Multicultural

 Same, Same But Different by: Jenny Sue Kostecki- Shaw

Summary:

This book is about a boy who draws a picture of his world and his teacher sends it to a boy who lives in another part of the world. The two boys compare their worlds with each other, pointing out the similarities and the differences between the two. The two boys become great friends despite living in "different worlds."

 

Evaluation:

This is a multicultural fiction book. It shows a boy who lives in a different part of the world, and the similarities/ differences the way we live here in the U.S. This book does a great job of showing children that despite differences in the way other cultures live, there are still many similarities. This book also includes the element of repetition.

The illustrations in this book are outline style. They use the elements of color to show the differences in the "two worlds" and the element of line is used throughout the book as well to draw attention to certain areas of the illustrations.

Activities:

You could have the children describe what it is like at home for them, or when they get together with extended family, different traditions they have.. and then help them to point our similarities and differences among each others lives. 

You could also have the children pick a culture that is different from their own and research to find similarities and differences between that culture and their own.

Do you think it is just as important for children to recognize the similarites their own culture has with another as it is for them to recognize the differences?

Personal Thoughts:

I thought this was a really cute book. It shows children that they can be friends with others despite their differences. It also shows children that despite differences they have with others, there are still many aspects of the way that they live that are the same.

Can you suggest some good books that will help children to recognize that despite differences, everyone has similarities?

Reference:

Kostecki-Shaw, J. S. (2015). Same, same but different. Danbury, CT: Weston Woods.

Fiction book

 Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What do you see?  by: Bill Martin, JR. and Eric Carle

 

Summary:

This book shows different animals in different colors to help teach pre- school age children their colors, and the names of different animals.

 

Evaluation:

This book includes repetition, which helps the children to better follow along, and encourages them to say the words too, which will help them to better learn the colors and animals. 

The illustrations in this book are outline style and include the elements of texture and color to portray the animals and to help children to learn their colors.

 

Activities:

You could have each of the children draw and color an animal of their choosing and then have them create their own classroom book using their drawings.

Do you think it is confusing for children to see animals in unrealistic colors; such as the purple cat? or do you think that helps them to use their imagination?

Personal Thoughts: 

I love this book for pre- school children, I used to read it to the children when I worked in child care and they always loved it too. It helps them to learn different animals and colors while encouraging them to join in with the story as it includes repetition throughout the book.

Reference:

Martin, B. (2008). Brown bear, brown bear, what do you see? Solon, OH: Longman.

Informational Nonfiction

 If Sharks Disappeared by Lily Williams

Summary:

This book talks about the ocean and how certain species help to maintain balance within the environment. It has illustrations to show the good that sharks do, and the bad things that could happen to the environment is sharks were to be extinct. The book tells how the sharks not only keep the ocean in balance, but also land.

Evaluation:

This is an informational nonfiction book as it gives factional information on the topic, how sharks help to maintain balance within the environment, and what could happen if they were to become extinct.  The setting of this book is mostly in the ocean, but also some on land, as it describes the effects on land as well.

The illustrations in this book are outline style, giving it a cartoon feel. The elements used include line and color to help attract the readers attention to the visuals that help to reiterate the topic of the book.

Activities:

Before reading the book, you could ask the children what they know about sharks and what they think might happen if sharks disappear. Then compare and contrast after reading the story.

You could also have the children draw a picture of the ocean and/ or write their own short story of what they think might happen is a different animal became extinct.

 

Personal Thoughts:

I thought this was a great book for children. It can give children a different perspective on sharks, rather than just thinking that they are these big, scary, mean creatures who do nothing for the environment.

 

What are you thoughts on giving children a different outlook on sharks? Obviously we don't want them to go hunting sharks down, but I think it can give teach them to look at many things in a new light, help them to see the good in things that don't always seem good. 

Biography

Elvis is King by Jonah Winter 

 

 Summary:

This is a biography about Elvis Presley, but told as a story, rather than a factual line-up. It starts when he born, through his middle school years, when he and his family are financially unstable. It talks about when he came into stardom and his relationships. The story ends with a note from the author that goes through more detailed facts of his life.

 

Evaluation:

The setting and plot of this story is the home, school, job of Elvis Presley when he was a child. The story takes place in Mississippi, Memphis and is told in chronological order. It is told as a story which is more likely to keep the attention of children.

The illustrations are really neat. They use outline style, but the characters almost appear to be made out of clay. They also use texture and bright colors to depict the emotions of the settings in the illustrations.

 

Activities:

One fun activity would be to have the children write a story based on their lives and have them includes facts about themselves and events/ memories they have.

Another fun activity would be to have them write a song/ poem and then share it with the class. This could be a group activity and the kids could work together in groups on this.

 

Personal Thoughts:

 As a child, I LOVED Elivs Presley so I especially enjoyed this book, this is something I would have loved to read as a child, because it was full as facts about him and his life, but they were told within a story rather than on a factual time line, which made is even more intriguing. 

