Ranjeeta Mayanglambam wholeheartedly believes that you need to ‘be the change you wish to see in the world’, and now as a new mother, she feels a responsibility to pass that lesson onto her daughter.
Billie’s Book – Everyone is Special is not so much a narrative as an illustrated guide for children on how to be a responsible citizen, living with respect, empathy, and an appreciation for diversity.
Every page starts with a lesson:
“Each one of us looks different, yet we are all awesome.”;
and ends with an action:
“Be good and…” [insert action], for example: “treat us all equally”.
The pages teach –
- respect for cultural diversity,
- respect for the environment,
- respect for animals
- respect for other people
- the importance of helping with household chores and;
- practising gratitude, honesty, and courage.
The guide also touches on tolerance in the areas of –
- age
- sexual orientation; and
- choosing whether to have a family.
With a last page that begins:
“Life is a beautiful journey”,
the pages of Billie’s Book are imbued with a positivity which make it a welcome addition to any nursery, preschool or kindergarten.
Billie’s Book, New Holland Publishers, RRP $16.99 available from all good book retailers or online at www.newhollandpublishers.com.