My Quiet Ship by Hallee Adelman

 

My Quiet Ship

Hallee Adelman, Author

Sonia Sánchez, Illustrator

Albert Whitman & Company, Fiction,  Oct. 1, 2018

Suitable for Ages: 3-5

Themes: Conflict, Yelling, Anger, Coping skills, Family relationships, Imagination

Opening: Whenever I hear the yelling, I run to the spot.

Synopsis:

When the arguments begin between his parents gets bad, Quinn escapes to his special place, the Quiet Ship, where he’s the commander. Together with his faithful stuffed animal crew, Quinn can shut out the yelling that makes him sad and scared, and travel somewhere else — his imagination. His Quiet Ship takes him far away from the yelling.

But one day, the ship breaks. Quinn must be brave and find a way to tell his parents how their fighting makes him feel.

Why I like this book:

Hallee Adelman has written a sensitive and heartfelt story about a boy, Quinn, who builds a safe haven for himself when his parents start arguing. When their yelling escalates,  Quinn’s quiet spaceship allows him to blast off and travel through the clouds, stars and universe to a place that is peaceful. “Far, far away / from here… / From there… / From that yelling.”

The narrative is simple and imaginative and speaks a language children will easily understand. Through Quinn, children will learn coping skills to help them share their fears, sadness and worries.  Quinn bravely works through his anger towards his parents, finds his voice and confronts his parents.

Resources: This powerful book is an excellent conversation starter for both children and parents about handling conflict. Is yelling necessary? Are there more effective ways of dealing with anger? It is important that a children feels safe to discuss their feelings.

Sonia Sánchez’s illustrations are magnificent and really give this story life. The are bold and the yelling takes the form of angry, jagged streaks or heavy clouds that suffocate Quinn. Quinn’s desperate expressions are priceless as they communicate his anguish. She uses both traditional and digital media in her artwork.

Every Friday, authors and KidLit bloggers post a favorite picture book. To see a complete listing of all the Perfect Picture Books (PPB) with resources, please visit author Susanna Leonard Hill’s website.

*Review copy provided by the publisher.

Voices Are Not for Yelling

Voices Are Not for Yelling

Elizabeth Verdick, Author

Marieka Heinlen, Illustrator

Free Spirit Publishing, Nonfiction, April 20, 2015

Suitable for Ages:  Board Book, 0-3, Paperback, 4-7

Themes: Children learning how to use their indoor and outdoor voices

Opening: What do you use your voice for? Talking “Hi!” Asking questions “How are you?” Telling jokes. Laughing . . . Ha, ha! Singing, la, la, la!”

Book Jacket Synopsis:  As every grown-up knows, yelling comes naturally to children. This friendly book introduces and reinforces where and when to use an “indoor voice” or and “outdoor voice.” Simple words and vivid illustrations show the places and times for an indoor voice, the ways people ask us to speak more quietly, and situations when yelling might occur.  Children learn how they can quiet their voices and talk about a problem, supported by a simple reminder: “Think before you yell, and use your words well!”

Why I like this book:

• This book is available in two versions, a board book for children 0-3 years of age who haven’t gained control of their emotions, and a longer and more in-depth paperback for children 4-7 years of age.
• The author uses simple words to show children when and where they should use an indoor voice (in a library, classroom, car, movie theater) and an outdoor voice (playing outside, laughing).
• With toddlers, frustration, yelling, screaming and throwing tantrums are normal.  The book will help small children understand why it’s better to use an indoor voice so people “will hear their words and not the yelling.” It will also teach them how to calm down and ask for help so they can get what they need.
• Preschool and primary school children will benefit from the paperback book, as they are more advanced and socially conscious of those around them. They will be more likely to understand the concepts being encouraged and how yelling can have an impact on others. They are asked simple questions about what is happening inside them when their voices get louder and louder.
• Marieka Heinlen’s illustrations are simple, bold, colorful and lively. Every page has a different groups of characters that are diverse and expressive.  The cover on the paperback book is priceless as it quickly identifies what happens when a child yells.
• The board book is a must for parents with toddlers and the paperback book is perfect to have on hand in the classroom.

Resources: The book alone is a resource with many useful tips for parents and teachers to practice with children. And there are quiet-time gestures that children can learn.  Voices Are Not for Yelling is part of Free Spirit’s the Best Behavior series.  Below are titles in both board and paperback books.

Elizabeth Verdick is the author of more than 40 books for children and teens, including the Best Behavior series, the Happy Healthy Baby and Toddler Tools board book series, and the Laugh and Learn series for preteens. She has written Stand Up to Bullying! and The Survival Guide for Kids with Autism Spectrum Disorders (And Their Parents).