Picture books are a wonderful way to lead into discussions with young children about more serious issues.
It is sometimes difficult to discuss relationship, social or character issues with children. Finding a picture book with a deeper meaning or message can be an excellent way to introduce these topics to children.
The Librarian of Basra (Harcourt Books, 2005) by Jeanette Winter
Alia Muhammad Baker is the librarian in Basra, Iraq. As the war-front advances into Basra, Alia is afraid that the many precious books of the library will be damaged or destroyed. When she is unable to get help from the authorities, she hides the books in her own home and the homes and businesses of friends and family, managing to save 21,000 books (70% of the total collection) before the library is burned to the ground.
This simply illustrated and recounted true story is an inspiring tale of one woman’s determination to save something priceless, a record of the history and heritage of her people. This story provides an opportunity to consider the less publicised victims of war – culture, art, and the lives and hopes of individuals.
Belonging (Walker Books, 2004) by Jeannie Baker
Many people live in an urban environment with no connection to the land. The first illustration in this story shows a young couple and their newborn baby in a built-up urban area. As the baby grows, the neighbourhood gradually changes. The local residents make an effort to reclaim some land for nature strips and parks and paved yards are converted into lush gardens.
There is no text in Belonging, with the detailed collage illustrations providing a visual explanation of events. As with Bakers other books, there is a very strong environmental message for children highlighting the importance of finding balance between modern lifestyles and caring for nature.
Whoever You Are (Hachette Children’s Books, 1998) by Mem Fox
The first half of this book lists all the ways that children all over the world differ – in culture, language, environment, appearance and lifestyle. It then follows up that despite all these external differences, that inside children are the same. They laugh, smile and cry no matter where they live in the world.
Whoever You Are finishes with a reminder that when children grow to be adults they might look different to others and have different occupations, but love, joy, pain, smiles and hearts remain a common bond between all members of humanity.
The Singing Hat (Viking, 2000) by Tohby Riddle
Colin Jenkins falls asleep sitting underneath a tree in a park. When he awakens, he eventually discovers that a bird has built a nest on his head. He decides to not disturb the bird and to leave the nest where it is. Colin’s employer, friends and complete strangers all have difficulty coping with his new appearance and he discovers that deciding to leave the bird undisturbed has consequences that he never anticipated.
This quirky, off-beat story is a wonderful opening to discussing how people are often judged for their appearance or decisions by others. Colin struggles to do what he believes is right in the face of criticism from those around him.
Belonging and The Singing Hat are included on the NSW Premier’s Reading Challenge booklist.
Picture books with significant themes are a relaxed, non-confrontational way to encourage children to communicate about important issues and concepts.
