Review by Al Chakauya -- The Barnyard Buddies STOP for P...
Posted: 28 Jun 2018, 15:26
[Following is a volunteer review of "The Barnyard Buddies STOP for Peace" by Julie Penshorn.]
4 out of 4 stars
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Conflict is part of our day to day living. How we deal with it dictates our relationships to our family, friends and colleagues. Barnyard Buddies: STOP for Peace is a children’s book by Julie Penshorn. The book tackles the issue of conflict-resolution in a way that is meant to benefit everyone concerned.
In this book, Julie tells a story about a group of barnyard animals. On this particular day, the barnyard is tranquil, and the animals are basking in the sun. The rains suddenly come and everyone but King the donkey soaks wet. The other animals start complaining because King is taking all the space in the shade. As they cuddle for warmth and lamenting over their dilemma, along comes Mrs McLoud, a wise owl friend. She tries to use her wisdom to resolve the issue at hand.
The book has remarkable illustrations. The language used is simple –making it age-appropriate for children. Julie makes use of a few big words like ‘courtesy’; giving young readers a chance to learn new words. Unlike other children’s books, Julie included a guide on how to effectively use the book for parents, teachers and mentors. She also included additional questions and activities for children -a clever way of making the book fun and engaging. The author also included an option for downloading a colouring page; yet another great feat for making learning enjoyable.
I like the author’s clever way of using the acronym 'STOP'. The acronym makes use of four simple steps to manage conflict. I am also compelled to applaud Julie for including the notation for the song, ‘STOP for Peace’ at the end of the book; children would really enjoy it. The song would help them remember the steps for maintaining a peaceful environment. I found the book to contain one glaring flaw. The author did not give the reader an alternative method in case the ‘STOP’ process failed to work.
The book is meant for children, but I also recommend it to adults who want to teach children about effective communication. Teachers would also benefit; the extra questions and activities in the book can be used in class. In fact, I don’t see anyone this book does not relate to because we all encounter conflict in one way or the other in our lives.
Barnyard Buddies: STOP for Peace is an interactive book with endearing illustrations. The approach used is both fun and engaging –an easy way to help children learn to effectively communicate with each other. I am therefore compelled to rate this book 4 out of 4 stars due to the aforementioned reasons.
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The Barnyard Buddies STOP for Peace
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon | on Smashwords
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4 out of 4 stars
Share This Review
Conflict is part of our day to day living. How we deal with it dictates our relationships to our family, friends and colleagues. Barnyard Buddies: STOP for Peace is a children’s book by Julie Penshorn. The book tackles the issue of conflict-resolution in a way that is meant to benefit everyone concerned.
In this book, Julie tells a story about a group of barnyard animals. On this particular day, the barnyard is tranquil, and the animals are basking in the sun. The rains suddenly come and everyone but King the donkey soaks wet. The other animals start complaining because King is taking all the space in the shade. As they cuddle for warmth and lamenting over their dilemma, along comes Mrs McLoud, a wise owl friend. She tries to use her wisdom to resolve the issue at hand.
The book has remarkable illustrations. The language used is simple –making it age-appropriate for children. Julie makes use of a few big words like ‘courtesy’; giving young readers a chance to learn new words. Unlike other children’s books, Julie included a guide on how to effectively use the book for parents, teachers and mentors. She also included additional questions and activities for children -a clever way of making the book fun and engaging. The author also included an option for downloading a colouring page; yet another great feat for making learning enjoyable.
I like the author’s clever way of using the acronym 'STOP'. The acronym makes use of four simple steps to manage conflict. I am also compelled to applaud Julie for including the notation for the song, ‘STOP for Peace’ at the end of the book; children would really enjoy it. The song would help them remember the steps for maintaining a peaceful environment. I found the book to contain one glaring flaw. The author did not give the reader an alternative method in case the ‘STOP’ process failed to work.
The book is meant for children, but I also recommend it to adults who want to teach children about effective communication. Teachers would also benefit; the extra questions and activities in the book can be used in class. In fact, I don’t see anyone this book does not relate to because we all encounter conflict in one way or the other in our lives.
Barnyard Buddies: STOP for Peace is an interactive book with endearing illustrations. The approach used is both fun and engaging –an easy way to help children learn to effectively communicate with each other. I am therefore compelled to rate this book 4 out of 4 stars due to the aforementioned reasons.
******
The Barnyard Buddies STOP for Peace
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon | on Smashwords
Like Al Chakauya's review? Post a comment saying so!