Can animals tell the story better than humans? Many would respond with a nod of approval. Animal characters enrich the lives of young and old. Talented British author and illustrator, Claire Alexander, capitalizes on this fact by using animal characters to highlight important life messages. In Back to Front and Upside Down, Claire uses an assortment of animals in a classroom setting to reinforce the importance of asking questions.
Far too often, young students are afraid to ask a teacher for assistance. Their imaginations create unrealistic outcomes. These children presume that they are the only one who needs helps.If everyone else understands, they will most certainly be ostracized or ridiculed for their ignorance. Left unchecked, this irrational fear becomes a serious detriment to learning.
The delightful characters in Back to Front and Upside Down provide a different scenario. Stan, a brown dog with a long snout was struggling with writing words. As Stan panicked, he felt alone and sad. He was reluctant to share his weakness or ask the teacher for help. After confiding with one of his classmates, Stan was surprised to learn that others need to ask for help.
His classmate Jack said, “We all have to ask for help sometime.”
Finding the courage to approach a teacher for assistance can be an overwhelming experience for a young child. Picture books such as Back to Front and Upside Down can be used to instill confidence in youngsters who are reluctant to speak up.
Parents and teachers should consider reading this award-winning book to 3-6 year old children who are learning to cope with classroom situations.
In exchange for an interview and an honest review, I received a copy of Back to Front and Upside Down.
Book Giveaway
Leave a comment on this blog by November 16, 2014 and be eligible for a book giveaway. One lucky winner will be sent a copy of Back to Front and Upside Down from the publisher.
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Sandra’s Bio
Sandra Bornstein is the author of MAY THIS BE THE BEST YEAR OF YOUR LIFE. It is available on Amazon. Sandra’s memoir highlights her living and teaching adventure in Bangalore, India. She is a licensed Colorado teacher who has taught K-12 students in the United States and abroad as well as college level courses. Sandra is married and has four adult sons. The memoir was a finalist in the Travel category for the 2013 Next Generation Indie Book Awards, the 2013 International Book Awards, the 2013 National Indie Book Excellence Awards, the 2013 USA Best Book Awards, and received an Honorable Mention award in the Multicultural Non-Fiction category for the 2013 Global ebook Awards.
I loved your blog my son is very shy in school and all this is really helpful ,thank you !!!!
Andreana, Picture books can be a great way to open up dialogue with young kids. Feel free to share your son’s reaction to this book with my audience.