This Day In June

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This book is the story of a pride parade that is full of color and wonderful imagery. Readers of all ages will enjoy reading this story that is written in verse and gives an amazing picture of this community. This book also includes fact pages as well as discussion and talking points for teachers and families. At times discussion about the LGBT community can be uncomfortable, however, this book is a wonderful tool to use to have discussions with children about this important group of people.

A book that would be a great accompaniment to this one would be I AM JAZZ, which is the story of a transgender child, which is based on the life and experiences of a real person, Jazz Jennings. Having a book where the main character is a young child can help children identify with and make connections to these stories. Reading these books together can spark some great discussion.

This book was reviewed by School Library Journal, an excerpt of the review follows:

Filled with saturated colors and vivid illustrations, this picture book uses rhyming couplets to convey the fun and exuberate feelings associated with a pride parade for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people and families. The cartoon artwork is richly detailed and capture the "Banners swaying/Children playing." The diversity shown at the pride parade is realistic; both homosexual and heterosexual people, young and old, are depicted as well as individuals, couples, and families. At the end of the book, a "Reading Guide" provides explanations for the images and allusions in the book. Additionally, a "Note to Parents and Caregivers" offers suggestions for talking to various age levels of children about LGBT families. This beautifully illustrated book is a great addition to a school or personal library to add diversity in a responsible manner without contributing to stereotypes about LGBT people.—April Sanders, Spring Hill College, Mobile, AL

Citation

Pittman, G. (2014). This day in june. New York, NY ILL by Kristyna Litten: Magination Press.

The House that Baba Built

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This story follows the interesting story of a childhood in China. The illustrations in this story are a mixture of drawings and photographs pieced together. Almost every page of this story includes a pull out page that provides a larger illustration in key aspects of the story. Readers will see how children in Shanghai grew up and how they spent their time.

The theme in this story centers around regional literature. Readers will see the specifics of this region from someone who grew up in this area. Readers can see how in this area and time what was important to families, and what was important in this culture.

A great companion story to this book is DRAWING FROM MEMORY, which is also reviewed on this blog. This book also follows the story follows the story of a young artist in an Asian culture, but this time in Japan. Students could compare and contrast the similarities and differences between these two stories as well as the cultures the two artists grew up in.


This book was reviewed by School Library Journal, an excerpt of the review follows:

Young's father builds a house for his growing family and for others who join them. Against the background of World War II, the author shares childhood memories of changing seasons, raising silkworms, and picnicking by the pool. This oversize book with foldout pages is illustrated with photos, drawings, and collage. Includes a timeline and a diagram of the house.α(c) Copyright 2013. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc.

Citation

Young, E. (2011). The house that baba built. New York, NY: Hachette Book Group USA.

Crossing Bok Chitto

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Two young children become unlikely friends. After a short river crossing a young Native American girl and a slave boy meet while she is trying to pick berries for her mother. Over the years these two young people grow up in their respective cultures, continuing the friendship. One day, the young slave boy finds out in a sale his family will be broken up, so he turns to the only friend he has that can help him, the young Native American girl. She, along with her village, help the young boy and his family safely cross the Bok Chitto river.

This story shows the culture of both a Choctaw family, as well as a slave family. The reader, through the wonderfully drawn pictures, can see what the clothing and villages looked like for the Choctaw people, as well as the slave families. The theme of acceptance is one that is profoundly visible throughout this whole story.

To accompany this story, students could research the real Bok Chitto river and create a diorama of the area using the characters from the story. They could also research both Choctaw culture and the culture of the African American slaves featured in this story to better understand what is happening in this story. Each class can be broken into groups to research different aspects of this story to create one big project about this story.

This book was reviewed by School Library Journal, an excerpt of the review follows:

Grade 2-6–Dramatic, quiet, and warming, this is a story of friendship across cultures in 1800s Mississippi. Tingle is a performing storyteller, and his text has the rhythm and grace of that oral tradition. It will be easily and effectively read aloud. The paintings are dark and solemn, and the artist has done a wonderful job of depicting all of the characters as individuals, with many of them looking out of the page right at readers. The layout is well designed for groups as the images are large and easily seen from a distance. This is a lovely story, beautifully illustrated, though the ending requires a somewhat large leap of the imagination.–Cris Riedel, Ellis B. Hyde Elementary School, Dansville, NY

Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Citation:

Tingle, T. (2006). Crossing bok chitto: A choctaw tale of friendship and freedom. El Paso, TX Ill by: Jeanne R. Bridges: Cinco Puntos Press.

