4 out of 4 stars
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Kids have a naive mind and media such as cartoon series, books and dramas play a major role in diverting their attention to the right track while educating them about various issues.
The Barnyard Buddies STOP for Peace is an illustrated story by Julie Penshorn aimed at teaching its young readers about peacemaking strategies in a conflicting situation. The tale is about a group of animals stuck in a terrifying storm, furious at the king for seating himself in the most secure place without ensuring the safety of his kingdom. This group is then guided by Mrs. McCloud, who helps them in resolving the issue by teaching them how to control their emotions and think rationally.
The key feature of this tale lies in its characterisation technique. The characters are animals and in my opinion, introducing values to kids through the medium of animals and nature is a great idea since children are easily captivated by animals. I like how this simple story stands as a mentor program directed at helping kids keep their emotions in check and stay calm while valuing arguments in a situation. It provides an appropriate strategy for kids to balance their thoughts while evaluating various points in a circumstance. This strategy is called 'STOP', which is an abbreviation for:
I like how the author has developed the character of Mrs. McCloud, the owl. She takes place of a supportive mentor and teaches other animals that jumping to conclusions does not solve a problem, compromising and addressing your point does. This highlights the dangers of assumption and presents the idea of asking. The message which can be deduced from this idea is that being straightforward can save a lot of time and energy and will more likely reap a favorable outcome.S: Stop and breathe
T: Tell how you feel
O: Open your mind
P: Plan a deal
I must admit that I loved the myriad of thought-provoking themes presented throughout the story. The theme of brainstorming essentially promotes development of ideas in young minds. The book encourages patience and peacemaking ideas through the means of an engaging rhyme. It also emphasizes how adults should validate the thoughts of their kids and presents ideas for mentoring sessions along with activities and interesting games.
Apart from this, I was truly impressed by Jorry's illustrations. Her art style was properly defined by shadows and highlights. I loved the choice of colour palettes, they made the illustrations look more appealing. The illustrations were compelling enough to captivate young readers and hook them to the story. I'm sure the art is bound to make its readers feel connected to the story. It is more likely going to catch hold of children who might be inclined towards art.
I am going to give this book a rating of 4 out of 4 stars. This book is not only recommended for kids, but also for parents since it provides situational education and a guide to adapt oneself and help others in a difficult situation.
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The Barnyard Buddies STOP for Peace
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