Editor’s Note: If you missed the morning post on the amazing things kids say that make us rethink our perspective from Karen Pantuso-Swanson, you can read it HERE. This afternoon we have a book review and a giveaway. Have a great afternoon.
There are some books that you and your kids are just generally going to disagree on. Most of the time, the tiny person and I disagree on basic age-appropriateness - whether Star Wars is four-year-old material, if she can trade a book for her cousins Pokemon video games, or if it is just plain too scary for her.
Then, there are the times where a book just isn’t my speed – I’m not into the topic, whatever it may be. But, she can’t get enough of it.
That’s pretty much the entire scoop with Sarah Butland’s Sending You Sammy.
Butland sent me a review copy of the book – which she did not charge me for – early in the Summer. The tiny person found it, wanted to know right away if the magic in it was four-year-old magic, and dashed off with it tucked under her arm.
I meant to sit down with her early on and read through it together. But, life kept sucking up that time and she kept running around with Sammy and his food-related super hero powers. She loved it.
It was a good thing, in the end, that one didn’t get the usual parental preview.
Butland – a Canadian author from New Brunswick – came up with a fun, novel idea to create a superhero character that was all about teaching kids to eat healthy and make smart choices, which I am totally into.
But, she lost me with the magician, as I have an irrational fear of them from childhood. They creep me out. Not so with the tiny person.
In fact, she loved the whole crew, wondered if she could actually become a super hero by eating healthy, and thinks the magician needs a few rabbits to round out his entourage.
What can I say? The quality of the printing and layout of the book isn’t top rate. But, the reaction from the tiny person means it scores way up there on our book list.
Parenting is all about letting go of your own irrational fears in order to help your kids grow, right. Thanks, kiddo, for letting Sending You Sammy change the way you look at food a bit and, as usual, open mom’s eyes.
I’ve got a copy of Sending You Sammy (courtesy of Sarah Butland and signed by her) to give away today to one random commenter - on lessons we learn from our kids about honoring what they like, even if we think differently.
This giveaway is closed. Danielle won, Yay!
You can pick up a copy at Nearly New Books in Comox, or at your local independent bookseller.
Book cover courtesy of Sarahbutland.com
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Here at Our Big Earth we have a strict policy about how we handle book reviews. We only review books we've enjoyed and, while publishers do send us books free of charge we always give away that copy of the book when it is reviewed. If a book is not reviewed, it is returned to the publisher. When publishers specifically request that we not return un-reviewed books, we use them as giveaways at community events. If a book is reviewed, a publisher, author or advertiser has no editorial control over the review. They see the review for the first time when you do.
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So you mean I really do have to let the children enjoy clowns? And circuses with animals? **shiver** Both have given me the creeps since very early childhood but, like you, I’m struggling not to pass on my phobias. Jim has some work to still do with arachnophobia, though.
Anything that encourages healthy eating (not candy? not chocolate? not popcorn smothered in butter?) AND makes you a super-hero, will be a big hit here.
I have to hold myself back from screaming and running when my daughter who is fascinated by snakes picks one up. My fear of snakes has lessened after seeing her enjoy them so much(I no longer slam a magazine or book closed when a snake story appears) I even braved the snake exhibit at the zoo so my daughters could examine these “wonderful” creatures. I like a teaching superhero!
M loves going for night walks… me not so much. Its hard to find that fine line between being cautious and giving in to irrational fears. Like Robin commented I try very hard not to pass on my fears, some times more successfully than others. As for the book, we will try anything that might help get a little more healthy food into him!