Love is Love by Dr Michael Genhart & illustrated by Ken Min

Love is Love by Michael Genhart is a touching tale showing how all families are valid, no matter how they are organised. One young child has been teased because he was wearing a shirt with a rainbow heart, told his shirt is ‘gay’, and his family doesn’t count because he has two dads. His friend helps him realise that it’s perfectly fine that he has two dads, and that there’s nothing different between how her mother and father met and married versus his family.

I read this with my cubs. It’s a great book to teach tolerance and acceptance. Though the words are few, they are exquisitely meaningful, and the artwork is just gorgeous. We loved how the story moved through different parts of the world, with the theme of coloured kites. Different places flew single colours, but at the end they all merged into a huge rainbow heart. Its overt focus is on hetero Vs homosexual families and their equal validity, but there’s a latent focus on the equality of people from all cultures, skin tones, and walks of life.  

***Many thanks to Netgalley and Sourcebooks/ Jabberwocky for providing an egalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

 

 

Angus All Aglow by Heather Smith

Young Angus loves things that sparkle and shine. One day, his gran gives him a bright beautiful necklace with many strands of colourful beads. Delighted with his gift, Angus wears it to school. Unfortunately, his classmates are not as thrilled with his sparkly prize and tease him over it. Disheartened, Angus loses his love for the bright and shiny. That is, til one sweet girl helps him rekindle that love.

My cubs and I adored this book! I’m very much for tolerance, acceptance, and, anthropologist that I am, cultural awareness. Everyone is unique and different, and that should be respected. Angus found a friend that fully accepted him just as he was. To me, Angus seems like he has a form of synesthesia. He hears shiny things, and that makes his world even more interesting. Not sure if he really does, but I’d like to think so. Plus, the artwork is adorable!

***Many thanks to Netgalley and Orca Books for providing an egalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

 

 

Charlie the Caterpillar by Andy Gutman

Charlie the Caterpillar by Andy Gutman is a charming story of Charlie, a young caterpillar trying to find himself. He doesn’t think he’s good enough, though his friends try to convince him otherwise. He hopes his change to a butterfly will make him feel complete. In the end, though, he must do as we all must, and find his own acceptance from within.

This story is full of bright colourful artwork, and simple rhymes sure to catch the imagination of young readers. While great for young children, it may be too simple for those over the age of four or five. Still, great addition to a child’s book collection, or as a classroom teaching tool.

***Many thanks to Netgalley and Dog Ear Publishing for providing an egalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

 

 

Diwali Lights by Rina Singh

Diwali Lights by Rina Singh is a board book for newborns and toddlers. Through simple, sweet rhyme, and gorgeous pictures, it introduces Diwali, the Indian Festival of Light, to young minds. At the very back is a more detailed explanation of Diwali for older readers sharing the book. As an anthropologist, and strong proponent of cultural awareness, I highly recommend this book for daycare reading, and of course, for anyone with small children.

***Many thanks to Netgalley and Orca Books for providing an egalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.