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Reviewed by Liam Fletcher

Summary: "The Big Umbrella" follows the story of a little boy going outside for a walk in the rain. By the front door he keeps a big smiling umbrella that appears to cover his face when he opens it up. As he walks outside in the rain he comes across others who didn't bring an umbrella but are in need of shelter. Characters begin to conglomerate under his umbrella as it grows to accommodate more people. Similar to the boy, each character's face is shrouded behind the expressive umbrella, giving a unified hivemind like image. The book highlights the differences between the characters in size, color, and even number of appendages. Despite this, there is always room under the umbrella for those in need. In the final part of the book we see the rain begin to part as a smiling sun brightens up the sky as the characters then make their way out from underneath the big umbrella. The last page of the book shows all of the individuals from before with their faces no longer covered playing in the park, interacting with each other, and coexisting in peace.

Themes:

Diversity- One of the most prevalent themes is the idea of existing in a diverse environment. Bates draws every character different to highlight their interests, disabilities, and physical characteristics. This helps to engage young readers with a variety of colors and shapes while emphasizing the ideas of acceptance and unification.

Kindness- Many characters that we encounter in the story approach the umbrella looking troubled by the rain which are then quickly invited underneath. The book shows us that friendship and kindness can be limitless if we invite people into our lives and unify as people.

Writing style- Bates writes in typical children's book style with short and simple sentences complimenting the large full spread illustrations.

Illustrations- Bates characters are colorful and bold in design which is a nice contradiction to the grey and gloomy background seen throughout most of the book. It's an effective tool to bring a readers eyes to something specific which in this case are differences of the people.

Educational Value- The symbolic use of umbrellas and rain is a connectable subject to the target demographic of children. A teacher could use this book on a rainy spring day where the playground is closed to discuss the feeling of being all together safely inside. I believe acceptance and inclusivity is best learned at a young age to normalize in society before hatred and fear have a chance to be learned first.

Conclusion- The Big Umbrella is a colorful children's story that makes use of symbolism to engage young learners in learning about diversity and tolerance. It's simple text and detailed illustrations keep story straightforward and the plot easy to understand while still containing symbolism that could be analyzed by young and old readers alike.

Read aloud link: https://youtu.be/ApbkPKinF4I

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Amy June Bates' "The Big Umbrella" fosters tolerance and kindness towards diverse individuals through colorful illustrations and socially responsive symbolism. It makes an effort to emphasize diversity through its illustrations and text while also addressing the fears of being inclusive to people who are different from each other.

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Themes:

Self-Acceptance and Self Worth: Specifically, this book highlights the importance of accepting your body regardless of external opinions.

Bullying: This book highlights the difficulties children face with bullying.

Diversity and Inclusion: This book highlights accepting all body types and groups of people.

Concluding Thoughts: Overall, this book does a great job portraying the way children should view their bodies. The illustrations and thought bubbles show the difficulties students go through, compared to the way they should feel, in order to bolster children's mental health.

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BIG is a story written by Vashti Harrison that represents a child who is growing up. As she gets older, she begins to be made fun of for being "too big". Towards the end of the story, she begins to become comfortable with her own body, and appreciate who she is. This book emphasized the importance of self-acceptance, and the challenges children face with bullying.

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Real Aloud link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rw9NstM1Q4E  Review by Mya Jones

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Review:

Our Class is a Family written by Shannon Olsen and illustrated by Sandie Sonke offers diverse representations of students and what their home life/idea of family may look like. Embracing both the similarities and the differences together in their classroom, they come together to create their own family, not of blood but of love, care, and connectedness.

Summary:

The story begins by demonstrating different ideas of what a family may be. It includes a representation of a nuclear family, grandparents, step-parents, cousins, and siblings. While that is the students family, the author encourages us to explore and consider that the class may be another type of family the student belongs to. Students spend majority of their time in this class playing and learning with their classmates. The author talks about shared similarities that bring the students together but also their differences which make them unique. These students, along with the teacher, come together to make their own family.

What’s missing:

The story describes all family types mentioned above, each with images to follow. There is no representation of families with sam-sex parents, single parents, or mixed-race families. One page even consists of 14 cousins, all of which appear to be the same race. While a deep dive into each of these topics was not needed, a simple illustration could’ve helped make the story more relatable for all students.

