Porcupette Finds a Family by Vanita Oelschlager

We received this book from the publisher for review.

Story: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Illustration:🟃 ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Porcupette Finds a Family, is a story about how a baby porcupine (called a porcupette) finds a new family after losing his mother. He wants to have an attachment to the bear family he finds, but is afraid his "bear" mother and "bear" brother and sister will leave him too. This causes him to act out his fears in

ways that jeopardize acceptance from his adopted family. However, with the understanding and help of Mother Bear, Porcupette finally accepts that he is truly loved and wanted despite, or maybe because of, his differences.

Amazing, BUT For a Very Specific Target Audience

On my first pass through I wasn't sure about how I felt about Porcupette Finds a Family by Vanita Oelschlager, but as someone who worked with children within the foster care system for years, I have to say that Porcupette is a realistic character for a child who is hurting and who misbehaves to either test people's boundaries or to push people away before they have a chance to hurt them first.

A child losing their parent and feeling the uncertainty of the world around them is not your average subject matter in children's literature, and it is in no way sugar coated in Porcupette Finds a Family.  This is exactly what children who are experiencing this in their own lives need as well do the people who love them, as a valuable tool to open up meaningful conversation and to help children understand what their feelings are about.

I recommend this book to children with abandonment issues, and the adult's caring for those children, simultaneously, not separately.  I also recommend this book to children and the parents of those children who are closely involved with a child who is dealing with abandonment issues.  It can be used as a wonderful teaching tool for those children as well, in order to help them understand what the other child may be feeling.  It also would be a smart move for any counselor to have this one ready and available on their bookshelf.

Porcupette Finds a Family

by Vanita Oelschlager

Illustrated by Mike Blanc

Published: 2010

Pages: 44

Our Source: Publisher

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Every Book is a New Release to a Child: Fox in Socks by Dr. Seuss

HarperCollins is relaunched Dr. Seuss's best-selling books, including such perennial favourites as The Cat in the Hat, Green Eggs and Ham and Fox in Socks.  Other well loved children books are being printed all the time such as Nancy Drew with the original design on the cover, Little House on the Prairie books have become classics, Pat the Bunny is alive and well, Caps for Sale, Frog and Toad, Curious George, Blueberries for Sale...

Thank goodness that so many of children books are still thriving in the publishing world, more so than adult books.  Besides classics, there are only a small percentage of more current releases that will be among buzz books in the future.  

Why?  Kids don't care.  Everything is a new release to them.  They are young and experience a bookshop or library the way that I wish that we all could, wide eyed at the possibility of falling in love with any one of the books on the shelf.

I have thought about this a lot as I have been on this journey with Evelyn, but never more than yesterday when we read Fox in Socks by Dr. Seuss.

My Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

In this hilarious book, the irrepressible Fox in Socks teaches a baffled Mr. Knox some of the slickest, quickest tongue-twisters in town.

One of the Most Precious Reading Experiences I Have Had

Evelyn and I have shared a  lot of good times, but the time that we have spent together reading has been one of my most enjoyable experiences as a grandmother, and reading her Fox in Sox was a moment that I will never forget.

I had forgotten that most of the Dr. Suess books are in the 60 page range, and I didn't know if Evelyn was ready to sit through a book of that length, but it turned out that the sing song rhythm of the writing in Fox in Sox held her complete attention.  The books is all rhythmic tongue twisters and she loved it.  

We read Fox in Sox after lunch, just before bedtime, and while she sat on my lap, listening to every word, looking over every page, near the end she pressed her forehead against the side of my face, gently swayed to the words, and fell peacefully asleep.

It was one of the most precious reading moments I have had the pleasure to experience.  I only wish that I wasn't alone with her so I could have a picture.

We will definitely be reading more Dr. Suess in the future, and I believe that these books are a must buy for adding to her library collection.

Fox in Sox

By Dr. Suess

Source: Library

Originally Published: 1965

Pages: 62

Is a Worry Worrying You by Ferida Wolff

Story: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Illustration: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

This book addresses children's worries with humor and imagination, as hilarious scenarios teach kids the use of perspective and the art of creative problem—solving.

Effective, But Thoroughly Entertaining Teaching Tool

Is a Worry Worrying You? is a cute book with an interesting way of teaching children the definition of worries, and how to get rid of the worries that plague them. The book starts with a few pages of examples of what a worry is, how it comes about, and what is feels like. Mid way through the book seamlessly shifts gears to laying out several examples of situations that children can find themselves in by worrying, along with a simple, but very practical approach to what they should do to remedy it.

I recommend this book especially to children ages four through eight. It is a wonderful conversation starter, and a particular must have if you have a little worrywart on your hands.

Is a Worry Worrying You

by Ferida Wolf and Harriet May Savitz

Illustrations by Marie Letourneau

Source: Publisher

Published 2005 by Tanglewood

Pages: 32