More Than Anything Else is a fictionalized story using Booker T. Washington as the main character.  He is a young boy living in a West Virginia settlement after emancipation.  Little Booker T. labors from dusk until dawn and uses a lantern to find his way back home.  One day, when he was walking home, he head a man reading from the newspaper.  He envisions himself having this magical ability and is determined to learn how to read.  When he arrives home, his mother gives him an alphabet book.  He studies the shapes of the letters and turns them into a song because he does not know what sounds they make.  Booker T. practices writing in the sand until he masters each letter. He begins to feel discouraged and then he finds the newspaper man, yet again.  The newspaper man shares with him the sounds of each letter and Booker T. throws his hands in the air with excitement.  Little Booker T. then goes on to learning how to write his own name.  "That is something that will always stay with me."

Marie Bradby takes a historical topic and turns it into a book about achievement.  I think this is a great way to students a struggle and how to overcome them.  Learning new things is very difficult at times.  More Than Anything Else shares that with students.  I would love to have a discussion about the importance of reading and why Booker felt that is was important he learn how to do so.  There is also and opportunity for students to learn old fashioned vocabulary.  This book is such a great story for 3rd- 5th grade!

Clover's momma always tells her that it is not safe to cross the fence and go the "other" side where Anna lives.  Clover comes from a family of African- American descent and lives in a segregated world.  Anna always sits on the top of the fence and Clover curiously wonders about this little girl.  Clover asks her momma why she cannot cross the fence and her momma simply replies with, "that's the way it has always been."  Clover is determined to make a change.  Her and Anna finally meet at the fence and realize that their colors mean nothing.  A friendship quickly develops and the two young girls hope that one day the fence will no longer exist.

This book was absolutely wonderful on so many levels.  Not only does it teach students about segregation and the past, but it also teaches them that friends are friends no matter the gender, color, or race.  Jacqueline Woodson writes several other stories with a very similar storyline to teach children the importance of friendships. 

 

In Daddy's Arms I am Tall is a poetry book containing 12 outstanding poems coming to life about the relationship of children and their fathers.  Each poem is written by and African American writer sharing the various experiences they have shared with their dads.  Fatherhood is celebrated through humor, memories, honor, and grace as Javaka Steptoe paints the images that comes to life on each page.  The poems show how strong a fathers bond is with his son or daughter and just how much children appreciate that relationship.  Although, this poetry book does not have a specific storyline, children will read, in a new and different way, about other people's experiences with their fathers.

While this is a great book to celebrate fathers, we also live in a time where single parenting is quite common.  When reading these poems in class, I would ensure to point out that for some students it may be a grandfather, uncle, brother, or another family member who takes this role.  I would also pair it up with a story about mothers for those students whose mother plays both the mom and dad role in the house.

Goin' Someplace Special is a great book to teach students about the southern 1950's.  Tricia Ann wants to go someplace special.  Someplace that everyone is welcome, no matter the skin color.  She knows exactly how to get there and she wants to try it out all on her own.  As Tricia Ann makes her way around town, she experiences Jim Crow laws that force her to sit in the back of the bus.  Tricia becomes slightly discouraged, but this does not stop her.  She continues to make her way to this special place.  After she gets kicked out of an all white hotel, she ends up in a garden and a friend reminds her that she is not alone.  Her grandmother's words play through her head, "You are somebody, a human being -- no better, no worse than anybody else in this world." When Tricia Ann finally makes it to her someplace special, the sign reads "Public Library: Everyone is Welcome" 

I think we live in a world where segregation is not talked about very often.  This book is a great way to teach this to children of all ages.  Not only does it preach perseverance, but it show Tricia Ann's determination no matter what. 

Chato is the coolest car in the barrio, and he LOVES to party.  He later finds out that his best "cat" friend, Novio Boy, has never had a birthday party.  Chato and his party animal friends begin to throw a surprise party for Novio Boy.  He gets decorations, makes a pinata, and even finds a friend to DJ.  Chato bought the best "cat crunchies, dog biscuits, and extra kitty litter just in case."  Everyone began arriving for the party but Novio Boy was nowhere to be found.  Chato and the Party Animals searched all over town for him, and they still couldn't find him.  They all come to the conclusion that Novio Boy has been kidnapped.  Just as they began to cry, Novio Boy pops in!  "This is the best party I've ever been to.  You guys are mi familia.  You're the best." Novio Boy said.  

