What You Need to Know:
• A young girl reflects on friendship, her relationship with her grandmother, and how to right a wrong.
• Coping with the loss of a loved one is explored in a delicate and sensitive manner.
• One of the characters refers to her "two dads" although no additional details are provided.
• The whole story takes place on one day, with flashbacks to various events over the previous year.
• Short chapters keep the story moving quickly.
• Reading this book may lead to a craving for donuts!
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Sweet
Book Summary:
The Center of Everything is one of those books that makes you step outside the world you know and see it from a different angle. It may be a slight shift in perspective, but it's enough to leave its mark. It's not action-packed or adventure-filled, but it's brimming with ideas and interesting characters. It raises questions about destiny, signs, wishes, fate, and regrets, and how these things relate to family, friendship and community.
The story centers around 12-year-old Ruby Pepperdine as she celebrates Bunning Day in her small New Hampshire town. In fact, the whole story takes place on this day, but the chapters alternate between the present and events that took place over the previous year. All around her, people are celebrating Captain Bunning and his role in the creation of the donut, while Ruby reflects on the loss of her grandmother, Gigi, and how it has impacted her life. Not only does Ruby mourn for her, but she also regrets the way she handled things the last time they were together. Since that moment, she has been going about life like it's business as usual, but inside she's been feeling like she's "underwater".
Things might have continued that way indefinitely, but slowly, beginning with a boy in her class named Nero, little incidents begin to penetrate the safe place that Ruby has made for herself, and she begins to deal with her grief. The realities of life, including her busy family, her sometimes thoughtless friend, Lucy, her unexpected connection to Nero, and her surprising selection as the "Essay Girl" for the Bunning Day parade, both help and hinder her progress, making Ruby's story all the more relatable and realistic.
As the story includes the point of view of people other than Ruby, there are a number of different characters to remember. That's a good thing in this case, because they're all relevant and their relationships are interesting. Ruby's friendship with Lucy is complicated, her relationship with Nero is intriguing, and her memories of her grandmother are warm and tender. Although The Center of Everything deals with a sad topic, it's actually more uplifting than it is sad.
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Author:
Linda Urban
Illustrator:
n/a
Published:
2013, 208 pages
Themes:
Community, Family Life, Friendship, Illness/Death, Grandparents
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Sweet
Discussion Questions:
• Why is Bunning Day so important in this community?
• How is Ruby affected by Gigi's death?
• Who was your favorite character in the story?
• What would you wish for if your coin had gone through Captain Bunning's donut, like Ruby's did?
• Is Lucy a good friend to Ruby? Why or why not?
• How do Lucy and Nero differ in the way they relate to Ruby?
• If Ruby could go back and change the way things happened the day Gigi died, would it make things any better?
• What do you think of Ruby's idea that there is no such thing as "supposed to"?
• Could Ruby's parents have done anything differently to help her through this difficult time?
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This recommendation was written by:
Melissa G.
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Oh, The Things My Mom Will Do... |
What You Need to Know:
• Told in rhyme and from a child's perspective, this picture book highlights all that mothers do for their kids.
• This book would make a great Mother's Day gift.
• It's an especially good choice for mother and child to read aloud together.
• This book features both boys and girls, and should appeal to either one.
• The detailed illustrations will help readers follow along with the story.
• Use Oh, The Things My Mom Will Do..." as a conversation starter to talk about your family and the different ways
that you help each other.
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Sweet
Book Summary:
Mother's Day reminds us how special mothers are, but why not have a book like this one on our shelves to remind us all year long? Oh, The Things My Mom Will Do... gives readers lots of examples of how moms go that extra mile. Whether it's rushing a sick child to the bathroom, sewing a costume overnight, building a cardboard house for worms and bugs, or simply finding a lost bear, no task is too large or too small, too mundane or too challenging for these super moms.
The lighthearted illustrations are filled with fun details that bring the text to life, and the musical tone of the rhymes will keep listeners engaged. This book may spark a discussion about how much we do for our kids, or maybe how we do too much for them. It might also inspire a conversation and what they do for us in return. We could also take it a step further, and use it as an opportunity to discuss how we might all find ways to help, support and comfort other people in our lives, including friends, siblings, and even strangers.
A variety of kids, moms and circumstances are featured, so readers (both moms and kids) are likely to relate to some, if not all of them. There are moms at home, working moms and busy moms, but they all seem have one thing in common and that's a genuine desire to do their best for their little ones. Being a mom is about putting someone else's needs above your own, and this picture book does a great job of showing just what that means. If we stop and take a moment to reflect on motherhood, we just might find that those around us will also! You'll get some giggles too, like when one mom runs into the street in her pajamas and bare feet, just to hand off a lunch box that was left behind, or when another mom uses a dropper to feed a pet hamster. Oh, the lengths moms go to for their kids!
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Author:
Marianne Richmond
Illustrator:
Marianne Richmond
Published:
2013, 32 pages
Themes:
Excellent Read Aloud, Compassion/Empathy, Family Life, Holidays, Rhyming Language
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Sweet
Discussion Questions:
• What special things does your mom do for you?
• Why do you think your mom does those things for you?
• What are some special things that you do for your mom?
• How can you do more to help your mom?
• What is your favorite way to celebrate Mother's Day?
• How do you handle it when your mom gets upset with you?
• What are some qualities that you especially like in your mom - things like being patient or a being a good listener?
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This recommendation was written by:
Melissa G.
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