Grades 4+ A girl watches the news, It is filled with stories of crime and bad things happening in her neighborhood. Its not the neighborhood she knowsGrades 4+ A girl watches the news, It is filled with stories of crime and bad things happening in her neighborhood. Its not the neighborhood she knows. So she uses her voice to change the dialogue....more
Grades 4-7. Jude lives in a tourist town in Syria with her mother, father and older brother. Violence begins after protests but seems mostly containedGrades 4-7. Jude lives in a tourist town in Syria with her mother, father and older brother. Violence begins after protests but seems mostly contained to Aleppo-- yet everyone hopes things will settle down. Life isn't perfect, but it's pretty good. As the unrest spreads and Jude's brother leaves to join resistance-- she and her mother fly to America to stay with her uncle and his American wife.
Her father stays behind to manage the store and it seems like there is no planned "return" date. There is some fear that America will make her forget her heritage and it is hard to call two worlds home. Second generation immigrants face identity issues as well-- saying that they belong nowhere. Jude does her best to navigate being Muslim in America, learning English, worrying about her family and trying new things.
A rich, deep book that will have readers wondering about their own identity and how we all fit together....more
Grades K-4. Rhyming text show women who choose to wear the hijab in many different careers/settings, contrasting it to their hair/what is shown in theGrades K-4. Rhyming text show women who choose to wear the hijab in many different careers/settings, contrasting it to their hair/what is shown in the privacy of home and amongst females.
I think this is an important book because it satisfies the curiosity many non-Muslims have about the hijab-- what's under there? Why is worn so many different ways? The author notes the different reasons and situations where Muslim women might decide to wear this traditional head covering. It opens a good discussion with school children who like to tease by pulling off hats, tugging hair and remarking on differences in style. One of the authors even explains that she does not choose to wear the hijab except in certain situations like entering a mosque. Ultimately it is the individual woman's decision about when and how to wear the hijab in our country....more
Grades K-3. Lubna is a refugee who arrives in the middle of the night with her father and no possessions. She finds a rock on the beach and it becomesGrades K-3. Lubna is a refugee who arrives in the middle of the night with her father and no possessions. She finds a rock on the beach and it becomes the friend she needs. A friend who can listen to everything she has seen and done. But then a boy joins the refugee camp and they become friends-- until the day good/sad news arrives. Lubna will have a home. But what does this mean for the boy? And for Pebble?
Stunningly illustrations capture this innocent picture of deeper, darker issues. Young children will identify with common themes of moving, imagination, compassion and making friends. Questioning can lead them to deeper issues: Where is the rest of Lubna's family? Why doesn't Lubna have a real doll? "What happened in the war?" "Where is Lubna's home?" "What will happen to Amir?"...more
Grades 1-5. Where are you from? Such a simple question, but it’s complicated. I’m from here. But what about your family? They are from here, too. But Grades 1-5. Where are you from? Such a simple question, but it’s complicated. I’m from here. But what about your family? They are from here, too. But what about before that? Where did your people originate? There’s an easy answer because in the end we all come from the same place....more
Grades PreK-2. For students curious about what their classmates are eating-- daal is quite common in our cafeteria. The long process of making it and Grades PreK-2. For students curious about what their classmates are eating-- daal is quite common in our cafeteria. The long process of making it and other dishes mean some families spend most of Sunday preparing meals for the week. This book models curiosity, empathy and openness as many different children help and wait to make the daal....more
Grades 1-3. Biography, narrative nonfiction. A story of creativity and perseverance. Momofuku saw impoverished people who had a hard time finding a heGrades 1-3. Biography, narrative nonfiction. A story of creativity and perseverance. Momofuku saw impoverished people who had a hard time finding a healthy meal. He wanted to find something that tasted good and was easy to cook (just add water). After years of experimenting with recipes he finally figured out what he needed to do and his product was a huge success. Now Nissen foods!
Not particularly riveting, this story is interesting especially if you have foodies/inventors. It's also an excellent edition to expand diversity of your biography collection....more
Grades 4-7. In a small village in Pakistan, Amal attends the local school where she excels and dreams of being a teacher. Headstrong and independent, Grades 4-7. In a small village in Pakistan, Amal attends the local school where she excels and dreams of being a teacher. Headstrong and independent, she stands up to a bully at the market when a car almost runs over her and the driver takes her purchase. What she doesn't realize is that the driver is a powerful man. Many in her village owe him debts and he terrorizes those who can't pay or "disrespect" him. Soon she watches her dreams disappear and she becomes an indentured servant at his estate. The author give readers a glimpse of life where social and economic factors enslave the less powerful and less educated....more
Grades 4(?)5-10. What an important book. The story of three different refugee families: A Jewish family during WWII (the United States turned them awaGrades 4(?)5-10. What an important book. The story of three different refugee families: A Jewish family during WWII (the United States turned them away in real life), A Cuban family making the ocean crossing to Miami after nearly starving to death and their father being put in jail, and a Syrian Family making the current journey from Turkey to Greece and then through many countries to seek refuge in Germany.
