Learning from Picture Books: A Good Trade

This week I'm taking a closer look at one of the nominees for the Blue Spruce Award from the Ontario Library Association's Forest of Reading for 2014. Other nominees I've featured so far include Oddrey by Dave Whammond (OwlKids Books) and I Dare You Not to Yawn by Helene Boudreau (Candlewick Press).

A Good Trade

written by Alma Fullerton

illustrated by Karen Patkau

published by Pajama Press, 2012

From Amazon:

In a small Ugandan village, Kato wakes early to start the long barefoot trek beyond his village and along fields dotted with cattle and guarded by soldiers. As it is every day, his destination is the village well, where he will pump a day's supply of water into two jerry cans before trudging home again. But this is no ordinary day. The aid worker's truck arrives at the village square, and in the back is a gift so special, the little boy rushes home to look for something to repay the aid worker.

Alma Fullerton's spare, lilting prose tells a deceptively simple story of one day in a little boy's life. But in a place ravaged by a generation of civil war and drought, a village well brings life, a gift of shoes is a cause for celebration, and a simple flower becomes an eloquent symbol of peace and gratitude.

My Thoughts as a Writer:

This book is a good example of how spare language and imagery can highlight social issues in a way that young children can understand. I’d read this book again to study how the author uses words to create compelling images. The illustrations evoke a strong sense of atmosphere, as well as providing more to think about in showing details of Kato’s life in Africa.

My Thoughts as a Teacher:

I loved the illustrations and simple text that allows important issues and ideas to be introduced to young children. There is a lot to talk about here, comparing the realities of Kato’s life in Africa to life in a reader’s city or country.

I wished this story had some additional background information at the back of the book that I could use as a teacher to help explain life in Africa. However, this book would be a good starting point for researching the topic as a whole class or in small groups. The story provokes many questions to answer.