First Grade Geniuses

I was prepared.  The first grade class visiting the library was going to learn something amazing and new today.  After introducing the little ones to the mind-boggling topic, I would read them a story related to it.  Surely children of such tender years would not have learned about this phenomenon.  After all, the school year is only beginning.  With the confidence of one about to introduce heretofore unknown information to an eager audience, I began to speak about a diminutive creature–the Monarch butterfly–that migrates from parts of the United States and Canada to Mexico every fall and, if that were not remarkable enough, flies back in the spring.

In my enthusiasm, I did not take into consideration the fact that we live in the electronic age.  As soon as I began speaking, not a few little tykes informed me that they knew about this already–thanks to nature programs on television, DVDs, and the like.

Fortunately, their familiarity with the subject did not lessen their interest in the phenomenal book I planned to read: Gotta Go! Gotta Go! by Sam Swope.  If anything, it enhanced it.  Every time the caterpillar repeated her refrain of “Gotta go to…” the listeners enthusiastically jumped in with a loud “Mexico!”  Everyone was fascinated by illustrator Sue Riddle’s depictions of the tiny butterfly against the backdrop of the scenery she passes on her journey.  Their knowledge of the subject freed them to appreciate the details–the loneliness, the dangers, the exhaustion the little heroine experiences when she reaches her destination.  So, far from the first graders’ already knowing about what I had planned to introduce to them resulting in my plan falling flat, it made it blossom.  And this librarian learned something from the experience.

And Now, Back to the Books

In the event that readers of my last post were wondering about the conspicuous absence of any book recommendations, rest assured that philosophical musings have not taken the place of discussions about noteworthy reading.  To prove my point, here are some outstanding titles that are perfect for this time of year.

A little caterpillar has just hatched, and she knows only one thing: she’s gotta go to Mexico!  Other critters either have no idea what or where Mexico is, or how it’s possible for such a tiny thing to get there, but that does not deter our heroine.  When, after a long sleep, the caterpillar awakens with beautiful wings, she joins millions like herself on an amazing journey–and, in the spring, turns around and flies back!  This kid-friendly look at one of the most incredible migrations on our planet is a feast for the eyes.  Ages 5-8

Tony’s family has an annual tradition: to have a picnic at the Statue of Liberty every October in honor of the monument’s birthday.  Tony doesn’t think much of the idea; it’s much too cold for a picnic, and he doesn’t understand why it means so much to Grandma anyway.  But then he meets some new immigrants who help him understand the importance of the statue to families–like his–who have come from another land.  Ages 5-9

Donny’s grandmother is coming to visit, and the little boy is concerned: he knows he can never measure up to his grandma’s proper behavior.  But kids will be kids, and when he enters the room where she is staying, Donny can’t resist having some fun with the balls of yarn she has left there–with the result that, before he knows it, there is a tangled mess of yarn everywhere.  His angry mother orders him to undo the damage.  Just when the job seems hopeless, his grandma comes to help with a story of how she herself–to Donny’s astonishment–got into a similar situation with her own grandmother.  A perfect story about forgiveness for this season when Jews the world over are looking inside and looking ahead to a new year of fresh beginnings and all the blessings that life can bring.

May this new year bring you and your loved ones health, happiness, and all good things.