Beautifully written, this story puts a face on the people we hear about in the news. Refugees are people escaping deadly, dangerous places. They are not leaving with ulterior motives. They simply want to LIVE and not starve to death, be placed in work camps or to be bombed. They are not criminals for wanting life-- a roof over their head, food to eat, school to attend and somewhere to practice their religion in peace.
My favorite points: 1. We all agree and sympathize with the Jewish refugees who fled Europe during WWII. But history tells us there were few countries that wanted to take them. Even the United States turned them away. Countries were overrun with families fleeing Germany. 500,000 Jews lived there.
2. In Cuba people starved after the USSR collapsed and could no longer prop up their economy. Protestors were put in jail to rot. Desperate citizens built boats/rafts and tried to float across the ocean to Miami. Many die making this journey. The United States didn't want to be over-run with refugees but also didn't want to turn them away. So they began a strange policy-- if the Cubans could TOUCH land, they would be given safe harbor. But the Coast Guard would do their best to round up refugees and take them back to Cuba. Hispanic refugees escaping drug wars and poverty are still a topic that Americans wrestle with. Seen as job-stealers or people that want to send American money back to their homeland, illegal immigrants live in fear of being sent back.
3. Today Syrian refugees continue to pour out of their country into the surrounding areas--Turkey, Jordan, Greece, Hungary, Austria, Serbia, Germany. Their Muslim faith makes them appear different and reminds people of the terrorists that have attacked countries in recent years. There is also the fear that a sudden influx of refugees could cause economic collapse in host countries, so the UN regulates refugee camps where families wait to accepted in a slow resettlement process-- not unlike the Jews from WWII....more
Grades 3-6. A tree is the narrator of this story. It is a wish tree where people in the community tie ribbons of wishes each year. But this year someoGrades 3-6. A tree is the narrator of this story. It is a wish tree where people in the community tie ribbons of wishes each year. But this year someone writes an unkind word on the tree. The tree is growing old. It's messy to clean up ribbons each year. The roots are getting into the sewage system. It might be time to cut it down. The tree reflects on how the neighborhood has changed and stayed the same throughout the years with its residents (the birds/squirrels, etc). Will the tree live to see its greatest wish come true?...more
In western China, the Uygher people have suffered under communist China rule. Mehrigul, a 14 year-old girl, has dropped out of school to take care of In western China, the Uygher people have suffered under communist China rule. Mehrigul, a 14 year-old girl, has dropped out of school to take care of her alcoholic father and mentally ill mother. Each week they sell squash, corn husks and baskets at the market. If she's lucky, her father won't drink away all the profit before they return home. Then one day at the market a foreign woman notices a simple basket Mehrigul had made with grapevines. She purchases it for a large sum of money and promises to return to buy more. Mehrigul is determined to make more baskets, but her family believes it is a waste of time to create baskets for a stranger who might not return, especially when there is so much work to be done in the fields. If her family loses any more money, they might send Mehrigul to work in the city factories and have her send money home-- a lifestyle Mehrigul dreads....more
Grades 2-7. Why do refugees flee? Follow a family as they run to escape war through mountains, over walls and across oceans. Powerful story of many ofGrades 2-7. Why do refugees flee? Follow a family as they run to escape war through mountains, over walls and across oceans. Powerful story of many of our families....more
Grades 4-8. Obayda is the youngest of three daughters in modern day Afghanistan. She blames herself when her father loses a leg because of a bomb in KGrades 4-8. Obayda is the youngest of three daughters in modern day Afghanistan. She blames herself when her father loses a leg because of a bomb in Kabul. He wouldn't have been at the pharmacy if she hadn't been sick. Unable to care for the family, their father moves back to the small village where he grew up. Depressed, he spends most of his time in bed. Culturally the small town is very different than the city. Many girls are not allowed to attend school or to walk the streets unescorted. Obayda's family still allows the girls to attend school, but their family really needs a son to help their father get well. Obayda is transformed into Obayd. A bacha posh. She is in every way made to be a boy-- hair cut short, pants, boy's school, best food at home, no chores... FREEDOM.
