and introversion. A block in the heart chakra can contribute to difficulties in one's relating with others, or being closed down, or withdrawn.

I have some work to do. My New Year's resolution is to express myself more, which means--and I know I've said this before, but it's something I truly need--that I have to get myself in gear. I'm not content where I'm at currently and I want to be able to be present for my little sapling.

Being present means I'm engaging in my passions and learning to do so without regret or judgment so when I am with Little Sapling, it is all about her for the moment.

This is what I need.

What are your resolutions? What do you need to feel present? Let's support each other. Leave a comment below.

Thank you for reading my thoughts,

~Tamara
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PREVIEW: Upcoming reviews include Sachiko: A Nagasaki Bomb Survivor's Story by Caren Stelson, and If You Plant a Seed by Kadir Nelson.