Liza Karras ELED310 Multicultural Text Set

Lion and the Little Red Bird by Elisa Kleven

Description: This book tells the story of an unlikely friendship between a
young lion and a bird. Although they do not speak the same language and
are therefore unable to communicate verbally, the pair establish a
connection. As their relationship grows they both strive to learn about each
others ways. This book is a lighthearted tale emphasizing the important
theme of the power of friendship. The upbeat nature makes it enjoyable
for young kids. I think the most appropriate age group would be kindergarten
to third grade.
Evaluation: Overall I think this is a great read aloud book for early
elementary children. The story is both interesting to children and includes a
rich, thick plot. The plot is age appropriate and utilizes style and language
that is suitable for the childrens ages and interests. In terms of visual appeal
kids will be naturally drawn to this book based on the colorful illustrations
which hold the readers attention. The images enhance and add to the story
by hooking the children with the bright colors and friendly looking animals.
Although on the surface it seems like a simple story of a lion and a bird, I
think it can be interpreted to apply to a much deeper theme of acceptance in
diversity, and promotes the end of social injustices created by racism and
discrimination. The lion and the bird can represent two people of different
races, backgrounds, religions, etc. Despite their dissimilarities they are able
to form a meaningful bond based on mutual admiration and respect for their
individual differences. Because of this theme I think the children are give a
variety of things to consider on the connections into their own lives and how
they handle other students who come from different backgrounds from their
own.
Recommended Use: This activity would be best implemented with the
older end of the appropriate age group, such as second to third. A fun
activity would be to give each student a slip of paper that either says lion or
bird and a specific color. Tell students not to share their slip with anyone in
the class, just to start drawing a picture of your specific animal in the color
named. Once everybody has finished their pictures, the class can all stand
up with their drawings and try to find their matching colored animal friend
(lion with green tail should be looking for bird with green feathers). Then
have the students answer questions on a separate sheet of paper that
encourage comprehension. Some questions may include but are not limited
to: The two friends were unable to communicate by talking because they
spoke different languages, how else can you communicate besides through
language? Do we have to speak the same language to be friends?

Oh Lord, I wish I was a Buzzard by Polly Greenberg . Illustrated by Aliki

Description: This book tells the hardships of a young African American girl
and her family as slaves. The family spends all day of every single day out in
the fields picking cotton for their owners. Throughout the day as she picks in
the intense heat she looks at animals around her with envy. She says she
wishes she were one of the animals, instead of being a slave. This book is
written in written at an early elementary level in terms of vocabulary and
difficulty, however due to the intensity of the plot I think this book is best
suited for older kids. I would classify this book for fourth grade through sixth
grade. I think this would be too heavy for kids younger than this, but too
rudimentary for kids older than this. Overall this intense book is reflective
about the painful truth of slavery.
Evaluation: While it is extremely important for children to understand
slavery, I do not think this picture book is appropriate. Although it does offer
children a variety of things to think about and include a rich, thick plot, I feel
the plot is too intense for most elementary students. There is a clear problem
in the story with no resolution. The book ends with the family preparing to go
to the field the next day, as they do every day of their lives. The realistic,
convincing characters are arguably too real for this age group. The
illustrations are interesting and enhance the story through the use of a
limited color palette. The book includes only shades of orange and brown,
which may not hold the childrens interest while the text is read. The color
choice gives the book an interesting effect which may be lost on young
children. The characters in the book reflect a specific cultural group.
Recommended Use: In the appropriate aged class, I think this book can
act as a valuable resource in a history lesson about slavery. It presents this
infamous concept of slavery in a more personal way. Textbooks are great for
informing the students about the facts, but this personal anecdote from the
perspective of a girl close to the classs age will really hit home for most kids.
This book would be best implemented if used as a supplementary activity for
a history lesson. After the reading the teacher should try to lead an impactful
discussion on what slavery was like for children. Students should leave the
conversations feeling reflective of the cruelties of the past, and appreciative
of the society we will I today.