But it can't be forever. Or can it? The answer lies under a rainbow....more
Grades 4-7. Like Glory Be, Augusta Scattergood takes us to the deep South to look at life in the 1950s/60s. Azalea is sent to spend the summer with heGrades 4-7. Like Glory Be, Augusta Scattergood takes us to the deep South to look at life in the 1950s/60s. Azalea is sent to spend the summer with her strict grandmother Clark in the small town of Paris Junction. She meets a handful of kids in the "garden" club including a thief, a snooty girl and a Chinese-American named Billy. There is a lot of prejudice about the Wongs even though the family has lived in the United States since the railroads were built. Billy doesn't have an accent at all and Azalea finds out they have a lot in common. (Billy shares his point of view with an occasional poem). By the end of the summer she learns a lot about her grandmother, her family, the thief and Billy....more
Grades 4-7. Two pen pals, Meena (from India, living in NYC) and River (lives in a small town in KY) share their life stories over the course of a yearGrades 4-7. Two pen pals, Meena (from India, living in NYC) and River (lives in a small town in KY) share their life stories over the course of a year. Both share special relationships with their grandmothers and have fathers that spend most of their time working away from home. Meena shares injustices against immigrant tennants in Chinatown and the challenges of living in two cultures. River shares the injustices of mountain top mining on the environment and prejudice against Appalachian poor. Readers are rooting for both!...more
Grades 4-6. A heartwarming book about two boys at the beginning of 6th grade. Joe has sensory issues that make it difficult to fully participate in clGrades 4-6. A heartwarming book about two boys at the beginning of 6th grade. Joe has sensory issues that make it difficult to fully participate in class. The bully, Dylan, constantly makes fun of him and is the most popular boy in class even though he steals and gets away with other behaviors while teachers aren't watching. Ravi is a new boy from India, where he had been the star of his class. Now in America people can't understand his accent and he is socially awkward by standing up to answer questions and bringing ethnic lunches to school. The boy who sits behind him, Joe, is very mean and tripped him on his first day. Fortunately, Rovi notices another student, Dylan, is also of Indian decent. That must mean they will be friends. Afterall, he is popular and always smiling. Just like Ravi....more
Grades K-2. Take a ride through an Indian town in an auto-rickshaw (a tuk tuk). Love the introduction of Indian food, money, recreation, and communityGrades K-2. Take a ride through an Indian town in an auto-rickshaw (a tuk tuk). Love the introduction of Indian food, money, recreation, and community. A glossary explains the relevance of each item....more
Grades 1-4. Based on a real place, the Creation of Hope Orphanage, in Kikima, Kenya. Children orphaned mostly by AIDS are provided for at this CanadiaGrades 1-4. Based on a real place, the Creation of Hope Orphanage, in Kikima, Kenya. Children orphaned mostly by AIDS are provided for at this Canadian-based center. Culturally, many children do not have official birthdays or birth certificates because it is sometimes considered bad luck to have one. But to receive government assistance, each child needs one. Creation of Hope has created one big birthday celebration for all the children on July 12th. It makes each child feel special and gives them the birth certificate they need....more
Grades 1-6. Very simple text and pictures capture how ELL students might feel as they start school in a completely new country with different languageGrades 1-6. Very simple text and pictures capture how ELL students might feel as they start school in a completely new country with different language, writing and customs. Could help classmates develop empathy and celebrate the development and success of newcomers. Imyourneighborbooks.org has a list of other recommendations for schools with immigrants....more
Grades 5-9. I haven't seen the film. This book was written by a Saudi journalist, which gave the story more authenticity. The book shares what it's liGrades 5-9. I haven't seen the film. This book was written by a Saudi journalist, which gave the story more authenticity. The book shares what it's like to be a girl growing up in Saudi Arabia-- full body coverage, school=religion class, segregation of the sexes, fear. And yet here is a spunky 11 year old girl who defies culture in subtle ways. She finds a way to save money and is determined to buy a bike, which girls are not supposed to ride. What really sank in for me was the family roles of male and female. Men can take more than one wife, women run the households but men are the decision-makers. If men are lewd it must be the woman's fault for being too seductive. For many years I've wondered how the United States could stay on good terms with a country entrenched in such blatant injustice. Certainly those living in these conditions must not know what they are missing. But that isn't true. Some are content to live within the confines of the system, but others are not. What happens to them?...more
Kate Hastings
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