Listen to the Desert/Oye al desierto

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This short picture book highlights common desert animals, as well as the sounds they make. Each phrase is repeated once in English then twice in Spanish. All of the illustrations are in a wonderful style that clearly represents the animals as well as their surroundings. 

This story highlights the Hispanic culture by introducing Spanish at an early age to young children through an easy book with repeating phrases. 

A connecting activity that can be done with this book could be for students to create a book of their own that includes animals from either their area or their culture. Students could use a similar phrase to introduce the animals on their pages. 


This book was reviewed by Kirkus Reviews, an excerpt of the review follows:

A rhythmic, lyrical bilingual chant suggesting the onomatopoeic powers of both tongues. Owl, dove, toad, snake, fish, mice, and rain complete a roster, supplemented by spreads whose pleasingly spare designs feature handsomely stylized figures beneath a mellow sky. A brightly decorative geometric motif runs through the pages to tie it all together. An attractive book for introducing the desert- -and a second language--to young children. (Picture book. 2-7) -- Copyright ©1994, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.

Citation: 

Mora, P. (1994). LISTEN TO THE DESERT/OYE AL DESIERTO. Ill. by Francisco X. Mora. New York, NY: Clarion Books.

Sit-In

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This amazing story tells of four African American men who staged a Sit-in at a Woolworths, where a sign on the front door stated "Whites Only". This book, told in simple sentences and short pages the author shares an important movement in African American history with audiences of all ages. This story includes the story of these four friends, as well as how this movement was effecting other areas of the nation. At the end of the story there is a timeline of the Civil Rights movement that is also creatively illustrated by Brian Pinkney. Lastly, there is a note from the author that discusses the actual people the book is based on, along with a black and white photo of the four friends.

As is discussed in MULTICULTURAL LITERATURE AND RESPONSE, this picture book cleverly illustrates a historical perspective of the sit-in portion of the Civil Rights movement. From the elementary age up, students will be able to learn about this important part of African American culture. This story, while written for younger students, does not dampen the importance of what was happening in this movement, but brings the language down to a level where students at a young age can understand what is happening, so they can understand the struggles that the African American culture endured.

A book that is related to this would be FREEDOM ON THE MENU: THE GREENSBORO SIT-INS. This story follows a young girl, Connie, as she witnesses the sit-in discussed in this book. Students can compare and contrast the two books and can have discussions on the differences in the perspectives.

This book was reviewed by School Library Journal, an excerpt of this review follows:

Through effectively chosen words, Andrea Pinkney brings understanding and meaning to what four black college students accomplished on February 1, 1960, by sitting down at a Woolworth lunch counter in Greensboro, NC. With swirling swabs of color that masterfully intertwine with sometimes thin, sometimes thick lines, Brian Pinkney cleverly centers the action and brings immediacy to the pages. Both the words and the art offer many opportunities for discussion. The book concludes with a civil rights time line and an update on the aftermath of the lunch-counter struggle.—Barbara Elleman, Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art, Amherst, MA

(c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc.

Citations: 

Pinkney, A. D. (2010). SIT-IN: HOW FOUR FRIENDS STOOD UP BY SITTING DOWN. Ill. by Brian Pinkney.  New York, NY: Little, Brown, and Co.

Smolen, L. A., & Oswald, R. A. (Eds.). (2011). MULTICULTRUAL LITERATURE AND RESPONSE. Santa Barbra, CA: Libraries Unlimited.

Weatherford, C. B. (2005). FREEDOM ON THE MENU: THE GREENSBORO SIT-INS. Ill by Jerome Lagrrigue. New York, NY: Puffin Books.

Koala Lou

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Readers will love this touching story of a young Koala, her mother, and her sadness over not being the apple of her mother's eye any longer. At the beginning of the story Koala Lou is the only child, and thusly, the favorite. Everyday she hears from her mother how much she is loved, and she cherishes hearing this. However, one day, when she has many siblings, she is feeling left out when her mother no longer has the time to tell her how much she is loved everyday. To fix this situation she decides to enter the Bush Olympics, which she is convinced will make her mother tell her how much she is loved once again. 

