Despite the popular emphasis on chaos and despair in the world, there’s still a lot of goodness out there. There are good people, good causes, and good developments absolutely everywhere. It’s really down to us whether we choose to notice it or not, and then whether we choose to align ourselves with it or simply go with the flow of negative trends. And while it is essential to critique and oppose the bad, it is also important to highlight and celebrate the good. And on this note, I return to the humble but formative topic of children's literature. Last year I wrote a piece about the messages in songs, nursery rhymes and stories for young children; my intent was to emphasise that content is much more important than we think. The messages hidden in a catchy tune or established favourite book help to orient and inform a child. They are accepted as authoritative, and leave a lasting impression. But while there is a lot of dubious material out there with morally ambiguous or nonsensical messages, we cannot ignore the growing body of fantastic, enlightened, meaningful stories too. More topics are being explored, more diversity is being represented, and there is simply more choice. So I decided to create a ‘sister’ space on Facebook in which everyone can share their favourite books for young children. When we spread positive experiences, tips and recommendations, we are helping to foster a better awareness and confidence amongst all of us who are engaged in educating little ones. There will be regular reviews, and hopefully a generous exchange of ‘good finds’. Check out the Edify page and please pass on to those who might be interested :) www.facebook.com/groups/597287414031566/about/
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