Post 2- 6/25/23
Good morning my friends!
Today is my birthday, so I thought I'd share with you my current favorite book!
My FAVORITE children's/picture book at the moment is called Extra Ezra Makes An Extra-Special Friend, written by Kara LaReau and illustrated by Vincent X Kirsch.
Ezra loves to add his zest for life to everything and share it with everyone. One day, he meets a new student at school who doesn't respond to his normal zest the way he hopes. This book touched my heart.
There is a magic that begins when a child sees themselves in a book they read. We talk a lot about the importance of children of all types being able to see someone they can relate to or that looks like them in the books they read. "Extra Ezra Makes An Extra-Special Friend" was that book for me. Being a fabulous "extra" person myself, I felt seen. Ezra does things in a big way, with lots of sparkles and bright colors. If you've met me, you are fully aware that the bigger and sparkly-er and more colorful, the better!
At one point in the book, Ezra asks his mom a question that broke my heart. "Mama, am I too much?" I can't tell you how many times as a young adult (and even now), I ask myself this question. I remember being in first grade and my sweet teacher, Miss F. had to take me into the hallway and explain as gently as she could that my best friend needed "space." I couldn't understand what that meant, only that I was supposed to leave her alone. It broke my heart.
However, Ezra's mom tells him that he is just enough, and teaches him that people receive love and friendship in many ways. Ezra takes this new insight to heart.
"Extra Ezra Makes An Extra-Special New Friend" is a beautiful story of being yourself and learning to show love to people in a way that means the most to them. Several years ago, I had the pleasure of reading Gary Chapman's "The Five Love Languages: for Single People." Much like Ezra learning from his mom, I learned that people give and receive love in different ways, and that by taking the time to understand someone's love languages, I can better build and support relationships.
I am so thankful that I came across this book and decided to give it a try. It is a treasured part of my book library now, and I look forward to sharing it with my next class this coming school year. I hope you check it out for yourself!
See you soon! :)
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