Sense Pass King: A Story from Cameroon by Allison Tripoli https://padlet.com/atripoli/yxuiv2d4gi6 This enjoyable fable is modernly adapted from the traditional lore of northwestern province of Cameroon. en-us 2017-10-05 00:50:34 UTC 2017-10-05 03:04:34 UTC hello@padlet.com 4. Overall Recommendation... atripoli https://padlet.com/atripoli/yxuiv2d4gi6/wish/194124702      As a first grade teacher in a public education setting, I highly recommend the book Sense Pass King: A Story from Cameroon to fellow teachers or story-tellers alike for their use.
    This book, as most folktales do, includes valuable life lessons and topics of discussion for social/emotional development.
   In this retelling, the author changed the main character from being a boy to being a girl. This juxtaposition modernizes the story and relates to young girls. Especially young girls of color or with unique cultural backgrounds.
The main character Ma'antah takes on many archetypes including Matriarch, Queen/King, Pilgrim, Prophet, and Warrior. All of these are alluring to children both male and female because the main character is a child herself. It is interesting to think of a child character as a matriarch of seven local villages but her caring of the people and animals shows how a child could be a leader and nurturer. She is a pilgrim as the King forces her to leave but she cleverly finds her way back. She is a prophet as she stands up to the King despite being a female and a child. She is a warrior as she defeats the seven-headed sea monster. I believe it especially important for young females to have these characters to look up to so they can understand that their own success can be achieved on their own accord. This definitely passes the Quick Ways to Analyze Children's Books for Racism and Sexism protocol for using a book where girls achieve based on their own initiative (Honig) and helps argue against boys rejection of things feminine (Dutro). By exposing boys to exciting female characters they will be more inclined to choose stories with female lead characters.
     I also recommend this book because it is a valuable resource with which a teacher could expose her students to cultural diversity. Using the article by Nina Terroro, I will quote Tharp who said, "kids crave books that feature characters doing exciting, interesting, brave, or smart things." It is important for children to see black characters doing those exciting, interesting, brave, and smart things.
 I do think it very important that if a teacher does choose this story that she should also choose other stories with positive/protagonist black male characters so as to not inappropriately portray black men as being like this unruly King. This book is an excellent way to relate to young children about cultural diversity, gender norms, and to discuss courage, morality, and hard-work. ]]> 2017-10-05 01:06:57 UTC https://padlet.com/atripoli/yxuiv2d4gi6/wish/194124702 3. Classroom Use... atripoli https://padlet.com/atripoli/yxuiv2d4gi6/wish/194128885 Sense Pass King in the Elementary Classroom

I would use this story with grade levels 1-3. It is a Fountas and Pinnell reading level N. It would provide the reader with robust vocabulary however the concepts within are not too difficult for comprehension. 
  • A teacher could engage her students in this story by using the trailer.
  • A character analysis could be done on the King or the main character Ma'antah. The teacher could perform a lesson on what characteristics are and how a good reader identifies character traits to better understand what they read. A teacher could then read the story Sense Pass King and have her students perform a character analysis of Ma'antah's inside traits and outside traits.
  • A teacher could use this story to practice the focus skill of comparing and contrasting by reading this retelling and showing her class a 7th Grade's retelling of the story via their play.
  • A team of teachers could collaborate to perform a cross-curricular activity by putting on thier own play of the story by using the work of playwright, Sarah Carlin.
  • A teacher could use this story to help students with the focus skill of plot or sequencing. She could copy illustration from the story and scramble them up and have the students put them in order and then write the plot details that match the pictures. 
  • A teacher could use this story and Oh, No, Toto! to perform an author study on Katrin Tchana and a culture unit on Cameroon. A teacher could then educate her students about Cameroonian music, clothing, dance, and food and they could celebrate with traditional music to listen to and food to taste.


]]> 2017-10-05 01:48:00 UTC https://padlet.com/atripoli/yxuiv2d4gi6/wish/194128885 Classroom Use... atripoli https://padlet.com/atripoli/yxuiv2d4gi6/wish/194131359 Trailer to be used as anticipatory set]]> 2017-10-05 02:07:20 UTC https://padlet.com/atripoli/yxuiv2d4gi6/wish/194131359 Classroom Use... atripoli https://padlet.com/atripoli/yxuiv2d4gi6/wish/194131475 Video of play performed via playwright Sarah Carlin]]> 2017-10-05 02:08:21 UTC https://padlet.com/atripoli/yxuiv2d4gi6/wish/194131475 1 & 2 Information on the Book... atripoli https://padlet.com/atripoli/yxuiv2d4gi6/wish/194132209 1. Sense Pass King: A Story from Cameroon was written by Katrin Tchana daughter of the story's illustrator and Caldecott Medal winner, Trina Schart Hyman. 
Katrin Tchana has written several culturally diverse titles. 
She proves herself to be a true female goddess and warrior for women through her accomplished work. Her and her mother lived in New Hampshire. Katrin's husband grew up in Cameroon.

2. Ma'antah a young Cameroonian girl takes readers through her seven villages on an amazing journey. The stories title, Sense Pass King alludes to the main characters keen mind despite her young age. Her actions prove her to be wiser than her king and the people of the seven villages are well aware. This proves to be problematic as the King, feeling threatened, tries to banish her having her killed. However, he does not succeed due to the young girl's sharp wit. He decides instead to listen to her advice and she helps him find a bride and defeat a menacing seven-headed monster. The King makes the mistake of stealing her glory and claiming her success as his own. The wise people of the seven villages are not fooled by the King's lies and decide Ma'antah, the Sense Pass King, will rule as Queen instead of the King. Her reign is long and happy.  
]]> 2017-10-05 02:13:09 UTC https://padlet.com/atripoli/yxuiv2d4gi6/wish/194132209 Information on Cameroon for Kids... atripoli https://padlet.com/atripoli/yxuiv2d4gi6/wish/194134076 2017-10-05 02:26:36 UTC https://padlet.com/atripoli/yxuiv2d4gi6/wish/194134076 Cameroonian Music and Dance... atripoli https://padlet.com/atripoli/yxuiv2d4gi6/wish/194136972 To be used with culture unit...]]> 2017-10-05 02:53:52 UTC https://padlet.com/atripoli/yxuiv2d4gi6/wish/194136972 Cameroonian Food atripoli https://padlet.com/atripoli/yxuiv2d4gi6/wish/194137106 2017-10-05 02:54:48 UTC https://padlet.com/atripoli/yxuiv2d4gi6/wish/194137106