Book Review: Zero

Author/Illustrator: Kathryn Otoshi
Interest Level: Ages 4-8

From the Book Jacket: Zero was a big round number. When she looked at herself, she just saw a hole...right in her center. Every day she watched the other numbers line up to count. "1 2 3 4 5 6 7..." She wanted to count too! But how could a number worth nothing become something? Zero felt empty inside. And so goes Zero's search to find herself and in others.    

Why It's On My Bookshelf: Could author Kathryn Otoshi be anymore creative? She already blew my students away with the amazing One and now she's back with Zero. It's a MUST book for the littles and I've been using it to teach positive self-talk, the importance of self-concept, and self-esteem (lots of selfs!).

It isn't a particularly difficult thing to help promote a child's self-esteem. If fact, we do it without even realizing that our words and actions have great impact on how children feel about themselves. Unfortunately, kids aren't always being modeled this in a healthy way. Some students are coming to school with a negative tape of words playing in their minds. Luckily, I have an army of books like Zero ready to erase that tape and record new empowering words.

It all starts with thoughts...

You will often find me doing A LOT of drawing while I read my books to students. Thought bubbles are a great visual when explaining self-talk. Below I used post-it notes and we helped Zero develop new positive language.

There's a lot of extension activities I do with simple post-it notes (good thing I have the Costco size for the year). After I modeled thought bubbles, I gave each student one of their own post-its to fill in new self-talk they'd like to start using. It's also wonderful when students come for one on one or group counseling because when I use the thought bubbles - they know exactly what it is and how it applies to their life. Gifts and strengths are something I am constantly talking about with kids. I'm so grateful for Zero. And get One also! They are both engaging and superb.

A Link to This Book:

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Book Review: How Full is Your Bucket? For Kids

Authors: Tom Rath and Mary Reckmeyer
Illustrated by Maurie J. Manning
Interest Level: Ages 4-10

From the Book Jacket: Each of us has an invisible bucket. When our bucket is full, we feel great. When it's empty, we feel awful. Yet most children (and many adults) don't realize the importance of having a full bucket throughout the day.

In How Full is Your Bucket? For Kids, Felix begins to see how every interaction in a day either fills or empties his bucket. Felix then realizes that everything he says or does to other people fills or empties their buckets as well.

Follow along with Felix as he learns how easy it can be to fill the buckets of his classmates, teachers, and family members. Before the day is over, you'll see how Felix learns to be a great bucket filler, and in the process, discovers that filling someone else's bucket also fills his own.

Why It's On My Book Shelf: I cannot even begin to describe the healing power of bucket filling in my own school. It's the #1 way I usually deal with kids when it comes to oh....EVERYTHING. I've taught this metaphor for years and it is built into our thinking and language. The kids use it for problem solving, bullying, friendship issues, home problems, helping others, expressing a need, describing their feelings, talking about a hurt and much more. Relationships are strengthened when students choose to live their lives by this philosophy.

I originally found out about bucket filling through author Carol McCloud's book Have You Filled a Bucket Today?. It's a neat picture book explaining just what is the business of "Bucket Filling." If you've been using this story (or even if you haven't) to explain this wonderful metaphor, then you ABSOLUTELY need How Full Is Your Bucket? For Kids by authors Tom Rath and Mary Reckmeyer.

What makes this book so special is the focus is on a boy, Felix, and what happens to his bucket throughout his day. He wakes up in the morning with a pretty full bucket. But he spills the cereal and his mom scolds him. Ouch, hurt feelings. DRIP. I loved watching the students' reaction to that word. They hadn't heard bucket filling described that way. Felix gets to school and has a series of negative encounters with kids. DRIP. DRIP. All those positive feelings he started with start going away until his bucket is almost empty. 

Unkind behavior = Drips.



But then something happens to stop the DRIPS. Felix's teacher gives him a compliment. DROP. The class is supportive of him and praises his effort. DROP! He starts receiving compliments and acts of kindness from others as the school day continues. DROP! His bucket starts to fill back up with positive feelings. 


Acts of Kindness = Drops.

Here comes my favorite part.  Once his bucket is filled back up he looks around the playground and notices everyone else has one too....and a lot of them need filling. He now has a real understanding of how it works. And so will your kids! So Felix gets right to it by being kind and helpful. DROP! DROP! This time there are two drops. When he fills another person's bucket, he fills his own too.


