Williams-Garcia, R. (2010). One crazy summer. New York, New York: HarperCollins Publishers.
This book is about three young girls who live in Brooklyn with their father in 1968. They are African American and their mother left them when they were very young. The book is told from Delphine's, the oldest at 11, perspective. She writes in a very mature voice and is concerned about the safety of her two younger sisters Vonetta and Fern. They go to live with their mother for the summer in Oakland, California and the book is about their relationship with their mom. At first, their mother is awful to them. She uses their money for herself, does not provide food for them, and is not nurturing or caring in any way. She never explains the strange visitors with Afros and black berets that come to the door. She does not spend much time with them, but rather sends them to a radical Black Panthers summer camp where the girls get an interesting education. Overall, it is a funny yet powerful book about these changing times in US history.
I would use this in the classroom to talk about estranged relationships as well as different ideologies in the country during the 60's. It would be very easy to tie this book in with perhaps what they were learning in Social Studies at the time.
Thursday, October 25, 2012
Same, Same But Different
Kostecki-Shaw, J. S. (2011). Same, same but different. New York, New York: Henry Holt and Co.
Same, Same But Different is a book about two boys named Elliot and Kailash. Elliot lives in American and Kailash lives in India. The book focuses on the the things that the children like and the way things are in their particular country. They are pen pals and so they write back and forth to each other, learning about the other's culture and background. They discover that they both love pets, climbing trees, going to school, and other activities. They realize that although things are different between them, they actually have quite a lot in common.
I think this book would be an awesome tool to talk about similarities between cultures. It could be a fun activity to have them actually try and write a student from a different country, or at least write what they would if they had the opportunity to ask questions of a child different from them. Letter writing is also a good exercise in general because in many ways it has become a lost art. If you wanted to make it more timely, you could have them write an email and show how to write a proper email since it seems that many students do not know how to do this. Overall, this book is a great way to facilitate discussion about our similarities with other cultures.
Same, Same But Different is a book about two boys named Elliot and Kailash. Elliot lives in American and Kailash lives in India. The book focuses on the the things that the children like and the way things are in their particular country. They are pen pals and so they write back and forth to each other, learning about the other's culture and background. They discover that they both love pets, climbing trees, going to school, and other activities. They realize that although things are different between them, they actually have quite a lot in common.
I think this book would be an awesome tool to talk about similarities between cultures. It could be a fun activity to have them actually try and write a student from a different country, or at least write what they would if they had the opportunity to ask questions of a child different from them. Letter writing is also a good exercise in general because in many ways it has become a lost art. If you wanted to make it more timely, you could have them write an email and show how to write a proper email since it seems that many students do not know how to do this. Overall, this book is a great way to facilitate discussion about our similarities with other cultures.
Wednesday, October 24, 2012
Moses
Weatherford, C. (2006). Moses. New York, New York: Hyperion Books for Children.
This book is about Harriet Tubman and her journey on the Underground Railroad. It depicts the faith that she had, and the hardships she went through including having to sleep for days in a potato hole. Weatherford shows how Tubman never believed she was alone, she always felt that God was with her. It talks about her 9 different trips to the South and back, trying to rescue people from the horrors of slavery. The book depicts her incredible bravery and her resilience to continue to do the right thing. The paintings and the overall writing of the book are excellently done.
The book would be great for incorporating social studies in with Language Arts. This part of history is rich with different themes such as bravery and boldness in the midst of hardship. It would be neat to talk about standing up for what you believe in and having kids ponder that question.
This book is about Harriet Tubman and her journey on the Underground Railroad. It depicts the faith that she had, and the hardships she went through including having to sleep for days in a potato hole. Weatherford shows how Tubman never believed she was alone, she always felt that God was with her. It talks about her 9 different trips to the South and back, trying to rescue people from the horrors of slavery. The book depicts her incredible bravery and her resilience to continue to do the right thing. The paintings and the overall writing of the book are excellently done.
The book would be great for incorporating social studies in with Language Arts. This part of history is rich with different themes such as bravery and boldness in the midst of hardship. It would be neat to talk about standing up for what you believe in and having kids ponder that question.