Gary Soto provided us a glossary of words on the first page.  He incorporates Spanish into the text such as el barrio, which mean neighborhood.  This is a fun way to help students see diversity within culture and the different type of fiestas!  Susan Guevara paints vibrant images and uses lines to portray excitement. Chato and the Party Animals is a great book to teach students the importance of friendship and celebration.  I recommend this book for third grade and up.  You could even do a short Spanish lesson before reading it aloud!

Island in the Sun is a lyrical recollection of a Jamaican childhood.  Harry Belafonte and Lord Burgess take us through Jamaica in the form of a song.  We are shown tires of family, history, and a warming and homey environment.  Culture is an important part of growing up.  Belafonte and Burgess teach the lesson in a fun and interactive way for children to understand.  Ayliffe illustrates in vibrant colors to give us the feel that we are experiencing this Jamaican culture.

I think a great activity to do with students would to read the book aloud and point out various differences between their culture and the Jamaican one shared with us in the story.  After we read it aloud, we would then sing the book and create our own drums to drum along.  Understanding and respecting all cultures is crucial to developing friendships.  Island in the Sun shares a culture we are not use to seeing and provides a new aspect of understanding.  

It's Christmas time and Maria and her family are making tamales.  Maria is feeling very grown up when her momma lets her wear an apron and some lipstick.  Maria has been admiring her momma's ring and when she stepped out of the kitchen, Maria put on the ring.  Before she knew it, the ring had slipped off her finger and into one of the 24 tamales.  The guests arrive and Maria and her cousins eat ALL 24 tamales in search of the ring.  As they finish the last tamale, Maria goes to confess to her mother and she sees the ring on her finger, too many tamales!  

Gary Soto depicts a warm family celebrating a traditional Christmas and a young girl battling a dilemma.  This situation is extremely relatable for children of all ages.  Soto also includes Hispanic tradition without making that a main focus of the story.  He playfully adds the idea of forgiveness and family time into this holiday spirit story. 

I think it would be fun for students see how tamales are made.  We could also include a discussion of our own holiday traditions to understand the diversity within our classroom.  I highly recommend this book for students.  It is a great way for students to understand how to work around sticky situations and the benefit of being honest.  

I absolutely LOVED this book!  Clara and Samson are planning Clara's birthday party when they decide to have a piñata.  "Hooray, a piñata!" they shouted.  They venture down to the piñata store where Clara chooses a puppy piñata, which she later names Lucky.  Clara and Lucky do everything together from digging holes to going to Grandma's house.  She has so much fun with Lucky that she does not want anyone to break him at her birthday party.  Thankfully, Samson has a plan for that and comes to the rescue.  

Elisa Kleven, author and illustrator, does a fantastic job of adding color and excitement through the words and detailed pictures.  This is also a perfect book to engage your classroom with through analyzation and raising questions of what they believe will happen next.

Kleven not only made this book enjoyable for all ages, but showed the value of friendship.  I think students would enjoy designing their own piñata to "mash and smash and break and watch the candy fall!"

"There's nothing like a wedding, and this book about a wedding is not like any other..." Maya, the flower girl, shows us the view of her cousin's wedding through her lens.  This fun story depicts the wedding from the view of a child's photographs.  The excitement is shared from the flowers in her hair to the alter boy's dirty sneaker peeking from his robe to the kiss that lasted longer than Maya wanted to look.  Maya did not leave a single detail out.

Gary Soto did a wonderful job sharing a child's perspective of a wedding by leaving his readers smiling at the accuracy.  Stephanie Garcia, the illustrator, used three dimensional clay figures, to portray Maya's pictures.  

I think this book is perfect for students to compare and contrast various experiences they have had at weddings.  Maya and her family come from a Mexican background providing a diverse culture for students to understand as well.  Snapshots from the Wedding is a great book for all ages! "It was a wedding to remember."