This story is set in Australia, where it's author is from. The reader is transported to the bush where they meet all of the animals that they would traditionally meet, and they are all drawn appropriately. Many different animals are represented and all are shown correctly, which shows the talent of the illustrator. The illustrator also shows some of the animal habitats so that the reader can get a sense of this environment.

Students can use this book as an introduction to a research project over the Australian bush. Students can create models of the habitats of the animals represented within the pages of this story. Also, students can research the different animals that are represented within this story to gain a better understanding of the Australian bush. 

This book was reviewed by Publisher's Weekly and an excerpt of the review follows.

Publisher's Weekly Review: Lofts's colored-pencil drawings portray the Australian flora and fauna beautifully, including a few of the more exotic species. Fox's book sends out a positive message to children about the wonders of being human: Koala Lou celebrates the eternal love of a mother for her child without the sentimentality of Robert Munsch's Love You Forever. Ages 3-6.

Citation:

Fox, M. (1988). Koala lou. Ill. by Pamela Lofts. Orlando, FL: Harcourt.

Naomi Emory

Dog in Boots

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When readers open this book they are greeted with a very adorable dog who is concerned with his shoes, or rather, lack thereof. In this story this dog encounters different situations and he decides that he needs different shoes for each situation. He then goes to the shoe maker and requests the shoe that he thinks he needs and the shoe maker creates it, but in the end, he figures out, with the shoemaker's help, that he had what he needed all along. The illustrations follow the story perfectly and they illustrate the feelings that the reader gets from the story as well. The illustrations create a sense of playfulness, and the reader is given a sense of what is going on very vividly.

This story includes cultural markers from its author, Greg Gormley. The story, while mainly focused on the precious dog, is given a glimpse of a shoemaker and his life. This glimpse shows readers what a shoemaker does and can do, as well as the culture involved.

Students can use this story during a unit on jobs, and they can discover the different ways that different shoes are made through making their own shoes. Also, students can research shoemakers and the developments that have occurred in the shoemaking industry.

This book was reviewed by Booklist and the review follows.

Booklist Review Excerpt: Dog bounds about happily and humorously with what he had all along, until the final spread and back endpapers, which hint at another sartorial adventure ahead that involves a red hood for riding. With a repetitive text filled with sly, kid-friendly jokes and comical, expressive acrylic paintings, this title exudes storytime fun.

Citations:

Gormley, G. (2011). Dog in boots. Ill by Roberta Angaramo, Great Britain: Gullane Children's Books. ISBN 9780823423477

Naomi Emory

Nino Wrestles the World

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Talented author Yuyi Morales brings the story of young Nino. Nino wants to become a lucha libre. As he is playing with his toys, duty calls! When villains appear he must protect his family. Nino fights his way through many different dastardly opponents until, his sisters awaken from their naps. This charming tale shows the beautiful imagination of a young boy and how fun playtime can be with that imagination. Readers will also learn about Hispanic heritage through this very cute story.

Resources

Morales, Y. (2015). Nino wrestles the world. New York, NY: Square Fish.

Nino wrestles the world. Retrieved from http://www.amazon.com/Ni%C3%B1o-Wrestles-World-Yuyi-Morales/dp/1250062705/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1449290298&sr=1-1&keywords=nino+wrestles+the+world+by+yuyi+morales

Viva Frida

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Frida Kahlo was a wonderful artist and an inspirational one. She created wonderful works of art and her success can be inspirational to many girls. In this beautiful story author Yuyi Morales gives tribute to this wonderful artist in an amazing way. This story is illustrated in almost a claymation style, with doll like characters telling the story of Frida Kahlo. While many of the pages contain simple sentences or phrases and imaginative pictures the author’s message definitely comes across beautifully.

Resources

Morales, Y. (2014). Viva frida. New York, NY: Roaring Brook Press.

Viva frida. Retrieved from http://www.amazon.com/Viva-Frida-Morales-Yuyi-ebook/dp/B00MLNBJ22/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1449289566&sr=1-1&keywords=viva+frida

Ole! Flamenco!

