CLIP Review: City by Numbers & Alphabet City

Author & Photographer:  Stephen T. Johnson

It won't be but just a second or two after opening either of these books that your child will be exclaiming with delight, "Oh, I see it! It's right there!"  And the challenge and excitement of searching for letters and numbers has begun.  In these wordless, yet visual masterpieces, Johnson has invited readers to search through city streets and urban landscapes to locate his subtly masked treasures.  Hidden in the dusty windowpanes of an old warehouse you'll suddenly see a number 12 appear.  In the alphabet book, what letter will you find in the criss-crossing of the fire escape?  

Johnson says of his books, "I hope that my paintings will inspire children and adults to look at their surroundings in a fresh and playful way."  After experiencing these books, I assure you that you'll see the world around you with new eyes, as you take a closer look at shadows, patterns in nature, even those crazy little cracks in the sidewalk or twigs from a tree. Letters and numbers are everywhere - just use a little imagination!

CLIP Review: Where are you going Manyoni?

Author & Illustrator:  Catherine Stock
Preschool - Second Grade

Just as the early morning rays of light appear, Manyoni dresses quickly and begins her journey to a place she loves to be. Her path takes her under massive baobob trees, past bushpigs and noisy baboons.  Manyoni continues on, crossing the fever tree plain where impala are feeding, and soon approaches the Tobwani Dam. There she sees a variety of thirsty animals, drinking from the cool water and resting under nearby acacia trees. 

                    Where are you going Manyoni?

Just as Manyoni nears her destination she meets a friend and together they begin to run - to their school yard. Primitive windowless brick buildings, wooden benches, tin roofs; but to the children gathered there it is a glorious place of learning. They clap their hands with joy.

All over Africa children like Manyoni walk miles to arrive at the nearest school.  The spectacular watercolor paintings of the wildlife in this book were painted when the author spent time in Zimbabwe.  Stock has written an interesting follow up note as well as supplied information on the unfamiliar words in the story to give further explanation.  Each one of her beautifully painted wildlife is again drawn in the back of the book with how it blends with its surroundings. Manyoni's wonderful morning walk will delight both in its meaning and its vivid watercolor beauty.

CLIP Review: The Night Before Kindergarten

Author: Natasha Wing
Illustrator: Julie Durrell
Preschool - Kindergarten

   " 'Twas the night before kindergarten, 

    and as they prepared,

    kids were excited and a little bit scared.
    They tossed and they turned about in their beds,
    While visions of school supplies danced in their heads."

If anyone in your house has the "I'm not sure about going to school" feeling, this book is for you! By the second page you will be caught up in the delightful sing-song rhythm of the verses. The detailed illustrations will have even the most hesitant listener laughing.  Miss Sunrise, the kindergarten teacher, has a day filled with such incredible activities that she has a hard time getting the parents to leave! She finally has to gather them together on the "magical rug", then send them away after one final hug. The children wave to them with shouts of how "cool" kindergarten is.  Your child will easily be interested by the busy illustrations and rhythmic text.

CLIP Review: Little Rabbit Goes to School

Author & Illustrator:  Harry Horse
Ages:  4 - 7

When our youngest son left for college 3 years ago his three older brothers asked if he was planning on taking "Ducky" with him. Then they all roared with laughter! Jordan was not amused. Probably because until he was in the second grade, Ducky had been hidden in his pillowcase and snuck to every overnight and campout he had ever attended. 

So if you have a little one heading off to school for the first time, and there's a "security" issue involved, this is the book for you. Mama doesn't think wooden horses go to school, but Little Rabbit says, "Charlie Horse wants to go." But during storytime Charlie gallops over the teacher's shoes. During music he dances acrosss the floor. And when the class makes a cake - oh my! he jumps right into the batter! Just when Little Rabbit thinks his problems can't become any worse, he remembers the sweetest thing that his teacher taught him that morning. You'll have to read the story to find out what it is that saves Little Rabbit.

Just as Jordan kept Ducky safely packed away in his closet here at home, Little Rabbit decided that Charlie Horse was too naughty for school and needed to stay home with Mama. After all, the best thing about a new school are all your new friends!

August Reflections: Crayons, Chalk, & Glue

Is there any better gift to a little girl who is playing school than to receive a box of 64 crayons, colored chalk, a pad of construction paper and a bottle of glue that isn't clogged up?  Top it off with a trip to the library to "stock up her classroom" with books, and I'd say she's just about in teacher heaven.  I'm blessed to say these occurences were rather common for me growing up.  

Once I began teaching, I must confess that it was still exciting to open the boxes of all the new packages of crayons, chalk, paper, glue and oh! so many lovely colors of paint! Unpacking boxes of new books was almost more than I could handle!

And then I took a trip that changed my life...


While my husband was working for World Vision, I was privileged to travel to Uganda, Tanzania and Kenya. During our time there we were fortunate to visit a few schools. Not having any idea what to expect, I was somewhat shocked to find buildings without windows, dirt floors, wooden benches, few tables, and limited books and supplies of any kind. Students of varied ages were  often working together, older children guiding younger ones, some sharing texts, but all were actively involved in structured learning. There was not a discipline problem to be seen anywhere. Each child and student knew what was expected of them and they were doing it. Smiles and sharing were everywhere. 


Lessons were being written on scraps of paper. Pictures were being drawn and colored on sacks. No one seemed bothered. We motioned to the teacher, asking if we could hand out the colored pencils and construction paper we had brought. She readily agreed.  It was hard for me to choke back tears to see the eyes widen and the laughter spread when these dear children accepted our meager gifts with such joy. They began to sing, bow and clap.  I was overcome with an emotion of gratitude I couldn't explain. I knew God wasn't wanting me to feel guilty for all I've been given, but to be truly grateful. And at that moment I knew what that felt like.
 
Continuing our Olympic theme this month, we will share about some Olympians that overcame great obstacles in order to compete and reach their goals. I believe that many of the children I met in Africa will do great things because of their ability to rise above their circumstances.  Let us not feel guilty, but be grateful for each and every gift we have been given, for every goal we have reached and for every attempt that we have made. For it is only when we have not tried that we have failed.

During the remainder of this month we will be sharing some not-so-typical books about school.  You'll see an African school up close, find out why Cal is "not the readin' type", and have fun finding letters and numbers in some very strange places.  Happy August!

Mary Byrne Kline  

Fireflies Co-Founder

Director of Reading Instruction