Themes:

Diversity- Students appear to be very diverse in this story ranging from race/ethnicity, family type, mixed-ability, and more. It is noted that everyones differences have value as it makes them unique

Family- The story explores what it means to be a family. While it is often believed that blood is what makes a family, this story shares the love and caring for one another can make another family. This can be seen as demonstrated as through a classroom, but also for foster-families, adoption, sports, communities, and just about any other situation a kid may find themselves in.

Illustrations:

The illustrations in this book really help build upon and represent the diversity between students. Some examples include a young boy in a wheelchair, a young black girl in which she is wearing her natural hair, and students of varying skin color. The pictures showed diverse classmates being kind towards each other.

Conclusion:

Overall, Our Class is a Family is a very cute and short story that can hold significant weight when shared within a classroom. I think this story did a great job with representation of what a classroom looks like and how a class should feel. Sharing similarities and embracing differences can help everyone feel welcome and important.

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Review and Summary:                                         "Daisy Doo: All The Sounds She Knew" is a book written by an author named Daisy Kent. Daisy suddenly lost her hearing and made the decision to get a cochlear implant. Upon her researching information about this procedure, she noticed a lack of information about the topic. It sparked her to want to write a children's book for kids who go through a similar experience or for kids in classrooms who see people with hearing impairments. The book is inspiring to young children who struggle with hearing loss or impalement and how they can grow up to have an exciting future.  I feel all teachers should carry a copy of this book in their classroom to deepen their students understanding of others who may have hearing impairments.                                                                                        Themes:                                                                                                  Perseverance: Daisy shows how she continues to grow as a person and use her cochlear implant to help her hear again. She shows how this will not stop you from having a good life.                                                                Empathy: This book displays the ability to understand what others are going through and how we all grow as people through our toughest moments.                                                                                                               Educational Value: Students learn to empathize with other students, friend, or even family members on the struggle of hearing loss. It allows students to see that all people are the same no matter what they may be challenged with in life.                                                                                       Date Read: 7/25/2024                             

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Honeysmoke, written by Monique Fields and illustrated by Yesenia Moises, is a sweet story of a young girl’s search to make sense of her identity. The book explores individuality through “color words” which allows for very young readers to begin making sense of race, identity, belonging and uniqueness.                                                                Summary: Simone is a young biracial girl who begins the story by asking her parents if she is black or white. Her mother and father both give her acceptable answers, but she doesn’t feel like these describe her. She searches for a color in her school, home, and world to identify with but struggles to identify anything quite like her. Finally after considering the shades of her parents skin, she creates the color honeysmoke. Filled with joy, she begins to see this color throughout her world. The book ends with a beautiful page encouraging the reader to consider their own color world.                                                                                          Themes: Diversity and Identity: In this book Simone must face her unique identity and decide who she wants to be. She is biracial, therefore different from each of her parents. She is different from her friends, and different from her crayons, and toys as well. She wants to feel seen, and she creates this feeling for herself in the part where she creates the word honeysmoke.                                                   Illustrations: The illustrations are an incredible painted world full of color and vibrancy. Some pages depict Simone in real world situations, and others divert to a world of imagination. The page devoted to the word honeysmoke is a beautiful picture of Simone and her parents surrounded by a heart shaped hole in a cloud of honey colored smoke.              Writing Style: Field’s writing is simple and profound, allowing it to be accessible to even the youngest of readers. The concept of identity is condensed into the concept of color, however that doesn't take away from the depth of its meaning. As Simone considers characteristics of her parents , not just their skin when determining their color. Short and straight to the point, this book is an impactful read.                  Educational Value: This book can act as an engaging introduction to identity in the early childhood classroom. It can act as a model, for students to choose their own color for self portraits or for older children to create their own color word that feels special to them. The idea that identity is unique, and can be created can validate young people in and our of the classroom who may struggle with these concepts.   Conclusion: This book is incredible, and is an excellent addition to any primary or preschool classroom. Every time I read it, I get a warm feeling in my heart. We are all unique and beautiful in this world full of diverse colors.(Just remember, color in this book is more than just skin deep.)                                  

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Honeysmoke | Read Along | Read Aloud | Children's Book

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Author: Jacqeline Woodson

Illustrator: Rafael Lopez

Review: The Day You Begin by Jacqueline Woodson is a colorfully illustrated children's book that celebrates the courage it takes to enter a new environment where you feel different from everyone else. The story is a heartfelt and encouraging reminder that we all have unique experiences and stories to share. It highlights how differences in culture, language, and appearance can make someone feel like an outsider. However, it also emphasizes the importance of sharing our stories and finding common ground.