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Flamenco dancing is a generations old tradition in the Hispanic culture. This book follows the history of this amazing dance, telling where it originated and the story of how it became a big part of the culture. This book also tells the reader about flamenco classes and how people learn how to do this amazing dance. Readers will be amazed by the dedication the dancers have and readers will love the real pictures of this amazing part of the Hispanic culture.

Resources

Ancona, G. (2010). Ole! flamenco. New York, NY: Lee and Low Books Inc.

Ole! flamenco. Retrieved from http://www.amazon.com/Ole-Flamenco-George-Ancona/dp/1600603610/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1449288394&sr=1-1&keywords=ole+flamenco

Just in Case: A Trickster Tale and Spanish Alphabet Book

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Every culture has their own trickster tales. This Hispanic trickster tale has its own unique piece, an alphabet tale. Alongside a trickster tale involving a very charming skeleton is a Spanish alphabet. Each of the tales seem to be running independently, but in fact they are intertwined. The alphabet following along with the trickster tale as it weaves its story. In this trickster tale reader follows a very charming skeleton as it tries to make it on time to a birthday party that he has been waiting for, he also needs to get a birthday present. Will it make it on time with a present? The reader will enjoy following along to find out.

Resources

Just in case. Retrieved from http://www.amazon.com/Just-Case-Trickster-Spanish-Alphabet/dp/1596433299/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1449287636&sr=1-1&keywords=just+in+case+a+trickster+tale+and+spanish+alphabet+book

Morales, Y. (2008). Just in case. New York, NY: Roaring Brook Press.

Barrio: Jose's Neighborhood

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Through real pictures and well written story the reader learns about the daily life in a real Hispanic neighborhood. The reader follows young Jose through events in his daily life. Jose is interviewed about his school life and how he feels about it. Readers get to see a mural being painted and learn about many of the murals in the neighborhood. The meaning and importance of the murals are also presented in easy to understand language. Through this story readers learn many different things about the neighborhood and the amazing things that go on within it.

Resources

Ancona, G. (1998). Barrio: Jose's neighborhood. San Diego, CA: Harcourt Brace.

Barrio: Jose's neighborhood. Retrieved from http://www.amazon.com/Barrio-Joss-Neighborhood-George-Ancona/dp/0152010483/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1449286664&sr=1-1&keywords=barrio+jose%27s+neighborhood

The Cazuela that the Farm Maiden Stirred

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This beautifully written and illustrated story follows a similar pace of The House that Jack Built. Each page brings a new idea to the story and builds as each page is turned. We follow the maiden as she collects milk, gets sugar, collects eggs, and more. By the end of this story the cazuela is done and all of the friends join in together to share. This story not only shows the reader the importance of helping and sharing, but also gives insight into some Hispanic traditions. At the end of the story is a glossary for the Spanish terms as well as recipes for the items mentioned within the book.

Resources

The cazuela that the farm maiden stirred. Retrieved from http://www.amazon.com/Cazuela-That-Farm-Maiden-Stirred/dp/1580892434/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1449285846&sr=1-1&keywords=the+cazuela+that+the+farm+maiden+stirred

Vamos, S. R. (2011). The cazuela that the farm maiden stirred. Watertown, MA: Charlesbridge Publishing.

Gracias Thanks

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This beautifully illustrated story brings readers the story of a young boy who is celebrating all of the things that he is thankful for. Through the story readers follow along as the main character shows his gratitude to everything in his life by saying “thanks” to everything that he is thankful for. From the ladybug that has landed on his finger to his grandmother who is always looking out for him. Children can relate to this young character and all of the wonderful things that he is thankful to have in his life.

Resources

Mora, p. (2009). Gracias thanks. New York, NY: Lee & Low Books Inc.

Gracias thanks. Retrieved from http://www.amazon.com/Gracias-~-Thanks-English-Spanish/dp/1600602584/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1449284989&sr=1-1&keywords=gracias+thanks

See Me Run

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The reader follows a group of energetic dogs as they explore the dog park. On their travels they discover something big! Dinosaur bones! This simply written story will be fun for younger children who are just beginning to read. Each page contains short sentences that contain mostly sight words. This will make it easy for the beginning readers to get through this book mainly on their own. The fun characters make the book come alive and readers will enjoy following these dogs on their quest and seeing their discoveries.

