Doll Baby
By: Eve Bunting
Non-fiction – Informational/Diversity
Illustrated by: Catherine Stock
Doll Baby by Eve Bunting is a story
about a girl who had a doll named Daisy as a child and at the age of fifteen
she has a child of her own named Angelica. This story goes through the stages
of pregnancy, it discusses, telling her parents, going to the free clinic,
telling and losing the father of the baby and the hardships of her choices,
physically and emotionally on both herself and parents. She still believes that
Angelica was the right choice, however her life has changed forever. Overall,
this book was interesting to read. I would not suggest reading this to a
classroom but maybe to a child who could relate to the story.
Henry’s Freedom Box
By: Ellen Levine
Non-fiction – Informational/Diversity
Illustrated by: Kadir Nelson
Henry was slave and did not even know when
his birthday was because slaves were not allowed to know. Henry, his brothers
and sisters worked on a farm. Upon his masters death he was given to the master’s
son and grew up working as a slave rolling tobacco. Henry met Nancy and they got
married as soon as both of their masters agreed it was okay. They had several
children together but his wife worried her children would be sold due to hard
times financially for her master. One day he got the horrible news that his is
wife and children had been sold. The last thing he saw was his family-leaving
town in a wagon. Henry decided he had to be free so two of his friends packed him
inside of a box and mailed him to Philadelphia. In order to get out of work
that day he poured a bottle of vitriol on his hand burning it to the bone. One
of his two friends was Dr. Smith who did not believe in slavery. Henry was
crammed in to a box and rode three hundred and fifty miles from Richmond VA. Some
of the trip was by boat and twenty-seven hours later he arrived a free man. Henry
never saw his family again but his story made the news locally and in Europe. He
lived in England and there were even some reports that he remarried. Over four
million slaves lived in the United States during the mid 1800 hundreds. 60,000-100,000
slaves escaped through the Underground Railroad. Overall,
I really enjoyed this story it is a great book and even better teaching
tool for a young classroom!
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By: Eve Bunting
Non-fiction – Informational/Diversity
Illustrated by: Ted Lewin
Farah is a Muslim girl who wears a
“dupatta” and she is the only girl that wears one. She is also in a new country,
a new school and does not understand English. She goes on a field trip with her
class to the apple orchard. They pick apples and made them into apple juice. Some
of the children are nice but some do not like her because she is a Muslim.
Everything at the apple orchard is just like her country, whether it is the
sounds, the smells or the animals. Farah’s biggest barrier is language she
feels very alone but in time she will learn English and hopefully fit in with
the other students. Overall, I enjoyed this story; it is a good way to express
diversity in the classroom and how students can invite new students to feel
comfortable.
In Our Mother’s House
By: Patricia Polacco
Non-fiction – Informational/Diversity
Illustrated by: Patricia Polacco
This story is about the life of
three children, the narrator, her brother will, and her younger sister Millie.
They called their mothers Meeme and Marmee. Meeme was a short and stout
pediatrician and Marmee is a tall thin pediatrician. The story revolves around
the children’s childhood and great memories in the house. Whether is was
building a tree house, spending holidays together, winning the Halloween
costume contest or creating a neighborhood block festival, the two women were
always involved in their children’s lives. Although many people in their
community liked Meeme and Marmee, one woman Mrs. Lockner did not understand
their lifestyle. The children over came this difficulty and after their parents
passed away Will and his family moved into their Mother’s House. Overall, I
believe this is a good book to help children better understand different
lifestyles.
