A little kindness goes a long way
FORT ERIE PUBLIC LIBRARY
Recently, Goodreads published a list of children’s books that encourage kindness toward others, and the Fort Erie Public Library collection includes seven of those titles, with the rest on order. If you read to or with children, and hope to spark a discussion about how to treat other people, or to increase the level of civility in our lives, you may want to borrow some of these titles.
Most of us are familiar with Dr. Seuss, and his Horton Hears a Who is about an elephant who goes to great lengths to help the tiny, helpless Whos, even when he is bullied for his efforts.
The library has Horton on DVD and in audiobook format. Enemy Pie by Derek Munson is about a boy whose father helps him turn an enemy into a friend through patience, persistence and — of course — pie. Trudy Ludwig’s The Invisible Boy is a reminder to us all to pay attention not just to the noisy attention getters, but also to the quiet people in our lives.
Three Questions by Jon Muth is based on writings by Leo Tolstoy. Best used with older children, this beautifully illustrated story cautions us to be mindful about our decisions and priorities.
The Last Stop on Market Street by Matt de la Pena follows a young boy doing errands with his grandmother, whose responses to his questions show empathy towards others.
Throughout the book, we are reminded that everyone we encounter has skills and a story. Market Street is the 2016 winner of both the Newbery Medal for outstanding achievement in children’s literature and the Caldecott Medal for children’s picture books in the U. S. Jacqueline Woodson’s beautifully illustrated Each Kindness is a realistic look at how middle grade school children often deal with a newcomer in their midst, and it can be an excellent conversation starter.
Eleanor Estes’ The Hundred Dresses is a classic story, with the same theme as Each Kindness, and both are in the library collection. If any of these titles aren’t on the shelves in the branch you visit, you can place a hold at www. fepl.ca.
Do you know any young people, ages 5 – 15, who are “drama queens” (or kings), who love to tell stories, exaggerate, and act out their day for you? We have just the program for them, and it is free. On Monday, August 8 at 7 p.m., kids should bring their imagination and a sense of silliness to the Centennial branch, where they can experiment with props, sound effects, and storytelling while playing drama games. Call any branch to register.
Movies during the first week in August are I Saw the Light, the Hank Williams story starring Tom Hiddleston as the famous country-western singer, and Mean Girls with Lindsay Lohan and Amanda Seyfried. Visit our website, or call any branch for days, times and locations.
A reminder that all branches of the Fort Erie Public Library will be closed on Monday, Aug. 1 for the Civic Holiday. Browse our collection and place holds on the website, where you can also access music, books and movies— available from Freegal, Overdrive and Hoopla on www.fepl.ca.