This month we purchased two very unique books. The first, “The tenth good thing about Barney” by Judith Viorst, and the second, “The Greenling” by Levi Pinfold. These sparked a most “delicious” conversation.
A little boy is the narrator of “Ten good things about Barney”. His pet cat, Barney, just died. He can only think of nine good things about Barney, until the day after the funeral, when he spends the day in the garden with his father. The plot is extremely simple and spare, but the book depicts grief very well, and so we understand just how broken-hearted the little boy is, and how much he loved his cat. The Tenth Good Thing About Barney is an excellent springboard for families of every religious persuasion to discuss what they feel happens after we die. The book helps children put into words many questions that they might be too young to articulate, and helps parents answer them as best they can.
“The Greenling” is a thought-provoking ecological fantasy, featuring a mysterious green baby who stimulates plant growth and the power of nature wherever he goes. This story of the connection between people and the natural world will promote lots of discussion.
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