Changing Worlds: One Page at a Time
I created the following annotated bibliography as part of one of my Master of Education courses in 2009. It is a list of books which I have found useful in presenting issues of social justice to students by using them as “read-aloud” selections. It is by no means an exhaustive list as there are hundreds of books available on each of these topics and more. These books require critical thinking skills and also help student develop their abilities in comprehension. In addition, these books often act as an impetus to action and service on the part of students. These books teach, inspire and motivate students to think, act and serve. Each entry includes a brief description of the book as well as a suggestion of the subject matter/topic which the book can be used to address in the classroom.
Before you have a look at my list of books, you may want to view a Prezi I created as part of a professional development session I did with teachers in my school board in 2011. The presentation is called "Using Diverse Children's Literature to Build Cultural Competence". The link to the Prezi is here.
Chin, Oliver (2008) Julie Blackbelt
New York: Immedium
Julie Black Belt is a story set in contemporary times which
delivers a strong message about perseverance. Through the character, Julie,
children learn that hard work and commitment are necessary for true success.
Julie discovers this as she pursues various belts in Kung Fu. This book shows a girl in a non-traditional
role and helps girls in the class who pursue those types of activities is a
very positive light.
Instead of a frilly and sentimental keepsake as a reminder of her homeland, the practical Miss Birdie selects a shovel to accompany her to a new life as she moves to America in 1856. Miss Birdie finds a multitude of ways to use her shovel and her determination and work with her shovel bring her through the highs and lows of her life. This is a good book for challenging female stereotypes.
A baseball-loving girl worries that the
ballet class her mother forces her to take will ruin her reputation with the
other members of her baseball team. The
heroine soon learns that ballet is as much about teamwork as her beloved
baseball. This book can be used to help
students explore the idea that you don’t have to choose between activities that
are seen as feminine/masculine. It also
helps students see that society draws very distinct yet artificial lines
between female/male pursuits and characteristics.
dePaola, Tomie (1979) Oliver Button Is a Sissy Harcourt: Orlando
Oliver’s unconventional choice of “feminine” hobbies earns him the title
of “sissy” and the ostracism of his peers.
Still, Oliver does not stop doing what he truly loves to do including
entering himself in a talent show as a tap dancer. In the end Oliver gains some acceptance, but
more importantly gains inner strength.
This is a good book for prompting discussion of gender roles and
individual difference.
Hoffman, Mary (1991) Amazing Grace Scholastic: New York
When Grace’s elementary school decides to
put on a play about Peter Pan, she is determined to be a character in the
production. Her friends tell her she
can’t be in the play because she is a girl and she is black. Grace is not deterred and proves to everyone
that there no limits can be placed when a human heart is determined! This is a great story to use to explore how
we limit ourselves when we limit others.
Students really connect with the sense of unfairness in this story.
Howe, James (1996) Pinky
and Rex and the Bully Scholastic:
New York
Pinky is forced into an
identity crisis when his nickname and favorite color is deemed girlish by a
bully. He wonders if, now at the grown up age of seven, it's time to abandon
“Pinky” and his best friend Rex, who is a girl. An elderly neighbor, Mrs.
Morgan, suggests that he remain true to himself and question the rules of
gender behavior instead. With his pal Rex at his side, Pinky verbally confronts
the bully and the older boy's aggressiveness falls apart in the face of Pinky's
new confidence. This book promotes discussion of gender roles as well as the
power of non-violence in solving conflicts.
Taylor-Butler, Christine (2003) No Boys Allowed! Scholastic: New York
George loved to jump, but everyone knows that boys don’t jump rope. Through perseverance and parental support,
George gets to enjoy and excel at his favorite activity. This book is a simple read that promotes
discussion about gender roles.
Zolotow, Charlotte (1972) William’s Doll Harper
Collins: China
William wants a doll. He wants to
nurture it and care for it, but his desire is called “creepy” and he is labeled
a sissy by his brothers. Dad tries to
replace William’s desire for a doll by giving him what would be considered
“boy” toys. While William plays with the
toys, he continues to wish for a doll.
Finally, William’s grandmother, in her wisdom and recognizing that boys
need to nurture in order to make good fathers, buys William the much desired
doll. This is a great book for prompting
discussion of gender roles.
Collins, David R. (1990) Grandfather Woo Goes to School St. Louis: Milliken
When Willy learns that his Grandfather Woo
has been invited to speak at school, he wonders why because he sees his blind
and old grandfather as weak and unimportant. When Grandfather Woo comes to
school, Willy finds out that his grandfather is a hero which forces Willy to
come to terms with his own preconceptions.
This is a good book to prompt discussion about ageism and the importance
of not judging by appearance.
Hoffman, Mary (1995) Boundless Grace
New York: Dial Books for Young Readers
The heroine of Amazing
Grace makes another appearance in this story which deals with the concept
of blended families. Grace’s divorced
father remarries and brings Grace to meet his “other” family. Grace must face her fears and pre-formed
ideas about her step-family as she prepares to meet them. This is a great book for starting a
discussion about what makes a family.
Richardson, Justin/Parnell, Peter (2005) And
Tango Makes Three New York: Simon & Schuster
Based on the true
story of Roy and Silo, this book relates the tale of two male penguins in New
York's Central Park who lived as a couple for six years. The penguins were observed trying to hatch an
egg-like rock by a zookeeper who decided to give them an egg which needed help
hatching. Roy and Silo hatched and raised the healthy young chick, a female
named "Tango" by zookeepers, together as a family. This book is great for starting discussions
about “non-traditional" family structures and how families can take many
forms while still achieving the same goals.
Say, Allen (1997) Allison
Boston: Houghton Mifflin
When Allison discovers she is adopted, she
becomes angry and withdrawn, lashing out at her parents. A stray cat helps Allison make sense of her
situation and she begins the journey towards acceptance. This book is a good
one for discussing the different ways in which families are created.
Spinelli, Eileen (2008) While You Are
Away New York:
Hyperion Book
Being separated from a
parent is never easy, especially when that parent is in a war zone. This story is written from the point of view
of three children who have parents who are serving overseas in three different
branches of the military. The children
share their sadness and fear as well as their joy when their parents
return. It is a reassuring and upbeat
book, but it definitely presents how emotionally difficult it is for children
to be separated from a parent. This book
can be used to discuss whether participation in war or peace-keeping missions
is worth the cost in personal terms to all involved. It is also useful as a talking point about
the ways in which children are affected by the decisions of the adults around
them.
Stinson, Kathy (2007) Mom and Dad Don’t
Live Together Anymore Toronto: Annick Press
Breaking up is hard to do, especially for
the children. This book is told from the
point of view of a young girl who must split her time between her divorced
parents. She shares the difficulties of
the situation and her sense of loss is communicated in a subtle yet effective
way. This book is useful for helping
children see that a fractured family can still be a loving one. It is also useful for starting a discussion
on choices and strategies to help one cope with loss.
Fleming, Virginia (1997) Be Good to
Eddie Lee New York: Puffin Books
A girl discovers that everyone has
something valuable to share when she reluctantly spends time with a neighbor
who has Down's Syndrome. Christy has been told by her mother to “be good to
Eddie Lee”, but Christy would rather go exploring with her friend. It isn’t until Eddie Lee shows Christy a
hidden treasure that she reconsiders Eddie’s value as a person and a
friend. This book is very helpful in
starting a conversation about how different does not mean deficient. It enables children to share and address
their own attitudes about people who are “different” and discuss the importance
of having consideration for the thoughts, feelings, and abilities of others.
Lears, Laurie (2003) Ian’s Walk: A Story about Autism Illinois: Albert Whitman & Co.
Three siblings go for a
walk doing all the sorts of things children do while exploring and experiencing
their environment. Ian, the youngest, is
different though and is described by his sister, Julie, in terms of his
behavior which marks his autism. Julie
shares her thoughts and feelings for her brother which run the gamut from love
to frustration and anger. When Ian
becomes lost, it is Julie’s knowledge of her brother which enables her to
locate him and get him home safely.
While this book only deals with one form of autism, it is a good
starting point for a discussion of the topic.
Osofsky, Audrey (1992) My Buddy New
York: Henry Holt and Company
Pets are a special part of childhood, but
for the boy in this story, Buddy is the not just the best dog ever, but a
lifeline of sorts. The boy has muscular dystrophy, and Buddy gives him the
ability to do things he could not otherwise do. This story is useful in helping
students challenge their perceptions of people with different abilities. It also presents students with the idea that
all people are multi-faceted and should not be categorized based on stereotypes
and pre-conceived notions.
Polacco. Patricia (1998) Thank You Mr. Falker New York: Philomel Books.
Trisha loves school and learning, until she
starts to struggle with her reading. Her
classmates tease her calling her “dumb” and Trisha, starts to believe it. Then Trisha meets her fifth grade teacher,
Mr. Falker, who recognizes Trisha’s dyslexia and helps her understand and
overcome her learning disability. Trisha
blossoms into an amazing reader with many talents (this story is
autobiographical with the Trisha of the story being Patricia Polacco, the
author). This book is a real gem and is
a wonderful conversation starter with regards to how/why we all have different
levels of ability. It also provides a
place to address the serious ways in which name-calling and criticism can
affect a person’s self-image.
Thomas, Pat (2002) Don’t Call Me Special
New York: Barrons
Often, children are
curious about the disabilities they see around them, but are afraid to ask
questions. This book provides a starting
point for that discussion in a very kid-friendly way. The book explores topics related to physical
disabilities in a way that children can understand. It also promotes the message that people with
different abilities can and do live happy and full lives. This is a good book to get the discussion
going in a way that allows the students to feel comfortable about sharing their
experiences and opinions.
Belief Systems
Cleary, Brian P. (2006) Eight Wild
Nights Minneapolis: Kar-Ben
Publishing
An off-beat family gets
together to celebrate Hanukkah and everything gets chaotic! Not your
traditional holiday story, but with many of the traditional elements with a
twist, including a story of an eight day toilet paper miracle. This book is fun and interesting and is a
great discussion starter about the way in which families celebrate ancient
holidays in the modern world. Children
can relate to and enjoy the mayhem and the adventure of this book.
Czernecki, Stefan
(1998) Buddha under the Bodhi Tree New York: Bayeux Arts, Inc.
This beautifully
illustrated brief life of the Buddha is a feast for the eyes. It is a good text for introducing the main
ideas and attitudes of Buddhism especially for those who are unfamiliar with
the religion.
Ets, Marie Hall (1959) Nine Days to
Christmas: A Story of Mexico New
York: Viking Press
The excitement and wonder of the holiday
season is portrayed through Ceci who is anxiously awaiting her first posada (a
Mexican Christmas party). She decides
upon a star for her holiday piñata, but is sad when she realizes it must be
destroyed in order to fulfill its purpose.
This story is a great one for exploring different cultures and their
celebrations.
MacDonald, Hugh and Wales, Johnny (1992) Chung
Lee Loves Lobsters Toronto: Annick Press
Mr. Chung Lee buys a live lobster every
month and takes it home to enjoy. When
Bizzer and his brother Willie follow Mr. Lee one day after his monthly purchase
they make an interesting discovery.
Chung Lee doesn’t eat the lobster, he sets it free! This story is set in Charlottetown, Prince
Edward Island and is a super book to introduce the idea of the way in which
different cultures view the concept of life and justice. This book is a great discussion starter as it
relates to vegetarianism and the teachings of various Eastern religions.
Rouss, Sylvia A. (1995) Sammy Spider’s First Passover
Minneapolis: Kar-Ben Pub.
This is one in a series
of Sammy Spider books which explore the observances of the Judaism. This story is set around the season of
Passover and finds Sammy determined to learn about the traditions observed by
family with which he lives. This is a
good book for exposing students to the religious and cultural practices of
their Jewish friends and neighbors.
Spalding, Andrea (2002) Solomon’s Tree
Victoria: Orca Book Publishers
When a harsh storm fells a boy’s beloved
maple tree, he is devastated by the loss.
As the boy learns of the beliefs of his people (the Tsimshian), he comes
to realize that the tree and his relationship with it can live on through the
cycle of life and a special carved mask.
This is a wonderful book for introducing the beliefs of the Tsimshin
people as well as other First Nations peoples of Canada.
Stuchner, Joan Betty (2001) Shira’s
Hanukkah Gift Toronto: Scholastic
Shira has a dream for Hanukkah…she wants to
play fiddle in a klezmer band! Through a
series of encounters with people who support her dream and a great deal of
practice, Shira’s dream comes true. This
book is a good starting place for a discussion and further research into the
Jewish culture. Children can relate to
Shira’s desire to be a part of something important and special.
Whitman, Sylvia (2008) Under the Ramadan Moon Illinois: Albert Whitman
& Company
This story presents
introductory information about the month-long observance of Ramadan in a
beautiful and aesthetic way through the eyes of the members of one fictional family. The story is lyrical and the illustrations
are gorgeous. A more factual note with
information about Ramadan is included at the end of the story. This book is a good way to introduce young
students to the concept that different religions observe different special days
as part of their system of beliefs.
Issues/Making a
Difference
Bogart, Jo Ellen (1997) Jeremiah Learns to Read Richmond Hill: North Winds Press
Jeremiah knows how to
do many things including run a successful farm, but he doesn’t know how to
read. A teacher and her students share
the gift of reading with Jeremiah who in turn shares his wealth of knowledge
with them. This book is useful in
introducing the idea that not everyone can read (including adults) and also
addresses the truth that an inability to read is not an indicator of lack of
intelligence or ability.
Bunting,
Eve (1993) Fly Away Home Washington:
Sandpiper
Andrew
and his father have fallen on hard times after the death of his mother and are
homeless and living at the airport. They
follow a careful routine so as not to draw attention to themselves and try
everything they can to remain “invisible”.
Andrew dreams of a better life and sees the triumph of a small bird who
manages to free itself from the confines of the airport as a sign of hope, but
at the end of the book we still do not know what the future holds for Andrew,
his father, and the other homeless people who reside in the airport. This is a great book for teaching children
about homelessness, especially the impact it has on families and children. It is also helps children understand that
homelessness can happen to anyone.
Disalvo-Ryan,
Dyanne (1991) Uncle Willie and the Soup Kitchen New York: William Morrow &
Co.
When
Uncle Willie shows his nephew around the soup kitchen where he works, it
inspires the young boy to volunteer to feed those in need. The atmosphere of the soup kitchen and the
way the clients are portraying makes this a great book to kick off a discussion
about soup kitchens and food banks.
Hazen,
Barbara Shook (1983) Tight Times New York: Puffin
A
young boy wants a puppy, but his family is experiencing a tough time
financially and so his parents have to say no.
Although the boy doesn’t completely understand, he senses the fear and
tension in his household. When a stray
kitchen comes along, the boy decides to take it in and learns a lesson about
compromise. This is a good book for
teaching student the difference between wants and needs. It is also a book which gives students a
chance to see a situation from the perspective of a family struggling to make
ends meet.
McGovern,
Ann (1999) The Lady in the Box New York: Turtle Books
Siblings
Lizzie and Ben discover a homeless woman living in a box outside their
apartment in the dead of winter. Despite
knowing they are not supposed to talk to strangers, the two children befriend
Dorrie and try to help her, eventually involving their mom in their good
works. This is a good book for bringing
the topic of homelessness and charity into the classroom. The best thing about this particular book is
that is shows students that they can make a difference in the life of someone
who needs their help.
McIntosh, Patti (2006) The Remarkable Maria Edmonton: Maggie & Pierrot
Maria is a child in African who has
HIV/AIDS. The story is told through her eyes and relates the tragedy which
befell her family as well as the positive moments that are filled with hope and
love. The characters of the story such
as the little sister, the kindly neighbor, the adoptive mother, and the pet dog
all add a happy element to the story.
This story is one of the few available that address the issue of
HIV/AIDS with children and it is an invaluable resource in opening a discussion
about the disease and how society should respond to it.
Moore-Campbell, Bebe (2008) I Get So
Hungry New York:
Putnam Juvenile
When Nikki gets upset, angry or bored, she
starts to eat and it’s hard for her to stop.
Being teased by her schoolmates about her weight makes Nikki feel
worthless and she experiences feelings of rage and humiliation which cause her
to eat even more. Nikki’s teacher, Mrs. Patterson has a similar problem with
food which lands her in the hospital.
Nikki decides she wants to live a healthier lifestyle and she and Mrs.
Patterson work together to help each other succeed, including Nikki’s mom in
the process, too. This is a good book
for broaching a topic which has a high degree of relevancy for today’s
children. The focus is on encouraging
students to pursue healthy habits and to eat when hungry rather has a response
to emotional causes. It is also useful
in addressing how damaging it is to children when they are teased and put down
because of their weight or other physical characteristics.
Moss, Peggy (2008) Say Something
Maine: Tilbury House Publishers
A young girl observes students being
bullied and harassed, but does nothing.
Then, one day, the narrator finds out how it feels first hand when she
becomes the target of the bullies. She
becomes angry and sad and wonders why no one says or does anything to help
her. She decides to befriend one of the
girls she had previously seen being bullied.
This book is a good book for helping students see that anyone can become
the target of a bully and it takes bystander action to bring bullying to an
end. It is also a great book for
empowering students and helping them see that a simple act can make a big
difference.
Polacco, Patricia (2001) Mr. Lincoln’s
Way New York: Philomel Books
Mr. Lincoln is the kind of school principal
everyone loves. Everyone, that is,
except Eugene who is a school bully who hates everyone. Mr. Lincoln finds a way to reach Eugene and
builds a bridge between worlds to demonstrate that stereotypes are not true and
prejudice can be overcome through friendship and understanding. This book is a great one to use to open a
discussion of bullying and helps students see that sometimes bullies are also
victims who need help. The character of
Mr. Lincoln is a remarkable one and is worthy of a close study in leadership,
compassion, and all that is good in humanity.
Wyeth,
Sharon Dennis (2002) Something Beautiful New York: Dragonfly Books
When
a young inner city girl looks around her, all she sees is ugliness and
negativity and it gets her down. As she
visits her neighbors throughout the day, she becomes inspired by the beauty
each one of them sees and shares with her.
She becomes determined to create something beautiful in her surroundings
and does by taking action. This is a
great story to show children that they have the power to make a difference and
that even small actions can make a big change.
Historical Issues of Social Justice
Beckwith, Kathy (2005) Playing War Maine:
Tilbury House
A bunch of neighborhood
kids decide it is too hot to play their usual game of basketball so they decide
to play “war”. As the sides are
established, the new kid to the group, Sameer, quietly decides to go home
rather than play. The next day, Sameer shares
with the group that his family had been in a real war before coming to the USA
and his house had been destroyed and his family killed. The other children decide that playing war
isn’t such a great idea and invite Sameer to join in their game of basketball. This is a great book to open a discussion
about the nature of war. Many children
play with toy guns and participate in games of war without really thinking
about the reality of what they are pretending.
This book is enlightening as it shows “playing war” from a more
insightful perspective.
Campbell, Nicola I. (2005) Shi-shi-etko Toronto:
Groundwood Books
Shi-shi-etko is going
away. She is part of the residential
schools movement in which First Nations children were removed from their homes
and taken to institutional schools where they were not allowed to speak their
first language or practice their cultural rituals. Shi-shi-etko spends her last four days at
home trying to memorize everything about her home and family who love her
dearly. The illustrations add to the
mood of sorrow and the reader’s knowledge of the history of residential schools
makes the story a heartbreaking one. The
book does contain an introduction which explains that governments believed
First Nations peoples were ignorant and so the government made laws which
allowed First Nations children to be removed from their homes and communities
in order to be properly educated. This book is a very good way to introduce the
topic of racism and the damage done when one group takes away the rights of
another.
Golenbock, Peter (1990) Teammates
San Diego: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich
This book tells the story of how Jackie
Robinson stood up to racial prejudice and made history as the first
African-American to play Major League Baseball.
When Jackie Robinson joined the Brooklyn Dodgers, he faced an enormous
amount of pressure from racist players and crowds who tried hard to make
Robinson’s life on the diamond very difficult.
However, Jackie never gave in nor did he give up. The “teammates” part of the story comes from
the way in which Robinson was accepted and supported by Pee Wee Reese who stood
by his friend and teammate. This is a
great book for starting a discussion about the role friendship can play in
standing up to injustice. It also makes
students think in terms of “what would I do if…” scenarios.
Johnston, Tony (2004) The Harmonica
Watertown: Charlesbridge
Based on a true
survivor story, a young boy (who is the main character) lives happily with his
Polish Jewish family in the days before the Holocaust, learning from his father
how to play classical tunes on his harmonica. When the boy is separated from
his family and put in a concentration camp, his harmonica becomes his only
comfort. His music also becomes his
ticket to survival as he plays for the commander of the camp and earns food in
the process. This book is a good one for
introducing the Holocaust and is a good discussion starter as children have a
multitude of questions about it.
Yolen, Jane (1992) Encounter San
Diego Harcourt Brace Jovanovich
This book tells the
story of the arrival of Columbus in the Americas through the eyes of the Taino
people (indigenous to San Salvador). The
narrator of the story is a young boy who has a dream warning him that the
visitors are going to bring misfortune to his people. His concerns are
disregarded and his dream comes true as Columbus’ people abuse the hospitality
of the Taino, stealing their resources and kidnapping a number of their young
people to use as slaves, including the narrator. As the narrator makes his way back home, a
great sense of loss is communicated as the Taino’s way of life is lost to the
European conquest of their lands and people.
In an Afterword, the author notes that no record of the Taino's reaction
to Columbus's arrival is available and that is book is an imaginative telling
of a historical event. This book is a
great discussion starter in terms of viewing history from a different
perspective other than that of the mainstream dominant culture.
Lorbiecki, Marybeth (1998) Sister Anne’s
Hands New York: Dial Books for Young Readers
Sister Anne is the
first African American to teach at Anna’s school. Everyone wonders how she’ll survive and
despite Sister Anne’s interesting and innovative teaching style, it isn’t long
before a nasty note about her skin color shows up on her desk. Sister Anne then teaches her students an
important lesson about racism which has a great impact on Anna and many of her
classmates. This is a great book for
opening a discussion about some of the myths and misconceptions students may
have about people of color. It also
lends itself to a good conversation about how we ought to treat others.
Uchida, Yoshiko (1996) The Bracelet
New York: Putnam Juvenile
It is 1942 and Japan and the U.S. are at
war. Seven year old Emi and her family, who are Japanese-Americans, are sent to
a detention center, despite the fact that they have done nothing to warrant
incarceration. Before Emi leaves for the
detention center, her friend Laurie gives her a bracelet by which to remember
her by and as a seal of their friendship.
Somewhere along the way, Emi loses the bracelet and becomes very
sad. However, she realizes that the
bracelet is simply a token and that the true treasure of friendship can never
be lost. This is a good book for
introducing the topic of racial profiling and how judging someone based on
ethnicity is false and unfair. It is
also a good story about the power of friendship and hope.
Weatherford, Carole Boston (2004) Freedom
on the Menu New York: Dial Books for Young Readers
Connie just wants to be
able to do the things the white people do like sit and enjoy a banana-split at
the Woolworth’s lunch counter after a day of shopping. Jim Crow laws make that impossible for
Connie, but a visit by Dr. King inspires the youth of the town to challenge the
laws and a victory is achieved as the laws are changed and integration allows
Connie to enjoy her banana-split. This book is very useful for teaching
students about segregation and about the role of young people in the Civil
Rights Movement of the 1960s.
Differences
Kressley, Carson (2005) You’re Different
and That’s Super New York Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
Trumpet is a baby horse
with a big whinny, but he really starts to stand out in the crowd when a horn
begins to grow from his forehead. When
the other horses see Trumpet is not like them, they begin to treat him
differently and he becomes an outcast.
When a barn fire threatens all the animals, Trumpet and his horn save
the day! This is a good book to use to
start a discussion about differences and how we should respond to and treat
those who are not the same as us.
Parr, Todd (2001) It’s Okay to Be Different Boston: Little, Brown
This book is just so cool! In a series of sometimes serious, sometimes
silly statements, the reader is gently reminded that our uniqueness is what
makes us special. The book features
bright illustrations in bold colors and reading it can definitely improve your
mood. Kids really enjoy this book
because while it is easy to read and very accessible, its meaning is rather
profound and very reassuring. This is a
great feel-good book about how our differences should be celebrated rather than
just tolerated.
Yashima, Taro (1955) Crow Boy New
York: Puffin
Chibi is a young
Japanese boy who just doesn’t fit in.
His uniqueness causes his schoolmates to treat him as an outsider which
makes Chibi very sad and lonely. When
Chibi is befriended by his teacher, his uniqueness becomes highly valued which
in turn helps his schoolmates see him in a different more positive light. This is a great book for teaching children
that even though being different sometimes feels negative, it is important to
remain true to yourself.
Race/Ethno-cultural
Broyles, Anne (2002) Shy Mama’s
Halloween New York: Tilbury House Publishers
It is the first
Halloween for Anya and her siblings, who have recently moved to America from
Russia. They are very excited to partake
in the celebrations, but their fun is threatened when Papa can’t take them out
for trick or treating. Mama, who is
nervous and timid, steps in bravely to make sure her children have the most
memorable Halloween ever. This book is a great one for exposing students to
some of the feelings newcomers might experience. It also is a good discussion starter with
regards to differences in culture throughout the world.
Mendez, Phil (1989) The Black Snowman New York: Scholastic
When his little brother
Peewee convinces him to help build a black snowman using the dirty snow of an
inner-city alley, Jacob does so grudgingly. Jacob’s view of life is a hopeless
one as he hates being poor and black and associates everything black with
negativity. Mystically, the black
snowman comes to life after he is draped in Kente cloth and he tells Jacob
wonderful stories about the power of being black and the richness of the
history of the people of Africa. When Peewee gets stuck inside a burning
building, the snowman shows Jacob a way to save his brother and instills in him
a sense of pride and courage. This book is a valuable one for helping students
see how self image can affect the way you interact with the world.
Surat, Michele Maria (1983) Angel Child,
Dragon Child New York: Scholastic
As newcomers to America, Ut and her sisters
experience feelings of culture shock and loneliness for their mother who has
had to remain in Vietnam. Being teased
at school because of their language and clothing only makes the situation worse
and Ut ends up getting in trouble for fighting when she tries to defend herself
and her family. Fortunately, Ut receives
the opportunity to turn her enemy into a friend and together, they teach their
families and friends a lesson about the power of acceptance. Reading this book to students provides them
with the opportunity to put themselves in the position of another person and
develop their attitude of compassion for those who are newcomers and who are
different from them.
White, Tara (2008) I Like Who I Am Toronto: Theytus Books
Does your appearance determine your identity? That is the question Celina faces when she moves to her mother to her home reserve. Celina does not look like the other Mohawk children because she has blond hair and blue eyes. They tease her and tell her she is not a real Mohawk. Celina’s great-grandmother helps Celina realize that it is not appearance that makes you who you are, but the way you feel about yourself in your heart. This book is a great one for exploring issues of bullying, belonging, and acceptance and also touches on a few different aspects of First Nations culture.
Yee, Paul (1996) Ghost Train
Vancouver: Douglas & McIntyre
Choon-yi is born with only one arm. As the daughter of poor farmers in southern China, this is a grave matter and Choon-yi’s mother rejects her. Fortunately, Choon-yi’s father loves her greatly and encourages her to use her artistic gifts. Eventually, Choon-yi’s father moves to America in order to help build the railroad and better the life of his family back in China. When Choon-yi decides to move to America to join her father, she discovers he has died. Through dreams, Choon-li learns about her father’s difficult experiences working on the railroad and he serves as a representative of the sacrifices of so many. This book is a good one for starting discussions about some of the reasons why people leave their country of birth to start a new life somewhere else. It is also a good book to use as a gateway to a discussion about some of the racist policies of former governments towards people of Asian descent.
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