Never too Small by Zanib Mian and Laura Ewing Ferrer
| Never too Small by Zanib Mian and Laura Ewing Ferrer | |
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| Category: For Sharing | |
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Reviewer: Sue Magee
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| Summary: A picture book which looks at FEAR as a whole rather than just one specific fear and which has the potential to leave a child feeling that they can help others. Definitely recommended. | |
| Buy? Yes | Borrow? Yes |
| Pages: 32 | Date: September 2014 |
| Publisher: Sweet Apple | |
| External links: Author's website | |
| ISBN: 978-0956419651 | |
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There was once a young boy who didn't try to do things because he felt that he was too small, but he was lucky. He had a good friend and that friend wrote him a letter to tell him that people are never too small, or too big, or too old to try something new. There was also a little girl and she was afraid of the dark. It was her brother who wrote her a letter to tell her that he would always be there for her. There was the boy who wouldn't try new things to eat, the young girl who was afraid of heights, a boy who was terrified about going to school and a girl who was frightened of spiders. They all had that special someone who took the time to write them the letter which gave them the confidence to overcome their fears.
Oh, there's so much to love about this book. First of all, hands up everyone who hasn't ever had one of those fears. Just as I thought! The wonderful thing is that it isn't just about one fear, but about all sorts, so it puts my fear into context. I'm fine with spiders, but even in, er, upper middle age I'm still not keen on the dark. Children will recognise that they're fine with some things and it will give them confidence in areas where they're just a bit wobbly. There's also a gorgeous boost at the end where children are encouraged to look out for other people who might need their own letter - so a child who starts out with a fear might well end up thinking about other people who might need help to overcome their fears. Isn't that just the best cure?
It's a very inclusive book too. This isn't another of those books which feature pink-cheeked children with curly blond hair. It reflects the world we live in which includes people from other ethnic backgrounds or races - or religions. There's nothing in-your-face or preachy about it, just a gentle acknowledgement that not everyone's ancestors have been here for thousands of years. HURRAH!
The book is written in rhyme (it's perhaps just a little clunky in places, but not to the point where it's going to worry the target audience) and there's plenty of repetition which will encourage children to join in and emerging readers will find the clear text with good supporting pictures a real bonus. I'd like to thank the publishers for sending a copy to the Bookbag.
For a book about nighttime fears we can recommend Tamara Small and the Monster's Ball by Giles Paley-Phillips and Gabriele Antonini. Children starting school might appreciate My Teacher is a Monster! (No, I Am Not.) by Peter Brown.
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You can read more book reviews or buy Never too Small by Zanib Mian and Laura Ewing Ferrer at Amazon.co.uk Amazon currently charges £2.99 for standard delivery for orders under £20, over which delivery is free.
You can read more book reviews or buy Never too Small by Zanib Mian and Laura Ewing Ferrer at Amazon.com.
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