Summary: The book follows the character of a young girl named Angelina, who feels out of place when she returns to school after summer break. She notices that her experiences are different from those of her classmates. As Angelina listens to others share their summer stories filled with exciting trips and adventures, she feels hesitant to share her own more modest summer experience. As Angelina bravely shares her own story, she realizes that everyone feels different sometimes, and those differences can be the very things that connect us. The narrative encourages children to embrace their uniqueness and to be confident in who they are.

Themes:

Diversity and Inclusion: The book emphasizes the beauty and importance of diversity. It portrays various characters with different backgrounds, experiences, and appearances, highlighting that everyone has unique stories.

Courage and Bravery: One of the central themes is the courage it takes to step into new situations where you feel different or out of place. The story encourages children to be brave in sharing their experiences and being themselves.

Empathy and Understanding: The book fosters empathy by showing the feelings of loneliness and isolation that can come with being different. It encourages readers to understand and appreciate the perspectives of others.

Self-Acceptance: "The Day You Begin" expresses the importance of accepting and loving oneself. It encourages readers to embrace their uniqueness and to take pride in their individual stories and backgrounds.

Illustrations: The illustrations are filled with diverse characters, each detailed to highlight their unique backgrounds and stories. This visual representation of diversity supports the book's message about the beauty of individual differences. López also uses different colors to describe various emotions throughout the story. The colors shift to reflect Angelina's feelings—darker colors when she feels isolated, and bright colors as she gains confidence and finds connections.

Writing Style: It is clear and accessible, making it suitable for young readers. Woodson’s ability to convey complex themes and emotions with simplicity and clarity is one of the book’s strengths.

Conclusion: The Day You Begin, creates a touching and uplifting story about embracing diversity, finding courage, and the power of sharing our unique stories. The book conveys themes of self-acceptance, empathy, and connection, encouraging readers to celebrate their individuality.

Review by:

Courtney Cochran

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The Day You Begin - An Animated Read Aloud

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Review By: Caden Johnson

Author: Kwame Alexander

Illustrator: Kadir Nelson

Review: The Undefeated is a beautiful poem dedicated to overcoming. It teaches a history that is often untold in an appropriate manner for elementary students. I highly recommend this book to all educators

Summary: The Undefeated is a poem that tells a history of over Enslaved Africans, African Americans, and Black Americans overcoming challenge to achieve great things. The story features real people, from history and living today, and the resilience they showed in their fields.

Themes:

Overcoming Challenge- The book highlights historical figures that overcame discrimination coming out undefeated.

Understanding- The book alludes to enslavement and people of color not surviving, it can start dialogue surrounding mistreatment of others.

Knowledge- Highlighting figures of Black History the book exposes readers to historical figures they likely do not know. The book includes a summary of each person highlighted.

Illustrations: Kadir Nelson's use of photorealism and collage won The Undefeated the 2020 Caldecott Medal for Illsutration.

Writing Style: Alexander uses a poetic storytelling style. It is unique from a typical children's picture book in the use of tempo and meter to give sound and emphasis to the words.

Educational Value: I read this book apart of my Black History Month mini-unit in Social Studies. In NYS 5th Grade S.S. standards include discussion a group tha thad to fight/is fighting for equal rights. This story highlights the achievement of Black Americans in their journey for equal rights.

Conclusion: There are few books that I read and instantly share with every educator I know; this is one of them. It is a beautifully told history lesson with deep meaning that can facilitate diversity centered conversations in the classroom.

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Read aloud- link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O5gia39y5uo

