Barbara Shook Hazen

Summary:

In this story, a little girl named Niki learns about divorce when her parents decide to separate. At first she doesn’t seem to quite understand what divorce means and feels confused about her feelings. She quickly learns about divorce and struggles with feelings of sadness and anger. Although she feels as if it were her fault, her parents quickly explain that it has nothing to do with her and that no matter what they will both love her forever. Throughout the entire story, Niki show more encounters what it’s like to have divorced parents and how to express her feelings towards it. As she gets older, she learns that divorce is very common among families and learns to cope with it much better. She begins to see the positive side of having divorced parents because it’s like having two of everything. By the end of the story she is just happy being able to spend time with both of her parents and being a normal kid, despite the sadness she had before.

Comments (opinions/arguments):

At first I thought this book looked uninteresting because it had a plain and old looking cover. Once I opened it, I noticed it had very detailed and colorful illustrations. By the time I finished reading it my opinion of the story had completely changed. Overall, I think this book is a wonderful example to use with children who are dealing with divorced parents. From the very first page, it immediately defines what divorce means. I feel like for most children, the word “divorce” can be extremely confusing and alien to them. I really liked that the story began by explaining exactly what divorce means because it helps children to understand what might be happening in their family. This book also expresses a really positive outlook and attitude towards divorce that can make it not seem so bad to children. Having been a child myself who grew up in a divorced family, I saw a lot of negative things that come along with divorce. I think this story really helps children to understand that divorce has nothing to do with them and that it’s a problem between their parents. I really like how the story says, “They are divorced from each other. But not from me.” This gives children the reassurance that even though their parents are splitting up, that they’re not going to leave them. This story also really explores the different feelings that children may have when they witness their parents going through a divorce. It explains through the character Niki that you’re going to feel angry and sad a lot, but with some time you’ll eventually feel much better about the situation. I think the overall message to children is that it’s ok to express your feelings and to feel a certain way when dealing with divorce and that it’s actually a common thing that a lot of children go through. I really like how relatable this book is for children because I think it will really make children understand divorce and their feelings about it a lot better. In the end, they will see that divorce is pretty common and that their not the only one going through it. show less

Tight Times is about a young boy dealing with the difficulties and hardships that come with a family losing a job and income, with a youthful and incomplete understanding of why things aren't the way they were before. His parents respond "Tight times" when he asks about the bulk cereal, the soup instead of roast, playing in the sprinkler instead of at the lake, and other omissions and substitutions.

I can relate to this book. When I was a little kid I was eating meat paste sandwiches and show more huddling around a kerosene heater with my mom and brother in an unheated house. Being a broke kid informed a lot of my worldview as I got older, and having other kids make fun of my off-brand shoes has made me question consumerist culture.

I also enjoy Trina Schart Hyman's beautiful and sketchy illustrations. She makes the family's house look cozy, warm and homey. She depictes their exasperation, happiness, closeness, and sadness with excellent characterization and facial and bodily language.

I think this book would be useful in the classroom to get students talking about hardship and poverty and thinking about its causes. Some classroom discussion on whether it's fair for some people in our society to have less than they need to live normally would be interesting. show less

Sir Fred is the bravest knight in all the land and is loved by the Princess Wendylyn. One day, Melvin the Miffed plans to expose Sir Fred as a fake when he notices that Sir Fred's sword is grass stained and not covered in blood. In fact, Sir Fred is afraid of fighting and blood! Melvin makes fun of Fred, even telling Wendylyn of his lies. He challenges Fred to a duel, much to Fred's chagrin. Wendylyn pities Fred, apologizes for her attitude towards him, and gifts him a mirror. Fred faces show more Melvin and wins because his mirror reflected Melvin's evil face and scared his horse. Fred accepts who he is, is proud of it, and he and Wendylyn ride off into the morning sunrise.

Fred begins the book by being afraid of violence and blood. He hides this fact because he does not want to lose Wendylyn. When challenged by Melvin, he panics and worries all night. It doesn't help that Wendylyn got mad at him for being a coward. Ever the kind gentleman, Fred lets Melvin have the side of the yard where the sun wouldn't be in his eyes and even forgives Melvin when the latter's evil plan backfires. He accepts that he doesn't like to fight and if that loses him Wendylyn's love, so be it. But she accepts him too and Fred no longer has to live a lie. show less

I was really on board until I got to the "Smile, Crocodile" page. Something doesn't sit well with me about telling someone to smile, despite their feelings, just to make others like them more. I feel like that page could've been left out. On the other hand, it does present an opportunity to have a conversation with the young one about how you present yourself to others, the kind of energy you're putting out into the world, and the kind of energy you might expect to receive back as a result.

I show more suppose the whole book is kind of like that - each passage is an opportunity for deeper conversation about the behaviors one should strive for.

Fun illustrations, cute poems, and an entertaining read. I could see the poem format as being easier to remember for kiddos, too. show less