Today we are featuring two instructive picture books from Magination Press that help children learn more about themselves and their relationships with others.
I Want Your Moo: A Story for Children About Self-Esteem (2010) by Marcella Bakur Weiner, Jill Neimark and illustrated by Joann Adinolfi explores how lack of confidence is tied with not liking parts of oneself. Toodles the turkey doesn’t like her feathers or her legs, but most of all she doesn’t like her voice. As she tells her problem to other animals at the farm, they all have something to say, but they don’t want to exchange voices. The rooster compromises and lets her have half his song, with hilarious results. Finally, when a crisis occurs, Toodles learns her own voice is important after all.
I Want Your Moo is an absolutely wonderful read-aloud book, especially because all the farm animals make sounds. You will be mooing and neighing away in no time. The text also has a lively pace, with the occasional rhyme thrown in to add interest. It’s no wonder it won a Teacher’s Choice Award in 2010.
Friendship can be a tricky business, even for adults. The newest title, Toodles and Teeny: A Story About Friendship by Jill Neimark, Marcella Bakur Weiner and illustrated by Joann Adinolfi (2013) centers around the problems Toodles encounters when she finds a new best friend. Her old friends are all out of sorts because they feel she has been ignoring them. Can Toodles keep both her new best friend and remain in good standing with her old friends?
The inside flap of the book jacket has one of the warmest descriptions of why friendships are important that I’ve ever encountered. It reads in part:
“Friends are part of who we are, and they often reflect who we wish to become. Friends add to the joy of being alive. “
Both books are illustrated with cartoons that have a deceptively simple, colorful look, almost like they were drawn by children, yet they are also gently expressive. Some of the illustrations contain collage elements. Both books also have a “Note to Parents” in the backmatter that helps explain how to use the book and gives helpful advice to parents whose children are struggling with these issues.
Children can often detect books that are “educational” a mile away and avoid them. These two Toodles books, however, are both so fun and informative that children will be sure to enjoy them. Parents and educators will find them valuable tools for helping children who need just a little extra boost to deal with their self-esteem or friendship issues. It’s a win-win combination!
I Want Your Moo
Age Range: 5 and up
Publisher: Magination Press
ISBN-10: 1433805421
ISBN-13: 978-1433805421
Toodles and Teeny
Age Range: 5 and up
Publisher: Magination Press
ISBN-10: 1433811987
ISBN-13: 978-1433811982
Both these books were provided by the publisher for review purposes.