Have you ever been on a blog tour? Well, guess what! You are on one now!
I am the third stop on this literary journey for What If. . .? Then We. . . (Boyds Mills Press, 2019). Written by Rebecca Kai Dotlich and illustrated by Fred Koehler, this picture book is sure to get readers thinking, imagining, and wondering!
Two bears become lost on an icy journey at sea. But rather than despair, the two imagine their way through this challenge: an iceberg becomes a ship, an unknown land becomes a mountain range of crayons, origami birds brighten their sky, and more. Page by page, these two bears approach each step with optimism, using their creativity to keep a positive outlook.
The text is a series of "What if?" questions, paired with comforting, upbeat, or inspirational "Then we " replies. Our two lost bears act out their interpretations of the text delightfully, seen in Koehler's sweet and vibrant illustrations. I fell in love with these bears and loved watching what they would do next!
Though there is a story tied by plot and page, each "What if? Then we. ." pair could be discussed individually. Of course, the "what if?" questions themselves could be used as a stem for students' own replies, both visually and verbally.
So many possibilities exist for this book: art, writing, thinking, predicting! I also appreciated the calming, reassuring tone of the book. Indeed, reading these pages will feel like wrapping yourself up in a soft blanket on a chilly day.
This book is also a friendship story! To those close to us, we can be there to bear their worries, but also remind them to see all the potential for goodness that exists, too.
The ending of the book leave the possibility of more wonderings --- and will also make you want to enjoy the book again!
 |
| Rebecca Kai Dotlich Image courtesy of Boyds Mills Press |
 |
| Fred Koehler Image courtesy of Boyds Mills Press |
I invite you to stop at the other blogs along the way as we all celebrate this book:
No comments:
Post a Comment