Anita Ojeda Ok, so you can’t change your vision vision from 10/20 to 20/20. But these books will help change the way your heart sees things. And in these troubling times, often our hearts need vision tune-ups desperately.
I receive free electronic advanced reader copies of these books through an arrangement between the publishers and NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion on NetGalley’s website. I only review books on my blog that I really love.
Can You Really Improve Your Vision for Under 20 Dollars?
Good question. It depends on which vision. My book recommendations this week won’t change your eyesight, but they will change your insight. In other words, they’ll change the vision of how you see the world.
Unless we learn to see the world from other people’s perspectives, we will settle in to our fixed mindsets of truth and point-of-view. We get comfortable with our beliefs, even if they we’ve based them on a false narrative.
These two children’s books will improve your vision and help you see the world from someone else’s point of view. By enlarging our horizons, we can make the world a better place.
Two books that will improve your vision for less than four lattes. @RevDrMikeWalters and @RosanneParry #NetGalley #amreading #changetheworld Click To TweetFor Beautiful Black Boys Who Believe in a Better World
By Michael W. Waters, Illustrated by Keisha Morris, Flyaway Books, September 2020, 40 pages.
Jeremiah doesn’t understand.
“Why are they shooting?”
“Why are we at this vigil?”
“Why did the police shoot a boy in a car?”
So many questions, but Jeremiah doesn’t want to hear the answers just yet… His parents patiently wait. Meanwhile, more horrible things happen.
This beautiful book exudes hope and patience in the midst of a world hostile to people of color. The Muhammad Ali Center offers comprehensive discussion guides for parents and teachers at the end of the book.
Teachers, librarians, parents, and grandparents will want to purchase this book for their students, patrons, children, and grandchildren. While not a comfortable book, it shines as a beautiful and necessary book.
The must-read children's book for this year #ForBeautifulBlackBloysWhoBelieveinaBetterWorld by @RevDrMikeWalters Click To TweetA Whale of the Wild
By Rosanne Parry, illustrated by Lindsay Moore, Greenwillow, September 2020, 336 pages, Children, MG, YA.
For Vega, a young Orca whale living in the waters near the Seattle, WA area, finding food means surviving. For some reason, the salmon have failed to return to the area on time, and her family faces starvation. Always inquisitive and playful, Vega struggles to make the right choices as each day without food leaves the pod bewildered and weaker. Her greatmother trusts that one day, Vega will lead their pod as an experienced Wayfinder. But her cousin doubts Vega’s abilities.
Her younger brother, Deneb, staunchly supports his sister, even when her decisions separate the two of them from the pod and launch them on a journey far from home in search of safety and food.
Vega and Deneb narrate this gripping story that takes readers through the lives of an Orca pod living in the Pacific Northwest. The author’s descriptions of humans from Vega’s perspective made me laugh. Her understanding of the importance of family, friendships, and diversity to the fragile ecosystem of our lives made me weep.
Why You’ll Love This Book
While written for middle-grade students, this book would make a perfect read-aloud for younger students. The author includes facts and research about Orca whales at the end of the book—enough to satisfy all the questions that arise while reading. For example, while Vega refers to herself as a youngster, the reader discovers she has lived through 40 seasons.
The magical illustrations help draw young readers into the story—a must for readers who have just started reading longer chapter books. Even if you don’t fit into the intended category of reader, buy the book and read it anyway. You won’t regret it, even if you’re 99!
#AWaleoftheWild made me laugh and cry–and think about my world in a different way. @RosanneParry #orca #whale #conservation Click To Tweet
What age is the book “For Beautiful Black Boys” recommended for? Thanks for sharing these reviews.
I’d say about 7 on up. The topic of discussion is pretty heavy (racism), but it’s told from the POV of a young boy and spans several years.