Like it or not, managing behavior is as much a part of what teachers do as teaching reading, writing, and 'rithmetic. I have a lot of theories about why this is the case, but discussing that is stressful and I might have a rage stroke. On the other hand, discussing books makes me happy, so let's do that instead.
Just look at this cover! It makes me giggle just to see Kirby's mischievous face. Kirby has an active imagination. When his teacher, Mrs. Frost, gives a spelling test, he visualizes each sentence she uses in the most ridiculous ways and gets a fit of giggles. She tires of his laughter and marches him down to the principal's office for not-laughing lessons. The adults’ names are so fitting!
Mr. Gloomsmith runs him through some very depressing scenarios, which affect Kirby to the point that he asks, "Mr. Gloomsmith, don't you ever think of anything happy? Don't you ever laugh?" Mr. Gloomsmith replies, "Young man, I haven't laughed in twenty-nine years. I don't even remember how." And that's when Kirby Kelvin turns the tables on his dour principal.
The illustrations are the best part of this story. Every once in a while, I find a picture book that shows the illustrator "gets" the author's message and Judy Love really understood Ivon Cecil's vision for her story. Seeing what's happening in Kirby's head being brought to life on the page, gives me the giggles, Kirby Kelvin giggles.
We've all known a child who knows 101 ways to sit in a chair. Patrick is that guy. Everywhere he goes, people tell him to sit still. Finally, his teacher asks his mom to take him to the doctor, who is not helpful.
So Mom decides she is going to help Patrick and his life changes - they begin walking to school, building things, bowling, doing yard work, singing in the church choir, helping the crossing guard, basically all the adults in his life help him find ways to use his abundant energy for good.
If you have a Patrick in your life, read this book together and use it as a springboard to come up with ways to redirect all that physical energy.
Sit Still can be purchased through Amazon.
Author Nancy Carlson has written and/or illustrated 60 or so children's books.
MN Original interview with Nancy Carlson
No comments:
Post a Comment