Transformative Texts by Skylr McCauley https://padlet.com/skylr/f138e17bmp7m en-us 2018-10-23 21:57:24 UTC 2023-02-18 02:10:06 UTC hello@padlet.com https://padlet-assets.s3.amazonaws.com/icons/Apple.png Amazing Grace skylr https://padlet.com/skylr/f138e17bmp7m/wish/296210878 Author: Mary Hoffman
Illustrator: Caroline Binch
Summary: Amazing Grace is a story of a young African American girl with a wild imagination. She loves acting out stories and movies: it is her favorite thing to do. One day, her teacher tells her class they are going to do a play of Peter Pan. Grace is so excited to try out for the role of Peter Pan. However, her classmates tell her that she can't be Peter Pan because she is a girl and she is black. She is so disappointed. When she gets home, her grandma takes her to a play of Romeo and Juliet, where Juliet is also a black girl. Grace feels much better and tries out for the role of Peter Pan. She nails the audition and gets the part. There is no better person to play Peter Pan than Grace.
Why this is Transformative: Not only does Amazing Grace create a window for young African American Girls, but it also confronts the norms that girls can't play boy characters and people can't play characters of other races. This text challenges both racial and gender norms and creates a positive message for readers.]]> 2018-10-23 21:59:52 UTC https://padlet.com/skylr/f138e17bmp7m/wish/296210878 BunnyBear skylr https://padlet.com/skylr/f138e17bmp7m/wish/296239683 Author: Andrea J. Loney
Illustrator: Carmen Saldona
Summary: BunnyBear is the story of a bear who wishes he was a bunny. The other bears make fun of him and think he is odd. However, the bunnies also laugh at him and make him leave because they do not accept him. He feels alone. He doesn’t feel like a bear, but doesn’t look like a bunny. He doesn’t know what to do.
All of the sudden, Grizzlybun comes to say hi. Grizzlybun reveals that she is a bunny who feels like a bear. The two make friends and make each other feel accepted. Finally, Bunnybear feels like he belongs, and so do other animals like him. 
Why this is Transformative: BunnyBear creates a mirror for students who feel different on the inside than they look on the outside.  Many students can relate to feeling left out and not feeling like they belong. This book particularly speaks to transgender students. This book creates a space for students who feel marginalized by gender.
]]> 2018-10-24 00:40:05 UTC https://padlet.com/skylr/f138e17bmp7m/wish/296239683 Stephanie's Ponytail skylr https://padlet.com/skylr/f138e17bmp7m/wish/296721879 Author: Robert Munsch
Illustrator: Michael Martchenko
Summary: The main character Stephanie in Stephanie's Ponytail is a young girl who attends elementary school. She doesn't see any of the children at school wearing ponytails, so she decides she wants to wear one. She comes to school in a ponytail and everyone calls her ugly, but then the next day, everyone copies her. This happens multiple times, until she finally outsmarts them. She tells them that she is going to shave her head, and the next day, everyone comes to school with a shaved head except for her.
Why this is Transformative: This text is transformative because Stephanie confronts the norm that "ponytails are ugly." Even though the children constantly call her ponytails ugly, she continues to be herself and wear them. She refuses to conform and is true to herself. ]]> 2018-10-24 23:58:09 UTC https://padlet.com/skylr/f138e17bmp7m/wish/296721879 The Paper Bag Princess skylr https://padlet.com/skylr/f138e17bmp7m/wish/296723102 Author: Robert Munsch
Illustrator: Michael Martchenko
Summary: The Paper Bag Princess is a story about a princess named Elizabeth who is rich and beautiful. She plans to get married to Ronald, a lovely prince. However, one day a mean dragon comes and destroys her castle, all of her clothes, and takes her beloved prince. All she has left to wear is a brown paper bag. She decides to go and save the prince. She outsmarts the dragon and makes him so tired that he can't even move. When she tries to save Ronald, he tells her that she needs to leave and come back when she looks like a real princess. Elizabeth sees Ronald's true self and says that even though he looks very nice, he is a bum. They do not end up getting married and Elizabeth lived happily ever after.
Why this is Transformative: This story is transformative, because it breaks gender norms. Elizabeth, the princess saves the prince. This does not usually happen. It also confronts the norm that princesses have to be beautiful and dress nice in order to be a princess. Princesses can be happy without a husband and dressed however they would like. ]]> 2018-10-25 00:07:18 UTC https://padlet.com/skylr/f138e17bmp7m/wish/296723102 Pinky and Rex and the Bully skylr https://padlet.com/skylr/f138e17bmp7m/wish/296726030 Author: James Howe
Illustrator: Melissa Sweet
Summary: Pinky and Rex and the Bully is a chapter book. It starts off with Pinky, the male character getting bullied for liking the color pink and being a "sissy." Kevin the bully constantly teases Pinky and calls him a girl. He is very self conscious and asks everyone to stop calling him Pinky. He also gives his sisters his stuffed animals and tells everyone that he does not like the color pink anymore. He also decides he can't play with girls. Mrs. Morgan, his elderly neighbor, tells him that she used to be afraid to be different and she wishes that she could have been herself when she was his age. Everyone used to make fun of her for painting. Her story helped change Pinky's mind. He decided to be himself and stand up to Kevin. He finally felt happy again and wasn't afraid to like the color pink.