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Review: "All Are Welcome” is all about a school and its students’ where diversity and inclusion are celebrated. It creates a sense of classroom community and a sense of inclusion. It is written in a poetic style and follows a rhyming pattern which I love and found unique.Summary This story follows a group of children through a day in their school, where everyone is welcomed with open arms. Students from all backgrounds learn from and celebrate each other's traditions.ThemesInclusion: The story celebrates students diverse differences amongst one another, and teaches the lesson and importance of always be open minded and including others..Kindness: It teaches readers to spread kindness to people they know and in their community so they will receive the same type of kindness back from others. It also promotes the idea of kindness leading to a positive environment.Empathy and awareness: This story fosters a sense of awareness and empathy within students because it promotes the importance of putting yourself in other people’s shoes in order to better understand their differences without judgement or bias.IllustrationsThe illustrations are vibrant and represent a variety of diversity through its illustrations within each page. The diversity present in the illustrations contributes to the author’s purpose and theme of the story. Writing StyleThe writing follows a rhyming pattern which I admired and found engaging. As a read aloud for early childhood students, rhyming and phonics is a common skill they work on in the classroom so this book is an engaging and appropriate classroom read aloud. I also think students of older grade levels would enjoy listening to this read aloud because of its unique rhyming writing style.Educational ValueThis book celebrates and recognizes the importance of diversity within the classroom and in environments beyond that. As children grow up, they continue to become more self aware as well as aware of the environment around them. As we teach our students how to treat one another and approach situations with other students it is so important that we teach them the importance of feeling and practicing empathy in our everyday lives. This story encourages students to always be open minded and have a sense of empathy towards others situations.ConclusionThe way that this story promotes acceptance, and celebrates diversity is the perfect stepping stone for teaching students the importance lesson of empathy and acceptance.

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REVIEW BY ALEXIS MACK

Author: Genevieve Petrillo, Illustrated by Lea Lyon

Review: “Keep Your Ear on the Ball” by Geneive Petrillo is an inspiring story showing how students can respect and support another student in their class that is different from them. This student never lets his disability stop him from accomplishing his daily tasks.

Summary: A new student named Davey joins the class. He looks like all the other students in the class (all races and genders) but the only difference is that he is blind. His classmates kindly keep offering to help him, and he kindly responds “Thanks, but no thanks” each time as he is capable of doing it on his own. His classmates stop asking until they are all playing kickball outside. Davey has missed the ball many times and his classmates offer many ways to help, but he wants to kick the ball on his own. Davey and his classmates come up with a solution to listen to the noise of the ball and have a student talking near each base. All the students were very supportive and were enjoying the kickball game.

Themes:

Perseverance - Davey was struggling to kick the kickball, but never once thought of giving up. He kept going and with the help of his classmates was able to play the game.

Teamwork - The story shows that even if you have a disability, everyone can work together so the person with the disability can achieve their goals.

Acceptance - All of the classmates never once judged Davey for being blind. They were all inviting and wanted to help him.

Illustrations: Lea Lyon’s illustrations are watercolor portraits that bring the story to life. It shows how Davey acted from his and his classmates' point of view at school. Since he is blind, the visual representations are one of the ways we can picture what Davey is going through. The drawings take up most of the pages. It shows the other children at school and the activities Davey is doing.

Writing Style: Genevieve Petrillo’s writing is in perspective of a classmate that was observing or with Davey. The writing is very detailed and relatable to students as the activities discussed are ones they participate in on a daily basis.

Educational Value: “Keep Your Ear on the Ball” is a great lesson for all teachers and students. There is a big stereotype that blind people are misunderstood and treated as though they are incapable of doing anything. In this book everyone wanted to help Davey, but he never wanted it. He wanted to be independent and was able to do so.

Conclusion: “Keep Your Ear on the Ball” is a great book to educate students and teachers about people who have disabilities. It teaches us that even if someone is different, and in this case as a blindness disability, they are more than capable of doing things on their own. It also shows how we should embrace and be respectful towards everyone.

Date Read: 7/25/2024

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Review:

"A Cot in the Living Room" by Hilda Eunice Burgos, illustrated by Gaby D’Alessandro is a story of a Dominican family who welcomes the children of other families to spend the night while their parent(s) work the night shift while the youngest daughter's feeling change from envy to empathy.

Summary:

"A Cot in the Living Room" follows a young girl whose family hosts children overnight for families with parents/guardians who work the night shift. The youngest daughter of this family is jealous of the children who come to sleep on the cot in the living room because she wants her own room with a TV. Currently, she shares a room with her older sister who snores! She is also jealous of the "special" treatment her parents give the children who sleep over. One night, her parents finally let her sleep on the cot and she was so excited. Once she tried falling asleep, she realized how scary and uncomfortable it was to sleep in the middle of the living room on a cot. The girl then changed her feelings of jealousy to empathy. The next time a child came to sleep over, she made her sister help her move the cot into their bedroom so they didn't have to sleep in the living room scared alone anymore.

Themes:

Compassion: The family of this young girl is compassionate enough to share their NYC apartment with the children of the families whose parents/ guardians work the night shift. This is not a requirement of them, they are doing it out of the kindness of their heart.

Empathy: Although jealous at first, the little girl learns empathy when she realizes how much discomfort the children who stay at their house each night go through when they are away from their family.

