5183 Fall 2024 Information Resources and Services for Children discussion
Reading Responses 5 (Wk 8: 10/7 - 13)
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My Two Moms and Me
This book is a early reader, picture book that goes through a day in the life of a young child with two moms. The themes are experiencing a great day with two moms, showcasing the love that the child is receiving.
For this book, I wanted to choose a lesbian involving book as a gay woman myself. This book showcases everything that parents should be, two moms or not. I think it is a great representation of two women being capable of parenting and loving in the same capacity of a hetero, traditional relationship. I think this book does foster a positive attitude about our diverse society. It's a story of love, given in a different format, but love and care all the same. The family is happy, giving their child a great day, and sharing time with other families that look the same as them. It is healthy. The text shows the child content with their parents, not wishing for something missing, because nothing is. The images depict a healthy, productive day, revolving around their family.
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1. Harris, S. F. (2023). Some bodies need a little help. Austin Macauley Publishers.
2. Some Bodies Need a Little Help is a picture book depicting students with various physical disabilities. It emphasizes that although some might need a little help to do things, they still have good bodies.
3. Some Bodies Need a Little Help does an excellent job of creating a positive view of people who are living with a physical disability. It discusses how they might need a walker, a chair, braces, a cane, prosthetic limbs, hearing aids, custom glasses, oxygen tanks or feeding tubes. It describes how some people learn and communicate using sign language or Braille. It explains that it is 100% okay if people need a little help to be able to move, learn, or communicate. What I love most about this book are the illustrations. The text is simple, and the illustrations really convey a clear picture of the lesson of the book. It would be an excellent book to read to children to teach them about how to treat others no matter who they are and even if they need a little help sometimes.
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Kashiwaba, S., Satake, M., & Udagawa, A. F. (2021). Temple Alley summer. Yonder, Restless Books for Young Readers.
Kazu Sada knew he saw a ghost leaving his home late one evening; but, after quickly realizing no one else believed that this ghost-girl, Akari, was anything other than a normal 5th grade classmate of theirs, Kazu sets out on a search that unfolds Japanese history, his own family’s beliefs, and a long lost story. Kazu soon finds that there are many elders and neighbors trying to intervene on Akari’s second chance of life, and he is determined to keep both Akari and his own family’s belief system safe.
American children will easily relate to the opening paragraphs as Kazu notes his fear of ghosts and horror stories. Once an actual ghost comes into the narrative, readers will want to follow the characters’ weaving stories to the very end. The relatable 5th grade Japanese students are doing many of the same things American students do at this age– summer projects, neighborhood festivals, and time with friends and extended family. The spiritual culture discussed in the book is thought-provoking and helps broaden a westerner’s view of how worship is done. The many references to altars and temples give insight and curiosity to the theme throughout the story– that a family has a right to their beliefs. The author writes a story within the story (separated by darker colored pages) which brings the plot together and creates a path of empathy, ultimately connecting the different characters’ stories. After reading this 2022 Mildred L. Batchelder Award winning novel, American audiences will see the need to broaden views and believe in the impossible.
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1.
Baldacchino, C., & Malenfant, I. (2014). Morris Micklewhite and the tangerine dress. Toronto; Berkeley, Groundwood Books, House of Anansi Press
2.
This is a picture book about a little boy named Morris who loves space, drawing, singing, tigers, and using his imagination, but most of all, he loves the tangerine dress that is at his school's dress-up station.
3.
Morris Micklewhite and the Tangerine Dress is a Stonewall winner from 2015, and I think it does have a good representation of the experiences of a boy not following gender stereotypes. This book discusses how sometimes children can be mean when they don't understand, like when they bully Morris for wanting to wear the tangerine dress, something he likes because it's the color of his mother's hair and the color of tigers. At the start of the book, we see that he is sad, showing in the illustrations because the others are mean to him, but towards the end, the other children come to accept Morris more, or most of them, and he is smiling and having fun with those who accept him. Morris just wants to have space adventures, read about elephants, and do his thing with a pretty dress he likes and painted nails with his head held high. When Morris comes back to school after faking sickness, he stands his ground for the things he likes.
