Blog Tour & Giveaway for Sometimes a Wall… by Diane White Illustrated by Barroux

About the Book:
Title: Sometimes a Wall
Author: Diane White
Illustrator: Barroux
Pub. Date: October 15, 2020

Beagles and Books is thrilled to be part of the blog tour for Sometimes a Wall…. Special thanks to Owlkids Books and Barbara Fisch of Blue Slip Media for sending me a copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

My Review:

On the first few page spreads, a wall is used as a source of fun–first, as a place to write and a place to splash as water flows down. Then more children join to climb the wall and join hands to make a “we wall” and a “shout wall.”

And with the turn of a page, that same wall which was inclusive to all becomes a barrier to one. The wall is no longer inclusive and gives three children the license to be mean. As the wall becomes a castle, one child feels empowered to bully and claim the fortress as his own. But here’s the thing–when you build walls all around you and refuse to let anyone in, people move on. And what are you left with? A big empty castle where you feel pretty lonely and (hopefully) regretful about your actions.

By opening the door, there is the hope of mending friendships and making the castle a place for all to enjoy.

I read a lot of picture books and am always amazed at the use of language to convey meaning. White uses her words sparingly but meaningfully to show how physical walls can become symbolic walls. Barroux’s lively illustrations beautifully complement the text and careful eyes will notice how one child changes from friend to enemy to friend. One detail that struck me was how the child’s yellow construction hat is tossed away for a yellow crown to signify his ownership of the castle. Sometimes a Wall... is a picture book with so many layers. It is a story that teaches us about friendship, conflict, empathy, and forgiveness, in a way that kids of all ages can understand. What I love most about Sometimes a Wall... is the message of hope and how we all have the capacity to change our behaviors and be accepted by others.

Parent and Teacher Resources:

Check out all the amazing educational resources for Sometimes a Wall:

The “Why” Behind the Book

· A LETTER TO PARENTS AND EDUCATORS

· A LETTER TO YOUNG READERS

Discussion Guide

· SOMETIMES A WALL… Discussion Guide

A Lesson In 3 Movements…

• Intro to the Unit (PLEASE READ FIRST!)

• What’s Different About Reading Wordless/Nearly Wordless Picture Books?

• 1st Movement : TOGETHER (I Walk with Vanessa by Kerascoët)

• 2nd Movement: APART (Draw the Line by Kathryn Otoshi)

• 3rd Movement: REGRET. NEW START? (Sometimes a Wall … by Dianne White, illustrated by Barroux)

Coloring Pages For Younger Students

We Are Kind coloring page
Be Kind coloring page

Praise for Sometimes a Wall!

“Rhyme, rhythm, and simple art—all including references to walls—show children expressing different emotions and behaviors… Mending walls for the nursery crowd.”

—Kirkus Reviews

About the Author:

A conversation with a friend got author Dianne White thinking about different kinds of walls, both physical and metaphorical. Sometimes a Wall . . . is an exploration of these, and with it, an invitation to take down barriers and find common ground. Dianne’s other books include Green on Green and Who Eats Orange? A long-time elementary school teacher, she lives with her family in Gilbert, Arizona. To learn more, and to download discussion guides and more, visit Dianne’s website at diannewrites.com, Twitter: @diannewrites, and Facebook: Dianne White

About the Illustrator:

Barroux lives in Paris, France, and has studied photography, art, sculpture, and architecture. His work has been published in The New York Times and The Washington Post. He believes that the world needs fewer walls and more trees.

Instagram: @barrouxillustrations

Giveaway!

One lucky winner will receive a copy of Sometimes a Wall… courtesy of Owlkids Books. This giveaway is open from Friday, October 16, 2020 through Friday, October 23, 2020 ending at 10:00 p.m. EST. Please note that book may take longer to ship so patience is appreciated.

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