The Junkyard Wonders
By: Patricia Polacco
Non-fiction – Informational/Diversity
Illustrated by: Patricia Polacco
This is a story about a girl
named Trisha who decided to stay with her father over the school year in
Michigan instead of traveling back home to California. She always knew she was
a little different and she wanted a new start in a new school. When she went to
her new classroom she quickly realized she was no longer with the normal
classes. She was placed in Mrs. Petersons class known as the Junkyard. She
instilled strength and confidence in these children by taking them to the
actual junkyard and having them create their own masterpieces. Trisha was in
the vanilla group and they found an old model airplane to reinvent. One boy named
Gibbie knew it was destined to go to the moon. When the vanilla group presented
their project to the class, everyone worked together to fundraise enough money
to buy a motor for the plane. Many months later there was enough money for the
motor and the class released the plane on the top of the roof the day of the
science fair. The plane went higher and higher into the sky, the Junkyard
Wonder flew above the clouds. Many years later, Trisha met up with Gibbie who
actually became an engineer for NASA. He told her that he put their picture
with Mrs. Peterson who believed in them so much into the spacecraft. They too
went into the moon and made it.
Overall, I
really enjoyed this book; it is a great inspiration for children who might feel
different than their other classmates. It is a good tool for the classroom
because it sheds light on how bullying and names (like the Junkyard) really do
play a role on self-esteem. This book gives hope to those who feel like
outcasts and I would recommend using this in the classroom.
Eleanor
By: Barbara Cooney
Non-fiction – Informational/Diversity
Illustrated by: Barbara Cooney
Eleanor is a story about a girl
who was born into an aristocratic family during the early 1900’s. She
immediately feels inferior to her mothers expectations, yet her loving father
always called her “little Nell.” He was the happiness in her heart and she knew
she was that to him too. Eventually, her mother has two more children that are
boys and take even more attention away from her. Her mother and younger brother
die of diphtheria and her father dies shortly after that. Eleanor is sent off
to live with her Aunt Pussie in the countryside, the family loved her and she
even enjoyed visiting her Uncle Ted (Theodore Roosevelt). Eventually she is
sent off to a boarding school in England where she grows and blossoms into a
well-rounded kindhearted woman. Her main influence at her boarding school was
Mlle. Souvestre the head mistress. They grew very close together and when she
was sent back to her Aunt Pussie in America she and everyone knew she was
destined for greatness.
Overall, I
highly recommend Eleanor as a book and teacher should read in their classroom
regardless of the audience’s ages. It is a great story that sheds light on the
every popular first lady Eleanor Roosevelt. I loved reading this story, and the
illustrations were breath taking.
*The Rough Face Girl
By: Rafe Martin
Non-fiction – Informational/Diversity
Illustrated by: David Shannon
This Native American retelling of Cinderella has a twist
of events that contradicts those of the American version. Here there are two
beautiful sisters whom try to win over an amazing man that no one has ever seen
in the village. The invisible man’s sister is evaluating potential candidates.
When the two beautifully dressed sisters attempt to pass the sisters evaluation
they lie and are sent away. However, the two sisters have another sibling, who
feeds the fire in their house and has burned rough skin. She also has burnt
hair and no soles on her shoes. She is in ‘no condition’ to go be evaluated but
she dresses herself up as best as she can and begins the interview process. She
passes the test by explaining non-superficial identities. The sister sends
Rough Face girl off to a special water hole where she washes herself and
becomes clean again. The story ends with the Invisible man and her drifting
away in a canoe. I personally love this story and find it to be a great asset
to the classroom.
*It's Okay To Be Different
By: Todd Parr
Non-fiction – Informational/Diversity
Illustrated By: Todd Parr
This
book describes many external attributions and pairs it with some internal
feelings. The book encourages the acceptance of everyone and that being
different is a great thing. Good first day or bully book. The colors are
vibrant, silly and inviting to make everything equal and inviting.
*The Big Orange Splot
By: Daniel Pinkwater
Non-fiction – Informational/Diversity
Illustrated by: Daniel Pinkwater
There was
big orange spot on Mr. Plumbeams house in an area where every house was the same;
he painted his house a rainbow of colors with a watchtower, and palm trees on
it. The development was upset but then other neighbors started turning their
houses into their "dreams." This book can help the class get past
being different, follow your dreams and to not let others stand in the way.
Children can dream their own house on a piece of paper.