King & King & Family by Linda de Haan and Stern Nijland
Description: This story is about a gay royal couple on their honeymoon trip
to the jungle. While on a hike the two kings encounter many different animal
families, each with a newborn baby. This makes the newlyweds feel envious
for each of the happy families and begin to wish for a baby of their own.
When they finally arrive home they discover a little girl that had snuck into
their suitcase from the jungle. The couple is thrilled and decide to adopt the
little girl and they all live happily ever after. I think this book is appropriate
for kindergarten through fourth grade. This progressive book celebrates the
diversity that exists within family structures.
Evaluation: I consider this book a quality childrens book. The story line is
interesting, and offers a variety of things for the students to think about. The
illustrations are interesting in an abstract way. The pictures feature bright
colors and hold the childs interest as the text is read. I think this book should
be read to young students because of the cultural considerations. Children
are not programmed to disagree with gay marriage, society teaches them
this. If as educators, we can teach them the importance of acceptance then
maybe as a society we can grow to be more tolerant of people who are
different. There is a difference between promoting gay marriage, and
increasing their awareness of the various family structures. I think an
effective teacher should be able to read a book like this in the classroom and
help students understand every family is different. This book promotes social
consciousness, not gay marriage.
Recommended Use: After the book is read aloud, the teacher should pass
out paper and ask the students to draw a family portrait. After everyone has
finished their pictures one by one they can come up and introduce the
class to their family. This a fun way for students to see the diversity within
their own class and to grow to be more tolerant individuals. This can lead
into a discussion about the idea of family and how it doesnt always refer to
the classic mom, dad and two kids situation that was once seen as a
traditional family. Families can be made up of a variety of different people
and relationships. As long as there is love, it doesnt matter which members

My Abuelita by Tony Johnston

Description: This story is about a young girl who lives with her
grandmother. Each morning the little girl helps her grandma, or her abuelita
as she calls her, get ready for work. The book is told in English but many
words have been substituted in Spanish. This book is awesome for young
children who seek to understand other cultures. I think it would be best
suited for second grade through fifth grade. This book is a blend of
cultures, mixing Spanish and English to tell an upbeat story about the
importance of family.
Evaluation: I think children will enjoy being read this book and repeating
the Spanish words. It is age appropriate and kids will find it interesting to the
kids to learn new words. The illustrations, however, are slightly odd. The
pictures are very unrealistic and take attention away from the text, in my
opinion. It would be interesting to see a childs reaction to t hese images. In
terms of cultural considerations, the characters both represent the Mexican
heritage. The grandmother is quirky, which makes for an interesting
character. It is unclear as to whether this is meant to represent negative
stereotypes, or to simply create a silly character. Beyond this I fell that the
lifestyles of the characters are genuine and complex, there is no
oversimplification. I think this book does a good job integrating Spanish and
English language, and cultures. It promotes inclusiveness between the two
cultures and helps foster students curiosity of other cultures.
Recommended Use: This book can be used to help students develop a
deeper appreciation of other cultures. A good way to preface this read aloud
would be to ask the students to pay attention carefully to the Spanish words
and then tell them to pick their favorite word from the book. If the
technology is available, then have the students log onto computers (many
schools have the portal netbooks) and look up the words English meaning. If
possible, the teacher should bring magazines and/or newspapers from home.
Once each student has chosen their word and found the meaning instruct
them to cut out words and images that relate to the word.
If resources are not available for this activity, an alternative would be to have
students make their own Abuelita paper doll, using this template
(http://www.yuyimorales.com/my_abuelita/for_you.html)!!print!out!the!
picture!of!Abuelita!on!). Let each child color their doll then help them glue
them onto popsicle sticks. This simple activity is easy, and enjoyable for the
kids.