Sacrifice: Along with compassion comes sacrifice. The family sacrifices their space to accommodate the children each night they stay. The little girl (and her sister) also sacrificed their space in their shared room once the little realized how scary it was to sleep in the living room so, they moved the cot into their already small bedroom so the children spending the night could be more comfortable.

Illustrations:

The book was illustrated by Gaby D’Alessandro. She did a great job of making the book visually appealing while also conveying messages. When the little girl was imagining all the fun each child had when they slept over on the cot the illustrations were fun and vibrant. When the little girl slept on the couch and was scared, she darkened the images and made them spookier.

Writing Style:

This book is written in a first-person narration of the little girl. We hear her thoughts and conversations with her family members and the children who stay the night. I think that this style makes it very easy for children to connect to the main character.

Educational Value:

This book introduces children to fairness. Sometimes it is hard for people (children and adults) to seem past their point of view. This book shows how the little girl thinks it's unfair that she doesn't get to sleep on the cot in the living room and gets special treatment like the children who are guests. When she gets the opportunity to do so though, she realizes how hard she has it. It makes you go below the silver lining and understand what situations people are going through.

Conclusion:

"The Cot in the Living Room" is a great book to teach young students about those who are not as fortunate. Although we may not see these people as less fortunate, we don't know what they are going through until we take a walk in their shoes.

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Hilda Eunice Burgos and Gaby D’Alessandro

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Click the picture to hear a read aloud of the book!

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Last Stop on Market Street by Matt de la Peña, Reviewed by Ashley Kupiec

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Last Stop on Market Street by Matt de la Peña, Reviewed by Ashley Kupiec

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Author:

Matt de la Peña

Illustrator:

Christian Robinson

Review:

Last Stop on Market Street is a fantastic book that helps students to learn empathy and the value of helping their community. It has won many awards including the Newberry Medal and the Caldecott Honor, and is recommended as an anti-bias book by Social Justice Books. This book is a staple in any elementary classroom!

Summary:

Last Stop on Market Street follows a young boy named CJ and his grandmother as they complete errands together on the way to volunteer at a soup kitchen.  On the journey there, CJ asks many questions, such as why they have to ride the bus instead of getting a car.  His grandmother always responds in a positive way, emphasizing the fact that they are surrounded by an amazing community of people that they have the pleasure to interact with.  The book teaches students the value of supporting one another for the betterment of all people.

Themes:

Diversity: The book depicts characters with a number of identities. For example, there is a blind person, people of various races and ethnicities, and people of differing socioeconomic backgrounds and jobs.  All of these identities are addressed in a respectful manner and are uplifted and depicted in a positive light. The book also has what might be referred to as “background diversity;” even the characters that do not speak in the story and just show up in the background reflect a diverse group of people.  For instance, there is a man in a wheelchair and a woman wearing a headscarf.

Empathy: The book encourages young readers to ask others about their life experiences in a respectful way.  Moreover, it asks children to see the world through another person’s eyes.  This is best shown in CJ’s conversation with the blind man, who explains that he “sees” the world through his other senses such as hearing and smelling.  CJ closes his eyes, listens to the world around him, and tries to “see” from the man’s perspective.

Community and Volunteerism: The story concludes with CJ and his grandma helping pass out food at their local soup kitchen.  The book does not take on a harmful “savior” narrative but rather shows students the importance of helping the people around you.  It depicts the community as a loop of giving back to each other in whatever way they can, whether that be through a friendly conversation, a meal, or a simple smile.

Illustrations:

The illustrator, Christian Robinson, does a beautiful job in his detailed drawings.  He won the Coretta Scott King Award for his work on the book.  Young students love the art style, as it is eye-catching and engaging.  Most importantly, his drawings are respectful of the various identities depicted in the book.

Writing Style:

De la Peña’s writing style is very accessible for young readers, and the story is the perfect length to capture their attention.  One of his strong points is his dialogue.  The way in which CJ speaks in the books represents the way that children talk very well, and students will find it relatable to hear. Another aspect that stands out is his wonderful descriptions using all five senses that immerse the reader within the book.  His work would be a great example for teaching students how to write with the senses for Writer’s Workshop.