*Fly
Away Home
By: Eve
Bunting
Non-fiction – Informational/Diversity
Illustrated
By: Eve Bunting
This
is a book about a boy and his father whom happen to live in the airport. They
seem to be constantly moving around the airport. There is a bird whom is stuck
inside the airport and the idea of the bird freeing itself shows the desires of
the boy wanting to be free from their economic status. This story is a good
book to use in the classroom to help children understand the hardships that
other children face that they have no control over.
*A
Shelter in Our Car
By: Monica Gunning
Non-fiction – Informational/Diversity
Illustrated by: Elaine Pedlar
This story is about a young girl and her mother who are living in their car. The
mother is trying to find a job and save up enough money for an apartment. This
is a very moving and inspirational story. It is a great tool to use in the
classroom to help show different standards of living.
*Those
Shoes
By: Maribeth
Boelts
Non-fiction – Informational/Diversity
Illustrated by: and Noah Z. Jones
This book is about
a young boy named Jeremy who wants a popular type of shoes everyone else in
school has. The problem is that he cannot afford those shoes and he has to pick
a pair out of the guidance counselor’s bin. He ends up finding a pair at a
thrift store but after getting many blisters because the size is too small he
gives them to another boy who actually fits them. This book is a great one to
share with the class, it shows empathy and a different stance on
underprivileged children.
*Cups
Held Out
By: Judith
L. Roth
Non-fiction – Informational/Diversity
Illustrated
by: Brooke Rothshank
This
story is about a young girl who travels to Mexico with her father and for the
first time she encounters poverty. She and her father begin to discuss if they
should put money into the cups and alternate ways to help those in poverty.
Great book for the classroom helps children generate ideas and brainstorm
different ways to help those in poverty. I will be using this in my classroom!
*Uncle
Willie and the Soup Kitchen
By: DyAnne
DiSalvo
Non-fiction – Informational/Diversity
Illustrated by: DyAnne DiSalvo
This
book is about a young boy and his uncle who works at a soup kitchen. Throughout
the story Uncle Willie entitles his customers as guests, not people who are
looking for handouts. Overall, this story is something I will be using in my
future classroom. When I read a review online many teachers commented on how
their students loved it as well.
*And
Tango Makes Three
By:
Justin Richardson
Non-fiction – Informational/Diversity
Illustrated by: Justin Richardson
This
is a story of two penguins who are best friends at the New York City Zoo. They
try and have a penguin baby and when success was not their way a zoo keeper
gave them an egg. They nurtured the egg and when it hatched they were very
happy and called her Tango. I love this story, it is a great way for children
to get a little back ground on different types of families. I also enjoy how it
does not bring sexuality into the story at all.
*The
Family Book
By:
Todd Parr
Non-fiction – Informational/Diversity
Illustrated by: Todd Parr
This
goofy colorful picture book helps describe multiple types of families. This
book goes beyond and past gender prefance and into how diffrerent people live. From
types of animals to the amount of siblings one has it covers it all! This is a
good book for younger readers.
*Mommy,
Mama, and Me
*Daddy,
Papa, and Me
By: Carol
Thompson
Non-fiction – Informational/Diversity
Illustrated
by: Carol Thompson
These
two cardboard books are about same sex parents and the lives of their children.
The two books show a fun filled day with their parents. These are the first
board books ever written. This book may not be appropriate for the classroom but
it would be a good recommendation to a parent who may be specifically asking
for this genre.
*My
Uncles Wedding
By:
Eric Ross
Non-fiction – Informational/Diversity
Illustrated
by: Eric Ross
This
book is about a young boy named Andy and his two uncles wedding. It goes
through the process of how to plan a wedding, and reviews questions that Andy
comes up with. At the end it is decided that two uncles are better than one. This
book is not one that I would personally take into the classroom but I would recommend
it to someone who comes to me with a specific question reguarding this topic.
*A
Tale of Two Daddies
By: Vanita
Oelschlager
Non-fiction – Informational/Diversity
Illustrated by: Vanita Oelschlager
This book is about a young girl who happens to
have two daddies. A young boy asks the girl which dad builds tree houses and
which dad fixes her injuries. The illustrations are done very well and the
dialogue is at the level for a young reader to understand. This book could be
very helpful for a child who is from a same gender family.
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