Our Little Sharing Circle

"(Toddler-K) Larsen-Jonasson, a Cree/Danish Métis Elder, offers a gentle introduction to community values through woodland animals who model positive social behaviors. Helpful to parents and educators is the clear messaging about healthy relationships; the animals demonstrate how to handle disagreements constructively and welcome newcomers into their group. Innerebner's warm illustrations effectively show diverse forest creatures interacting peacefully, reinforcing the inclusive "we all belong" theme. The text may be somewhat formulaic in its approach, but the core message about building supportive communities resonates clearly.

VERDICT This is a useful tool for introducing concepts of empathy, belonging, and peaceful problem-solving to young children, addressing important SEL concepts without being preachy."

-- Kimberly Olson Fakih, * School Library Journal *