Common Sense Media Review
By Stephanie Snyder
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Poetic picture book shows kids' lives full of possibility.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 6+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
PATCHWORK is a poetic picture book that helps kids see that their lives don't necessarily go in a straight line. Author Matt de la Peña describes five different children -- a boy, a dancer, a basketball player, a class clown, and a sensitive kid who feels a great deal of empathy -- and expresses that they may grow up to walk paths wildly different from the ones society expects them to walk. For example, the basketball player might grow up to be a poet. Or the class clown could grow up to be a teacher. De la Peña lyrically conveys that our lives are a patchwork, or mixture, of all of our lived experiences, and that no matter what, our stories are beautiful.
Is It Any Good?
This unassuming picture book comes with a powerful message. Patchwork reads like a poem and provides an important life lesson that's best taught when kids are young: There's no one-size-fits-all, and our life stories are full of possibility. Corinna Luyken's simple illustrations and pastel color choices bolster the message but also portray the feelings and emotions described in the book. Because it's written in verse, and because the theme is sophisticated, it may be difficult for young readers to fully comprehend. However, it also has the potential to instill a love of poetry from an early age.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the message in Patchwork. How do you describe yourself now? Where do you see yourself in the future?
How is Patchwork different from your favorite storybook? Which type of book do you like better? Why?
Which kid in the story are you most like? Why?
Book Details
- Author :
- Illustrator : Corinna Luyken
- Genre : Picture Book
- Character Strengths : Courage , Empathy
- Book type : Non-Fiction
- Publisher : G.P. Putnam's Sons
- Publication date : August 30, 2022
- Number of pages : 48
- Available on : Paperback, Nook, Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Award : Common Sense Selection
- Last updated : October 26, 2022
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