Educational Value:

This book is wonderful for teaching students about varying perspectives of the world and how to empathize with those different from us. Additionally, I have used it in the past as a companion for a lesson on being an active participant in the community through volunteerism and interaction. The book has educational value for adults, too.  Throughout the story, CJ asks many questions that some adults would consider blunt or even rude.  It is important for adults to understand that children are not trying to intentionally be rude when asking about the identities and experiences of others; rather, they are often just genuinely curious and trying to understand.  What truly matters is the way that adults respond to these inquiries, because in the end, that will have a great impact on the child’s view of those identities.  If an adult is uncomfortable when answering or gives a non-answer, this can be very confusing to the child.  CJ’s grandmother is an excellent role model for adults who find themselves in these situations. She is straight-forward with her answers and maintains kindness and respect towards the people they interact with.  Moreover, she encourages CJ to place himself in others’ shoes and maintains an attitude that is welcoming towards questions.

Conclusion:
Last Stop on Market Street is an engaging story with beautiful illustrations that encourages students to be active members of their community.  Its uplifting message reminds young learners that diverse ways of life should be celebrated.  The book is great for any classroom, as it contains important lessons that will be useful to teachers, students, and families.

Date Read:

7/23/2024

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Magical Little Minds - Read Along Storytime

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Kids Book Read Aloud Story 📚Last Stop on Market Street 🥖🧺 by Matt de la Peña

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"I Get Around In My Own Special Way, " By Donna Goldman.  Reviewed by: Gwen McFerran

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"I Get Around In My Own Special Way, " By Donna Goldman.  Reviewed by: Gwen McFerran

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Author

Donna Goldman

Review

“I Get Around in My Own Special Way” by Donna Goldman shares a disabled girl's wish to be included. This book offers helpful information on how to be kind, respectful and safe when interacting with a person with a disability. The Author’s hope is that this book builds empathy, encourages inclusion and understanding.

Summary

Join this friendly and adventurous girl as she enjoys life from her wheelchair. She plays with her friends, celebrates birthdays, makes music and more! Sometimes people stare, or pretend she's not there, and that makes her feel sad. She enjoys her daily life despite challenges.

Themes

Inclusion and Acceptance: The book emphasizes the importance of including everyone, regardless of their abilities, in everyday activities.

Empathy and Understanding: It encourages readers to see the world from the perspective of someone who uses a wheelchair or other assistive device, fostering empathy and understanding for their experiences.

Empowerment: The story celebrates the main character's independence and ability to live a full and joyful life despite using a wheelchair. It shows that assistive devices can be seen as tools that enable rather than limit.

Communication and Education:  The book provides helpful information on how to interact with people with disabilities in a respectful and inclusive way. It promotes open communication and understanding between people with and without disabilities.

Illustrations

The illustrations are colorful and lively. They emphasize the main character's happy view on life.

Writing Style

The writing is simple and direct. The language is easy to understand, making it accessible to young children and those who are new to the topic of disabilities. The author is positive. The tone is upbeat and focused on the girl's abilities and joy in life, rather than on her limitations. While primarily a story, the book also includes factual information about interacting with people with disabilities, presented in a clear manner. This combination of simplicity, positivity, and honesty makes the book engaging for young readers while conveying important messages about inclusion and respect.

Educational Value

The book introduces children to the concept of disabilities and assistive devices in a positive and approachable way. It teaches them that people with disabilities are capable individuals who can participate fully in life. Empathy and Understanding: The story encourages children to put themselves in the shoes of the main character. It encourages empathy and understanding for those who experience the world differently. By highlighting the main character's unique way of navigating the world, the book celebrates diversity and encourages children to embrace and appreciate differences.

Conclusion

Overall, "I Get Around in My Own Special Way" is a valuable educational tool that can help children develop a more inclusive and empathetic worldview while promoting important social-emotional skills.

Date Read

7/23/24

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(For some reason I was kicked off and couldn't finish writing my post)

Windows and Mirrors:

Mirrors - For Muslim children, especially girls who wear a hijab, "The Proudest Blue" serves as a mirror. It reflects their lived experiences, cultural practices, and feelings, allowing them to see themselves represented in a positive light. This story also helps them see their experiences as valuable and worthy of being shared and celebrated.

Windows - For readers who may not share the same cultural or religious background, the book acts as a window. It offers insight into the life and experiences of a Muslim girl who wears a hijab, educating readers about the significants of this practice and the values it represents.