Your Move by Eve Bunting, Illustrated by James Ransome

Description: This book tells the story of a 10-year-old boys gang initiation.
The boy, named James, is left home alone to take care of his little brother,
Isaac. Instead James sneaks out with Isaac to meet his gang members. In
order to prove he is worthy of joining their club, James is told to spray paint
a billboard with their name K-Bones. James is feeling on top of the world,
until the group is approached by a rival gang, with a loaded gun. After
managing to get away James and his little brother fearfully decide they
should go home, where is mother is waiting for them. The next day when one
of the gang members tries to offer James and Isaac membership into their
crew James replies, thanks, but no thanks. This powerful story teaches of
the dangers of gangs and peer pressure. Due to the darkness of the plot,
I think this book is appropriate for older kids grades third through sixth.
Evaluation: This story would be best suited for teaching at an intercity
school where gangs are an active threat to society.
Many parents are unsure how to talk to their kids about gangs, this book is a
great resource to help. The plot is rich and complex with realistic, convincing
characters. Students will be left with many questions and concerns, making it
an effective teaching resource. It is important to note that the problems of
this story include clear resolutions, ending the book on a positive note. The
illustrations are accurate in terms of the setting, plot, and the characters.
The images are well done to enhance and add to the story, and hold the
childrens attention. In terms of cultural considerations, this book represents
a variety of cultural groups. Much detail is used to create a full image of this
particular cultural group in all its complexities, instead of using stereotypes.
Overall I think this book does a great job promoting social consciousness by
teaching the dangers of gangs. This is an important lesson for young
children.
Recommended Use: Instead of completing a craft or a supplementary
activity, I think this book would be most effective if it is followed with a
genuine discussion. This plot is intense and may leave students feeling
uncomfortable. Teachers should check in with their students and see how
they are feeling. Ask them to talk about what emotions they may be
experiencing, and why. Make sure that the entire classes leave the discussion
with a better understanding of the threat of gangs and why they should
avoid these groups entirely. This lesson has the potential to educate and
prevent young children from getting mixed up with a gang in the first place.

Beautiful Blackbird by Ashley Bryan

Description: This is the story of a bird who is different from all the other
birds in his community. All of the other birds feathers show vibrant colors of
the rainbow, but Blackbirds feathers are all shaded black. Instead of being
ostracized for being different, the other birds celebrate his uniqueness. All of
the colorful birds then try to be like him by painting their own feathers black.
This book is appropriate for most elementary aged children. The story is
written in a song-like manor, making it enjoyable for all kids. I think ideally
this book should be read aloud to preschool aged to 3rd grade students.
Students above this age may find it boring. Overall it is a cheerful story with
a positive message about self-pride.
Evaluation: This book is a great for helping young kids understanding
diversity because of its positive moral. After the colorful birds beg Blackbird
to paint them black he replies Color on the outside is not whats on the
inside. This is an important message for children that their outside
appearance doesnt make them who they are. Its about the kind of person
you are, not what you look like The characters are used to enhance this
message and to represent a variety of cultural groups based on their color.
No specific cultures are attached to the different colored birds, which leaves
it to the childs imagination, and prevents all negative stereotypes. In terms
of the storyline, I think most children will find it interesting and will hold their
attention. The style and language are appropriate for elementary school
aged children without being too rudimentary. The illustrations are bright and
colorful, which will hold the students attention as it is read. The images
correspond to the text and enhance the story plot. This book can be used to
promote social consciousness in young children. There are so many different
types of students in a given elementary school, just like how there are so
many different kinds of colored birds in this community. This book preaches
acceptance and the importance of valuing what makes an individual
different.
Recommended Use: I think this book would make a great read aloud story.
While reading the book the teacher should try to read it like a song. Having
the children stand up and sing along will keep them invested in the story and
give them a chance to be silly. Throughout the story the birds perform the
Sun Down Dance where they circle Blackbird while chanting. Teach the
students this dance and have them perform it as you read the text. This read
aloud is interactive, and will make the read aloud more enjoyable for the
students. After the reading is completed the students can each make their
own bird with strips of bright colored construction paper or tissue paper on a
template of a bird. After each child has completed their own bird, the teacher
should draw attention to how different each of the students masterpieces
are. This can lead in to a lesson about the message of the story beginning
with a class discussion on what the word beautiful means. The teacher

should try to emphasize that everybody is beautiful and that no one person
is more beautiful than another.