Sequoyah
Rumford, J. (2004). Sequoyah. New York, New York: Houghton Mifflin Company.
This book is about a man named Sequoyah who was born in eastern Tennessee in the 1760s. He was the son of a Cherokee woman and a white man. He was a regular man that simply went about his daily duties of metalwork. He did not want his people and their voices to die away and so he wanted to invent a way for his people to be able to write, believing it would make them stronger. He began drawing symbols for each word and putting them on pieces of wood.People thought he was crazy, yet he continued to press on to develop a written language for his people. His daughter eventually learned to read and people started respecting what he was doing. People learned quickly and the Cherokee Nation was able to publish newspapers and books. It is a very interesting book and very well written.
It could be neat for a Language Arts class to think about the gift of language and reading and writing. It could be thought provoking to pose the question what would we do without being able to read and write? What are the benefits of language? What are the hardships? This book does a great job of making one ponder the beauty of language.
This book is about a man named Sequoyah who was born in eastern Tennessee in the 1760s. He was the son of a Cherokee woman and a white man. He was a regular man that simply went about his daily duties of metalwork. He did not want his people and their voices to die away and so he wanted to invent a way for his people to be able to write, believing it would make them stronger. He began drawing symbols for each word and putting them on pieces of wood.People thought he was crazy, yet he continued to press on to develop a written language for his people. His daughter eventually learned to read and people started respecting what he was doing. People learned quickly and the Cherokee Nation was able to publish newspapers and books. It is a very interesting book and very well written.
It could be neat for a Language Arts class to think about the gift of language and reading and writing. It could be thought provoking to pose the question what would we do without being able to read and write? What are the benefits of language? What are the hardships? This book does a great job of making one ponder the beauty of language.
Poetry for Young People
Hughes, L. (1994). Poetry for young people. New York, New York: Sterling Publishing Company.
This is a book of poems by Langston Hughes and illustrations by Benny Andrews. It is a beautiful book with poems ranging from a mother and son relationship all the way to a poem about a pretty girl named Sue. The poems are illustrated in a way that helps the student understand the content of the poem. They are fairly short poems and above the poem is a little hint about the meaning of it. There are extremely powerful poems about dreaming for change as well as a poem about Hughes attempting to understand his African heritage more. In my opinion, this is a must read book for anyone interested in literature.
I think it is of utmost importance to incorporate classic authors into curriculum. I think as English teachers, we would be doing a disservice to our students if we did not make them read authors that changed American literature and history. Hughes is one of these. The book is challenging yet attainable for 7th graders to read. I think it would be interesting to incorporate this classic author with a more modern voice and issue and see the similarities and the differences between the voices.
This is a book of poems by Langston Hughes and illustrations by Benny Andrews. It is a beautiful book with poems ranging from a mother and son relationship all the way to a poem about a pretty girl named Sue. The poems are illustrated in a way that helps the student understand the content of the poem. They are fairly short poems and above the poem is a little hint about the meaning of it. There are extremely powerful poems about dreaming for change as well as a poem about Hughes attempting to understand his African heritage more. In my opinion, this is a must read book for anyone interested in literature.
I think it is of utmost importance to incorporate classic authors into curriculum. I think as English teachers, we would be doing a disservice to our students if we did not make them read authors that changed American literature and history. Hughes is one of these. The book is challenging yet attainable for 7th graders to read. I think it would be interesting to incorporate this classic author with a more modern voice and issue and see the similarities and the differences between the voices.
I live in Tokyo
Takabayashi, M. (2001). I live in tokyo. New York, New York: Houghton Mifflin Company.
This book is a very educational book about life in Tokyo. The story centers around a girl named Mimiko who is seven years old. She talks about the special events that take place in Tokyo as well as the different terms that talk about the city and downtown life. She talks about her family. Her mother practices calligraphy and he likes to practice it too because it makes her feel calm. The book goes through different things that happen each month. She talks about starting second grade and her fears and excitement about school. She also spends time talking about her favorite meals and holidays. It is a great book because it truly gives insight into a year of life for a child growing up in Tokyo.
