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I agree with the fact that a SMILE is a universal language. It is the best medicine, and can make tough times little easy.

Roshani S

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Thank you for sharing this book with us. It just reminds us to show empathy towards our students who might have seen so much before coming to us.

Roshani S

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A heart warming touching story. This may be a story of so many kids. We might have few of them in our classes. It just make me think, how hard it might be for the kids who have come from other countries seeking safety for their lives, and experiences during the journey and how it affects their lives..

Roshani S

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I really enjoyed this book!! It is beautiful and I like that I have it electronically to share with my students. I saved the link.  Thanks for introducing it to us.  I can't wait to use it with my students in an upcoming lesson.

Dawn Arnold

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Stepping Stones Reflection by Dawn Arnold

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Stepping Stones Reflection by Dawn Arnold

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I really enjoyed this book and I love the artwork with the stones. It made me think that I can use this text with my students in the next few weeks as we read nonfiction texts.  We already have planned on reading a nonfiction passage about an Afghanistan Refugee named Granna, who flees to Pakistan.  This text would be a great addition to this lesson as a paired text, as we can look at both a fiction and nonfiction on Refugees.

Dawn Arnold

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I enjoyed hearing the stories of family from the child.  I love how I hear that same parallel from culture to to culture that neighbors are also family, and not just blood relatives.
The children's viewpoint skips the politics of being a refugee and goes straight to the senses we hear bombs, people are not able to go to the market and live, our neighbors left so they lost extended family.
I also love how the children picked up on the fact that their new home the citizens seem to speak another language but they are welcoming, the food is new, clothing, traditions, etc.., but their smiles and demeanor are welcoming, but there is apart of them that longs to go back like the lost boys of Sudan. They embrace their new life, but there is also comfort in their old way of life.

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I agree with the idea that we do not always consider the impact of events on children. We sometimes do forget that they are absorbing and observing all that is occurring around them including war, and other hardships.

Sara A.

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I also agree that it was a bit fairy tale, but it did match events being seen from the eyes of a child. It was beautiful.

Sara A.

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I really loved the artwork. I think it related so well to the idea of the family taking "steps" to have a better life. I also love that the story is told through the eyes of a child. This makes it more relateable for children to read. I also loved how the story was bilingual.

Sara A.

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This story really touched my heart.  The stones encompassed hope and the longing for a bright future on each page. Reading the repeated phrase 'river of people', took me back to The Lost Boys of Sudan and their long walk to find a refugee camp. I belive the author and illustrator encaptured a real-time story of truth. And though the refugess truths begin so desolate, through perservation, strong spirit, and unbreakable belief, there can be gold at the end of a rainbow.

Nicole T. Oct. 2019

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I LOVED the artwork! i also loved how the artwork and the story was able to show so many emotions. Deep emotions, that sometimes are hard to share or express.  It was a very beautiful read. I also loved how the stories were in two languages!

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This was both beautiful and deep. Thinking about the physical and mental toil of migration from a child's point of view in this day and age can lead to depressing thoughts, but I love how this book ended in such a hopeful manner. I would love if every primary and elementary school could have a copy. Kids need to be exposed to the trials and tribulations that some of their "new friends" have been through. It translates to so many situations, whether the migrants are from Syria or Guatemala.

Treva B., October 2019

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The artwork was absolutely stunning. The simplicity of the materials make it hard to believe that it can relate such a powerful story. But when you think about it, it literally too millions of years for these materials to come together. I find myself wondering how old those rocks are and how long it took for him to finish a scene. I will definitely look him up on social media to follow his story.

Treva B., October 2019

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Absolutely loved the artwork and the story behind it. I read the forward and love by how Bahr's art has impacted the world. Margaret had to put in work to find him and convince him to trust a stranger on the other side of the world. And now, a group of people in GA can enjoy it. Love how his art has now has traveled around the world, even as he continues to work in the country that inspired it.
This was a beautiful,
tragic and inspiring story. I cannot imagine how painful making a decision like
this could be for myself, much less for my family. When I think of an
elementary school kid seeing the bodies of fellow travelers in the water, it is
heartbreaking. I am so glad that the author found safety and acceptance in a
new land. I hope she and her family  thrive in their new environment.

Treva Bibbs-Bugg, October 2019

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I loved how you mentioned that overlying feeling of hope and love throughout the story. I felt that too as I read and understood the illustrations. I agree in the fairy tale aspect that the child seemed to have of their ending and I see that in my own students who are going through so much!
Kelly

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I loved this story of hope despite unimaginable challenges and the illustrations that portrayed the hope that carried this family through. The colors of the rocks made me think of how people are like rocks made up of so many different substances. This story resonated in me the idea of needing to be mindful of what children are going through. The illustrations were able to convey the hope of the child, but they also depicted the sadness and turmoil within their situation from the father carrying such a heavy load physically and mentally to their friends and family dying as they tried to escape. I truly enjoyed this book!

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"Stepping Stones" is a beautiful title for this very touching book about Syrian refugees. Told through the eyes and heart of a child, it detailed the journey one family traveled stepping from one life to another. It was filled with raw emotions that perhaps only a child can adequately express. Although you were able to "feel" the struggles as seen through the eyes of the little girl, there was always an overlying feeling of love and hope. The ending was a bit like a fairy tale, but again, it was seen through a child's eyes. As an adult, I am able to comprehend that not all refugee families receive such warm welcomes in their new "homes".

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The story touched my heart. I have read similar stories. I have also seen videos that made my soul cry. I liked the part when mam give the child the last soup. Many parents try to keep worries, emotions, and stress from their children but often times children know what their parent are going through. This happens everyday throughout this world/

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"Stepping Stones" (Refugees): Kelley M. Bagwell

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"Stepping Stones" (Refugees): Kelley M. Bagwell

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Wow...just wow. I wasn't too sure if the book was going to be telling me historical information about refugees or if it was going to be a story. I tend to remember more when the story is relatable and I am able to visualize it (like a movie scene). What really moved me in terms of walking the journey with the main character within the story was how the words described the settings. I felt like I was there experiencing what the main character loved and had to walk away from.

I agree with you, Denise and Ly, about how the child's point of view has a profound impact on the way they view the world. We, as teachers of our future generation, need to take into account what our students go through in order to be with us...to achieve an education.

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I love that the book was written from a child's point of view. It shows us how children are able to cherish the small things in life, such as flowers. It also shows that tragedy does affect a child. Sometimes as adults we forget or don't think that children are affected by real life events like war or divorce.

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Our topic this week is: Refugees.  In keeping with this please read the book that is in the link.  Comment about the book and comment about what your classmates have written.
You will love this book!