Why this is Transformative: This text is transformative, because it shows Pinky breaking gender roles. He gets made fun of for liking the color pink and playing with girls. He was called a girl and made fun of, but didn't conform to the norm and was able to be himself.

]]> 2018-10-25 00:25:58 UTC https://padlet.com/skylr/f138e17bmp7m/wish/296726030 He Bear She Bear skylr https://padlet.com/skylr/f138e17bmp7m/wish/296742111 Authors: Stan and Jan Berenstain
Summary: He Bear She Bear is a story is told by He Bear and She Bear. He Bear and She Bear have a discussion and tell the reader that you can be anything you put your mind to. You can be a doctor, a teacher, a police officer, or anything you want. You can bulldoze roads, drive a train, fix clocks, or put out fires. They listed many things that you can be when you grow up. You can do anything you want, whether you are a boy or a girl. Just because you are a boy doesn't mean you have a certain profession, and the same goes for girls. He Bear and She Bear describe that there are so many things to do, whether you are a he or a she.
Why this is Transformative: He Bear She Bear is a transformative text because it breaks gender norms. This story tells children that they can do whatever they want, whether they are a boy or a girl. ]]> 2018-10-25 01:41:13 UTC https://padlet.com/skylr/f138e17bmp7m/wish/296742111 Phoebe & Digger skylr https://padlet.com/skylr/f138e17bmp7m/wish/296745170 Author: Tricia Springstubb
Illustrator: Jeff Newman
Summary: Phoebe & Digger tells the story of a little girl Phoebe. Phoebe's momma got a new baby, so Phoebe got a new digger. Phoebe takes her digger everywhere. She plays with it all the time. Her and digger are so loud, that her mama thinks it's time to go to the park to play. Phoebe meets a "crybaby boy." She makes him cry and sits in a time out for being mean. When her time out is over, she gets to play again. This time, a big mean girl who takes Phoebe's digger away. Phoebe almost cries, but her mom comes over and the girl gives her digger back. Phoebe's mom gives her a big hug and everything is okay. Phoebe also gets a frozen treat and her, her mama, the baby, and the digger all go home.
Why this is Transformative: Phoebe & Digger is a transformative text because it breaks gender norms. Phoebe is a girl playing with a "boys" toy. Phoebe plays with her digger and is not afraid to play with a "boy's" toy. She is happy to be herself and play with whatever toys she would like. ]]> 2018-10-25 01:57:18 UTC https://padlet.com/skylr/f138e17bmp7m/wish/296745170 Madam President skylr https://padlet.com/skylr/f138e17bmp7m/wish/296750507 Author: Lane Smith:
Summary: Madam President is a story of a girl who dreams what her day would be like if she were the president. She has many things to do in her day. She has executive orders to give, babies to kiss, things to veto, and much more. She must tackle press conferences, give speeches, and be a diplomat. Even at a day's end, the president's work is never done. But after a long day, even the president gets tired.
Why this is Transformative: This text is transformative because it breaks gender norms. There has never been a female president of the United States. This story shows a girl imagining what her day would be like if she was the president. She is not worried that she is a girl, she is just being herself and enjoying her imagination. ]]> 2018-10-25 02:27:14 UTC https://padlet.com/skylr/f138e17bmp7m/wish/296750507 Max the Stubborn Little Wolf skylr https://padlet.com/skylr/f138e17bmp7m/wish/297690954 Author: Marie-Odile Judes
Illustrator: Martine Bourre
Summary: Max the Stubborn Little Wolf is the story of a young wolf who wants to be a florist. Max's father believes that wolves should hunt, and not be florists, so he tries his best to make Max want to hunt. First he takes Max hunting to make him love hunting, then he tries to convince Mac that being a florist is dangerous, and lastly he tries to make Max hate the smell of flowers. None of these things work, and it backfires on Papa Wolf. Max changes his mind and realizes that he wants to make perfume instead of becoming a florist and Papa Wolf has no words and is shocked that his plan backfires.
Why this is Transformative: This text is transformative because it breaks gender norms and creates windows and mirrors for children whose parents do not approve of them. Max does not give up and does not let his father's opinion change his mind. ]]> 2018-10-27 21:31:38 UTC https://padlet.com/skylr/f138e17bmp7m/wish/297690954 Not All Princesses Dress in Pink skylr https://padlet.com/skylr/f138e17bmp7m/wish/298339660 Authors: Jane Yolen & Heidi E. Y. Stemple
Illustrator: Anne-Sophie Languetin
Summary: Not All Princesses Dress in Pink describes that princesses can wear whatever they want. Some princesses wear stinky socks, some princesses wear baseball cleats and jerseys, some princesses wear baggy shorts, and some princesses don't wear pink at all. Some princesses like to roll around in the mud, some princesses fix things with power tools, break their nails digging in the dirt. This story explains that princesses can dress as they please and do anything they want. They don't just have to dress in pink dresses and go to balls.
Why this is Transformative: This text is transformative because it breaks gender norms and stereotypes. Princesses are always seen wearing beautiful dresses, being saved by their prince. Princesses are never portrayed as hard working girls who like to play in the dirt. This text shows that princesses can do things that boys can do like playing baseball, driving trucks, and playing in the mud. Princesses are not weak, like they are portrayed. This text shows students that princesses can be strong individuals who wear whatever they like. ]]> 2018-10-30 03:06:45 UTC https://padlet.com/skylr/f138e17bmp7m/wish/298339660