Cover Image: One Thursday Afternoon

One Thursday Afternoon

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Member Reviews

This book is a great way to discuss school lockdowns with children. Unfortunately, in today's world this is becoming a normal occurence. Young children need a safe place to talk and let their feelings out.

The author uses Ava and her grandfather to show readers that it is perfectly fine to feel scared and lonely. It is best to talk with someone you love about those feelings.

This book would be a great addition to any classroom or school counselor's library. This book would be a good way to open up conversation in the classroom about the topic of school lockdowns and drills.

As an edcuator, I would highly recommend using this in your classroom!

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A great picture book that can be helpful for any age group. This story is powerful and a great way to get a conversation started when it comes to lockdown drills. They are becoming more and more a part of our children’s daily lives and sometimes it affects them deeply. This can help students who are scared and anxious and let them know that it's ok.

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This is a tough topic to stomach, but the reality is that this is a major problem and fear of parents, teachers and kids too. Not talking about the topic won’t make it go away. Books are a great way to Segway into scary topics for kids.

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Ava is waiting at school for her grandfather. When he picks her up he says “what’s wrong” which she replies “nothing.” He tells her that he has a surprise for her. He has brought a picnic and paints. Ava tells grandfather she just wants to go home as she has had a bad day at school. Grandfather takes her to a nature trail and Ava asks to go home but grandfather says no. They sit down to eat but Ava has no appetite. Why? Ava finally tells grandfather about the school lockdown practice — how it scared her and she is afraid. Will grandfather know what to say and do to help Ava?

This picture book shows adults reading this story to their children how they might help their children how to deal with good and bad in the world. I think it would be a way to discuss why there are school lockdown practices now. The illustrations and writing work together perfectly. It is a sweet story.

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Grandpa goes to pick up his granddaughter from school. She's sad and unhappy just wants to go home. But he has a picnic and paints and takes her to the country. She doesn't want to talk and he says OK.
Flyaway Books and Net Galley let me read this book for review (thank you). It has been published and you can get a copy now.

They had a practice at school for how to hide if a shooter appears. It scared her. She thought her classroom was safe. Grandpa tells her about his fears when he was in school. Soon she is feeling better.

She gives him a hug and they paint. There may be danger but she knows what do now. And Grandpa is going to take her on a picnic and paint again the next day!

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I’ll begin by saying that I wish that we did not need this book but, since we do, all credit to the author/illustrator for this sensitive title. As can be seen in the cover art, Ava is not smiling. At first, she does not want to tell her Grandad what is wrong. Wisely, he gives her time, and time in nature, to let Ava share at her own pace.

What is bothering Ava is school lock down drills. They must be very scary for schoolkids.

Grandad empathizes and listens. He reminds Ava that there is beauty in the world too and that he is always there for her.

As the school year begins, teachers may want this book in their classrooms. Families may also want to share this one with their children. Counselors know that it can be easy to want to avoid the tough topics but think about getting this book for your child. It is not less scary to ignore reality. In fact, perceptive kids know what is going on and wonder why adults don’t acknowledge it.

Thank you to this author for taking on a hard topic in a soft way.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Flyaway Books for this title. All opinions are my own.

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I enjoyed the beautiful illustrations, the diversity, and that this children’s book speaks on real fears children have to go through during today’s society. Unfortunately lock down drills, while scary, must be taught in school and children have to be informed of the seriousness and precautions that must be taken in order to stay safe. A good reminder to all not to take drills and safety for granted.

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Thank you Flyaway Books and NetGalley for the ARC of One Thursday Afternoon. This book shows a side of our children's school days that have become normal in our times. Lockdown drills for intruders can be a scary thing but we do need to make sure our children are prepared. It is Grandparent's like Ava's in this book that do a good job of comforting these children that worry due to these drills. It is very important to have these conversations with our children and this book does a wonderful job of helping to fill the gaps for all the children that don't have someone that will take the time to have that conversation or know how to comfort their child.

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4.66 ⭐

This children's book about feelings after a lockdown drill is practically perfect in every way. Ava's Granddad supports her most magnificently, allowing her space for her thoughts, encouragement to use all her senses in a natural environment, and listening to her without judgment or invalidation. The author also illustrated the book, with gorgeous, expressive, warm art. Don't miss the author/illustrator's note at the end, sharing the inspiration for the story and tips for all ages for managing feelings of fear and anxiety.

Thank you, NetGalley and Flyaway Books, for the eARC of the book in exchange for an honest review. Publication is expected September 6.

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I love the concept of "One Thursday Afternoon". Ava was frightened after a school lockdown drill. Her grandpa picked her up from school and patiently waited until she was ready to talk about it.

