 There are two ways to read this story. When read conventionally, from front to back, it tells the tale of a group of seals and a seagull on their rock who are afraid of some approaching seals who have nowhere to go because their rock is being engulfed by the sea. The first seals cry out, “This rock is ours. Go back to your own. Shoo! Go away!” They insist that the newcomers cannot join their rock group. The danger of the sea builds. However, there are two sides to every story. At the end of the first standard reading – “No room on this rock? Can it be true? Read back to front for another point of view.” When read this way, with the exact same words on every page, sharing, acceptance, and generosity emerge. “There’s space for plenty more. So it’s ridiculous to say – There’s no room on our rock.” The story now becomes an uplifting tale of hope. The seals on the rock welcome the struggling refugees. A subdued palette of soft blue-gray watercolors portrays the marine environment in the clever two-sided story. This book is a companion volume to Move That Mountain by the same authors and illustrator. mjw |
| Title: Room On Our Rock Author: Kate and Jol Temple Illustrator: Terri Rose Baynton Publisher: Kane Miller, A division of EDC Publishing Copyright: 2019 Original Language: English Original Publisher: Scholastic Press. Australia Original Copyright: 2018 ISBN: 978-1-61067-902-2 Hardcover pages: 32 Age range: 4-8 Genre: Picture Book Author’s ethnicity: Australian (both Kate and Jol) Author’s residence: Sydney, Australia (both Kate and Jol) Illustrator’s ethnicity: New Zealander Illustrator’s residence: Taupo, New Zealand Awards: Charlotte Huck Award 2020 Subjects: Acceptance, Compassion, Danger, Fear, Inclusion, Marine life, Refugees, Rejection, Seals, Sharing, Exclusion |
Room On Our Rock
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A curious house cat named Tibbles and her owner move across the world from England to a small island off the coast of New Zealand in 1894. The cat discovers a new, rare species of flightless birds – the Stephens Island Wren – that had been previously undescribed. Unfortunately, Tibbles causes the extinction of the bird by preying on it. This true story made a huge impact on the world by alerting humans to the dangers of introducing non-native animals to other parts of the world. Included are interesting facts about the bird and its discovery. The vintage-inspired illustrations, speech bubbles, and diagrams enhance this darkly comedic story that brings global awareness of the unintended consequences of human actions on the environment. mjw
A duck with a limp and a blind chicken embark on an adventure. The duck will guide the chicken and the chicken will support the duck’s wonky leg. They search for a place where their most secret wishes will come true. They encounter a wild forest, a deep canyon, the highest mountain, and they experience many differences of opinion along the way. Their final destination is a hilarious surprise. The book’s philosophical tone and sophisticated vocabulary make the book ideal for a range of readers. Full-color illustrations with bold, dynamic lines and brush strokes are included. mjw
When the lighthouse keeper is rescued from the stormy sea by a whale, they become friends. Soon, Blue the whale gets into danger, too. Blue is sick with a stomach full of plastic bags. The lighthouse keeper cleans up the trash, so Blue will feel better. Charming simple text and beautiful watercolor paintings introduce young readers to the impact of plastic waste on our oceans and ocean life. An author’s note includes ways that readers can protect whales and their habitats. mjw
As Sara walks to school in her island town, she sees a lot of birds trapped in a little house with a bright red roof. She is awed by the colored parakeets and she wants the birds to be free. The next day on her walk to school, she discovers that the door to the birdhouse is unlocked, and she opens it wide so the parakeets can take off. Sara is punished when her parents find out what she did. She worries that the freed birds may not know how to feed themselves. She goes to sleep that night and dreams that the birds will find their way. “All will be well, so long as the world has wings to dream.” The realistic illustrations in this story about love for nature and dreams for a better world were rendered in digital media. A publisher’s note gives information about Mauritius and the birds that live there. mjw
The French six-year-old narrator in this gorgeous picture book loves spending time in his Spanish grandfather’s incredible garden. The grandfather, Luis, left Spain because of the terrible war. He didn’t have a chance to be a kid, and he never learned to read and write. Together they watch birds. Luis speaks BIRD language. They also draw what they see in the magnificent garden. Luis is a great cook, too, making his house always smell good. Luis speaks in a vibrant and unique language, hence the title of the book, At the Drop of a Cat, and another phrase like “the apple of his pie.” At the end of the story, Luis gives his grandchild a guitar. Even though Luis cannot read or write, he imparts wonderful knowledge about nature and life to his grandchild. Dreamy, colorful, and rich, plant-filled pictures in watercolor and collage depict their natural world effectively
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