2 out of 4 stars
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Ralphie, a little roach, did not know that others saw him as ugly and dirty. Also, he had no idea that his home was dark and greasy, it was the only home he had ever known. Author Raymond Sobrino Jr. tells the story of Ralphie and the lessons that he learns in Ralphie the Roach.
Ralphie came home from school crying. His concerned parents rushed to console Ralphie and find out what caused his sadness. Henry, a big and mean honey bee, told Ralphie that no one liked him because he and his home were ugly and dirty. The bully also said that everyone loved bees because bees spent most of their time around flowers. Everyone loves flowers. Ralphie and his parents have a serious talk about what is truly important and the proper way to treat other bugs.
The purpose and themes in this book are clear and presented in a fun and understandable way. Children respond very well to fables, and many children love insects and small creatures. Kindness to others and self-confidence are lessons that should be taught time and time again. Most children are unaware of perceived flaws until a bully painfully makes them aware. This story teaches an anti-bullying lesson by appealing to the reader’s empathy.
There are no grammatical errors throughout the text. The story is told with simple language making it a book that children as young as two-years-old would enjoy. The story comfortably flows from one scene to the next making it pleasant to read. However, I believe that there is a serious error concerning the name of the honey bee character. His name is Henry when he is introduced, but Harry speaks in the same conversation with no introduction. I am not sure if these are two different characters or one and the same.
Illustrations are a vital part of any children’s book. The illustrations fell short in this book. It is difficult to make out what is in the first picture. Furthermore, all of the pictures are black and white. This story would benefit from bright and colorful pictures.
I rate this book 2 out of 4 stars. There is great potential here. The author shows a clear understanding of the importance of teaching children to be kind to one another. The lessons in this book are presented in an engaging and understandable way. Unfortunately, the pictures and character name confusion take away from this book. Still, reading this story with or to young children will help start important conversations about kindness and self-confidence.
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Ralphie the Roach
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