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10-year old Bug learns about bigotry and acceptance in 1980s Venice Beach, California.
Through Bug’s experiences with her new best friend, Frankie, a trans boy, and her mother’s gay best friend, the reader is gently guided along a series of discoveries about injustice and prejudice in the midst of the AIDS epidemic in the 1980s. Bug’s worldview widens as she uncovers painful truths about her family and the community she lives in. The colorful cast diverse characters populating the book, each imbued with humanity and dignity, lead Bug to question the origins of the bigotry she observes. Bug’s open heart and natural wisdom will engage young readers without preaching to them, encouraging them to embrace diversity in their own lives.
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1. Sooful, P. (2023). My brain is magic: A sensory-seeking celebration. Soaring Kite Books
2. A child describes the thoughts in her mind as she completes sensory-friendly activities.
3b. I believe this book sheds a positive light in showcasing how a child’s mind might be working when they have difficulties with sensory processing. The main character describes her mind as “magic” and takes us through a variety of activities she does throughout the day. She also speaks about how sometimes things can become overwhelming and her brain becomes “quiet” and “cautious”. Although every person with a disability is different and has different thought processes, I believe this book can help readers understand someone who struggles with sensory processing. This book can also help readers become more inclusive and caring for those that may have a disability.
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Jordan, S. and Hendrix, R. (2024). The rainbow parade. Sourcebooks Jabberwocky.
Every person has their own unique rainbow that should be shared with the world. It’s important to not only be confident and proud in your rainbow, but to love others and their rainbows just as they are.
While this book does not specify what sexuality/gender identities are being talked about, what it does do is explain being ok with yourself and feeling pride in your identity. Through the illustrations, we get to see a variety of different identities represented which adds to - and doesn’t distract from - the message of being proud of yourself and loving yourself and others as they are. This book definitely takes a positive attitude about diversity and this is supported by the message and the illustrations - that of which display individuals being happy in big groups and showing love to those around them.
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Billet, J. (2017). Catherine’s war. HarperAlley.
A poignant graphic novel about a young Jewish girl in France who trades in her identity to survive World War II. Along the way, she learns to see the world through the viewfinder of her camera.
I think this book has great potential to appeal to American children for a couple of reasons. First of all, it is presented as a graphic novel which is a very popular format. Also, the setting of the book is France during World War II. Books set during World War II have been popular at this age level for the past several years. I think that American Children can relate to this book because it is a universal story of survival. The main character, Rachel, has to give up almost everything, including her own name, in order to survive the Nazi’s in France. She is moved several times, and has no news of her parents. While war may not necessarily be a reality to many students, being removed from parents and shuffled to many different places may be.
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Montañés, M. and Sánchez Gómez, E. (2022). Different: A Story of the Spanish Civil War. Eerdmans Books for Young Readers.
An account of one family’s experience of living through the Spanish Civil War, as told from the two perspectives of the son and daughter. In their unique experiences, they describe fear, hunger, and the pain of being separated from family members.
In some ways, this book might be difficult for American children to relate to, partly because it is set in another time (the late 1930s), and in another country (Spain). Living through a war is also something that, thankfully, very few American children have experienced. However, every child can understand being hungry, or not feeling safe, or wanting one’s family to all be living together. The book also includes an introduction, a glossary of Spanish terms, a brief history of the Spanish Civil War, and a list of resources for those wanting to learn more about Spain’s history and the refugee experience in general.
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1. Birkjær, B. (2021). Coffee, rabbit, snowdrop, lost. Enchanted Lion.
2. A young child spends time with his grandparents as Grandpa slowly loses his memory.
3A.
Coffee, Rabbit, Snowdrop, Lost is a book originally written in Danish. This book appeals to children with soft pictures and relatable scenes in the story. A child spends time with his grandparents growing flowers, doing puzzles, and having dinner, but the grandfather starts to lose his memory and show signs of dementia. He "loses" his words, which the boy picks up and saves in a box. This represents memories he has made with his grandfather. I think any child, regardless of their culture and where they are from, can relate to this book if they have had this experience with one of their grandparents or older person in their family, especially since this is a complication that can affect anyone.