Sumis First Day of School Ever by Soyung Pak

Description: This book tells the story of a young girl from another country
on her first day of school in America. The girl, named Sumi, doesnt speak
English, which makes school very difficult. She enters the school feeling
nervous and scared. Throughout the day she begins to feel more hopeful as
she receives positive attention from her teacher and makes a new friend
despite the language barrier. This book is appropriate for children first grade
through fourth grade because it features basic language, but the plot may be
too thick for children younger than this age. This book is an uplifting story
with a powerful message for children about language barriers.
Evaluation: This book would be very interesting because it appeals to the
whole class. For students who were born in the United States and have lived
there their whole lives it gives them a variety of things to think about that
most of them probably never have before. For students born outside of the
US attending school here it offers support. The plot is simple but powerful
with a clear problem and resolution. The style and language utilized is
appropriate for the children and the characters are realistic and convincing.
The illustrations are interesting and will hold the childrens interest as the
text is read. The colors used create a unique effect enhances the story. The
characters represent a variety of cultural groups. Sumi represents an ELL
student and the other children represent American students. This book
promotes awareness for students in the classroom who English may not be
their first language. The teacher should do everything in their power to make
these students feel welcome and comfortable in the class.
Recommended Use: I think this book can provide for an interesting
discussion in an American classroom. After reading the book, the teacher
should attempt to facilitate a discussion about this topic. Many English
speaking American children are unaware of the difficulties that different
culture groups experience when coming to America. I think its important for
the students to comprehend this so that they can become more accepting of
the diverse students in their classes. If there are ELL students in a class, this
discussion may relate to their individual struggles and help them feel more
welcome. Teachers can use a variety of questions to begin this conversation,
however I feel the most effective would be to first ask the students to reflect
on their first day of school. Ask them what emotions they remember feeling.
After the students have had time to share their experiences, ask them to
consider what it would have been like if they didnt know the language
spoken. The teacher should try to help the students put themselves in Sumis
shoes to understand the importance of this message.

Day of the Dead by Tony Johnston

Description: This book, written by the same author as My Abuelita, is a
short story of a family preparing for the Mexican holiday the Day of the
Dead. For days leading up to the multi day celebration the family is busy
baking elaborate dishes and gathering fruits and flowers as decoration. The
author incorporates Spanish phrases naturally into the story. This book is
very culturally significant as it explains one of Mexicos most famous
holidays and what it represents to them. I think this book can be suitable for
any age group especially kindergarten through third grade. This book is a
cultural celebration about one of Mexicos most famous holidays.
Evaluation: This story is interesting to children because it is so different
from our culture. The kids will enjoy learning about this exciting celebration.
The book is written in an age appropriate way so kids will be able to
comprehend. The Spanish phrases are integrated in a natural way that
explains the meaning without being boring. The images are cartoon which
makes the book more enjoyable for the kids. The illustrations are bright and
vibrant which gives the book a festive vibe. I think this book promotes
appreciation for other cultures. This holiday is viewed as an exciting
celebration
Recommended Use: This holiday begins on November 1. I think students
would love to be thrown a Day of the Dead celebration. The teacher could
make (or buy) all of the special foods mentioned in the book such as
empanadas, tamales and the bread and have a small party. There are many
Day of the Dead crafts the children could complete while they eat and
celebrate. This book could be the central part of the party, allowing students
to learn about the holiday as they celebrate it.

