By Hannah Coloson, for The Children’s Book Review
Published: May 27, 2011
Stover
By Kathy Brodsky (Author) & Cameron Bennett (Illustrator)
Reviewed by Hannah Coloson
What do animals and keeping fit and healthy have in common? Not much, usually – until you meet Stover. This little guy really knows how to take care of himself. And the irony is he’s a Pig!
A scary, and increasingly large percentage of our nation is inactive and overeaters, and unfortunately those bad habits are being passed down to our kids. That’s why Kathy Brodsky wrote Stover. Yes, he’s a pig so he loves to play in the mud. But that’s where it ends… after he plays each morning he showers, eats a healthy breakfast, and then hits the gym to swim, walk, stretch and do his aerobics and yoga classes. Stover even has a personal trainer!
His motto: “My name is Stover. I’m a neat pig. I keep myself healthy in small ways and big!”
Kathy is a creative, fun, and poetic writer, and Cameron Bennett’s illustrations are wonderful. Kathy says she wrote Stover to accompany her other books, all full of “helping words” that gently promote conversations about the issues today facing children and families, like childhood obesity, bullying, and the amount of time children spend plugged in.
In the back of Stover, there are two pages of discussion questions for kids about what being healthy means, and what we should and should not be eating.
Kathy is a mom of two and has been a clinical social worker for 40 years. She began to write 10 years ago.
I highly recommend this book to any parent/s with young children – perhaps struggling to promote health and wellbeing in their home, or who’re just looking for a fun and educational book for the whole family.
Stover is a 20-page hardcover for beginning readers aged 4+. The book is available for $19.99 at http://www.kathybrodsky.com/books.htm.
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