Illustrated by Cynthia Jabar. 40 p., Candlewick, 2002.
The other cats won't play with Little Cat because they think his voice is too loud, even though his parents reassure him that it's wonderful. When a bulldog chases the cats, Little Cat tries to scare it away with a big meow. At first Little Cat is too scared to do this, but when the dog teases him, he gets angry, and lets out meows that blow the dog away to the next town. After this, the other cats accept Little Cat. This story will help children see how to detach others' "negative" labels from their attributes.
Ages 3-5
Main character's cultural background: non-human
Cultural context: non-human
Sunday, February 28, 2010
Monday, February 22, 2010
Molly's Rosebush by Janice Cohn
Illustrated by Gail Owens. 32 p., Whitman, 1994.
Molly recalls her mother's miscarriage a few months earlier. Her parents had gently explained to her that the baby they were looking forward to was not going to be born, because the baby was not strong enough to survive. Molly had worried about her mom and had wondered why miscarriage happens and whether the family would ever have a baby. Her dad had reassured her that no matter what happened, she and her parents would love and care for each other. She was helped to understand the experience both by playing with her doll and through special attention from her grandma, who explains that in all of nature, not all babies get to be born. Molly and her grandma had ordered a rose bush for her mother. Molly recalls that although occasionally a bud does not bloom, and this makes her sad, most of the roses do bloom, and will continue to bloom. An extensive introduction for parents is included. This story offers empathy, validation, and a way through the grief of a miscarriage.
Ages 4-8
Main character's cultural background: European American
Cultural context: European American
Molly recalls her mother's miscarriage a few months earlier. Her parents had gently explained to her that the baby they were looking forward to was not going to be born, because the baby was not strong enough to survive. Molly had worried about her mom and had wondered why miscarriage happens and whether the family would ever have a baby. Her dad had reassured her that no matter what happened, she and her parents would love and care for each other. She was helped to understand the experience both by playing with her doll and through special attention from her grandma, who explains that in all of nature, not all babies get to be born. Molly and her grandma had ordered a rose bush for her mother. Molly recalls that although occasionally a bud does not bloom, and this makes her sad, most of the roses do bloom, and will continue to bloom. An extensive introduction for parents is included. This story offers empathy, validation, and a way through the grief of a miscarriage.
Ages 4-8
Main character's cultural background: European American
Cultural context: European American
Sunday, February 14, 2010
Friends! by Elaine Scott
Illustrated by Margaret Miller. 40 p., Atheneum, 2000.
This book describes friends as "people who like each other," and encourages readers to think about important aspects of friendship; for example, having fun together, helping each other, teaching each other new things, inviting new people into the friendship, trusting and accepting one another, understanding and respecting each other, and resolving disagreements. The author raises complex issues, such as refusing to do something you shouldn't, even if a friend asks you to. She comments that friends are valuable and special. A note to parents suggests ways to use the vignettes in the book to discuss friendship with children. This book offers children useful insights about friendship.
Ages 5-9
Main character's cultural background: none
Cultural context: multicultural
This book describes friends as "people who like each other," and encourages readers to think about important aspects of friendship; for example, having fun together, helping each other, teaching each other new things, inviting new people into the friendship, trusting and accepting one another, understanding and respecting each other, and resolving disagreements. The author raises complex issues, such as refusing to do something you shouldn't, even if a friend asks you to. She comments that friends are valuable and special. A note to parents suggests ways to use the vignettes in the book to discuss friendship with children. This book offers children useful insights about friendship.
Ages 5-9
Main character's cultural background: none
Cultural context: multicultural
Sunday, February 7, 2010
Don't Say Ain't by Irene Smalls
Illustrated by Colin Bootman. 32 p., Charlesbridge, 2003.
It is 1957, and Dana, who is African American, is chosen to attend an advanced (integrated) school. Her best friends assume that she thinks she's "better" than they are, yet she doesn't feel she knows how to fit in at the advanced school. The two worlds have different languages: at home, people talk "like real people" and use the word ain't, whereas at school, ain't isn't allowed, and people talk "strange." Dana struggles with the idea that the language of school is somehow more acceptable (which her godmother encourages) and the idea that the language of home feels familiar and real. When Dana's teacher says ain't while visiting her home, Dana finally realizes that both languages are OK, just in different situations. At the same time, she's able to repair her friendships, telling her friends that she isn't better than them; instead, each has something she's especially good at, including Dana's academics. This story offers a way to value and belong to two cultures simultaneously.
Ages 4-10
Main character's cultural background: African American
Cultural context: multicultural
It is 1957, and Dana, who is African American, is chosen to attend an advanced (integrated) school. Her best friends assume that she thinks she's "better" than they are, yet she doesn't feel she knows how to fit in at the advanced school. The two worlds have different languages: at home, people talk "like real people" and use the word ain't, whereas at school, ain't isn't allowed, and people talk "strange." Dana struggles with the idea that the language of school is somehow more acceptable (which her godmother encourages) and the idea that the language of home feels familiar and real. When Dana's teacher says ain't while visiting her home, Dana finally realizes that both languages are OK, just in different situations. At the same time, she's able to repair her friendships, telling her friends that she isn't better than them; instead, each has something she's especially good at, including Dana's academics. This story offers a way to value and belong to two cultures simultaneously.
Ages 4-10
Main character's cultural background: African American
Cultural context: multicultural
Saturday, February 6, 2010
Oliver Button Is a Sissy by Tomie dePaola
48 p., Harcourt Brace, 1979.
Oliver likes to play jump rope, read, draw, play dress-up, and especially, to dance. He doesn't like to play ball, mainly because he isn't good at it. His papa and his classmates call him a sissy. His parents send him to dancing school, saying it's for exercise. He learns to tap dance, and works hard to do well. But kids bully him because of his dancing. He performs in a talent show, where he is very disappointed not to win first prize. However, his parents express pride in him, and his classmates decide that he is a star, not a sissy. Individuals' talents aren't always consistent with stereotypes, and there's an important message here about being true to yourself, regardless of other people's arbitrary ideas about what you're supposed to like or be good at.
Ages: 4-7
Cultural Context: multicultural
Oliver likes to play jump rope, read, draw, play dress-up, and especially, to dance. He doesn't like to play ball, mainly because he isn't good at it. His papa and his classmates call him a sissy. His parents send him to dancing school, saying it's for exercise. He learns to tap dance, and works hard to do well. But kids bully him because of his dancing. He performs in a talent show, where he is very disappointed not to win first prize. However, his parents express pride in him, and his classmates decide that he is a star, not a sissy. Individuals' talents aren't always consistent with stereotypes, and there's an important message here about being true to yourself, regardless of other people's arbitrary ideas about what you're supposed to like or be good at.
Ages: 4-7
Cultural Context: multicultural