Reviewed by Dr S Alexander
© ChildForum
Delicate and moving the tale of Pedro the piglet, his mummy Rosie and the farmer’s little girl is told in a wonderful new children’s picture book by Carlie Mascelle from the Bay of Plenty (NZ).
I’m not sure I will come across a better new book this year – it’s original, home-grown, and as a touching story it's one that remains in your mind.
The story illuminates the kindness that exists in every child. When a child finds or is given opportunity to see life from the perspectives of other living beings who have little say over their lives, a real and genuine kindness can be sustained, against all odds, through into the adult years.
The text is well crafted, with words and ideas flowing in ways that suddenly make you aware of your own thought processes and experiences rather than numbing the brain with too much encyclopaedic information.
It is written for a universal readership, but as it is New Zealand published book it would be great if there was also a kiwi version with some Maori names and a touch of kiwi farming lingo.
The illustrations are sublime, from one picture to the next you are absorbed into the story and want to turn the page to know what happens next.
By adding this book to your story-book collection for children to look at alone or together it matters less if as a parent, early childhood or primary school teacher you feel uncomfortable talking about feelings and how one’s own actions can affect others. But it is important that you do, and this book is a great aid, because the early years are a crucial time for the development of perspective taking, a skill that is harder to learn in later years and may never be learnt if not nurtured during childhood.
The book can also be used to support discussions with children about where bacon and meat in general comes from and how it is obtained. “I am NOT Bacon” enables adults (whether animal-eating, vegetarian or vegan) to have a good starting point to talk truthfully with children about this topic.
Date of publication: Nov 2015
Publisher: Stonewall Productions
Price: $18.00 plus p&h
Order online at: http://www.stonewallproductions.co.nz/442914/
To keep reading and view the full article login with your member's username and password
Here’s how our membership plans work:
- Individual Membership plans can view both Individual member-only articles and our library of Research Journals (but not the ECE Service management article area). In addition, individual members can discuss and ask questions of fellow members any time through the online childcare and early childhood education practice, policy, and research discussion forum.
- Early Childhood Service plans can view ALL member articles: Individual, Research Journals and Early Childhood Service articles. Also on this membership plan members can access the online discussion forum for individual members AND the online ECE service management / business forum.
- Research Journal subscription plans can view our library of Research Journals and related research articles only
Should you not hold a current membership – you are welcome to apply now.