What are your thoughts on biographies such as this one? Ones that include the facts but are told as a story rather then a time line? Do think they can cause confusion between fiction and nonfiction for children?

Historical Fiction

 Sweet Clara and the Freedom Quilt by: Deborah Hopkinson

 

 

Summary:

This book is about a young girl who was raised into slavery, away from her mother. She is a field hand, and her "aunt" teaches her how to sew so she can get out of the field and become a seamstress. Over the years she works on sewing a quilt. The quilt symbolizes freedom, and helps others to gain the courage to free themselves from slavery.

Evaluation:

This is historical fiction as it a fictional story based on true events that have actually happened in the past, it refers to the underground railroad. The characters behave as they would have in that setting versus how people would act in in the present, with actions that were common for that time period, for this book it was working in the field and being a seamstess.

The illustrations in the book use representational art to depict the characters in a realistic manner. The illustrations utilize the elements of color and texture to bring the culture of the story to life.

 

Activities:

Children could get different fabrics or old clothes from around their house and use the fabric to make a tie quilt with the help of their teachers, and tell the class about what the different fabrics and the quilt mean to them.

Older children could compare this story to a nonfictional story about the underground railroad and compare and contrast the two.

 

Personal Thoughts:

I enjoyed this story. I feel like it helps to give some insight into some of the struggles that other cultures faced in the past. It lets children see a little bit of the past, and can help them to open their minds to learning more history.  

Are children ever too young to learn about bad/ sad events that have happened in the past; slavery, war, etc.. ? 

What are your thoughts on using historical fiction as a gateway to introducing children to these types of events?

Personally, I think is good for children to learn about these things at a fairly young age, and I think using historical fiction is a good way to introduce it. These stories can give a softer version of the harsh realities that people in these times suffered. Giving children the knowledge of the past, without the gory details.

 

Reference:

Hopkinson, D. (2003). Sweet Clara and the freedom quilt. New York, NY: Knopf.

Realistic Contemporary Fiction

 Prudence Wants A Pet  by: Cathleen Daly

Summary:

There's a little girl named Prudence who wants a pet, but her parents won't let her have one. Prudence starts using other things as her pets, twigs, her brother, a tire, etc. Each "pet" she gets, she either loses, does not properly care for, or she finds it a new home. Eventually her parents surprise her on her Birthday with a special gift... a cat, and she takes great care of him.

Evaluation:

This is a realistic contemporary fiction story, as it depicts a child in a situation that many children are able to relate to. More specifically, it's an "animal story"as it's about a little girl who wants a pet. Many children want a pet at some point but are not always allowed to have one. The setting is in a real setting; school, home, the park, etc. 

The illustrations are outline style. They use a mixture of color and line art throughout the story. The illustrations lack a back ground and focus on the main character and her pets.

Activities:

A fun activity for young children would be to have them find an item at home and treat it as if it were their own pet. They could give it a name, walk it, feed and water it, etc.. This will help them to use their imagination and create a story of their own. 

Older children could write or tell their own short story about either a real pet or make believe pet of their own.

Have you ever had an imaginary pet? If so, how far did your imagination go with the scenario?

Personal Thoughts:

I thought this was a cute book. I'm sure many children can relate to this situation, I know when I was a child I wanted a dog so bad and my parents kept saying no, but eventually got me one for Christmas. After I got the dog, I realized why they were so reluctant. Pets can be a lot of work. 

Reference:

Stanley, G., & Henderson, M. (2005). Crazy Horse Young War Chief. New York, NY: Aladdin Paperbacje.

Multicultural Folklore

La Princesa and the Pea   By: Susan Middleton Elya

Summary:

This is a version of "The Princess and the Pea" that includes a Hispanic twist. It is about a Prince who meets a girl that he wants to marry, but his mother is very particular. The mother puts the girl through a test to see if she is a real princess, by putting a pea under her bed to see if she can feel it. The girl passes the test, with the help of the Prince and they get married.

 

Evaluation:

Based on what I've read in the text, this story is a "noodlehead folktale." This book is cute and has funny parts to it to really keep the children engaged.

As many of the other stories I've read, the illustrator uses outline style to give it a "cartoon" vibe.  They also include elements of design and textiles native to peru, which gives the illustrations so much character.

 

Activity:

It would be fun to have the kids create their own drawings/ art work using textiles similar to those illustrated throughout the book. The design elements throughout the book are so pretty and it would be a great are project. 

 

Personal Thoughts:

 I really enjoyed the retelling of this story. I enjoyed this story when I was a child and it's nice to see that authors are re- telling these stories with a new spin on them. I also love that this story includes some Spanish! This great for multicultural class rooms and also for just having children hear a different language.

Can you recommend any books that put a multi cultural spin on classic tales that you enjoyed as a child?

What do you think the benefits are of reading a story to children that includes more than one language throughout the story?