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Cry, Heart, But Never Break
1. Ringtved, G., & Pardi, C. (2016). Cry, heart, but never break (R. Moulthrop, Trans.). Enchanted Lion Books. (Original work published 2001)
2. In this 2017 Mildred L. Batchelder Award winner, Death arrives for the grandmother of four children. Seeking to ease the children’s fears, Death shares a story that imparts the importance of appreciating life, allowing grief to be a part of that process.
3A. The book’s primary subjects of death and grief are what drew me to this book in the first place. These are matters that many children, regardless of nationality, do have to deal with, unfortunately. Death and grief are very delicate subject matters, and this book handles them with care. Death personified leaves his scythe outside so as not to frighten the children, he gives them time to come to terms with the inevitability of their grandmother’s passing, and he tells a story to help them understand the relationship between life and death. Death also imparts a message of hope: Allow the emotions felt in grief to drive appreciation for life lived. This book, although originally written in Danish, carries universal relevancy for all children.
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1. Birkjær, B. (2021). (A.M. Kjaergaard, Illus.). Enchanted Lion Books.
2. A 2022 Mildred L. Batchelder Honor book, tells the moving story of a child's experience going through life with his grandparents as his grandfather begins to struggle with the effects of memory loss, and when his grandfather begins to lose his words, Stump begins to collect them.
3a. This Danish picture book is thoughtfully written and impeccably illustrated. The story's conflict and themes deal with a universal problem that children face: the aging of their grandparents and the negative health effects that can accompany it, such as Alzheimer's disease and dementia. Children, regardless of what culture they come from, can learn from this story and will be emotionally affected by its message, especially if they can relate it to one of their loved ones. The illustrations in this book are rich in color and detail, and children will enjoy looking at specific details that add to the complexity of the story.
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2. Julián is a Mermaid is a story about a boy and his Abuela. It is a story about being seen for who we are by someone who loves us.
3B. "Julian is a Mermaid" offers a vibrant celebration of identity, showcasing Julian's journey of self-discovery and acceptance in a world that embraces diversity. The illustrations are colorful and whimsical, reflecting a positive, affirming narrative. By depicting Julian's desire to express himself through mermaid culture, the book encourages readers to embrace their unique identities. However, it may oversimplify the complexities of gender identity by presenting a singular experience. Overall, the book fosters a positive attitude toward diversity, promoting acceptance and individuality, while also reminding us that everyone's journey is different.
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Malala: Activist for Girls’ Education by author Raphaële Frier, translated by Julie Cormier, and illustrated by Aurélia Fronty,Frier, R. (2017). Malala: Activist for girls’ education. (J. Cormier, Trans; A. Fronty, Illus.). Charlesbridge Publishing. (Original work published 2015).
Malala: Activist for Girls’ Education is a picture book that tells the story of Malala Yousafzai and her journey as an education activist for girls’ education in Pakistan.
Malala: Activist for Girls’ Education won the Milred L. Batchelder honor award in 2018. This book was originally written in French in 2015 and translated into English in 2017. I am unsure the appeal of this book being a fun read for children. I can see teacher’s possibly using this book to show different counties view education for children, especially for girls. With the subject matter of this book, I believe that students in fourth and fifth grade would enjoy the book. I think that students from any country can relate to the book in some compacity. Students in the United States and in France can see how other countries view education rights and how some students are taught. Students will see how dangerous it was for Malala and her father to teach young girls in Pakistan during Taliban control.
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Hello, Universe
Kelly, E. E. (2017). Hello Universe. HarperCollins Publisher. https://doi.org/10.1353/bcc.2017.0197.
Four children set off on an adventure in the woods where their paths cross in mystical ways. A rich story filled with Filipino folklore, Hello Universe depicts cosmic interventions and what it is to be a hero.
Hello Universe uses different points of view to tell a story of children stepping up to help one another. The 4 protagonist each are unique in their own way and are fully fleshed out characters. One of these characters is Valencia. Valencia is deaf and uses hearing aids. While deafness is an important part of Valencia's character, it is not the sole focus of her story. Erin Entrada Kelly takes great care in showing the reader how deafness impacts Valencia by weaving it into the story in a seamless way. The other characters accept Valencia for who she is and make accommodations for their friend.
