Paul Meets Bernadette by Rosy Lamb

If your mind is turning to hearts and flowers, that's probably because Valentine's Day is just a few days away. Sprout's seriously excited about Valentine's Day this year, which is interesting considering that it's not a holiday we are overly effusive about around our house. Oh, we do the obligatory cards for his classroom companions (Star Wars Lego themed this year, because homemade cards take time and Mommy is tired). And we get him a couple small gifts -- in particular a book, because I'd rather emphasize International Book Giving Day than a candy-fueled Cupid fest.

And if you're looking for a terrific book to give a child, maybe something that celebrates love but isn't overtly Valentine-oriented, today's pick is a great choice. Paul Meets Bernadette is the debut picture book by author/illustrator Rosy Lamb, and it's one of our current favorites. This is the kind of quiet title that can easily be passed over -- it's pretty unassuming, and the title's one that might or might not stick in your mind. So I really wanted to be sure to call it out here on the blog, because I think the message and the medium Lamb employs for her story are just right for storytime at home or in the library.

The plot is simple enough for even younger preschoolers to easily grasp: Paul is a goldfish, and he's lonely. His life consists of swimming in circles and the biggest variety in his day is changing directions. Then one day Bernadette appears. She's a goldfish like Paul, but she has a decidedly unconventional way of looking at the world. Suddenly Paul is noticing everything, with Bernadette's help of course. And the world is pretty amazing, when right outside your bowl there's a boat, a cactus, and even a family of elephants!

Sprout got a huge kick out of Paul Meets Bernadette, largely because he's at that stage where he finds it hugely funny if we say things wrong on purpose. Like sometimes I'll tell him to wash his face and feet (instead of hands) or Daddy will call him Jasper (the cat's name). So when Bernadette starts identifying the objects for Paul, Sprout can't help but laugh -- considering that the boat she sees is really a banana, the cactus is really an alarm clock, and the family of elephants is a teapot and tea cups. Sprout just howls at this, and I expect he isn't the only kiddo who will do so. Plus this plot device opened up a great opportunity for us to talk about perspective, and how when you don't see much of the world, it's easy to misinterpret what you see, or think that one viewpoint is the only way to see things. Hmm, surprisingly deep insights, no?

And that's why I love kidlit in general, and books like Paul Meets Bernadette in particular. Because picture books like this one work on so many levels - as a beautiful visual treat, as a gentle story of friendship and the power of love, and as an opening to develop critical thinking skills in our young ones. That's why picture books are essential fodder for little minds. So if you really want to give your kiddo a treat this Valentine's, skip the conversation hearts and go for a book like Paul Meets Bernadette instead -- believe you me, it's one they'll remember after the candy is long gone.

Paul Meets Bernadette by Rosy Lamb, published by Candlewick Press
Ages 3-5
Source: Library
Sample: "Paul used to go around in circles. / He made big circles and little circles. / . . . And then one day, Bernadette dropped in."
Recommended

International Book Giving Day!

Quick, flip the calendar page over to next month. Got it? Okay, now take a red pen and draw a heart around February 14. That's right, Valentine's Day -- but our red heart has less to do with candy and Cupids than you might think. Instead, we're putting a heart around February 14 because that is International Book Giving Day, a very special day dedicated to getting books into the hands of kids all around the globe.

There's not much I'm more passionate about than making books accessible to children -- all children, everywhere, not just those whose parents can afford them. That's why I'm such an advocate of public libraries, and why we support organizations like Ethiopia Reads and Books for Africa. These groups, and so many others, recognize the power of the written word to change lives for the better. Building on that premise, International Book Giving Day began in 2012 and is going to be even bigger and better this year!

What I think is so tremendous about International Book Giving Day is that it takes a holiday that people are already aware of, and transforms the impulse to give into something that makes connections internationally. You can decide to participate in one, or all, of three ways:

1. Give a book to someone you know -- a friend, relative, neighbor, or acquaintance
This can be a new or used book, or one you loan to someone. It can be from your own collection or a title you purchase just for the occasion. Or, you can make a trip to the library and share books you borrow!

2. Leave a book in a waiting room or lobby
Find a place where kids will be stuck hanging around and make that time count by leaving a book behind. This is a great idea for titles your kiddos may have outgrown. Sort out those that are in good condition and give them a second life in a doctor's office or waiting area.

3. Donate a book - or several!
There are loads of organizations, both in your local area and working internationally, that could make great use of books you donate. Libraries, juvenile correction centers, schools, group homes, children's hospitals, daycare centers, shelters, foster care agencies - these are just a few of the places you might consider. Think globally too - by donating books or funds to an international literacy organization, you can change the life of a child half a world away.

For more information on how you can participate, including tons more fantastic ideas for book giving, click on over to the International Book Giving Day website.

Books are hope, magic through story that can strengthen and embolden and inspire every single one of us. By giving a book to a child, either in your own backyard or in a country you've never seen, you can spark that magic in another young life.

This February 14, we're giving books - will you?