RaisingVegKids: Sensitive to Art and Its Discontents
Vegbooks — Reviews of Kids Books and Movies
Description: Vegbooks is a resource for parents and teachers who want to support the vegan and vegetarian kids in their lives
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WHAT’S IN YOUR POCKET? by Heather L. Montgomery is a nature-focused picture book that spotlights everyday childhood adventures as inspirations for famous scientists in various fields. George Washington Carver, Jane Goodall, Diego Cisneros-Heredia, and Mary Anning are just a few of the children who grow up to be important discoverers and scientists. The book is engaging and simple, and the connection between childhood curiosity and its joyful (and sometimes messy!) side effects will ring true for many reader
Highlights include being kind to living beings (Darwin’s sister convinces him to stop collecting and killing beetles, Diego Cisneros-Heredia and his mother return a lizard to the wild) and the repeated incidents of children’s joy in the wonder and diversity in nature. The beautiful illustrations by Maribel Lechuga are perfectly matched to the childhood adventures and discoveries. With nature-based colors and expressive expressions, the focus on joyful curiosity is apparent. The drawings of butterflies, sea
A caveat: readers should know that creatures like worms, slugs, butterflies, and sea creatures are all presented as “discoveries to collect.” This presents an important opportunity for families to discuss the ethics of treating living creatures with respect and how scientific discoveries may bump up against those ethics. Age appropriate emphasis is possible within the spectrum of vignettes depicted. For example, William Beebe’s childhood curiosity encourages him to take eggs from a bird’s nest; this example
RaisingVegKids: Sensitive to Art and Its Discontents
Vegbooks — Reviews of Kids Books and Movies