It is a great book that is perhaps aimed towards younger students. I do think it would be awesome to have students write their own "I live in ____" book, and perhaps read it to a younger group of students at a nearby elementary school. It is definitely below their reading level, but it would be a good exercise to have them contemplate the holidays and traditions that they love about the culture that they have grown up in. It would also be a good opportunity to compare their traditions to the traditions of other cultures.
This book is a very educational book about life in Tokyo. The story centers around a girl named Mimiko who is seven years old. She talks about the special events that take place in Tokyo as well as the different terms that talk about the city and downtown life. She talks about her family. Her mother practices calligraphy and he likes to practice it too because it makes her feel calm. The book goes through different things that happen each month. She talks about starting second grade and her fears and excitement about school. She also spends time talking about her favorite meals and holidays. It is a great book because it truly gives insight into a year of life for a child growing up in Tokyo.
It is a great book that is perhaps aimed towards younger students. I do think it would be awesome to have students write their own "I live in ____" book, and perhaps read it to a younger group of students at a nearby elementary school. It is definitely below their reading level, but it would be a good exercise to have them contemplate the holidays and traditions that they love about the culture that they have grown up in. It would also be a good opportunity to compare their traditions to the traditions of other cultures.
Kira Kira
Kadohata, C. (2004). Kira kira. New York, New York: Atheneum Books for Young Readers.
This novel is a John Newberry Medal Winner. It takes place in Iowa in the 1950's. Katie is a girl who lives with her parents and her older sister Lynn, whom she looks up to very much. Her parents' Japanese supermarket goes out of business and their family ends up moving to Georgia. Part of the book is about her transition in being accustomed to a new culture. Most of the book, however, is about dealing with grief. The book takes a serious tone when Lynn is diagnosed with lymphoma. Her personality becomes affected by this as does her relationships with her family. She dies, and the family is left to deal with their enormous loss. Kira Kira is a saying that means glittering, and this saying reminds Katie to always look for the positive and magical things about life.
This novel is a John Newberry Medal Winner. It takes place in Iowa in the 1950's. Katie is a girl who lives with her parents and her older sister Lynn, whom she looks up to very much. Her parents' Japanese supermarket goes out of business and their family ends up moving to Georgia. Part of the book is about her transition in being accustomed to a new culture. Most of the book, however, is about dealing with grief. The book takes a serious tone when Lynn is diagnosed with lymphoma. Her personality becomes affected by this as does her relationships with her family. She dies, and the family is left to deal with their enormous loss. Kira Kira is a saying that means glittering, and this saying reminds Katie to always look for the positive and magical things about life.
OverOverall, the book would be a wonderful tool to discuss grief and dealing with hard circumstances in life. It is very sad, so it would have to be given to a mature group of students or maybe specifically recommended to a student. The author does a wonderful job of incorporating things about Japanese culture, showing how the family deals with the loss of their daughter and sister. Ultimately it is a positive book that could open and allow for interesting class discussion.
Thi
Inside Out and Back Again
Lai, T. (2011). Inside out and back again. New York, New York: Harper Collins.
This novel was no doubt one of my favorites that I read. The book is about a young Vietnam girl named Ha. She has lived in Saigon for most of her life but she ends up having to flee to America because of the Vietnam War. The book really touches on the sadness of this young girl having to leave behind the memories, the smells, and the places she has loved her whole life. The reader is able to empathize with her and feel a small part of her sadness in having to be completely uprooted from the only home that she has known. Her family ends up moving to Alabama and this is quite a culture shock for young Ha. She has to become accustomed to Southern culture and talks about school in this new home. Her parents put a lot of pressure on her to do well in school and so she deals with that on top of trying to make friends. Her mother always reminds her of her goal: college. She also is dealing with the stress of not knowing if all of her distant family members are safe from the war. Basically, the book goes through a year in the life of this girl. The writing is so honest, mostly because many of the events happened to the author.