Hello Universe celebrates the different characters in the book for who they are as individuals. The book is a great depiction of how our individual traits can be assets to our communities and personal lives.
Personal Note:
When I read this book with my 4th graders, many students had not experienced Deaf culture. To help with background knowledge we read several articles about Deaf culture and this book: My Life With Deafness
It helped the students understand Valencia's character a bit better. Many students asked to start adding ASL to our classes after reading more about Deaf culture.
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1. Love, J. (2018). Julian is a mermaid. Candlewick,
2. Follow along as Julian discovers its okay to want to be a mermaid.
3. For this question, I turned to my partner who is gender nonconforming. My partner explained this is one of their favorite books and it does a great job of both affirming nonconforming children and introducing children to gender identity. The author does a wonderful job showing the audience, through beautiful illustrations, who Julian is. The words, while simple, are very impactful to show the audience how it is okay for anyone to like mermaids and want to be a mermaid. Finally, it shows how the people who truly love you will accept you no matter what. Overall, I would say this book is very positive for our diverse society.
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1. A citation for the book in APA format. I chose the Mildred L. Batchelder Award book that I read this week.
Leeuw, M. de. (2023). Later, when I’m big (L. Watkinson, Trans.). Eerdmans Books for Young Readers.
2. A brief annotation for the book, no more than two sentences.
A little boy is going swimming and daydreams of all the things that he will do when he is bigger and braver. He imagines all kinds of wild adventures and then decides at the end to do them later when he is big.
3A. If you respond to the Mildred L. Batchelder Award/Honor book:
Discuss the book’s potential appeal to the child audience in the U.S. In what sense do you think an American child can relate to the book originally produced in a foreign country? Your answer to #3A should be about 100 words in length.
This book would have great appeal to children in the U.S. The child imagines all sorts of fun adventures that they could do all over the world and describes animals and places from all over the globe that American children are also interested in. It is sweet to know that children from all over daydream about animals and the North Pole. The imagery focuses on the grand adventures and there are not any images that I think would confuse children from America.
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1. Yoshida, S., & Yagi, T. (2023). Houses with a story: A dragon’s den, a ghostly mansion, a library of lost books, and 30 more amazing places to explore (J. M. Cash, Trans., K. Kinebuchi, Ed.). Amulet Books.
2. A picture book with 33 different illustrations and floorplans of homes and dwelling places that could be fictional or real. Each one is accompanied by descriptions of the resident(s) and the reasons for why it is built as such.
3. Houses with a story: A dragon’s den, a ghostly mansion, a library of lost books, and 30 more amazing places to explore might appeal to a child in the US simply because of all the potential it has to stimulate a growing imagination. The dwellings depicted range from a Japanese book store, to a tree house, to a timid ogre’s hideout. A large portion of the homes are Japanese inspired but there is also a European castle and an abandoned subway station. Houses with a story can give children the imagery and language necessary to understand other works that are set internationally. It can also serve as abundant inspiration for budding storytellers. The sidebars are especially helpful in this regard, addressing subjects like roofs and toilets, and even providing a detailed diagram of the author’s own studio workspace with accompanying explanations for each detail.
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Alcott, A. (2022). When things get too loud: A story about sensory overload. Gardners Books Ltd.
This story goes through a boy and discusses all things he is experiencing with his senses. It discusses how these things make him feel how he navigates all these things.
I really like this book because it does help discuss what it is like to have a sensory disorder that can cause things to maybe feel overwhelming. It also helps all students understand more about their emotions because while it of course can be different with everyone, many students have/will experience those sorts of overstimulated/overwhelmed feelings. This story helps gives some examples to help calm some of these feelings.
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Beetle & the Hollowbones
Layne, A. (2020). Beetle & the Hollowbones. Atheneum Books for Young Readers.
Beetle is a young goblin who spends her days learning magic from her grandmother and going to the mall to visit her best friend Blob Ghost. When Beetle's old friend Kat comes back to town, the three of them must work together to save Blob Ghost before the mall is demolished and they are lost forever.
