Yolen, J. (1998). The devil's arithmetic . New York: The Trumpet Club.
The Devil's Arithmetic is about Hannah who lives in New York and finds herself living during World War II. Before she is finds herself in 1942, she is sick of hearing about her family that either died or survived the Holocaust. She thinks that she is dreaming but as the story goes on, she realizes there is something else going on. She experiences what most people went through during this time, death and hardship. Eventually, Nazis come to take her to a concentration camp.
This book could be used when learning about the Holocaust in history class. It stresses the importance of remembering history and appreciating what others before us have gone through. This book puts a cool twist on history because she goes back in time. This book also shows some of the Jewish traditions and holidays that they celebrate. The students could write a story about a time period they would like to visit when reading this book.
Wednesday, October 24, 2012
Coolies
Yin. (2001). Coolies . New York: Philomel Books.
Coolies is about a grandmother telling her grandson a story of her great-grandfather and his brother. She tells the story of the two brothers who travel to San Francisco from China in the 1800s. They describe the hard work and labor they did while building the rail road tracks. The two brothers experience difficulties that they overcome together. They eventually send enough money home to have their family join them in America. The illustrations in the book really help the reader visualize what is going on in the story.
This book is great to use because it gives history about China and America. There are several historical events that take place in the book so this would be great to use when talking about the building of the railroads in the United States in history class. This book also shows a lot of Chinese culture and traditions so it is very multicultural. It also shows how the Chinese were not treated fairly when building the rail roads because they weren't paid the same as Americans. The end of the book also points out the importance of honoring our ancestors which is important in every culture.
Coolies is about a grandmother telling her grandson a story of her great-grandfather and his brother. She tells the story of the two brothers who travel to San Francisco from China in the 1800s. They describe the hard work and labor they did while building the rail road tracks. The two brothers experience difficulties that they overcome together. They eventually send enough money home to have their family join them in America. The illustrations in the book really help the reader visualize what is going on in the story.
This book is great to use because it gives history about China and America. There are several historical events that take place in the book so this would be great to use when talking about the building of the railroads in the United States in history class. This book also shows a lot of Chinese culture and traditions so it is very multicultural. It also shows how the Chinese were not treated fairly when building the rail roads because they weren't paid the same as Americans. The end of the book also points out the importance of honoring our ancestors which is important in every culture.
Selavi
Youme. (2004). Selavi. Hong Kong: Morris Printing.
This book is about orphans in Haiti who loose their families and homes from soldiers with guns. The story is about a boy who is renamed Selavi, which means "that is life." After he loses his family and home he finds a group of children who live in a tree and joins their family. The children find a church and all together with the people in the church they build a house for them to live in. The soldiers burn down the house they build and they have to build another one. This story shows the hardships that the children endure everyday and what they are doing to help others.
This book shows how different life can be for many other children. Haiti is not a place that many students have even heard of so it is important for them to be aware of it and the many hardships that occur there. At the end of the book, there are a few pages written by Edwidge Danticat and her life in Haiti. She discusses how important it is that people know what is going on. This book could be used to show the importance of working together because it is the children working together that leads to building a home. The students could focus on something going on in the world that needs to be changed and research and write about it.
This book is about orphans in Haiti who loose their families and homes from soldiers with guns. The story is about a boy who is renamed Selavi, which means "that is life." After he loses his family and home he finds a group of children who live in a tree and joins their family. The children find a church and all together with the people in the church they build a house for them to live in. The soldiers burn down the house they build and they have to build another one. This story shows the hardships that the children endure everyday and what they are doing to help others.
This book shows how different life can be for many other children. Haiti is not a place that many students have even heard of so it is important for them to be aware of it and the many hardships that occur there. At the end of the book, there are a few pages written by Edwidge Danticat and her life in Haiti. She discusses how important it is that people know what is going on. This book could be used to show the importance of working together because it is the children working together that leads to building a home. The students could focus on something going on in the world that needs to be changed and research and write about it.
The Pot that Juan Built
Andrews-Goebel, N. (2002). The pot that juan built. New York: Lee & Low Books Inc.
The Pot that Juan Built is a picture book about Juan who lives in Mexico. It describes how his life in his village and how he is the main potter in town. It goes through the process of potting and the details involved. There is a story part as well as a detail and facts part about Juan and the town of Mata Ortiz. There is also an afterword at the end of the book about Juan Quezada's story and the town of Mata Ortiz today.
This book shows Mexican culture. This book also shows the appreciation of art and pottery. You could tie this into art class by having the kids make pottery of their own. It is important to learn about other cultures and students learn better by being hands on. Pottery can be tied into story telling so it is another way for students to be able to tell their story. There will most likely be students in your class from Mexico so it is important to have books that have Mexican culture.
