Written by Chingyen Liu and I-Tsunami Chiang, Illustrated by Heidi Doll
Fauja Singh Keeps Going
By Simran Jeet Singh; Illustrated by Baljinder Kaufman
Lori the Librarian |
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Woodpecker Girl Written by Chingyen Liu and I-Tsunami Chiang, Illustrated by Heidi Doll Fauja Singh Keeps Going By Simran Jeet Singh; Illustrated by Baljinder Kaufman Two important life stories for elementary grade children about persevering against all odds and expressing oneself. Both of the main characters in these two books, Fauja and Yipei, do something to bring joy into their lives. These picture books will be inspiring to readers and those who they share it with respectively. With the opening lines of the first book, “I am a woodpecker who loves to draw,” we soar from above into the real life of Yipei Huang, a determined girl born with cerebral palsy. Her art teacher figures out a way that she can paint using a headband with a brush attached to it. Although this is an uncomfortable and exhausting way to make art, Yipei knows that it allows her to fly freely, like a woodpecker with outspread wings, and to create as she so wants to. Doll’s expressive and soft illustrations take inspiration from Yipei’s real paintings and make us soar along with Yipei. We cheer her along. We also cheer Fauja Singh along as he crosses the finish line. Although he does not walk until he is five, Fauja Singh became the oldest man, over 100 years old, to ever run a marathon. Through the very pleasant and softly colored illustrations we see Fauja grow up in Punjab, work a farm there, have a family and practice his Sikh religion there. We are introduced to his mother’s fabulous and supportive words, that repeat through the story of his life, “You know yourself, and you know what you’re capable of. Today is a chance to do your best.” When at the age of 81, Fauja leaves his beloved home and goes to live with his family in England he finds that he is quite lonely. But upon seeing people running and smiling on the television, Fauja decides he must start running as well. Thus begins the next part of his life where he commits to doing something that most of us would say was impossible. He ran for fun and he ran in races. As I wrote above, two very good picture books about finding joy through perseverance.
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Author For 29 years I had the best job as School Librarian in the Aaron Kushner Library for grades Pre K-3 at the Solomon Schechter Day School of Greater Boston. Although I am retired, I remain Lori the Librarian. Archives
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