The full title of this book review by O.D. Alexander (St. Croix Source) is ‘Why Me? Why Not You?’ — New Children’s Book Delights and Inspires.” Alexander examines a new children’s book by Lyscelle M. Welcome-Reyes: Why Me? Why Not You?: Salt and Sugar Want to Switch.
“Why Me? Why Not You?: Salt and Sugar Want to Switch” by Lyscelle M. Welcome-Reyes with illustrations by Lysca D. Welcome-Tenia and Michelle M. Cann-Callender is a children’s book that not only delights but also inspires. It stimulates the imagination, becoming like a school backpack that is taken everywhere the child goes, filled with endless possibilities and creativity.
This super engaging, unforced work of 31 pages is not just for children but for the whole family. It serves as a powerful intergenerational platform for storytelling, inviting everyone to participate and bond over the narrative. It is a unique opportunity to create moments of connection and unity, strengthening the family bond through shared reading experiences.
This storyteller for the book made the tale exciting and a learning tool centered around the negotiating characters Salt and Sugar, who were curious about what made the other tick. In other words, they wanted a better understanding of their differences, not knowing they had more in common than what was so different. It is a rich educational journey, introducing word definitions, sentence construction, and an introduction to geography, functional science and storytelling interdependent skills.
The story begins with a conversation about the appearance of Salt and Sugar and how much they look alike, which brings confusion until they are tasted. How sweet and sticky would everything be if Sugar were used instead of Salt? The eyes of the precious characters light up. The honeybees begin playing the musical steel pans, trumpets and drums, while the sad eyes of the salty characters, like the crabs, fish and seaweed, demonstrate dissatisfaction if the Salt were to be removed from the sea.
In the book’s center, which begins the story’s climax, all the characters in the kitchen cupboard shout about their unique properties. For instance, Salt is known for enhancing flavors, while Sugar is loved for its sweetness. They also discuss how they are used and agree they cannot be replaced because they each have a unique gift.
As one approaches the book’s closing, one stumbles across the recipe corner, which not only provides fun things to prepare to munch on while reading but also adds an element of fun and engagement to the reading experience.
The author is a skilled educator, a product of the University of the Virgin Islands and a parent. She knows that through her writing and reading, there’s nothing better than participatory learning, especially for Generation Z. [. . .]
For full review, see https://stcroixsource.com/2024/10/15/why-me-why-not-you-new-childrens-book-delights-and-inspires/