Book Review: Iris And the Dragonflies

This lovely book was given to myself and my oldest daughter, a 6th grader to review. It sparks the imagination and leads one on a moral adventure like few other books. It really spoke the child in both my daughter and I who craves to be special, accepted, understood, not alone, supported, and most of all, that child in us that wants so badly to make a difference.

Iris is a little girl in 5th grade who finds herself able to speak to dragonflies. While her own parents and sister  do not understand her, soon she learns she is not alone and that she has a destiny that is special. The story is starts in Canada and has it’t roots firmly in the earth. By this I mean, while there is magic and mystery to it, the morals are simple. Save the creek from the developers, save the earth that is all of our homes. I think this story touches a part of our hearts because we know it to be one that is sacred. I remember watching Fern Gully as a child and crying over the cut down trees. I still get upset when trees are cut down. I think this book will effect my daughter like that move effected me as already she asks when we see construction just what is being destroyed and why, and often I can not give her an answer.

The question is important. Questioning is important.

Little Crunchy Recommendation: This book while long fits best we think with the heart of young children ages 8-11 who are not so distracted by the reality of things but rather what is really at the heart of things. Of course this book is perfect for anyone wanting to connect to that younger innocent self who needs to be read to and nurtured as well. That small voice in us that sees a  tree being cut and can’t help but be sad knowing something scared has been taken away.

As a homeschooler I believe a whole curriculum block could be dedicated to this book and the themes in it and spark lessons in creative writing, science, geography, history, earth sciences, math, and more.

So find a quiet corner or a shady tree and let this book take you away to a world that sings to childhood and tells us the truths we already know in our hearts. We must work to save our homes.

 I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.