Diverse Literature

Critical Review

Critical

Review

One negative is this book does not really have any stereotyping. There are a few pictures that depict asian children eating noodles but really thats about it. The illustrations in the book are authentic and accurate. The drawings depict characters of all backgrounds accurately. Another weakness is there really not a lof of cultural details in this book. It is almost like an overview on what racism is but never really dives into a certain culture. The author I think is trying to give children and overiew on what having different skin means and also what racism is. The authors are from New York so they see an abundant amount of diveristy and I think that they wanted children to understand the different skin colors and why they are that way.

Classroom Connections

Classroom

Connections

The main theme of this book is to teach children about what skin color is and how it makes us different. It also shows students what racism is and what it can look like it.

Activities that you can do is a drawing activity. Students can pick a different race and draw what they think that person is suppose to look like. Another activity can be a I am activity. First students will conducted research on a race different than thier own. Then they fill out the I Am poem and share.

Additional Resources

Additional

Resources

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z4tx0z_vRuE

This is readloud by one of the authors.

https://www.firstconversations.com/

This website was designed by the author and has resouces for parents who need help starting the first conversations on topics. LIke this book touches racism there are other books that touch other sensative subjects.

https://librarylessonswithbooks.com/our-skin-a-first-conversation-about-race/

This is a discussion activity for Our Skin. There is a before,

during and after section that you complete with

students.

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Critical Review

Critical

Review

This book really has a strength in showing children to include other children in acivities. I think that the author wanted to enlighten students on how to be a bridge for other students. The illustrations gives students a visual. On page 13 it shows a kid standing up to a bully for another kid. The story is showing students how to connect with other students despite their differences. On page 14 it talks about a student praying and giving room and respect. The majority characters "save" the minortiy characters. On page 17 the girl tries to help reel back a classmate who is

frustrated over a mistake. One big weakness of the book is there really is no stereotypes or cultural details.

Classroom Connections

Classroom

Connections

The main idea for this book is to be a bridge for others. Welcome new students by showing them around and how things go. Stand up to bullying and even helping a classmate when they are having a bad day. Be a bridge that leads to lasting connections and relationships.

One activity that you could do is acutally build a bridge out of like toothpick or straw to show the students what a bridge looks like and what it is meant for. To connect. Then the students can write explaing how they can be a bridge for someone else. We then could have a class discussion on why be a bridge for others is important.

Additional Resources

Additional

Resources

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9T_yofovee0

This is a read along

https://www.weareteachers.com/team-building-games-and-activities/

This has alist of activities to help build relationships and teacm building inside the classroom.

https://www.marlborough.org/news/~board/stem/post/four-benefits-of-teamwork-for-student-development-success

This article goes over the importance of team

building inside the classroom how how it helps

student development.

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Critical Review

Critical

Review

This books illustrations I think are its strong point. They help show the reader what is going on with Luis being upset his brother is leaving for the Army. There are alot of cultural details like on page 9 the Mom is singing in Spanish. This story brings the charatcters of Luis and Nico closer together as Luis is doing all he can to keep Nico from leaving for the service. When Nico is gone Luis paints as an outlet to hide the pain. The book as wont he following awards:

Cooperative Children's Book Center (CCBC) Choices, Winner, 2017

Notable Award Children's Book Committee at Bank Street College Best Children's Book of the Year - Outstanding Merit, Winner, 2017

Charlotte Huck Award for Outstanding Fiction Recommended Book, Commended, 2016

Classroom Connections

Classroom

Connections

Luis Paints The World shows that you can harness emotions and turn them into something positive. Luis was upset his brother was leaving for the Army. So he paints the world in the alley by his house. Art can expand a kids world and in the book brings a neighborhood together.

One activity we could do is draw the world like Luis did. As long as it is in the world it is fair game to be drawn. Whatever the students want to draw. Another activity we could do is become pen pals for deployed military persoanell. It can help students establish connections and help them understand the military more.

Additional Resources

Additional

Resources

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g-4Mx29alE4

This is a readaloud read by the author Terry Farish.

https://www.terryfarish.com/book/luis-paints-the-world/

This is the authors web page that gives more insight and information on the book.

https://www.bookconnections.org/tb.cgi?tid=52777

This has some lesson ideas on what to do with students and the book. It can drive deep into themes or can stay simple with just the characters, setting and overall main idea.

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Critical Review

Critical

Review

A Boy And A Jaguar is about a boy with a terrible stutter. It is only when he talks to animals that he becomes fluent. The illustrations show the boy going through his life witht he struggles of a stutter. On page 13 the picture shows doctors trying to help but to no avail. The book I am sure is through the authors perspective as he has a stutter as well. He wanted children to see what life is like with a stutter. There is a big stereotype on page 8 when the boy says he is put into a classroom for disturbed children. He is not disruptive the teacher just does not know how to handle it. This books won the 2015 Schneider Family Book Award.

Classroom Connections

The main theme in this book is the theme if misunderstanding. The boys stutter like the author caused the boy to go through life being misunderstood leading to feelings of emptiness. Animals just like the author were the things the boy became passionate about.

One activity we can do is explore endangered animals like the jaguar in the book by going to Panthera.com and exploring other endangered cats. Another activity we can do is have the students write a letter and talk to their favorite animal.

Additional Resources

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-swotbKR4nM

The Boy And A Jaguar readaloud.

https://www.stutteringhelp.org/content/boy-and-jaguar

This is some more information on the book and the author. This is the authors foundation and as a lot of information and resources about stuttering.

https://www.npr.org/2014/06/08/319420681/a-boy-and-his-jaguar-speak-to-children-who-feel-misunderstood

This is an article about an interview with the

author about what lead him to write this book.

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