I work in an elementary school. The day after I finished this book there was an email thread about students who were concerned about an active shooter in the school. We will also have our first lockdown drill tomorrow.

I believe this book can be a valuable resource for students, parents, educators, and counselors.

Source:. I received a complimentary copy via Netgalley. The opinions expressed are my own.

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The fact that this book even needs to exist...my heart is broken.

Ava leaves school feeling troubled but not ready to share what she's feeling. When her granddad picks her up (presumably advised by the school about what was happening that day) he takes her to the park and brings her painting supplies. With quiet support, he creates a safe space for her to tell him about the lockdown drill they had that day and how scared and uncertain it made her feel. He gently validates and reassures her, offering support and a listening ear any time she needs it. He encourages her to be mindful and use art to help process and express what she's feeling.

This would be a good resource to have on hand at school, on the bookshelves of school psychologists, and at home for kids who are exposed to lockdown drills. It would be a great conversation-starter and helpful reminder for kids that it's normal to find the experience disconcerting and that it's ok to express it. It's honest about the world we live in while also helping to soothe fears and anxieties.

Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review.

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I received an arc of this title from NetGalley for an honest review. How a child reacts when they have to practice uncomfortable things like lockdown and how parents handle it.

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As a teacher, I can really feel this book. Lock Down drills aren’t new. We’ve been having them in our city for the entire 26 years I’ve been teaching. Most of our students have been through the real thing. We have been locked in our classrooms for everything from police action nearby to a murderous rampage that cut across many cities and towns to a terrorist attack. Most of our students put on a tough face for these. The laugh through them and do not show their fear. This book would make a nice little story to let them know that there is nothing wrong with being scared. We all get scared and we can talk about it. Very low key and calming.

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One Thursday Afternoon by Barbara DiLorenzo is a story about a girl and her grandfather. The girl, Ava, leaves school with some worries about Lock Down Drills and danger at school. Her grandfather teaches her that it's okay to share her worries and it's okay to use her senses to let her worries be wrapped up in solitude. This book has colorful illustrations and briefly touches on Lock Down Drills. I just reviewed One Thursday Afternoon by Barbara DiLorenzo. #OneThursdayAfternoon #NetGalley

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When he picks Ava up after school, Granddad can't figure out why she's so quiet. It turns out, there was a LOCKDOWN drill at Ava's school, and she's still shaken by the experience. Granddad tells a story of a similar scary experience he had as a kid, and reminds her that the world is still a beautiful place. Then they share an activity that brings them both comfort.

In a touching note from the author, DiLorenzo discusses things adults can do to help children address their fears and anxieties.

A sobering, and sadly, very timely book. This should be in every classroom in America.

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A decent attempt at a children's picture book about lockdown drills. I don't hate it, but I hate more that we need a book like this for our kiddos. When Granddad picks Ava up from school he notices that she's upset. They go through their afternoon routine - a nature walk with painting and a picnic - when Ava admits why she's sad. Granddad gives her some advice and she discovers how nature, and painting, and talking, and being with a loved one makes her feel better. I likely won't be purchasing this book for our school library, but I will recommend it to teachers or families who are looking for books for sensitive kids.

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I think this book could be very helpful for letting kids know it's okay to talk about things that upset them. Very simply but vibrantly illustrated. Granddad does a good job of listening and validating and offering a comforting and familiar thing to do after and while talking.

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This book is such an important topic that I believe more people should be addressing, especially in childrens books.
One Thursday Afternoon tells the story of a little girl who felt very scared and overwhelmed by the lockdown drill that they had at school today. Through talking it out with her grandfather, she starts to feel a little bit better, but she admits that she’s still scared.
I feel like this book could have gone a bit more in depth into the emotions and fears over what a lockdown entails (through a child’s mind, of course.) but for what it is, it’s a sweet little book that portrays a positive notion about feeling your feelings.

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Thank you to NetGalley for sending me an eARC of this book.

As a high school teacher, navigating scary subjects is extremely difficult. Although I would not use this picture book in class with my older students, the sentiment was beautiful.

As Ava deals with the aftermath of a lockdown drill, her grandfather provides support in helping Ava process her complicated feelings and gives her an outlet to express herself. This book would be a great asset to every elementary school classroom to help young students understand the importance of school safety drills and to learn how to process things that are scary for everyone.

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This colorful children's book tackles the hard topic of school lockdowns. The book is primarily about a girl named Ava and her grandfather but there is a students in a wheelchair represented. Ava and her granddad enjoy a picnic and some painting while discussing the events at school that scared Ava. Her grandfather tells her about duck and cover drills that also scared him as a child.
The illustrations are beautiful and the balance of the world as a scary place and a beautiful place was perfect.

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