Each person receives a DROP during kindness.

The students were SO excited when they saw the cover. I've been reading it the first couple weeks of school so kids can remember to start filling others' buckets immediately. I plan on reading it again throughout the school year. This is one of those stories they like to hear over and over again. It is very well written, the illustrations are perfect, and it speaks to kids. They completely relate to Felix and the ups and downs of his day. Using the "drips" and "drops" as a way to describe positive and negative interactions was easily understood by the students. We've started putting our new discovered language to use! Bucket filling is a way of life in my school. I hope you do the same in your school and home.

A Link to This Book and Others You Might Find Helpful:

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Book Review: Stand Tall Molly Lou Melon

Author: Patty Lovell
Illustrator: David Catrow
Interest Level: Ages 4-8

About This Book: Author Patty Lovell has created the perfect "imperfect" character in little girl Molly Lou Melon. She's shorter than short, with buck teeth, a voice that sounds like a bullfrog being squeezed by a boa constrictor, and quite the clutz. But none of that gets her down because grandma keeps telling her, "Believe in yourself and the world will believe in you too." And little miss Molly Lou Melon lives by those words and happily sees her "flaws" as gifts. But things change when she starts a new school. She becomes the bully target of Ronald Durkin who tries to put her down every chance he gets. But grandma's words of self-esteem live strong in Molly Lou Melon. Ronald eventually finds out, this little tiny gal does not waver. Maybe he is the one with the "flaws"? Stand Tall Molly Lou Melon is a shining example of "Be Yourself." The illustrations are comedic, colorful, and very entertaining.

Why It's On My Bookshelf: A+  Yep, you heard me. This book gets an A+ from the students and me. Molly Lou Melon is a "hot mess." I say that with such love and adoration. There are certain books I depend upon to help me teach the concept of self-esteem. This one is a winner. I see kids being bullied, put-down, and made fun of (I know, sad) at school. Most of them are not "built" to take this kind of cruelty. Are any of us really? We teach kids how to say "NO" to bullying, but are we teaching them how to keep their confidence and self-esteem intact? There is a silent emotional aftermath bullying can cause. Kids can walk away emotionally scarred. My biggest fear is when children start to believe the put-downs being said. Molly Lou Melon teaches kids to not let it bring you down but to "Stand Tall." This is a fabulous read and Molly's letter to grandma on the last page is the perfect ending. If you are looking for a great story to teach self-esteem and confidence, look no further. It is difficult to teach those concepts at an early age - this will surely help you!

A Link to This Book:

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Book Review: I Like Myself!

 

Author: Karen Beaumont

Illustrated by David Catrow

Interest Level: Ages 3-8

About This Book: This curly haired African-American moppet really likes herself. No matter what she does, wherever she goes, or what others think of her, she likes herself because, as she says, "I'm ME!" Catrow's watercolor, ink, and pencil illustrations bring even more humor to the funny verse. The brightly colored art and rhymes are reminiscent of Dr. Seuss's work with their quirky absurdity, especially the full spread of the child and her highly unusual bicycle. Even with "…stinky toes/or horns protruding from my nose," her dog loves her unconditionally. She is so full of joy that readers will love her, too–even when she has purple polka-dotted lips. Titles such as Jamie Lee Curtis's I'm Gonna Like Me and Kathi Appelt's Incredible Me! have a similar theme, but the main characters are Caucasian. A great addition. -School Library Journal

Inside, outside, upside down,

from head to toe and all around,

I like it all! It all is me!

And me is all I want to be.

And I don't care in any way

what someone else may think or say.

Why It's On My Bookshelf: This book is a WINNER with kids. They ooooh, awww, and GIGGLE over the illustrations. I'm oooohing, awwing, and giggling right along with them. Other book reviews have commented that the illustrations are Dr. Seuss-ish. I adore the spunky, joyful, smiley little girl in this book. The kids bounce with anticipation with the approach of every turned page. The inside jacket of the book says, "At once silly and serious, this exuberant ode to self-esteem is sassy, soulful-and straight from the heart." SO TRUE! Oh, and you will also love her darling little dog - her self-esteem side kick. Need another book that is chock-full of lessons on self-esteem? Then I Like Myself is destined for your shelf.

