Today we’re celebrating two new starred reviews from School Library Journal for Shelter: Homelessness in Our Community and Olivia Wrapped in Vines!
★ “An outstanding, sophisticated introduction to a complex topic, this book encourages readers to prioritize kindness towards and dignity for people experiencing homelessness. Recommended as a first purchase.”—School Library Journal
There are 150 million people experiencing homelessness worldwide, and that number is increasing every year.
Homelessness is not a choice, yet it exists in almost every community. But why are people homeless? Who are they? What can you do? In Shelter: Homelessness in Our Community, readers will get answers to these complex questions. They’ll learn about the root causes of homelessness and its effects, and what people and organizations around the world are doing to address the problem. It shares the personal stories of people who live on the street and the adults and kids who work with them. As a former homeless-shelter worker, author Lois Peterson encourages young people to approach the issue with knowledge and compassion. She dispels some of the myths about homelessness and makes the case for why everyone deserves a safe, permanent place to call home.
Shelter: Homelessness in Our Community by Lois Peterson, illustrated by Taryn Gee, is part of the Orca Think middle-grade nonfiction series about the issues making headlines today. Out now! Available at your favorite bookstores or orcabook.com.
★ “Scenes are evocative and provide endless opportunities for discussion with young children. This book is ideal for all libraries as a non-threatening and productive story that can give hope to children who feel like Olivia.”—School Library Journal
The world is a really big place for little kids.
When Olivia starts to feel overwhelmed by her big feelings, she sprouts vines. They are thorny and twisty and make it impossible for Olivia to do the things she loves to do, like ride her bike or play with her friends. Plus, no one wants to come near a giant ball of thorns. Luckily, Olivia has a very special teacher. Someone who sees past the prickly and the pokey to the upset little girl and helps Olivia learn to manage the vines.
This quirky picture book is the perfect introduction to the idea of anxiety and those big feelings that seem impossible to manage. Olivia’s teacher provides some tricks to help manage the feelings, and a special message at the end of the story encourages young readers to think productively about their own anxieties.
Olivia Wrapped in Vines by Maude Nepveu-Villeneuve, illustrated by Sandra Dumais, comes out February 15, 2022! Pre-order now from your favorite bookstores or orcabook.com.