Books About Perception: The Barnacle is Bored

Barnicle is Bored by Jonathan Fenske is a perfect illustration of the concepts of both empathy and "the grass is always greener". In this book, part of a series it seems, we have Barnicle who is fastened to a dock on the shore as many barnacles are.

We learn that he does not necessarily find his life exciting enough and complains about how much better he imagines the life of a neighbor, a fish, is. With no actual knowledge of the fish's daily life or life in general for that matter,  Barnacle passes judgment and grouses about how easy the fish has it.

He soon finds out that his life might not be as bad as it seems.

While some may argue that this could teach children to settle for what they have and thus lower any drive to better themselves or to be blind to perceived privilege, I disagree. What this shows, in a cute and funny way, is that you can't pass judgment on anyone's behavior, life, attitudes, etc. without knowing them and what they are or have been going through.

It's a great message wrapped up in a cute story.

I've read this book to a 1st-grade class. Their reactions were wonderful and slightly unexpected. They laughed at the beginning,  saw the big moment coming, were anxious, were shocked by the turning point, and laughed by the end.  Well worth it.

Content: 5/5
Illustrations: 5/5
Concept: 5/5
Quality: 5/5
Price: 5/5


Author/Illustrator: Jonathan Fenske
Format: Hardcover
Pages: 40
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0545865042
ISBN-13: 978-0545865043
Date: 2016
Publisher: Scholastic Inc. (May 10, 2016)
Price: $11.49 (at the time of this post)

Where to buy: Amazon 

Books About Creativity: Not a Box

There are many books about creativity and the act or practice of being creative out there. Many are amazing, like basically anything Peter Reynolds touches, and some are...meh.  This one is definitely not "meh" but one you might be inclined to pass over because of its bland cover with black and white line art.

Don't do that.

Author Antoinette Portis cuts to the chase in her Theodore Seuss Geissel Honor Award-winning book, "Not a Box". She isn't terribly wordy and her pictures aren't particularly ornate or colorful. What she is is, brilliant. In simple text and pictures, she captures exactly what it's like to let your mind race and imagine wonderful things and adventures with an ordinary box.

As a child who was not able to get the latest gizmos and gadgets, and one that spent an inordinate amount of time outside in the woods and streams and mud and dirt, My siblings and I made stuff using sticks and discarded lumber and whatever else we could find. I can identify.

When the library media specialist at the school where I work read this to the class I was with, I was immediately taken back to my childhood. The best part though was watching the students lean forward a little more, big smiles on their faces and sparkles in their eyes, and cheer about the many different things that a box can be.

This is definitely a keeper. For more fun with being creative get her other book, Not a Stick, and let your child's mind roam free.

Content: 5/5
Illustrations: 5/5
Concept: 5/5
Quality: 5/5
Price: 5/5


Author/Illustrator: Antoinette Portis
Format: Hardcover
Pages: 32
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0061123226
ISBN-13: 978-0061123221
Date: 2006
Publisher: HarperCollins; Illustrated edition (December 12, 2006)
Price: $15.49 (at the time of this post)


Where to buy: Amazon

You can buy "Not a Stick" at Amazon too. It's just as great a book except for this time it's, well. a stick.

Books About Resilience: Penguin Problems

We are learning about the growth mindset in our school. A great way to teach younger students about anything is with a cute book with a funny story that doesn't smack the lesson across their little heads with a blunt instrument. This is one of those books.

Classrooms and schools are full of "I'm gonna teach you something" books. Those books, created for purveyors of some new behavior, citizenship, friendship, etc. program, are usually less fun to listen to and could be more creative.

Penguin Problems is a great way to illustrate the resilience part of the growth mindset but different from the way you think. Without giving anything away here, well maybe a little bit, sometimes you can illustrate a positive by showing someone not fully embracing it. 

This is one of those books. My kindergarten class laughed and giggled all the way to 100% getting the message. It's fun, funny, and cute. A great read for any young student, or family member reading it to them.

Content: 5/5
Illustrations: 5/5
Concept: 5/5
Quality: 5/5
Price: 5/5

Author: Jory John

Illustrator: Lane Smith
Format: Hardcover
Pages: 32
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0553513370
ISBN-13: 978-0553513370
Date: 2018
Publisher: Randon House Books for Young Readers; Illustrated Edition (September 27th, 2016)
Price: $13.79 (at the time of this post)

Where to buy: Amazon