Owl Babies

Separation anxiety is common at this time of year with lots of children starting school or child care and experiencing new feelings of anxiety.
Owl Babies by Martin Waddell is a sensitive depiction of separation seen from both sides. The child, unsure of why their parent or carer is away from them, and the adult going about their tasks of caring for their young, knowing they will be back soon. Patrick Benson’s beautiful illustrations add so much depth to this story.

Bully on the Bus

I asked my 9yo to read this book, Bully On The Bus by Kathryn Apel. She couldn’t put it down and when she had nearly finished, I asked her what she thought about it she said ‘I felt the feelings Leroy did.’ and THAT is exactly what high quality literature should do. This book is so powerful in its descriptive language, conveying emotions and situational reality. It has a constructive, positive resolution without descending into clichés.

Totto-chan

The Little Girl at the Window by Tetsuko Kuroyanagi shaped my ideas on children’s behaviour…Sometimes our expectations as educators are not parallel to the ideas of children. This is not ‘naughtiness’.

Totto Chan shows how creativity and free-spiritdness are beautiful qualities.

As educators, we should be embracing the way children see the world and gently guiding them, as her extraordinary headmaster and founder of the school, Sosaku Kobayashi, does. Based on a true story