Both Beetle and Kat are gay and end up in a relationship near the end of the book. There is nothing in the book that paints them in a negative light due to their orientation, nor do any other characters treat them badly for it. They are just like any average teenage girl, aside from being a magical goblin and an undead skeleton respectively. Both of them have their own strengths, weaknesses, fears, and personalities that make them unique. They are fully fleshed-out characters that paints people in the LGBTQIA+ community in a positive light.
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1. Lunde, S. E., & Torseter, Ø. (2014). My father’s arms are a boat (K. Dickson, Trans.). Enchanted Lion.
2. A child and their father process the grief of losing their mother/wife through a long night. They grow closer by interacting with nature and having candid discussions of grief.
3A. While this book is originally written in Norwegian, the concepts of death and grief cross cultural and linguistic boundaries. The story "My Father's Arms Are a Boat" centers around a child unable to sleep after the loss of their mother. The father offers tender support for the child although he is grieving as well. They talk about the stars, the red birds, and the foxes. They process their loss together and give each other comfort. This story does an excellent job of mapping out the complexities of loss through the eyes of a child. The concept comes across in a way that is heart-felt and simple, making this translation valuable in any language.
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Talbott, H. (2021). A walk in the words. Nancy Paulsen Books.
This story is about a little boy for whom drawing comes naturally, but reading—not so much! Being a slow reader makes him feel different, but throughout the story, we see that taking your time and moving at your own pace can be a wonderful thing.
This book doesn't provide a lot of specific information on reading disabilities or dyslexia, but it emphasizes that everyone is unique and should read and learn at their own pace. By allowing ourselves to take our time and focus on making small improvements, without worrying about how others are doing, we can recognize the wonderful things we can achieve. The book fosters a positive attitude about learning differently or having a reading disability. One of my favorite parts is towards the end, where the illustrations show that, over time and with lots of practice, his drawings of horses improved. By using words, he was able to bring his illustrations to life. Another interesting page showed the "Slow Readers Hall of Fame," highlighting famous, brilliant people who were also slow readers. I love the message that being slow or different doesn’t mean being less capable or less intelligent. Everyone learns at their own pace, and learning shouldn’t be a race or comparison.
5183 Fall 2024 Information Resources and...
Books mentioned in this topic
I Am Different, The Same As You: A Children's Book about Differences That Promotes Diversity and Inclusion, Empathy, Acceptance, and Compassion for Kids with Different Abilities or Down Syndrome (other topics)A Walk in the Words (other topics)
My Father's Arms Are a Boat (other topics)
Beetle & the Hollowbones (other topics)
When things get too loud (other topics)
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Part 1: Add 2 books you’re reading this week, besides Front Desk, to the Goodreads group bookshelf. The 2 books include 1 Mildred L. Batchelder Award/Honor book & 1 book that addresses children with either disabilities or L.G.B.T.Q.I.A.+.
Note: You may not be able to add a book, if the book has already been added to the group bookshelf by another student. In this case, send the book’s title and author to Dr. Edwards so that I know you’ve completed required children’s book readings.
Part 2: This week you choose to write on either (1) the Mildred L. Batchelder Award/Honor book OR (2) the book addressing children with disabilities/ L.G.B.T.Q.I.A.+ that you read.
1. A citation for the book in APA format.
2. A brief annotation for the book, no more than two sentences.
3A. If you respond to the Mildred L. Batchelder Award/Honor book:
Discuss the book’s potential appeal to the child audience in the U.S. In what sense do you think an American child can relate to the book originally produced in a foreign country? Your answer to #3A should be about 100 words in length.
3B. If you respond to the book addressing children with disabilities/LGBTQIA+
Discuss how the book depicts an accurate or misleading understanding about people of various identities. Does the book foster a positive attitude about our diverse society? Why or why not? Make sure you evaluate both texts and illustrations (if your book has
illustrations). Your answer to #3B should be about 100 words in length.
FYI. You may find this article, Guide for Selecting Anti-Bias Children’s Books, useful in evaluating your book: https://www.teachingforchange.org/sel...