A Link To This Book and Others You Might Find Helpful:

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Book Review: I Believe in Me - A Book of Affirmations

written and illustrated by Connie Bowen

Interest Level: All Ages

About This Book: Whimsical animals, characters, and angels illustrate, in full color, twenty-seven affirmations that will inspire you, the child you love, and the child within all of us.

I am wonderfully creative.

I make friends easily.

I am forgiving.

I believe in me.

I am filled with greatness.

Why It's On My Bookshelf: Oh goodness, I really love this book of affirmations. You'll understand why....keep reading. Imagine helping a child bring out their authenticity. We all come into this world with a core set of unique skills, abilities, curiosities and talents. Kids who feel authentic have an optimistic attitude, a feeling that their life is precious. In the mornings, I watch kids coming down the hallways to their classrooms. Some have that tired look, others are gabbing and smiling with friends, and then I see a few sad looking faces walking down the hallway. I imagine the thoughts they might be having or what happened the evening before or even that morning. Their thoughts most likely are negative and self-defeating. Those are the very students that need help discovering their authenticity and hidden strengths. Affirmations are very healing.

I always try and keep an extra copy of I Believe in Me on my shelf. With parent permission, I like to give this book to kids who need to be built up. Our children are looking towards us as their models. Bring out their inner beauty through I Believe in Me. You will be happy it is in the company of your other self-esteem books on your shelf.

PS. The author provided a blank affirmation page for children in the back of the book. Have them write down their own affirmation. It's powerful. I also like to introduce the concept of emotional strength when I read I Believe in Me. Have them draw their emotional strength. So awesome when they connect to this idea.


A Link To This Book And Others You Might Find Helpful:

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Book Review: Only One You

Author: Linda Kranz
Interest Level: All Ages

If you make a wrong turn, circle back.

If something gets in your way, move around it.

About This Book: There’s only one you in this great big world. Make it a better place.
Adri’s mama and papa share some of the wisdom they have gained through the years with their eager son. Their words, simple and powerful, are meant to comfort and guide him as he goes about exploring the world. This exquisitely illustrated book explodes with color and honest insights. Kranz’s uniquely painted "rockfish," set against vibrant blue seas, make an unforgettable and truly special impression. Only One You will inspire parents and children of all ages as they swim through life.

Why It's On My Bookshelf: Because kids need to be built up, encouraged, and uplifted. This is a little book with a big heart. I even feel uplifted after I read it. I read this with a very soft and gentle voice and the kids become like little sponges. Only One You goes straight to the soul. Imagine if this was read daily to a child. Wow. Positive affirmations are so important. Only One You is also good to use with a child who has been doing a lot of negative self-talk. When I hear a child put themselves down, I imagine they must being putting themselves down a 100 times more on the inside. Raise self-esteem by getting this book on your shelf.

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Book Review: Someday

Author: Eileen Spinelli

illustrated by Rosie Winstead

Interest Level: Ages 5-10

About This Book: Children will savor each page of this delightful book that alternates between Someday and the present. Goldie dreams of a busy future as an archaeologist, an animal scientist, an Olympic gymnast, and more. On the alternate pages she enjoys being a kid and hones the skills that she will need to achieve those goals–digging, counting, cartwheels–all those things that look like playing. Winstead's stylish art is a perfect fit for the whimsical text. The adorable little girl is all spindly limbs, buck-teeth, and flyaway hair, even in her dreams of adulthood. Observant readers will have fun comparing and contrasting the background elements in the someday/right now pairs of pages as they read this empowering book again and again.

Why It's On My Bookshelf: I love this book. The cover really grabbed me and I read the first page and was sold:

Someday I am going to be a great artist. I will wear a blue smock. I will carry my paints to the beach to paint the sea. A very rich person will offer to buy my painting for two million dollars. But I will smile. And I will say: "I'm sorry, this painting is not for sale. It is a gift for my art teacher." Someday...

Okay, don't you love that?? Kids LOVE this book and it is uplifting and fun to read to them. If you want to encourage children to dream with unending imagination, find a spot for it on your bookshelf! Students had a lot of fun talking about their Somedays.

A Link to This Book:

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