Book review: ''Lost'' by Christine Reyenbeau
Dealing with loss is extremely difficult, it doesn’t matter if it’s saying goodbye to your favourite but hugely worn t-shirt or to a loved one, the exact same mechanisms are activated to help us deal with the grief and we are all different in how we cope with it. As a teacher over the years I have encountered many moments where my children asked me questions about loss or made funny-sweet statements that made me laugh. It is not an easy topic to address, especially if it concerns the loss of a family member or a beloved person. One of the best ways to address such issues is through a story. I have recently come across ‘’Lost’’ by Christine Reyenbeau, published by Dreambuilt Books, a touching, beautiful story that deals with grief and loss in a clean almost way, simply written yet it doesn’t fail to deliver the message.
I am London’s global cohost for the amazing Multicultural Children’s book day and I was lucky to be gifted with many great books that celebrate diversity and promote reading #ReadYourWorld .
In Christine’s beautiful story, a little girl called Lucy loses her favourite stuffed Giraffe, Lou, during a cruise. Lucy has been taking Lou everywhere, Lou was more than a toy, Lou was her friend, her comforter, her companion, her buddy in adventures. The description of Lou fading away, swallowed by the ocean is very strong and touching, thanks to both the text and Rachael Hawke’s illustration. Lucy is feeling very sad and she has to learn how to cope with her feelings, accept her loss and move on with her life while keeping treasured memories alive.
As an educator and a mum, what I truly appreciated about ‘’Lost’’ is that it doesn’t try to minimize the significance of loss or try to sugar-coat it because of its young audience, it rather highlights that it is absolutely normal to be hurt and sad, it is not ok to lose something or someone you love and that you should embrace all your feelings, grief, sadness, anger as it is only then you realise you’ve been blessed with amazing moments filled with love and joy and laughter.
‘’We have to be grateful for the times we had, and remember that loss is love’s cost’’
What an empowering message! Lucy’s story in Christine’s ‘’Lost’’ brims with beautiful multicultural images and messages and the last page brought a huge smile on my face but i won’t reveal anything more. Love always find its way as life goes on..
Classroom activities - Topic for discussion
- Read the book
- Encourage their understanding of the story by using flashcards or props if the children are younger
- Ask from the children to share a personal experience of loss if they have any. Please remember to be patient, give them time to develop their thoughts, do not make any comments or laugh at any explanation given that could be deriving from family's personal/cultural/spiritual beliefs
- Plan an activity for the class to create a collage or album with photos and drawings, celebrating the special moments they had and keeping their memories alive
- Extend children's learning by introducing them to different cultural beliefs , teaching them the important values of respect, tolerance and democracy
- Encourage children to share their feelings and views, supporting their Emotional and Social development
Multicultural Children’s Book Day 2021 (1/29/21) is in its 8th year! This non-profit children’s literacy initiative was founded by Valarie Budayr and Mia Wenjen; two diverse book-loving moms who saw a need to shine the spotlight on all of the multicultural books and authors on the market while also working to get those book into the hands of young readers and educators.
Eight years in, MCBD’s mission is to raise awareness of the ongoing need to include kids’ books that celebrate diversity in homes and school bookshelves continues. Read about our Mission & History HERE.
MCBD 2021 is honored to be Supported by these Medallion Sponsors!
FOUNDER’S CIRCLE: Mia Wenjen (Prgamaticmom) and Valarie Budayr’s (Audreypress.com)
Platinum Sponsors: Language Lizard Bilingual Books in 50+ Languages, Author Deedee Cummings and Make A Way Media
Gold Sponsors: Barefoot Books, Candlewick Press, Capstone, Hoopoe Books, KidLitTV, Peachtree Publishing Company Inc.
Silver Sponsors: Charlotte Riggle, Connecticut Association of School Librarians, Author Kimberly Gordon Biddle, Pack-N-Go Girls
Bronze Sponsors: Agatha Rodi and AMELIE is IMPRESSED!, Barnes Brothers Books, Create and Educate Solutions, LLC, Dreambuilt Books, Dyesha and Triesha McCants/McCants Squared, Redfin Real Estate, Snowflake Stories, Star Bright Books, TimTimTom Bilingual Personalized Books, Author Vivian Kirkfield, Wisdom Tales Press, My Well Read Child
MCBD 2021 is honored to be Supported by these Author Sponsors!
Poster Artist: Nat Iwata
Authors: Author Afsaneh Moradian, Author Alva Sachs & Three Wishes Publishing Company, Author Angeliki Stamatopoulou-Pedersen, Author Anna Olswanger, Author Casey Bell , Author Claudine Norden, Author Debbie Dadey, Author Diana Huang & Intrepids, Author Eugenia Chu & Brandon goes to Beijing, Green Kids Club, Author Gwen Jackson, Author Janet Balletta, Author Josh Funk, Author Julia Inserro, Karter Johnson & Popcorn and Books, Author Kathleen Burkinshaw & The Last Cherry Blossom, Author Keila Dawson, Maya/Neel Adventures with Culture Groove, Author Mia Wenjen, Michael Genhart, Nancy Tupper Ling, Author Natalie Murray, Natalie McDonald-Perkins, Author Natasha Yim, Author Phe Lang and Me On The Page Publishing, Sandra Elaine Scott, Author Shoumi Sen & From The Toddler Diaries, SISSY GOES TINY by Rebecca Flansburg and B.A. Norrgard, Susan Schaefer Bernardo & Illustrator Courtenay Fletcher, Tales of the Five Enchanted Mermaids, Author Theresa Mackiewicz, Tonya Duncan and the Sophie Washington Book Series, Author Toshia Stelivan, Valerie Williams-Sanchez & The Cocoa Kids Collection Books©, Author Vanessa Womack, MBA, Author Veronica Appleton & the Journey to Appleville book series
MCBD 2021 is Honored to be Supported by our CoHosts and Global CoHosts!
MCBD 2021 is Honored to be Supported by these Media Partners!
Check out MCBD’s Multicultural Books for Kids Pinterest Board!
FREE RESOURCES from Multicultural Children’s Book Day
Diversity Book Lists & Activities for Teachers and Parents
Homeschool Diverse Kidlit Booklist & Activity Kit
FREE Teacher Classroom Activism and Activists Kit
FREE Teacher Classroom Empathy Kit
FREE Teacher Classroom Kindness Kit
FREE Teacher Classroom Physical and Developmental Challenges Kit
FREE Teacher Classroom Poverty Kit
FREE Diversity Book for Classrooms Program
TWITTER PARTY! Register here!
Join us on Friday, Jan 29, 2021, at 9 pm EST for the 8th annual Multicultural Children’s Book Day Twitter Party! This epically fun and fast-paced hour includes multicultural book discussions, addressing timely issues, diverse book recommendations, & reading ideas. We will be giving away an 8-Book Bundle every 5 minutes plus Bonus Prizes as well! *** US and Global participants welcome. ** Fol