A great book, thoroughly enjoyable. Powerful!
The book is really engaging. The pictures are easy to follow and tell a story that children can link to. My son enjoyed the book and liked the theme of the story and how its about someone being different.
I think that children will use this book to relate to. Teachers could also integrate this book into lots of PSHE lessons in the future.
Sticking out in a family and being yourself. Can you win? Abtin isn't built like his athlete family, however hard they push him. Watch him show everyone who he is - even if they don't like it!
Sticking out in a family and being yourself. Can you win?
Abtin can't win. Every member of his family is a champion athlete, and want him to be just like them. But we see he's not built that way - he draws, he paints, he can't BE what they push him towards.
As the book progresses, the scowls of Abtin's family become deeper, their bodies bigger and more dominating, though Abtin continues to defy their commands and live his life how he feels happy.
It all comes to a head when Abtin tries the only way he knows how to make them happy by using their tools to help with his own method... which will give the reader a laugh, if not a full conclusion.
Stylistically different, standing out, the message is one readers may have seen before, but a message coming from Iran, with names that ring different will radiate that families can be the same the world over - problematic!
I would like to have more stories telling of Abtin's journey, he's a brave individual that readers will connect with.
For ages 4-8.
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This is a book about being different and not feeling the need to conform. Abtin's family are all champion athletes and think that he should try to be the same, but that's not where his passion or talents lie.
This is a book about being different and not feeling the need to conform. Abtin's family are all champion athletes and think that he should try to be the same, but that's not where his passion or talents lie.
This is a really powerful book to open up discussions with children about being yourself. It could be used for PSHE with both KS2 and KS3 pupils as there is so much to discuss; the numerous powerful illustrations can lead such discussions on their own. As the book was originally published in Iran, this could also open up discussions about cultural differences in the world and historical challenges around human rights in parts of the world could be explored.
Long may the adventures with Abtin continue...I feel that a sequel could be fun!
A thought-provoking story that all ages will enjoy.
This is an interesting short story which generated lots of discussion about everyone being unique when I read it to my 5 and 8 year old boys. I would have loved this even more if it had the original Persian text alongside the translation. The pictures created just as much conversation about the different characters and pressures that people may feel to conform in life.