small moments – Mom Read It

Finding Grateful any place, any time

Posted on April 24, 2024April 23, 2024 by Rosemary Kiladitis

Finding Grateful, by Dianne White/Illustrated by Faith Pray, (Apr. 2024, Chronicle Books), $17.99, ISBN: 9781797211237

Ages 5-7

A child and her mother embrace mindfulness and find gratitude in everything around them in this lyrical picture book that encourages readers to take time to enjoy the small moments: waving at neighbors, running barefoot in the grass and listening to a plane fly overhead, admiring dandelions push their way up through a crack in the pavement. Filled with poetic observations like “Mama says: / you don’t need a map / to find grateful”; “be where your feet are”; and “maybe grateful is a cold spray on a hot day”, Finding Grateful honors the small moments that too often go overlooked. Watercolor, crayon, pencil, and linoleum blocks create soft illustrations; the child centered in the spreads while life goes on around her in the background, giving readers a real sense delight and exploration. The child’s body movements are a celebration of discovery: hands thrown up, she runs through grass after she frees her feet from her sandals to be in touch with the grass; arms back as she runs forward, tongue out, she catches water from a sprinkler; arms thrust out in front of her, she greets a neighbor and holds out a flower. Finding Grateful is a wonderful introduction to small moment storytelling. A very good addition to storytime and picture book collections.

Finding Grateful has a starred review from Kirkus.

Bear and Wolf: A tale of two friends

Posted on June 10, 2018June 9, 2018 by Rosemary Kiladitis

Bear and Wolf, by Daniel Salmieri, (Feb. 2018, Enchanted Lion), $17.95, ISBN: 9781592702381

Recommended for readers 4-8

Bear and Wolf discover one another walking through the snow one day; they wander together, enjoying the sights and sounds of the snowy forest, glancing at an owl flying overhead, and peering into a frozen lake to see the sleeping fish. They part so Bear can hibernate in his den, and Wolf can run with his pack. When Spring returns, the friends reunite across the green forest.

With cool color shades to welcome winter and warm earth colors to celebrate spring, Bear and Wolf is less a story about seasons than about renewal: of friendship and of nature. It also honors the joy of taking one’s time, noticing the details, enjoying the journey. The gouache, watercolor, and crushed colored pencil artwork provides texture and yet, is soft and comforting. Bear and Wolf is a serene story that is nicely paired with books like Tiny, Perfect Things or The Magic Garden. A must-add to storytime shelves.

Bear and Wolf has starred reviews from Kirkus and School Library Journal, and is on my Caldecott shortlist.

Early Reader, Fiction

Say Gracias-Thanks! every day!

Posted on April 29, 2016 by Rosemary Kiladitis

Gracias ~ Thanks, by Pat Mora/Illustrated by John Parra. Translated by Adriana Dominguez, (2005, Lee & Low Books), $17.95, ISBN: 9781600602580

Recommended for ages 4-8

Told in English and Spanish, a biracial boy gives thanks for everyday things, from the bee that didn’t turn him into a pincushion to his brother making him laugh so hard he fell off his chair; for his friend, who showed him a book with a great idea about what to do with troublesome parents, to his abuelita, who always has a dollar to give him. It’s a sweet, lyrical look at the little things we encounter daily, but may not remember to be grateful for. A note from the author asks readers what they’re thankful for and notes that making a list helps keep track of all the little things to be thankful for.

The book is a gentle reminder to be thankful for things all year long – we don’t have to wait until Thanksgiving to say “thank you” for things that make us happy! This can be a jumping-off point for a discussion about being grateful and saying thank you more often. Have the kids contribute with three things that they are grateful for today.

Gracias ~ Thanks received starred reviews from Booklist and Kirkus Reviews, and is a Pura Belpre Honor Book (2010). It has received numerous awards and honors, including the 2010/2011 Gelett Burgess Award – Children’s Book of the Year and the 2009 Golden Kite Award for Picture Book Illustration.

Pat Mora’s author website includes some ideas and activities to use when reading Gracias, and a page dedicated to the book lists its multiple awards and honors, includes a video from the author.

I love anything by Pat Mora – she writes instant classics that draw focus to small moments, as with Gracias, folklore (Doña Flor), and love for our families (so, so many books). Her books, by virtue of being bilingual, invite all readers to sit down and enjoy a story. Together.