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THE PROUDEST BLUE read by Ibtihaj Muhammad

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The Proudest Blue: A Story of Hijab and Family

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The Proudest Blue: A Story of Hijab and Family

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THE PROUDEST BLUE read by Ibtihaj Muhammad

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The Proudest Blue: A Story of Hijab and Family

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The Proudest Blue: A Story of Hijab and Family

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Summary: This is a beautifully crafted children's book that celebrates diversity and cultural identity. Through the story of two sisters, Faith and Asia, the book explores the meaningful experience of wearing a hijab for the first time, emphasizing themes of pride, resilience, and family support. This also highlights the importance of Windows and Mirrors, as the narrative provides both a mirror for Muslim children, affirming their cultural practices, and a window for others to learn and appreciate the significance of the hijab in their culture.

Themes:

Representation: The book celebrates diversity by providing representation for Muslim children, particularly girls who wear the hijab. It offers a positive portrayal of the hijab as a symbol of faith, strength, and beauty, helping to normalize and de-stigmatize the practice for broader audiences.

Cultural Education: Through the story, readers learn about the significance of the hijab in Islamic culture, the values it represents, and the emotional experiences of those who choose to wear it. Students see it as a celebration rather than something that makes them stand out in America. This serves as an educational tool, promoting understanding and empathy.

Family and Community: The book highlights the support and pride within the family and community, illustrating a positive image of family unity and cultural pride. The support Faizah and Asiya receive from their family reinforces the idea of embracing one's cultural identity.

Educational Value:

"The Proudest Blue" offers significant educational value by promoting cultural awareness and sensitivity, particularly about Islamic practices like wearing the hijab. It fosters empathy and inclusivity, providing positive representation for Muslim children and encouraging respect for diversity. The book also serves as a discussion starter on themes of family, community, and the importance of understanding different cultural perspectives.

Conclusion:

Reading "The Proudest Blue: A Story of Hijab and Family" to your students is essential for fostering an inclusive and respectful classroom environment, as it promotes understanding and appreciation of diverse cultural practices. This book not only educates students about empathy and open-mindedness, key values in nurturing a supportive and diverse community. It is our job to celebrate all cultures, and one way to this is by reading diverse books!

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Ibtihaj Muhammad, an author, entrepreneur, activist, and Olympic medalist in fencing!

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With its beautiful illustrations and authentic storytelling, "The Proudest Blue" not only educates readers about the beauty of cultural traditions, but also promotes a message of inclusion and acceptance. This book celebrates the Muslim culture and teachers others about the meaningful experience of wearing a hijab for the first time. This book is an essential read in fostering understanding and empathy among young and old readers. 

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"Just Ask! Be Different, Be Brave, Be You" by Sonia Sotomayor is a heartfelt and inspiring picture book that encourages children to embrace their unique qualities and differences. Here’s a detailed review:

Summary

Sonia Sotomayor, the first Latina Supreme Court Justice, writes from her personal experiences, reflecting on her childhood with diabetes and how she learned to advocate for herself. The story is set in a vibrant garden where a diverse group of children, each with a different disability or challenge, work together to create something beautiful. Each child shares their story, explaining their condition and how it makes them unique.

Themes

Diversity and Inclusion: The book celebrates various differences, including physical disabilities, learning disabilities, and chronic illnesses, promoting an inclusive environment where all children feel seen and valued.

Empathy and Understanding: By introducing characters with a range of challenges, the book fosters empathy, teaching young readers to understand and respect people who are different from them.

Self-Advocacy: Sotomayor emphasizes the importance of speaking up for oneself and asking questions to better understand and navigate the world.

Illustrations

Rafael López's illustrations are vibrant and engaging, bringing the characters and their stories to life. The artwork complements the text beautifully, providing visual representation and further enhancing the book’s message of diversity and inclusion.

Writing Style

Sotomayor’s writing is accessible and relatable for young readers. The narrative is straightforward yet profound, using simple language to convey complex themes. Each character's story is told in a way that is both informative and empathetic, making it easy for children to connect with the characters.

Educational Value

"Just Ask!" serves as an excellent educational tool for parents and teachers. It can spark conversations about differences, encourage questions, and provide a platform for discussing how to support friends and classmates with various challenges. The book also includes a note from the author, providing additional context and insights.

Conclusion

"Just Ask! Be Different, Be Brave, Be You" is a powerful and uplifting book that champions the beauty of individuality. It teaches children that their differences make them special and encourages them to be brave, ask questions, and understand one another. Sonia Sotomayor's personal touch and Rafael López's stunning illustrations make this book a must-read for young readers, educators, and parents alike.