The Reading Chair
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It鈥檚 fall and the beginning of a new school year. This season of new beginnings brings possibility and change for young children and early childhood educators alike. In this edition of the Reading Chair, we feature books that nourish a sense of discovery and adventure. Young children will enjoy discovering more about the human body in听Some Bodies. Teachers can use听How to Find a Fox,听Knight Owl,听and听Whose Footprints Are These?听to nurture children鈥檚 curiosity and sense of adventure. All of these titles invite readers on an adventure, either through nature, an imaginative story, or in the pursuit of the solution to a mystery.听You Go First听can help children navigate their feelings about change and discovering something new鈥攚hether excitement, anxiety, or both.
鈥� Isabel Baker and Miriam Baker Schiffer
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Some Bodies
By Sophie Kennen. Illus. by Airin O鈥機allaghan. 2022.
Ann Arbor, MI: Sleeping Bear Press. 32 pp. Ages 2 to 6.
Children love getting to know their bodies. This rhyming book provides a nice introduction to the notions that our bodies are varied and each is special. It celebrates height and weight differences, prosthetics, eyeglasses, wheelchairs, curly hair, and variations in skin tone, including freckles and vitiligo. It acknowledges people鈥檚 different preferences, needs, and traditions related to dress鈥攕ome may cover more of their skin or wear a wig, for example. And it affirms that some may choose to alter their bodies, making changes such as adding tattoos. Upbeat illustrations give readers lots to look at. Teachers can use this听body-positive听book to start a conversation on what makes children proud about their听own bodies.
How to Find a Fox
By Kate Gardner. Photographs by Ossi Saarinen. 2021.
New York: Running Press Kids. 40 pp. Ages 2 to 7.
Foxes are commonly anthropomorphized in children鈥檚 literature, taking on popular roles in books such as听Fantastic Mr. Fox, by Roald Dahl, or听My Lucky Day, by Keiko Kasza. But they seem to be elusive in real life. This photo-illustrated book embraces the mystery of finding a fox with playful language, interesting scientific details, and stunning photographs of foxes and their habitats.
The book begins, 鈥淚f you want to find a fox,鈥� letting readers know they鈥檙e embarking on an adventure. Then, it offers tips on habitats, times of day, seasons, tracks, and sounds to consider when trying to find them. Sparse text on each page flows poetically. Smaller print offers additional details for older readers. Children may enjoy the photographer鈥檚 note at the back of the book explaining how he managed to encounter these beautiful creatures. This book can inspire discussions of children鈥檚 favorite animals or new animals they鈥檝e discovered and how they might be found in the wild.
You Go First
By Ariel Bernstein. Illus. by Marc Rosenthal. 2023.
New York: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers. 48 pp. Ages 3 to 6.
When two friends, Duck and Cat, go to their usual playground, they notice a change. The old slide has been replaced with a new, larger one. A swirly, steep one. Duck is delighted! Duck can鈥檛 wait to try the slide. But Cat? Not so much. Cat is afraid and tries quite a few delay tactics to keep them off of it, which will have readers chuckling. But when Cat realizes that those fears are keeping Duck from trying something special, Cat digs deep and finds a burst of bravery.
This sweet story is well-paced and full of charm. The illustrations were penciled by hand and have a refreshing homespun quality and very relatable facial expressions. Children will love talking about each character鈥檚 feelings, the silly ways Cat tries to avoid the slide, and why Cat ultimately takes a big risk. This book provides good jumping-off points for children to reflect on their own fears听and bravery.
Knight Owl
By Christopher Denise. 2022.
New York: Christy Ottaviano Books. 48 pp. Ages 3 to 7.
Little Owl had always dreamed of being a knight, but no one imagined the young bird had it in him. Then, when knights start mysteriously disappearing from the castle, Owl is called to serve. His nocturnal听ways鈥攚hich are why he is always falling asleep during his daytime classes鈥攈elp him unravel the mystery and save the day.
Owl鈥檚 journey to knighthood has all the hallmarks of a good story: an underdog main character, a slightly scary problem, good tension, and a satisfying resolution. Denise鈥檚 illustrations鈥攚hich earned the book a Caldecott Honor鈥攁re brilliant, dark as night but with flashes of light that draw the eye. Owl鈥檚 small stature among the large knights and his big, bright, wary eyes demonstrate his vulnerability. His stout little body weighed down by heavy armor has a wobble reminiscent of a puppy鈥檚, and readers know from the get-go that there is lightheartedness to this gripping tale. Children will love rooting for Owl and imagining being brave themselves. And they鈥檒l enjoy this book again听and again.
Whose Footprints Are These?
By Gerda Muller. 2022.
Edinburgh: Floris Books. 36 pp. Ages 4 to 7.
A wordless book is a wonderful vehicle for encouraging children to pore over the illustrations and surmise what might be happening in a story. This wordless book has an extra twist. The characters are nowhere to be seen. Instead, footprints provide the clues to who, what, and where. Observant readers will deduce that a child and his dog head out into the snow for a morning romp after breakfast, where they bump into an adult refilling the firewood pile. Playful details abound (a hiking stick is one of the items readers can track, and children may recognize that meals have been served and eaten without seeing anything but footsteps). A glimpse of a child and dog at the end provides satisfaction. The illustrations, which are made of gouache and colored pencil, are simple and clear while also providing a colorful warmth. Young readers will enjoy honing their detective skills and recognizing the everyday routines this family听engages in.
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