A Hard Look Back Book Deftly Tackles Difficult Issues Facing Oklahoma City Kids
“One April Morning: Children Remember the Oklahoma City Bombing” by Nancy Lamb and Children of Oklahoma City - A year ago, when the country was stunned by the bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building, it was hard to keep the news from our children, and even harder to explain. This anniversary month, the tragedy once again received a lot of press.
That’s not all the difficult news that has touched youngsters: A 7-year-old’s plane crashes, children are killed in a school gym in Scotland, Washington state students and a teacher are shot by another student.
With the pervasiveness of the media, it’s nearly impossible to shield children from disturbing events. What we can do is give them tools to deal with these events. Children’s literature can be one of those tools.
Unfortunately many books for children that are sparked by social issues tend to be preachy, patronizing and poorly conceived. This book is an exception. It is sensitively written and illustrated, and filled with insight about the nature of trauma and healing, from Lamb and from the children of Oklahoma City. More than 500 people were wounded in the explosion, Lamb wrote; 169 people were killed, including 19 children; and more than 100 children lost one or both parents in the bombing.
Though Lamb decided that children directly involved in the blast were still too fragile to interview, the youngsters with whom she spoke - ages 3 to 14 - were profoundly affected. Many knew people who were killed or injured. She alternates her own narration with quotes from children.
“First came a bumping rumble. Then came a rolling roar. The ground jiggled like Jell-O and a savage blast cracked the quiet morning calm.
“‘Windows in my school exploded,’ said Aimee Ann. ‘I thought it was thunder,’ said Todd. …
‘There was fire everywhere,’ said Ryan.”’
After the initial shock and fear, Lamb and the children go on to describe the subsequent feelings of anger and grief.
“My assistant Girl Scout leader died,” said Cicely. “The man who did this made the devil look good,” said Brendon.
They speak of how the community and the country helped: with food for the rescue workers, donations of blood, letters from children everywhere. “If we didn’t have the help from everybody else,” said Courtney, “it would have been a lot harder to pull together.”
Ultimately, this is a story of hope and comfort. “As if watching a picture come slowly into focus, the children began to understand that pain makes us value what we lost and loss makes us treasure what we have.”
Floyd Cooper’s pastel illustrations depict children and adults, talking, crying, waiting by telephones, planting trees, playing with new puppies. On the pages dealing directly with the bombing the words appear on a background of swirling pastel clouds. Some proceeds from the book go to The Care Center in Oklahoma City, which helps young victims of abuse and trauma. (Lothrop, Lee & Shepard, all ages, 48 pgs., $16.)
“Some Smug Slug” by Pamela Duncan Edwards - On a much lighter note is this amusing and artfully illustrated adventure in alliteration. A slug comes upon a slope. “Slowly the slug started up the steep surface, stringing behind it scribble sparkling like silk. … ‘Stop!’ screamed a sparrow, shattering the silence.” Other sensible creatures - spider, swallowtail, skunk, squirrel and stink bug - try to warn the slug that the slope it is climbing is the back of a toad. But the slug won’t be stopped. “Such a shock, such a shame. Such a succulent slug!”
Henry Cole’s acrylic and colored pencil illustrations are beautifully done nature art, showing life from the perspective of the forest creatures. Adding to the fun: An “S” is skillfully hidden on each page. This is a great read-aloud and a wonderful introduction to alliteration. Just warn the children ahead of time that this is a surprisingly sad story. (HarperCollins, ages 4-9, 32 pgs., $14.95.) ,
“Spring: A Haiku Story,” selected by George Shannon - From its spring green cover, to its carefully selected poems, to the happy paintings by folk artist Malcah Zeldis, this is a wonderfully packaged celebration of spring and the art of haiku. Haiku poems have been written in Japan for centuries. In Japanese, haiku follows the form of three short lines: the first with five syllables, the second with seven and the third with five. Sometimes in translation, the syllable count changes. Most of the poems in this book are more than 300 years old. Shannon, a prolific Seattlearea children’s author, says, “Each haiku poem evokes a moment of ‘Ah!’ - a sensation of seeing something as if for the first time. … I have arranged these poems to suggest the story of an early spring walk that is filled with ‘Ahs!”’
The first, by Issa: “The snow thaws - And suddenly the whole village Is full of children.”
Later, one by Ryunosuke: “Green frog! Have you just been Newly painted?” And another: “Going back home By a different path, - These Violets!”
(Greenwillow, all ages, 32 pgs., $16.)
“The Flying Dragon Room” by Audrey Wood - Patrick is frustrated. His parents won’t let him help paint the outside of the house. But Mrs. Jenkins, the white-haired lady in overalls who’s helping paint, hands him her special toolbox and a challenge: “See what you can make.”
In a week, Patrick builds a series of rooms that will enchant and amaze young readers. He takes his parents, baby Sarah and Mrs. Jenkins on a tour down through tunnels and up a Zig-Zaggity-Ladder, to the Bubble Room, the Food Room (Eat all you want), the zero-gravity Jumping Room (Jump and scream all you want). They have a just-scary-enough adventure aboard the Jolly Mermaid, and visit beasts in The Friendly Wild Animal Room. (Baby Sarah curls up with a lion, and Mrs. Jenkins handfeeds carrots to a T-Rex.)
The pictures by Mark Teague are full of fun, color and detail. This is a “read-it-again” kind of book. (Scholastic, ages -8, 32 pgs., $14.95.)
MEMO: Children’s book reviews by Tacoma writer Rebecca Young appear monthly on the Families page.