Review by Lunastella -- The Barnyard Buddies Meet a Newc...
11 posts
[Following is a volunteer review of "The Barnyard Buddies Meet a Newcomer" by Julie Penshorn.]
[rbc=4]id392901-125[/rbc]
Kids have a particular ease to relate to animals and enjoy animal tales, and we’ve successfully used animal stories to teach them, from Aesop’s fables to Paw Patrol, so I think this is a story they will enjoy. Each animal character has its voice and opinion, and that provides diversity to the story. The illustrations are colorful and attractive, which will also help capture their attention.
The language used is simple enough to make the book perfectly age-appropriate but not “dumbed down”. I always applaud this when I find it in children’s books, because as a linguist, I know there’s no other way for young ones to develop lexical and reading skills, that gradually exposing them to new words.
What I find more commendable about The Barnyard Buddies Meet a Newcomer by Julie Penshorn is the message. This short story, although directed to kids, is incredibly pertinent in today’s world, when we’re facing a worldwide immigration and refugee crisis. We might believe this is a grownup problem, but kids face newcomers and people different from them on a regular basis, and teaching them tolerance and problem-solving skills is of the utmost importance. Also, we shouldn’t forget that these kids will turn into the adults that will decide the policies for our future countries in our ever-changing political climate. Although the author advocates for tolerance and kindness towards those in need, she also advocates for consensus and for taking everyone’s needs, fears and wants into account when reaching a decision. I think this is an incredibly powerful message.
At the end of the book, the author provides a guide for parents and educators to start the conversation about the topics discussed in the story. It’s a very useful tool and a great way for everyone to make the most of the book.
The only flaw I found in The Barnyard Buddies Meet a Newcomer is the distribution of the dialogues in the pages. The dialogues are presented in text bubbles but sometimes it was not quite clear who was talking first and who was answering, and I think it could be confusing for smaller kids. The edition of the book is flawless, and I didn’t find a single mistake.
Of course, this book does not contain any profanity or sexual references. The author advises future reviewers that if they find themselves in the conservative side of the political spectrum and aren’t willing to keep an open mind, this isn’t a book for them, and I agree. I would recommend this book to children in elementary school age. Younger kids can probably enjoy the book with the help of an adult. I would also recommend it to parents, teachers, and caregivers of these kids. The only exception I would make is the one previously stated by the author.
I rate The Barnyard Buddies Meet a Newcomer by Julie Penshorn 4 out of 4 stars because of the positive message, eye-catching illustrations, useful teaching tools, and appropriate language use.
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The Barnyard Buddies Meet a Newcomer
View: on Bookshelves |
Kids have a particular ease to relate to animals and enjoy animal tales, and we’ve successfully used animal stories to teach them, from Aesop’s fables to Paw Patrol, so I think this is a story they will enjoy. Each animal character has its voice and opinion, and that provides diversity to the story. The illustrations are colorful and attractive, which will also help capture their attention.
The language used is simple enough to make the book perfectly age-appropriate but not “dumbed down”. I always applaud this when I find it in children’s books, because as a linguist, I know there’s no other way for young ones to develop lexical and reading skills, that gradually exposing them to new words.
What I find more commendable about The Barnyard Buddies Meet a Newcomer by Julie Penshorn is the message. This short story, although directed to kids, is incredibly pertinent in today’s world, when we’re facing a worldwide immigration and refugee crisis. We might believe this is a grownup problem, but kids face newcomers and people different from them on a regular basis, and teaching them tolerance and problem-solving skills is of the utmost importance. Also, we shouldn’t forget that these kids will turn into the adults that will decide the policies for our future countries in our ever-changing political climate. Although the author advocates for tolerance and kindness towards those in need, she also advocates for consensus and for taking everyone’s needs, fears and wants into account when reaching a decision. I think this is an incredibly powerful message.
At the end of the book, the author provides a guide for parents and educators to start the conversation about the topics discussed in the story. It’s a very useful tool and a great way for everyone to make the most of the book.
The only flaw I found in The Barnyard Buddies Meet a Newcomer is the distribution of the dialogues in the pages. The dialogues are presented in text bubbles but sometimes it was not quite clear who was talking first and who was answering, and I think it could be confusing for smaller kids. The edition of the book is flawless, and I didn’t find a single mistake.
Of course, this book does not contain any profanity or sexual references. The author advises future reviewers that if they find themselves in the conservative side of the political spectrum and aren’t willing to keep an open mind, this isn’t a book for them, and I agree. I would recommend this book to children in elementary school age. Younger kids can probably enjoy the book with the help of an adult. I would also recommend it to parents, teachers, and caregivers of these kids. The only exception I would make is the one previously stated by the author.
I rate The Barnyard Buddies Meet a Newcomer by Julie Penshorn 4 out of 4 stars because of the positive message, eye-catching illustrations, useful teaching tools, and appropriate language use.
******
The Barnyard Buddies Meet a Newcomer
View: on Bookshelves |
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