This book is written in the form of poetry. As someone who loves poetry, I would be excited to use this in my class as a way to talk about different forms of literature. I would want the students to write about a time of change in their own life and how that made them feel.
This novel was no doubt one of my favorites that I read. The book is about a young Vietnam girl named Ha. She has lived in Saigon for most of her life but she ends up having to flee to America because of the Vietnam War. The book really touches on the sadness of this young girl having to leave behind the memories, the smells, and the places she has loved her whole life. The reader is able to empathize with her and feel a small part of her sadness in having to be completely uprooted from the only home that she has known. Her family ends up moving to Alabama and this is quite a culture shock for young Ha. She has to become accustomed to Southern culture and talks about school in this new home. Her parents put a lot of pressure on her to do well in school and so she deals with that on top of trying to make friends. Her mother always reminds her of her goal: college. She also is dealing with the stress of not knowing if all of her distant family members are safe from the war. Basically, the book goes through a year in the life of this girl. The writing is so honest, mostly because many of the events happened to the author.
This book is written in the form of poetry. As someone who loves poetry, I would be excited to use this in my class as a way to talk about different forms of literature. I would want the students to write about a time of change in their own life and how that made them feel.
T
Bud, Not Buddy
Curtis, C. P. (1999). Bud, not buddy. New York, New York: Delacorte Press.
This book is about a ten-year-old boy named Bud. It takes place in Flint, Michigan in 1936, the time of the Great Depression. He is on a journey to find his father and does so with the help of different clues that his mother left him. These clues include flyers of a musician named Herman E. Calloway. It is a surprisingly humorous book despite the fact that it takes place in such a somber time in US History. The characters are vibrant and Bud is an incredibly likable character who learns some hard lessons about identity on his path to finding his father.
I think this book would be interesting to use for a unit about identity. I think middle school is such a crucial time in the lives of students and it's important to address the question of, "Who am I?" Bud does this all throughout the book. It could be an interesting exercise to ask the students to pinpoint different parts of the novel where a piece of his identity is revealed and have group discussions about what makes him discover this. Then it would be interesting to have the students write a bit about their own journey to discovering themselves.
This book is about a ten-year-old boy named Bud. It takes place in Flint, Michigan in 1936, the time of the Great Depression. He is on a journey to find his father and does so with the help of different clues that his mother left him. These clues include flyers of a musician named Herman E. Calloway. It is a surprisingly humorous book despite the fact that it takes place in such a somber time in US History. The characters are vibrant and Bud is an incredibly likable character who learns some hard lessons about identity on his path to finding his father.
I think this book would be interesting to use for a unit about identity. I think middle school is such a crucial time in the lives of students and it's important to address the question of, "Who am I?" Bud does this all throughout the book. It could be an interesting exercise to ask the students to pinpoint different parts of the novel where a piece of his identity is revealed and have group discussions about what makes him discover this. Then it would be interesting to have the students write a bit about their own journey to discovering themselves.
Sunday, September 30, 2012
Tasting the Sky
Barakat, I. (2007). Tasting the sky: A palestinian childhood. Harrisonburg, Virginia: RR Donnelley & Sons Company.
Tasting the sky is a true story written by Ibtisam Barakat. She was a little girl growing up during the Six Day War between Palestine and Israel. Though it is 175 pages, she writes an incredible story of her experiences as a child facing war. The reader watches Ibtisam grow through the entire novel and is able to see the ways in which she copes with such a frightening environment to be a child in. From a beloved donkey named Suma to the letter Alef, she learns how to survive and endure despite hardship and trial. The beautiful part of the book is the ability for the reader to understand that in times of war, people are still people, and children are still children.
I think this book would be excellent for an 8-9 grade student. The Middle East is an area that is often talked about in the news and it is important for students to realize that the children growing up in those areas are similar to them. It would provide excellent themes to discuss as far as how do different cultures cope and how do we seek to understand both sides of an issue. I loved this book and felt that it would be incredibly helpful in a classroom to cultivate real learning about a different culture.