The Other Side by Jacqueline Woodson

Description: This story tells of a little African American girl who questions
segregation. She was raised to never cross the fence surrounding her
property because of the dangers that lay on the other side. Across the fence
lived another little girl, who happened to be white, about the same age who
often sits on the dividing fence. After eyeing each other for a few weeks, the
young girl decides to break the barrier and sit with the white girl. The two
realize their differences exist only on the surface. They form a tight bond and
begin playing together. This light-hearted story is about the power of
friendship and questioning segregation. This book is appropriate for most
age groups Id say between kindergarten and third grade.
Evaluation: I think this is a great resource in a classroom for challenging the
idea of segregation. The plot of the story is interesting to kids because they
can put themselves in the shoes of the girls. The plot is age appropriate and
includes a problem with a resolution. The girls decide that they dont care
what the others think, they enjoy each others company. The illustrations
include realistic and convincing characters which enhance and add to the
story. The characters represent a variety of cultural groups which helps show
the children multiple perspectives. The lifestyles of the characters are
genuine and not overly generalized. There are no negative stereotypes
associated with the cultural groups the characters represent. The story is
simply about two friends who ignore the racial groups and pursue a
friendship. This promotes acceptance of all racial groups and to question the
idea of separation based on race. It is important for students to understand
our history and see the flaws from the past.
Recommended Use: After reading this book aloud, an effective
supplementary activity would be to reenact the situation. Split the class into
two groups based on your particular students characteristics. Some
possibilities include green/blue eyes and brown eyes, blonde hair and brown
hair, etc. Then tell the students the only rule is that for a given portion of the
day you are to only interact with people that share your characteristic. If a
person not sharing your characteristic tries to talk to you, you are to ignore
them and tell the teacher instantly. At the end of the activity asks the
students to reflect on how they felt. Ask thm what emotions they
experienced when they were who they were allowed to be friends only based
upon their looks. Follow this up by asking how they felt when their close
friends were forced to ignore them because they looked different from you.
This discussion should naturally guide the student to seeing the injustice of
segregation by relating it back to the story.

Little Blue and Little Yellow by Leo Lionni

Description: This book tells the story of two blobs of paint who after playing
together all day realize their paint has combined to make a new color. Little
blue and little yellow have both become a shade of green. That night when
they both returned home neither of their parents recognized their children.
They two paint dots are so sad they cry until all their color has been shed
and they return to their original color. Excitedly, they run home to their
parents who realize what had happened. In the end the two families hug
each other until they have all turned green. This book would be most
appropriate for young kids, aged preschool through second grade. This
creative book is about the importance of friendship and how we can create
beautiful when we come together.
Evaluation: I think students will really enjoy this book. The story is creative
and interesting to children. The plot is age appropriate and children will
understand what is represented. The style and language utilized is
appropriate for the childrens age, as well as their interests. The illustrations
are the best part of this book, in my opinion. The images are simple, but
effective. The bright colors attract the students attention and keeps them
interested. The pictures enhance and add to the story in a positive way. In
terms of cultural considerations, this story is about two spots of paint that
represent so much more. The colors represent diverse people of different
backgrounds, cultures, etc. Our differences dont prevent our friendships,
they create them. We each bring something unique to the table and when we
put our strengths together, we can create something new and special. This
allows students to be exposed to multiple perspectives. This book overall is a
great resource for promoting inclusiveness.
Recommend Use: I think this book would provide for an excellent art
project. Students can each be given a large piece of construction paper and
a shade of paint. Students can go around and share each others paint colors
to combine and create new colors. Using these new created colors by
working together they can make a painting. They should be allowed to paint
whatever they want with these colors. When all the students have finished
lead a guided discussion on the social implications of this idea of combining
colors. Help them recognize how this can relate to much broader topics than
simply drops of paint. Guide them to understand that we are not all the
same. We all come from different backgrounds but that doesnt mean we
cant come to together a form a beautiful friendship, or painting. Some
questions can include:
- Do you think you need to be exactly alike to be friends?
- What kind of things can you have in common with your friends? How
important is this?