Sometimes a Wall by Dianne White. Illustrated by Baroux. unpgd. Owlkids Books, October, 2020. 9781771473736. (Review of finished copy courtesy of Blue Slip Media.)
Sometimes teachers need to help younger students think beyond themselves. Sometimes this is hard to do. Teachers looking for a book to aide in SEL, Social-Emotional Learning need look no further than this lovely picture book.
Attractively designed with plenty of white space, splashes of color and sturdy pages, young readers are introduced to some types of physical walls in gentle, simple language accompanied by colorful appealing illustrations. The shift to the metaphorical is totally relatable and should elicit sounds of sympathy and spontaneous sharing as well as room for plenty of valuable discussion. Should you need assistance, the publisher's website has a valuable guide. Sometimes a Wall is a valuable addition to any school, public or classroom library.
For more information about the author and illustrator: A conversation with a friend got author Dianne White thinking about different kinds of walls, both physical and metaphorical. Sometimes a Wall . . . is an exploration of these, and with it, an invitation to take down barriers and find common ground. Dianne's other books include Green on Green and Who Eats Orange? A long-time elementary school teacher, she lives with her family in Gilbert, Arizona. To learn more, and to download discussion guides and more, visit Dianne's website at diannewrites.com.
Twitter: @diannewritesFacebook: Dianne White
Barroux lives in Paris, France, and has studied photography, art, sculpture, and architecture. His work has been published in The New York Times and The Washington Post. He believes that the world needs fewer walls and more trees.
Instagram: @barrouxillustrations