Tasting the sky is a true story written by Ibtisam Barakat. She was a little girl growing up during the Six Day War between Palestine and Israel. Though it is 175 pages, she writes an incredible story of her experiences as a child facing war. The reader watches Ibtisam grow through the entire novel and is able to see the ways in which she copes with such a frightening environment to be a child in. From a beloved donkey named Suma to the letter Alef, she learns how to survive and endure despite hardship and trial. The beautiful part of the book is the ability for the reader to understand that in times of war, people are still people, and children are still children.
I think this book would be excellent for an 8-9 grade student. The Middle East is an area that is often talked about in the news and it is important for students to realize that the children growing up in those areas are similar to them. It would provide excellent themes to discuss as far as how do different cultures cope and how do we seek to understand both sides of an issue. I loved this book and felt that it would be incredibly helpful in a classroom to cultivate real learning about a different culture.
T
The Moon Over Star
Aston, D. (2008). The moon over star. New York, NY: Penguin Group.
This book talks about a young African American girl's dream of one day going to the moon. It speaks about her experience of watching the United States land on the moon first. As a young girl, landing on the moon taught her to dream despite her grandfather's displeasure with the fact that the U.S. was spending so much money on the space program. It's about the way her family handled such an event and her view of mankind. It talks about how her family handled this monumental event in a much different way than perhaps some of her peers. Finally, it speaks about her identity and how she attempts to view herself.
This book would be a great read aloud in a Social Studies classroom. It is an easy read for a middle school student but would provide an interesting opportunity for students to think about how different people from different cultures have handled and viewed major historical events.
This book talks about a young African American girl's dream of one day going to the moon. It speaks about her experience of watching the United States land on the moon first. As a young girl, landing on the moon taught her to dream despite her grandfather's displeasure with the fact that the U.S. was spending so much money on the space program. It's about the way her family handled such an event and her view of mankind. It talks about how her family handled this monumental event in a much different way than perhaps some of her peers. Finally, it speaks about her identity and how she attempts to view herself.
This book would be a great read aloud in a Social Studies classroom. It is an easy read for a middle school student but would provide an interesting opportunity for students to think about how different people from different cultures have handled and viewed major historical events.
It is
Uncommon Traveler
Brown, D. (2000). Uncommon traveler. New York, NY: Houghton Mifflin Company.
This book is about Mary Kingsley, a woman who spent much of her life in West Africa in the late 1800s. It talks about her adventures of learning about a new culture and a people much different from herself. The books speaks of the reward of being willing to step outside of your comfort zone, yet also touches on the risks involved in doing so. People thought that Mary was crazy for leaving her home to go live amongst people she did not have much in common with. Finally, it goes through the differences she encountered when she was living there and how she dealt with it. Some of the differences are humorous and some are serious, which provides a great learning opportunity for its readers.
This book would be a great tool for a social studies class focusing on biographies. It allows readers to get a glimpse into African culture as well as encourages experiences that push us beyond what is comfortable.
This book is about Mary Kingsley, a woman who spent much of her life in West Africa in the late 1800s. It talks about her adventures of learning about a new culture and a people much different from herself. The books speaks of the reward of being willing to step outside of your comfort zone, yet also touches on the risks involved in doing so. People thought that Mary was crazy for leaving her home to go live amongst people she did not have much in common with. Finally, it goes through the differences she encountered when she was living there and how she dealt with it. Some of the differences are humorous and some are serious, which provides a great learning opportunity for its readers.
This book would be a great tool for a social studies class focusing on biographies. It allows readers to get a glimpse into African culture as well as encourages experiences that push us beyond what is comfortable.
Jazz
Myers, D. (2006). Jazz. (1st ed.). New York: Holiday House.
Dean Meyers uses the music of jazz to portray through poetry how people used this genre throughout US history. His poems show what this type of music meant to a group of people and how one can appreciate it. He attempts to communicate the "depth and beauty" of jazz and how people put their feelings into the music of the time. It is a beautiful book, fun to read and quite educational to a type of music that students may or may not be accustomed to. Students can learn about different jazz musicians such as Louis Armstrong and Bob Johnson.
