2020 Summer Kansas Child

Feeling Safe
THROUGH
Hard Times
BY ALICE EBERHART-WRIGHT
Childhood should be
a happy time, but this
year is a hard one for
people around the
world. What’s happening
now goes beyond
all the standard
stress-producers. Children become resilient
through calm, upbeat adults who disguise
their own upset. Books, stories, and songs
are wonderful tools.
Lost in the Woods, by Jason Kutasi, and
illustrated by Javier Gimenez Ratti, is one
of a series of books that feature the Great
Bear Brigade. These guys will help you “live
smart and always beware!” Just what we
all have to do during a pandemic. In this
short, simple paperback book, the children
encounter one danger after another and
need rescuing. The Bear Brigade does it and
gives tips on how to stay safe while knowing
there will be someone there to help you.
Illustrated with the current bright cartoon-type
characters that technology has
perfected, this book has been a major seller
for children, who carry it around and want
it read repeatedly. It is simple enough for
early readers to read and others to memorize.
And it might just help the adults who
want and need a Great Bear Brigade in
their lives.
A Sick Day for Amos McGee, written by
Philip C. Stead and illustrated by Erin
Stead, was a 2011 Winner of the Caldecott
Medal. Amos is a friendly zookeeper
whose life has been immersed in caring for
zoo animals until suddenly he is too sick
to work. So guess what? The animals want
to give back, and so they come to visit, entertain,
and care for him. A beautiful book
about the reciprocal relationship that grows
when nurtured by authentic love. Incidentally,
the author’s wife illustrated this book,
which brings the message home. Working
together is absolutely wonderful for everyone.
A beautiful book to discuss with children
about who cares for them, and what
they can do in return.
Wherever You Are My Love Will Find You,
authored and illustrated by Nancy Tillman,
is the gorgeous, simple make-believe story
of a child finding love with creatures of the
earth who are with him everywhere. It was
Nancy’s mission to convey to all children
that “You Are Loved,” which makes it a
story even for children who have lost or
been mistreated by parents. If you are dealing
with hurt children, you might want to
talk with them about who can they think of
that loves them. It might be you, their child
care provider or teacher, a pet, or perhaps God.
Finally I will leave you with Goodnight
Songs, text originally written by Margaret
Wise Brown, who wrote the perennial favorite
Good Night Moon. Margaret left a
legacy of unpublished manuscripts and lyrics
for songs that were discovered by Amy
Gary, who solicited singer/songwriters
Tom Proutt and Emily Gary to write and
sing the music for 12 new songs that then
were illustrated by 12 noted illustrators of
children’s books. This book, with enclosed
CD, is a gem for early childhood literature
and music-lovers, as well as a set of comforting
lullabies to lull us all to sleep in a
lovely, safe, peaceful world.
22
A Publication of Child Care Aware ® of Kansas