March’s 4-7 Book Box
March’s 4-7 book box includes an exciting combination of fabulous, brightly illustrated picture-books, Fabulous Frankie, and a fast-paced early chapter book, Sindu and Jeet’s Detective Agency. Even if one of these books doesn’t seem like your child’s normal cup-of-tea (or, more appropriately, water, milk or juice), it is important for them to be open-minded about exploring new genres and styles of writing.
This month, for World Book Day, we launched our partnership with the Chelsea Foundation. We also celebrated International Woman’s Day.
Fabulous Frankie by Simon James Green and Garry Parsons
Fabulous Frankie notices that everyone around him is just as fabulous as he is. He hatches a fabulous plan to stand out as even more fabulous than everyone else. Frankie opts for sequins to make him stand out. But all the other flamingos have sequins too! He moves on to a fan, then glitter – yet every flamingo is so fabulous that he still doesn’t stand out. From his friends, Frankie learns that what truly makes him fabulous isn’t something on the exterior, but on the inside. This is a fabulous read about self-acceptance!
Recently, the author of this book, Simon James Green, was banned from visiting a school by the Catholic church. This is because Simon James Green is a gay author. At Little Box of Books, we are saddened and appalled by this. In protest, we have created a Simon James Green Book Selection. By buying more of Simon James Green’s books we are putting more of his joy into the world – and that is a truly great weapon against bigotry.
The Window by Laura Gehl and Udayana Lugo
Daria’s grandfather is in hospital. Together, they imagine that Grandpa’s hospital window looks out to the ocean. When Daria visits her grandpa, they imagine all that they will do together once he gets better. They will fly kites and build sandcastles. Unfortunately, Grandpa gets progressively worse. Daddy suggests Daria doesn’t come on hospital visits anymore, but she still wants to. Grandpa dies. Daria’s imagined trips to the ocean with Grandpa give her great comfort.
This heartfelt story will help children understand death. The relationship between Daria and her Grandpa is really touching. At the end, there is a note by a child and psychotherapist, which gives further guidance on how to navigate these conversations.
All Through the Night: People Who Work While We Sleep by Polly Faber and Harriet Hobday
Told from the point-of-view of a child whose mother works at night, this story is about how the world keeps ticking on when we are asleep. From cleaners who clean offices when no one is there to news reporters to saxophone players. Babies don’t know that they’re supposed to sleep, so they turn their parents into night workers too. The narrator’s mother is an essential clog: she drives a big orange bus, which enables all the other night workers to get to their jobs.
This book will encourage children not to take the world for granted. Someone had to work through the night for there to be fresh bread at breakfast; for deliveries to appear so speedily on your doorstep; for public transport to be ready to take you where you need to be.
Sindu and Jeet’s Detective Agency by Chitra Soundar, illustrated by Amberin Huq
This is a fun early chapter book in March’s 4-7 book box. Sindu and Jeet are going on holiday to London. Jeet wants a holiday from being detectives, but Sindu doesn’t know how to put being a detective on hold. She is incredibly observant and has an instinct for when people are up to no good. In the airport, she spies a cleaner acting suspiciously. Jeet is reluctant to help her (he’s on holiday!) but Sindu soon proves that the cleaner is more than she seems. Sindu and Jeet successfully prevent the cleaner from enacting a plan to steal from passengers. Grateful for their help, the airline upgrade Sindu and her family to business class. Sindu appreciates the life of luxury that comes with being a detective.
In London, Sindu still can’t rest. She spies someone trying to steal a photograph. Later, she intervenes when her mother is nearly framed for a crime. Sindu excels at putting clues together. She is very persistent. And she doesn’t give up even when others tell her to.
As it is International Woman’s Day in March, we wrote a blog on giving children stories that feature diverse female characters. Sindu is a perfect example of that. She is persistent, brave, strong-willed, and intelligent.
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