Lucia Raatma,
21st Century Junior Library: Caring; Responsibility; Respect; Fairness; Loyalty
Saunders Book Co./Cherry Lake Publishing, 2010.

Rating: G*

This 5-book set in the 21st Century Junior Library Collection discusses both generally and specifically, life skills, morals and values that affect young children and people globally, regardless of their cultural background, school setting or age.

Since the books are similar in content and vary only in subject, I will choose one to discuss.

Respect is treating others the way you would like to be treated and the example first given in Lucia Raatma’s book shows a photograph of girls talking in the library, while the corresponding text tells of people frowning upon them. Throughout the pages of this colourful, descriptive book, are lessons and questions pertaining to the subject that the reader could ask of oneself. The book defines respect by giving both positive and negative examples, giving ideas of how to show it, locally, and even globally. Complete with a glossary, index and "Find Out More", these mini readers are a good addition to any social studies and /or social skills classroom.

Each topic discussed has a corresponding photograph, question bubble and or idea/suggestion that has to do with Respect. Through the simplistic and yet direct information, readers are able to discuss and comprehend the subject matter.

Since the book has photographs of children of all ages, readers are able to relate to them as well as to their peers. The font size and its length allow for independent readers to review the information quickly, though I feel this collection would be great used with a community of readers.

Adriane Pettit
Vol. 16, number 3
February 2011

*Rating System:
E - Excellent, enduring, everyone should see it!
G - Good, even great at times, generally useful!
A - Average, all right, has its applications.
P - Problematic, puzzling, poorly presented.