Blink & GLow, by Raven Howell, shares a lesson for children. That is to respect the freedom and light of the natural life in all living things. Thank you WOW! Women on Writing for sharing this lesson with our Choices readers.
Raven has also written an essay for us about the most popular children’s book themes. Here’s Raven:
Today’s most popular children’s book themes
By Raven Howell
Are we depleting natural resources? What about global climate change? There’s ongoing debate about general water and air pollution as well, and issues regarding loss of biodiversity. I began to wonder how the youngest among us related to nature in these present days. How will our children and grandchildren tend to the earth and our natural environment? Appreciating how it operates, being compassionate to its needs is a good first step.
When I wrote about this appreciation in my new book, Blink and Glow, my intention was to create a story that gently informed, but also entertained and provoked thoughtfulness for the kindergartener and young elementary-aged student. Is the environment/nature a popular children’s book theme? It’s not at the very top of the list, but kids’ themes of recycling, keeping the planet clean and care toward all living things is certainly popular.
During the pandemic years when many suffered from covid, there was need for books on self-care, compassion and bouncing back. This year there’s a significant increase in themes involving emotional intelligence. With a big increase and focus on children’s mental health issues, children’s books about social and emotional development are most in demand.
Graphic novels and even graphic illustrated picture books are trendy and selling well. Diversity and inclusion, social justice, non-fiction and STEM education continue to be popular themes for kids’ books. New releases are loaded with important subjects such as autism, ADD and ADHD, and tackling neurodivergent and OCD problems.
Overall, in writing style, children enjoy stories in rhyme with repetition. And both boys and girls gravitate toward books with humor. Kids hunger for books with characters they can relate to or wish they could be. Even children like to forget about real life and use their imaginations every once in a while. Books provide that magic.
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Book Summary
Lilly and Leo think it’s super to catch fireflies and salamanders—and even more exciting, as they plan to bring their glowing nature finds to show-and-tell the next day. They have a change of heart when Grandma’s wisdom guides the children to respect the freedom and light of the natural life in all living things.
Publisher: Tielmour Press
ISBN-10: 173821933X
ISBN-13: 978-1738219339
Print Length: 32 pages
You can purchase a copy of Blink and Glow on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Bookshop.org. You can also add this to your GoodReads reading list.
About the Author
Raven Howell writes stories and poetry for children. Having published several award-winning picture books, she enjoys sharing her joy of reading and literature by visiting classrooms and libraries. Raven serves as Creative & Publishing Advisor for Red Clover Reader, writes The Book Bug column for Story Monsters Ink magazine, and is a Collaborating Author for Reading is Fundamental and I am a Promise Books.
She writes for children’s magazines including Ladybug, The School Magazine, Highlights for Children, and Humpty Dumpty. She’s a storybook writer for educational publisher, Reading Gate, and aims for every child’s opportunity to blossom.
You can find her online at:
https://twitter.com/atpearthkeeper
https://www.instagram.com/atpearthkeeper/
https://www.facebook.com/raven.howell.75/
https://www.facebook.com/RavenHowellAuthorandPoetPage/
https://www.pinterest.com/pickward/_saved/
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