Resources

Meisel, P. (2012). See me run. New York, NY: Holiday House.

See me run. Retrieved from http://www.amazon.com/See-Me-Run-Like-Read/dp/0823426386/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1449282913&sr=1-1&keywords=see+me+run

Bink and Gollie

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Two best friends, sharing every possible moment together. Bink and Gollie, while both very different, are the best of friends. They have a treehouse that they share and they love to roller skate together. This story teaches young readers that no matter how different two people are, they still can become the best of friends. Readers will also learn how to handle the situation that always arises with best friends, jealousy and disagreement. They will see how these two best friends deal with this situation with their friendship intact.

Resources

Bink and golley. Retrieved from http://www.amazon.com/Bink-Gollie-Kate-DiCamillo/dp/0763659541/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1449282261&sr=1-2&keywords=bink+and+gollie

DiCamillo, K., & McGhee, A. (2010). Bink and gollie. Somerville, Massachusetts: Candlewick Press.

Tales for Very Picky Eaters

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Are you a picky eater? Do you know someone who is a picky eater? This book is about a young boy who is definitely a picky eater. In order to get him to eat the main character, James’ dad, gives him alternative options that all seem so outrageous that the first option now seems more appealing. Then, when he gives the food a try, he discovers that even though it seems yucky at first, trying new food isn’t all that bad. Parents will love reading this to their children to show them that new foods could be good. Children will enjoy seeing all of the different outrageous things that the James' father decides to offer him.

Resources

Schneider, J. (2011). Tales for very picky eaters. New York, NY: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.

Tales for very picky eaters. Retrieved from http://www.amazon.com/Tales-Very-Picky-Eaters-Schneider/dp/0544339142/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1449280841&sr=1-1&keywords=tales+for+very+picky+eaters

Pete the Cat and His Four Groovy Buttons

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This very popular cat returns to sing songs about his groovy buttons. As this funny cat is going down the sidewalk, the unthinkable happens, his buttons start popping off! With funny lyrics Pete the Cat keeps on singing about his groovy buttons, even though as the book progresses he keeps losing more and more of them. As with all of the Pete the Cat books readers are learning a lesson without knowing they are learning. Younger readers will enjoy counting down as Pete the Cat begins to lose his buttons. Older readers will learn to enjoy what they have. So no matter the age of your reader, Pete the Cat is fun reading for all.

Resources

Dean, J. (2012). Pete the cat and his four groovy buttons. New York, NY: HarperCollins Children's Books.

Pete the cat and his four groovy buttons. Retrieved from http://www.amazon.com/Pete-Cat-Four-Groovy-Buttons/dp/0062110586/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1449280197&sr=1-1&keywords=pete+the+cat+and+his+four+groovy+buttons

Let's Go for a Drive!

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Readers will love yet another installment of the adventures of the unlikely friends, Piggie and Elephant. This time the pair are going on a drive. Each time something comes up the pair have something entertaining to say and each of their personalities definitely come to the forefront. Readers will enjoy following along with the two characters as they try to go on a drive, encountering hilarious obstacles along the way. Those who love the style and talent of Mo Willems will enjoy another of his books in the Elephant and Piggie series.

Resources

Willems, M. (2012). Let's go for a drive. New York, NY: Hyperion.

Let's go for a drive. Retrieved from http://www.amazon.com/Lets-Drive-Elephant-Piggie-Book/dp/1423164822/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1449279595&sr=1-1&keywords=lets+go+for+a+drive

Ling and Ting: Not Exactly the Same

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Readers are joined by two identical twins, Ling and Ting. However, even though they are identical on the outside, are the really exactly the same? Readers will learn, through the story of these two charming girls, that even though these twins may seem to be identical on the outside, they are their own people on the inside. Each girl is very unique. Through reading this story readers will understand that everyone is unique and they all have something special about them. Young readers will enjoy the simplicity of this story and adults will like the opportunity for discussion that this book provides.

Resources

Lin, G. (2012). Ling and ting: Not exactly the same. New York, NY: Little Brown and Co.

Ling and ting: Not exactly the same. Retrieved from http://www.amazon.com/Ling-Ting-Exactly-Passport-Reading/dp/0316024538/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1449278956&sr=1-1&keywords=ling+and+ting+not+exactly+the+same