Given that the poems are fairly easy to understand and educational, this book would be excellent for classroom use. I think it would be interesting to have students choose their favorite and try to write their own jazz-influenced poem.
Dean Meyers uses the music of jazz to portray through poetry how people used this genre throughout US history. His poems show what this type of music meant to a group of people and how one can appreciate it. He attempts to communicate the "depth and beauty" of jazz and how people put their feelings into the music of the time. It is a beautiful book, fun to read and quite educational to a type of music that students may or may not be accustomed to. Students can learn about different jazz musicians such as Louis Armstrong and Bob Johnson.
Given that the poems are fairly easy to understand and educational, this book would be excellent for classroom use. I think it would be interesting to have students choose their favorite and try to write their own jazz-influenced poem.
ellington was not a street
Shange, N. (2004). Ellington was not a street. New York, NY: St. Martin's Press, Inc.
This book won the 2005 Coretta Scott King award. It is a poem written by Ntozake Shange and illustrated by Kadir Nelson. The poet talks about how she grew up amongst a prestigious community of now famous African American people who changed the country. She talks about her home and how W.E. DuBois would simply walk in and how this was normal. She references about ten famous African Americans who stood up for their art and for their beliefs. In the back of the book, she talks a bit about each of these people who frequently were around her, which is a great thing for children to understand the names that she references in the poem.
I think this book would be an excellent read for a middle school classroom, especially during a poetry unit. It is a bit hard to understand, however the beautiful pictures would actually help teach how to read and comprehend poetry. I think it is an excellent teaching opportunity to talk about how African American thinkers shaped the ideology of a country.
This book won the 2005 Coretta Scott King award. It is a poem written by Ntozake Shange and illustrated by Kadir Nelson. The poet talks about how she grew up amongst a prestigious community of now famous African American people who changed the country. She talks about her home and how W.E. DuBois would simply walk in and how this was normal. She references about ten famous African Americans who stood up for their art and for their beliefs. In the back of the book, she talks a bit about each of these people who frequently were around her, which is a great thing for children to understand the names that she references in the poem.
I think this book would be an excellent read for a middle school classroom, especially during a poetry unit. It is a bit hard to understand, however the beautiful pictures would actually help teach how to read and comprehend poetry. I think it is an excellent teaching opportunity to talk about how African American thinkers shaped the ideology of a country.
I th
Heart and Soul
Nelson, K. (2011). Heart and soul. (1st ed.). New York, NY: HarperCollins Children's Books.
In his book, Heart and Soul, Kadir Nelson creatively tells the story of African American history in the US. Through the narration of an unknown and elderly black woman, the book is made very personal to the reader. It is as if the reader's grandmother is retelling family history. He is a well known artist, and the theme of art and history is woven through the entire book. He includes famous pictures in museums as well as his own pictures to paint the involvement of African Americans in the Revolutionary War, the Declaration of Independence, abolition and slavery, the Civil War, Reconstruction, and all the way through Civil Rights and WWII. He ends the book talking about Martin Luther King Jr. and leaves the reader on a very hopeful note.
This book is quite impressive in the way it thoroughly and creatively walks a young reader through the history of the United States through the eyes of an African American. It is too long to be used as a read-aloud book in its entirety, however reading a chapter a day could be a great way to begin the day or a lesson.
In his book, Heart and Soul, Kadir Nelson creatively tells the story of African American history in the US. Through the narration of an unknown and elderly black woman, the book is made very personal to the reader. It is as if the reader's grandmother is retelling family history. He is a well known artist, and the theme of art and history is woven through the entire book. He includes famous pictures in museums as well as his own pictures to paint the involvement of African Americans in the Revolutionary War, the Declaration of Independence, abolition and slavery, the Civil War, Reconstruction, and all the way through Civil Rights and WWII. He ends the book talking about Martin Luther King Jr. and leaves the reader on a very hopeful note.
This book is quite impressive in the way it thoroughly and creatively walks a young reader through the history of the United States through the eyes of an African American. It is too long to be used as a read-aloud book in its entirety, however reading a chapter a day could be a great way to begin the day or a lesson.
In I
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