You’re Never Too Old to Read Children’s Books

 I’ve been a fan of picture books since I was a child. I love the illustrations that frame the story, because they often have stunning illustrations. Besides, I can find some hidden messages in the story through metaphor. Although right now I’m a grown up, I still love reading picture books. I enjoy reading it, and plan to read it along with my children in the future. Hehe… Most people think that picture books are only for children. But, I don’t think so. Age does not to define who you are and there’s no right way to be an adult. So, when Kids Can Press, one of my favourite publisher, approves my request to be the first reader, I am sooo excited to tell you. Most of Kids Can Pess books inspire us to be better global citizens. Below are my reviews of the picture books I read.

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Note: I received an ARC of these books from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This doesn’t effect my opinion on my rating system.

Title: Child Soldier
Author: Michel Chikwanine
Ilustrator: Jessica Humpreys, Claudia Davila
Genre: Children’s literature, biography
Published: September 1st, 2015, by KIds Can Press
Number of Page: 52 Pages
Rating: 5 stars out of 5

“Remember, Michel. A great person is not described by their money or success. But rather by their heart and what they do for others.”

Michel Chikwanine was five years old when he was abducted from his schoolyard soccer game in the Democratic Republic of Congo and forced to become a soldier for a brutal rebel militia. As we know, The Democratic Republic of Congo is one of the most beautiful places on earth. It is filled with minerals, such as diamond and gold,  the rainforests are thick with fruits, animals, and plants. But, those things can be a curse because people come to Congo to fulfill their greediness. And, it leads to war. In this story, the militia kidnapped children and separate them from their family.
Fortunately, Michel managed to escape and found his way back to his family, but he was never the same again. The torture that he received when he was with the militia seemed like a terror. His friends pretended not to see him when he was around. He didn’t have friends anymore because nobody wanted to be friends with a killer. At first, Michel was really stressed with that. But, his generous father was always there for him, lifted him up. Michel’s father tried to fight against the rebel militia. It was dangerous because at the very next day, the rebel militia came to Michel’s house to look for his father.

“The rebels may try to kill you! Aren’t you afraid?”
“Michel, never fear death. Death comes to everyone. What matters is what you do with the time you have. This is what defines you. The legacy that you leave not just for your family but for the whole world.”

This story is real based on the author’s experience in his homeland before he immigrated to North America. The issue surrounds the effect of war to the children. Just like the title, this book refers to children who are kidnapped to be trained as a brutal child soldier. Child soldier is anyone under 18 years old who used by an armed group in any way, including boys and girls used as fighters, cooks, porters, messengers, spies, or for sexual purposes.
Told in the first person and presented in a graphic novel format, this story evokes rather than depicts the violent elements of the story, makes the book accessible for children age group. This is a perfect resource for engaging youngsters in social studies lessons on global awareness and social justice issues, and would easily spark classroom discussions about conflict, children’s rights and even bullying.

“If you ever think you are too small to make a difference, try sleeping in a room with a mosquito.”

Michel believes everyone can do something to make the world a better place, and so he shares what his father told him. He believes in the ability to make a difference. Michel has worked long and hard to heal from his experience as a child soldier that is a label that was forced to him. Today, he become an activist. And along with researching root causes of poverty and conflict, Michel continues to share his powerful and inspiring message of hope with people all over the world. Check out the video below when Michel got a chance to talk about those issues.

Watching that video, I can see sadness in his eyes. But at the same time, there is hope. Well, in a slight, Congo reminds me of my country, Indonesia. Besides the nature, the situations are also the same. Back in the past, both countries were conquered by European countries. Congo with Belgium, and Indonesia with Netherland. Then I spotted something that is also similar. The author said that the children in Congo made toys like balls from scrap paper. It reminds me of Indonesian children before 2000s. I mean, the 80s or 90s generation played with their creativity before smartphones conquered them. In this book, Michel spotted the differences between the children in Congo and those in North America. In North America, the kids don’t really care about the issue. Well, yeah, it happens in Indonesia too.

Honestly, this book makes me cry!!! I cry because I’m inspired by Michel who believe that he can change the world and make the difference. In the back of the book, there are some information about child soldier, the current fact, and what we can do. Those information is the important thing because it guides us to be better global citizen.

 Title: The Red Bicycle: The Extraordinary Story of One Ordinary Bicycle
Author: Jude Isabella
Illustrator: Simone Shin
Genre: Children’s literature
Published: March 1st, 2015, by Kids Can Press
Number of Pages: 32 Pages
Rating: 5 stars out of 5

Leo treasures his bicycle so much that he gives it a name, Big Red. As the time goes by, Leo has grown up. He needs a bigger bicycle, so he goes to a bicycle shop where he can ask about the used bicycle. A staff in the bicycle shop said that he can donate the used bicycle to an organization that ships bicycles to Africa. Leo wants a good ‘home’ for Big Red. He believes that donation Big Red can be a good idea.
Leo decides to donate Big Red to the organization. Big Red is sent to Burkina Faso, in West Africa, where it finds a home with a girl named Alisetta, who uses it to gain quicker access to her family field and to the market. Then, over time, it finds its way to a young woman named Haridata, who has a new purpose for the bicycle, delivering medications and bringing sick people to the hospital. Here, Big Red receives a new name, Le Grand Rouge, for its help.

At the end of her last ride, she puts the bicycle away, pats the seat and whispers, “Thank you.”
She stares at the red bicycle for a minute, wondering where its journey began. Far away for sure, she thinks.

This book makes an excellent choice for cultural studies classes. IN the back of the book, the author, Jude Isabella, provides several terrific suggestions for the projects, while a map shows the distance the bicycle traveled across the Atlantic Ocean. It lets the kids know what they can do to help other people with no longer needed bicycles. The kids will learn how different the world is for those who rely on bicycles as a mode of transportation, and how one ordinary bicycle can change lives across the world. This picture below shows how important a bicycle is for the people in Africa.

This is an awesome book that informs children about the world and inspires them to be better global citizens with love, care, and empathy.

Title: The Tea Party In The Woods
Author: Akiko Miyakoshi
Published: August 1st, 2015
Genre: Children’s literature, fantasy
Number of Page: 32 Pages
Rating: 4 stars out of 5

Kikko sets out after her father with a forgotten pie for Grandma. She thinks that she is all alone in the wood on the way to Grandma’s house. She follows his father’s footprints. THen, she finds a strange house in the wintry woods. She peeks in the window curiously. But then, she reveals that the footprints Kikko had been following doesn’t belong to her father at all.

Kikko followed her father all the way to a strange house.
Has it always been here? Kikko wondered. She couldn’t remember having seen it before.

This story is a simple one, yet full of imagination. As I read this book, it reminds me of Red Riding Hood and Narnia. The illustration is terrific! It seems like the lines are made from pencil. The illustrator draws so well that it comes out as a soft drawing.

So, what do you think about the books? Have you read those books? If not, which one captures your attention? All? I think it’s all good choices and worth reading both by children and by adults.