The Book Thief
Zusak, M. (2006). The book thief. New York: Alfred A. Knopf.
The Book Thief has an interesting twist on it because it is narrated by death. It takes place during World War II and tells the story of 13 year old Liesel, living in Germany. She steals books and teaches herself to read. Her family is hiding a Jewish man in their basement and she shares books with him. Her brother dies early in the book and she is separated from her mother. The book goes through the events that take place in history including book burning and stores being raided. Liesel struggles with the hate she has for the people that caused her brother's death and the separation from her mom.
This book would be helpful to teach when learning about World War II. It is a longer and harder book, more appropriate for 8th or 9th graders. This book would be an interesting choice when discussing narrators. Death is not a common narrator so it gives students a chance to experience something they have never read before. This book recognizes Jewish backgrounds and some students might be able to relate.
The Book Thief has an interesting twist on it because it is narrated by death. It takes place during World War II and tells the story of 13 year old Liesel, living in Germany. She steals books and teaches herself to read. Her family is hiding a Jewish man in their basement and she shares books with him. Her brother dies early in the book and she is separated from her mother. The book goes through the events that take place in history including book burning and stores being raided. Liesel struggles with the hate she has for the people that caused her brother's death and the separation from her mom.
This book would be helpful to teach when learning about World War II. It is a longer and harder book, more appropriate for 8th or 9th graders. This book would be an interesting choice when discussing narrators. Death is not a common narrator so it gives students a chance to experience something they have never read before. This book recognizes Jewish backgrounds and some students might be able to relate.
Becoming Billie Holiday
Weatherford, C. (2008). Becoming billie holiday. (p. 117). Honesdale, Pennsylvania: Wordsong.
Becoming Billie Holiday received the Coretta Scott King Award. This is a book of poetry and the titles are Billie Holiday songs. It is a fictional memoir but shows the singer's life and her many struggles and successes. The book starts with a poem about her birth and goes through different aspects of her life including rape and a troubled childhood. There are illustrations throughout the book that go along with some of the poems.
This book would be great in a poetry unit. This book recognizes the accomplishments of a black icon. The author's notes recognizes her accomplishments, one being that she was the first African American vocalist to tour with an all-white band. This book could show students that a book of poetry can be a way of writing someone's life. It would also be a neat idea to play some of Billie Holiday's songs so that students can really get a sense of her work. When schools celebrate black history month this would be a great book to read.
Becoming Billie Holiday received the Coretta Scott King Award. This is a book of poetry and the titles are Billie Holiday songs. It is a fictional memoir but shows the singer's life and her many struggles and successes. The book starts with a poem about her birth and goes through different aspects of her life including rape and a troubled childhood. There are illustrations throughout the book that go along with some of the poems.
This book would be great in a poetry unit. This book recognizes the accomplishments of a black icon. The author's notes recognizes her accomplishments, one being that she was the first African American vocalist to tour with an all-white band. This book could show students that a book of poetry can be a way of writing someone's life. It would also be a neat idea to play some of Billie Holiday's songs so that students can really get a sense of her work. When schools celebrate black history month this would be a great book to read.
Roberto Clemente
Winter, J. (2005). Roberto clemente. (1st ed.). New York : Atheneum Books for Young Readers
Roberto Clemente is a picture book biography of Clemente's life. He was born in Puerto Rico and the book discusses the struggles he went though to gain respect because he was black and from Puerto Rico. It goes through his accomplishments and how he got there. It not only points out his baseball accomplishments, it shows his personal achievements and how he helped others. It says how he died trying to help people and how his legend has continued on.
This book would be helpful when discussing biographies. It uses facts and information about Clemente's life and turns it into a story with illustrations. This book also shows how some people have to work twice as hard to be respected and recognized because of their race or where they are from. This book would also be helpful for disengaged readers who love baseball. Giving students books that they are interested in will increase the likelihood of them enjoying the book and taking something from it.
Roberto Clemente is a picture book biography of Clemente's life. He was born in Puerto Rico and the book discusses the struggles he went though to gain respect because he was black and from Puerto Rico. It goes through his accomplishments and how he got there. It not only points out his baseball accomplishments, it shows his personal achievements and how he helped others. It says how he died trying to help people and how his legend has continued on.
This book would be helpful when discussing biographies. It uses facts and information about Clemente's life and turns it into a story with illustrations. This book also shows how some people have to work twice as hard to be respected and recognized because of their race or where they are from. This book would also be helpful for disengaged readers who love baseball. Giving students books that they are interested in will increase the likelihood of them enjoying the book and taking something from it.
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