BOOK REVIEWS Reviewed by Lorna McGrath
Right now,
I Am Kind
Written by Dr. Daniela Owen
llustrated by Gülce Baycik
In this book Dr. Owen helps
children think about what it is
to be kind. She says we have to
look outside of ourselves, outside
of our wants, and think about
others. She tells, in greater detail
than in this review, that there are
three basic ways to be kind. They
are: be aware of others to see if
you should change your actions
based on others needs; ask
people if they need help, and
show people you care through
random acts of kindness. The
illustrations are colorful and
inclusive. The message is appropriate
for children who are
just beginning to recognize the
needs of others and a good
review for children throughout
the elementary years.
Right now,
I AM BRAVE
by Dr. Daniela Owen
Illustrated by Gülce Baycik
Here’s another good one from
Dr. Owen. The first lesson—when
things that we find scary are not
actually dangerous, it’s time to
be brave. She goes on to define
what it means to be brave. She
explains how our brains are not
always right about what is truly
scary. Being brave can be tough
for grown ups as well as kids.
McGrath (unless otherwise noted)
So trying new things, doing the
right thing, or doing something
hard are all sometimes scary. She
goes on to give children ideas
about how to encourage themselves
and push forward when
facing scary things.
As always in this series, the illustrations
are colorful, inclusive,
and full of emotion. It is definitely
a good addition to your home
library or for your school.
Peace, Love,
Action!
by Tanya Zabinski
Reviewed by Susan French-Lawyer,
Director of Admissions at
Montessori School of Syracuse, NY
It’s been quite the year. Frankly,
it’s been quite the four years. I,
for one, have had to work hard
to keep my positivism and sense
of hope alive, and I can’t imagine
what it must be like for younger
people to watch grown ups making
such a mess of things.
Thanks to Tanya Zabinski, there is
a concrete step you can take right
now to give your child a sense of
empowerment and hope, along
with the reassurance that there
are plenty of people out there
making the world a better place.
Tanya, a talented silk screen print
artist from Buffalo, NY, and owner
of Planet Love Designs, has
taken some of her favorite prints
and added a few new ones to
create a book that is part art,
part biography, and part social
change recipe.
Peace, Love, Action! takes the
reader through an alphabet of
themes and features familiar
social change icons such as: Martin
Luther King, Jr., Thich Nhat
Hahn, Jane Goodall, and John
Muir. But it also includes people
like teenaged Native American
water advocate Autumn Peltier,
Literacy Volunteers of America
founder Ruth Johnson Colvin,
Afro-Indigenous farmer Leah
Penniman, Alice Waters, and
Colin Kaepernick. It is a diverse
group, both local and international
in feel.
The prints are beautiful, simple
and soothing; the biographies
are short and inspiring; and the
list of practical things you can do
and fun factoids takes the reader
from the abstract to the concrete,
from observer to participant.
Though this book has a slant
towards the elementary or middle
school reader, it has an
ageless theme and appeal. It
could also make a great gift for
a high school or college student,
or anyone you think might enjoy
a boost of optimism. I purchased
a copy for myself, and now I
want to spread the word about
this wonderful book!
This year, give yourself and someone
you love a gift that reminds
us of the good that is possible
and the bountiful opportunities for
positive change that lie ahead.
Buy the book directly from Tanya
at: peaceloveaction.com
(p.s. she sells beautiful prints
and t-shirts online at
planetlovedesigns.com).
Please help spread the word by
sharing this with colleagues,
friends, and family.
How to Raise
An Adult:
Break Free of
the Overparenting
Trap and
Prepare Your
Kid for Success
by Julie Lythcott-Haims
This is a book that every parent
must read! The author helps
us understand, in no uncertain
terms, what it means to ‘overparent’
and the harm it causes
to our children, to ourselves,
and to our world. The first two
chapters focus on what parents
are doing now with the very best
of intentions and why we must
stop hovering. But just wait until
you get to Chapter 3: “Another
Way.” Look at the subtitles, and
you’ll know why I am so grateful
for this author’s reinforcement,
(whether she knows it or not)
22 TOMORROW'S CHILD © JANUARY 2021 WWW.MONTESSORI.ORG
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/planetlovedesigns.com
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