Here's what we've been reading this month!
The Gruffalo by Julia DonaldsonMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
Fiction, 1999. This is a modern classic for a reason! Very easy to read, fun to listen to, and a lightly done message about brains beating brawn.
The Gruffalo's Child by Julia DonaldsonMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
Fiction, 2004. A worthy sequel and another really fun read. I like that it paints the Gruffalo as a more sympathetic character too, showing children that we all have many aspects to our lives and personalities.
Tyrannosaurus Drip by Julia DonaldsonMy rating: 3 of 5 stars
Fiction, 2007. I didn't like this one - the writing and art is fine, it's just that the central message didn't sit well with me. Not everything has to be cutesy and heartwarming, true, but I wouldn't read it to my toddler again all the same.
mor hyfryd yw'r byd by Bob TheileMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
Fiction, 2014. Lovely illustrations and bilingual lyrics to the song.
Are the Kids All Right? Representations of LGBTQ Characters in Children's and Young Adult Literature by B.J. EpsteinMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
Non-Fiction, 2013. Interesting study of 60 LGBTQ children's books and the kinds of messages being disseminated to young people. I don't necessarily agree with all of Epstein's assertions - I felt the case against 'issue books' was somewhat overstated, given that a lot of the sample texts were explicitly written for the purpose - but the work as a whole certainly highlights the continuing scarcity of LGBTQ themed children's books in general, and the lack of intersectionality within them.
To help you get started with your reading for April, I have a copy of Enid Blyton's Five Go Adventuring Again to give away. Just fill out the Gleam widget below to get up to five entries.
