Tuesday, February 18, 2014

The Silver Button by Bob Graham -- ESSENTIAL

Graham, Bob The Silver Button. PICTURE BOOK. Candlewick Press, 2013. $16.99. Content: G.

At 9:59 on Thursday morning, Jodie adds two silver buttons to her picture of a duck. While she bends to add a third, her brother takes his first step. In the other room, her mom plays a penny whistle. Cars rush by on the street outside. A jogger passes. Seagulls fly by. A baby is born in a nearby hospital. By the time the clock ticks another second and Jodie draws the final silver button, everyone in the city has moved and changed. It turns out one second really can make a difference.

The Silver Button is a great reminder that while we are living our own lives, everyone else is living theirs. It would be especially good for younger children who are naturally self-centered but beginning to become curious about what goes on when they are not around. It would also be a good lead-in to discussions about what else could be happening at this very second in other parts of the school, or neighborhood, or city, or even world.

Pre-K, EL (K-3) -- ESSENTIAL. Reviewer: Caryn.


No comments: