George by Alex Gino tells the story of a fourth grade student who was biologically born a boy, but identifies as a girl. I chose this book due to the George by Alex Gino tells the story of a fourth grade student who was biologically born a boy, but identifies as a girl. I chose this book due to the reviews and recommendations by classmates in RLL 520. The story begins with George's internal struggle with who she really is. She knows that she is a girl, but she doesn't know how to communicate that with the people closest to her such as her mother, brother, and best friend Kelly. At school George's class begins working on the play Charlotte's Web. It is then that George decides that she wants to try out for the girl role of Charlotte. During the auditions, George is denied the role by his teacher because she is not a girl. George is left incredibly discouraged and reveals her true identity to her best friend Kelly who is very supportive. When Kelly gets the role of Charlotte, they team up together and secretly decide that George will be the one to actually go on stage to perform as Charlotte. George blows the audience away in her performance as Charlotte. However, his mother's emotions get the best of her as she struggles to see her son as a girl. As the story progresses, his mother eventually comes to terms with George’s true identity and agrees they should make steps forward by talking to a professional because she only wants the best for her child.
This book is the winner of a number of awards including the Lambda Literary Award for LGBT Children’s and Young adult Literature, the Stonewall Book Award, and the E.B. White Read Aloud Award. It has also been nominated for a variety of other awards. George reveals in the book that his girl name is Melissa. Therefore, The author has republished this book with the title Melissa and the expected publication date is April 5, 2022 by Scholastic press. I listened to the audiobook version of this text which was narrated by Jamie Clayton. The narrator brought authenticity to the story because she also identifies as a transgender woman who shared in many of the same struggles as George growing up.
George has a 790 Lexile reading level. However, due to the topics discussed, I would use this with 6th through 8th graders of a higher maturity level. In the reading setting, I would use this book to show how characters can change throughout the course of a story. The George we see in the beginning of the book is quiet, shy, and battling with herself internally. The Melissa we see at the end of the story is happy in her own skin and optimistic towards the future. I also would use this text to discuss diversity and inclusion, creating a space of classroom culture and acceptance. ...more
Rescue and Jessica: A Life Changing Friendship is a children’s book by Jessica Kensky and husband Patrick Downes, and it is illustrated by Scott MagooRescue and Jessica: A Life Changing Friendship is a children’s book by Jessica Kensky and husband Patrick Downes, and it is illustrated by Scott Magoon. I chose this book after reading a blog titled “11 Books About Disability to Read With Your Family” from freewheelchairmission.org. The story begins by showing a young puppy training on a desolate farm to fulfill his life's purpose as a guide dog. The story then quickly transitions to a young woman named Jessica who is in the hospital after an accident that caused her to lose her leg. The reader is immersed in Jessica's story as she learns to walk again using a prosthetic leg. Later, Jessica becomes sick once more and discovers she will have to lose her other leg as well. However, she is not discouraged and never gives up. As Jessica is leaving the hospital, she expresses the want and need for a service dog. This is where Rescue and Jessica's stories collide. Rescue is introduced to Jessica and we see the beginning of a beautiful friendship between these two characters, as Rescue helps Jessica complete her tasks of daily life. At the end of the story the author reveals that this book is based on her own personal life journey after becoming injured in the Boston Marathon bombing in 2013.
This book contains an AD550 Lexile reading level, meaning it is best taught under adult direction. This title would best be suited for students from kindergarten through 4th grade. However, due to the topics of diversity and inclusion it would best be taught as a read-aloud by the teacher. I would use this with younger students to embrace the differences in people and show that even though you may look different on the outside, it doesn’t limit you. This could serve as a text to teach about respect, inclusion, and what service dogs are for.
The drawn images throughout the story not only give the reader a visual of what Jessica and Rescue look like, but they also show the ways in which Rescue helps serve Jessica. This could be used as a teaching point with younger readers to show them that some dogs are pets and other dogs are workers who help their owners. ...more
We Are Family is a story written by Patricia Hegarty and illustrated by Ryan Wheatcroft. I found this book on Edutopia.org under an article titled “CuWe Are Family is a story written by Patricia Hegarty and illustrated by Ryan Wheatcroft. I found this book on Edutopia.org under an article titled “Culturally Responsive Teaching: 22 Diverse Book Choices for All Grade Levels.” This story is told in poetic verse. Each page rhymes and is filled with pictures of different families. The story starts by talking about how families stick together in good times and bad. It then progresses by showing how all families have a morning routine, even though they may not be the same. Additionally, all kids then head to school, no matter their mode of transportation. It continues by showing the challenging times families may face. However, love conquers all and families support one another even in challenging times.
The images in this story are essential to the text. I uncovered more in the pictures than through the words alone. I found myself spending a lot of time inspecting the images on each page because there are ten different family drawings on each spread. The characters drawn depict many different kinds of families, including moms and dads, siblings, grandparents, a single parent, parents of the same gender, a child who isn't the same ethnicity as his parents, and a parents with different ethnicities. There is also inclusion of kids with different body abilities such as using a wheelchair. The reader gets to follow each family’s unique storyline as they progress throughout the book. I think this story does an excellent job depicting the different family structures. This is a good perspective for all students to see that every family is special and unique.
I would use this story with older students to introduce and teach about themes. This story gives a strong message that although all families are different, we really are the same in many ways. Family is there to love and support one another. I could also use this text to teach about point of view. Students could take on the perspective of one of the families in the story and write their own mini story on just that family. This could change the perspective and tone of their story from the original text. For younger students, I would have them write and share about their own family. They could then draw a picture of their family just like in the book. I could also pick a specific page and have students illustrate their family for that specific part of the poem. For example, they could draw what their family’s morning routine looks like and we could combine all our drawings together to make our own version of the book. ...more
Stepping Stones: A Refugee Family’s Journey is written by Margriet Ruurs and illustrated by Nazar Ali Badr. This book was selected by the recommendatiStepping Stones: A Refugee Family’s Journey is written by Margriet Ruurs and illustrated by Nazar Ali Badr. This book was selected by the recommendation of Children's Books in Children's Hands, Chapter 9. I found and read it in a digital ebook version through the Libby app. According to the author, she came across the illustrator's work online. This was her inspiration in writing and telling this story, while also raising funds for Syrian refugees. Margriet had never seen such unique artwork created with stone before. She contacted Nazar, who lives in Syria and created a story using his artwork. This book is dual language, written in both English and Arabic.
In this story, the main character is a young girl named Rama who looks back on her carefree life, living with her family in Syria. She describes mornings waking up to the sound of her mother making breakfast and long days playing out in the sun with her brother and friends. The story quickly shifts from life back then until now. Suddenly, there is not enough food for the people in her community to eat. Slowly, people begin to trickle out and leave. It is when bombs and war enter her neighborhood that her family decides to leave, led by hope. They travel a great distance, across the ocean and arrive in a new land where they are welcomed with open arms.
The stone images in the book capture the hot desert and give an authentic element to the story. The stones in the images were collected on a beach in Syria, so they carry native value to the artwork. I think these images make this story unique. The author conveys the words in a poetic manner that flows from page to page.
I would use this text in the upper grades to teach about survival in connection to world events and social studies topics. Students could write their own stories highlighting their own family’s journey and how they came to be in the United States. I would use this story with younger students to teach about plot and overcoming obstacles. Students could reflect and share challenging obstacles they have been faced with in their life....more
Internment by Samira Ahmed is a contemporary realistic fiction text published in 2019. It was recommended to us (Laura and Lisa) by our professor at NInternment by Samira Ahmed is a contemporary realistic fiction text published in 2019. It was recommended to us (Laura and Lisa) by our professor at National Louis University for a book club in our reading specialist program.
Samira Ahmed presents a realistic portrayal of how fear can perpetuate anger and lead people to remain silent in the face of injustice. Her story is relevant and relatable to current headlines of hate and injustice in America. Ahmed’s character Layla shares the perspective of a teenage Muslim American who is stripped of her freedoms based on her religion. Forced to live in an internment camp with her parents, Layla meets others who are willing to speak up and make waves to be heard, at any cost. Layla is living in the not so distant future in California where life seems a lot like many teens today: instagraming, being with friends and boyfriends, and thinking about college. Her dystopian setting is frighteningly real, making her choices and actions within the camp compelling and full of suspense.
This story would be most appropriate in the 9th-10th grade level classroom setting. It has a lexile complexity rating of HL660L. This book is categorized as a high interest and age appropriate read at a lower reading level. Students at this grade level may be asked to analyze a subject or specific scene from the text and compare major themes across different mediums or sources of media.
The surrounding ideas and themes from this story seem very real. The setting is very closely related to the world we live in today. In the author’s note, Ahmed describes this setting for the story as, “fifteen minutes into our nation's future.” The fear surrounding the main character and her family, due to enforced curfews and police brutality, makes this seem very authentic and as if this is something that could happen. Although, as the plot progresses there are some factors to question, including sneaking her boyfriend into the camp, and her ability to so quickly befriend one of the guards. However, due to the realism and the dystopian world portrayed we would recommend this story to young adult readers. ...more
In Esperanza Rising by Pam Munoz Ryan, the main character Esperanza is a young girl of high social stature living in 1930’s Mexico with her mother andIn Esperanza Rising by Pam Munoz Ryan, the main character Esperanza is a young girl of high social stature living in 1930’s Mexico with her mother and papa. After a tragic incident, her papa is killed leaving Esperanza and her mother with nothing. Esperanza's uncle plans to take over their family grape vineyard and estate, so Esperanza and her mother make the bold decision to flee their home and country for the United States. Esperanza finds herself immersed in a completely new culture and social status unfamiliar to her previous life. She faces many challenges and obstacles as a new caregiver and worker. Esperanza's resourcefulness and adaptability allow her to face many challenging obstacles in her new world and new life. The author achieves detailed characterization of Esperanza by sharing her relationships with others and revealing her thoughts throughout the course of the novel. Additionally, The use of Spanish terms is consistently used throughout the course of the novel to enhance and immerse the reader in the culture. Each chapter is labeled as a fruit or vegetable in Spanish and then translated to English. These chapter titles are strategically woven into Esperanza's Hispanic culture and discussed in a meaningful way in each chapter accordingly. Additionally, according to the textbook, “In some genres--especially realistic fiction, fiction based in history, multicultural fiction, and fantasy--settings can figure so strongly as to share equal attention with the characters of the story” (29). In support of this, the author uses great care to describe the historical setting of the story, not just the characters. For example, in the chapter “Las Guayabas - Guavas” Esperanza is making the journey to the United States by hiding in the slats of a worker’s farm wagon. This was a trip that was traveled by many people making a similar route during that period of time. This would make a great history connection with students by connecting to other similar times in history where people fled their native country. The claustrophobia of the wagon is described in a way that made the reader question how they would react hiding in such a circumstance. The sweet smell of the guavas can almost be tasted as the author described how their smell lingered on their clothing even after exiting the wagon. These vivid details and imagery successfully create a picture in the reader’s mind. ...more
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