Sometimes I Cry written by Jess Townes, illustrated by Daniel Miyares and published by Farrar Straus Giroux Books for Young Readers, is a picture book that I wish I wrote. I say that a lot. But I have two boys who when they got to a certain age, suddenly believed it was not okay to cry anymore. Townes shows readers that it’s not only okay for boys to cry, but that there are a multitude of reasons why they would.
That sometimes we cry because we hurt, but sometimes we cry in laughter.
I love books that normalize emotions because it hurts all of us when we’re taught that boys/men can’t cry. It generates shame in a necessary, healthy and positive expression. Think about what it does to children when they believe they can’t cry, that it’s not okay, that they will be humiliated if they do. Think of how much emotion is shoved to the bottom. Think of how that raises members of a our society who are not only afraid to express their feelings, but who shame themselves and others for feeling them. This type of cold, judgmental and non-compassionate society creates an unjust world.
This picture book isn’t just a list of times when we cry, however, it shares stories of how human crying is. It shows us the sense of belonging, connection and joy that comes from sharing this experience with others.
I am so glad this book is out in the world. I hope it reaches a wide audience and teaches children the importance of crying, and being true to themselves.
When the Stars Came Home written by Brittany Luby with pictures by Natasha Donovan and published by Little, Brown and Company, is a beautiful story about tradition and culture told in the perspective of an indigenous girl moving from her home into the city. It is like the story I tried to tell about a child moving to the city, but I had no meaningful thread to pull the story together which Luby does so skillfully. The art here is like a graphic novel or comic. Sharp lines and bold colors add to the heightened emotions of a big city where everything representing home feels soft and comforting.
For many children, the city is home. But Luby tells the story in such a way that readers can quickly understand why the shift is so hard and feels so foreign when he is used to picking blueberries instead of buying it frozen in a bag.
Surprisingly, in this story the adults try to solve the main character, Ojiig’s, problem of finding stars to remind him of home. But my favorite part is when his mother shares story of their people while sewing a quilt, (something I also have written about in a picture book). The details here are so rich, and I found myself wanting to turn the page to hear more stories. I love the language here as well, “his great grandmother whose hair was as white as a seagull feather. She’d sung like a sparrow while preparing bannock over the fire.”
The ending is about what home really is. It’s a comforting end and provides meaning for children who have moved or don’t have a physical or traditional place to rest their heads.
