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September 20th, 2022 • 1 hr 15 mins • Download (60.2 MB) • Link with Timestamp
The elementary school kids in Stoneybrook have pen pals who live and attend school on a Zuni reservation in New Mexico. After a fire at the school and several homes in that community, Dawn is inspired to get the Stoneybrook community involved in some fundraising and donation drives in what could've been heartwarming, but ultimately just felt generally not great for us due to the communities involved and the book's inability to dive deeper and tell a better version of this story (although we acknowledge this might be another "be careful what you wish for" situation). This is on top of a few different culturally insensitive and downright terrible comments and situations from our kids that aren't really addressed as being bad. There are some fun notes - like the carnival in the Pikes' back yard - but this was another book we just wanted more from.