Category: Race & Ethnicity Title:Amazing Grace Author: Mary Hoffman Illustrator: Caroline Binch Publisher: Scholastic, Inc. Year:1991 ISBN Number:0-385-32239-9 Number of Pages:24 Reading Level:Pre K - 2nd Genre:Fiction
Summary: A young girl loves to act out stories using her imagination. She would even act out stories using her cat as a companion! One day at school, the teacher announces that they will have auditions for the part of Peter in Peter Pan. Grace really wants the part but is discouraged when a young boy tells her she can't play Peter because she is a girl. Another girl tells her that she can't play Peter because he is black. Grace was upset and she went home to tell Nana and Ma about the situation. The women tell her, "You can be anything you want, Grace, if you put your mind to it" (Hoffman). Nana takes Grace to see a play where Juliet is played by a beautiful African American dancer. Grace is inspired by her, and practices for her audition all weekend. On Monday, Grace blows everyone away and is voted to play Peter Pan for the play. She realizes her Ma and Nana were right, if you put your mind to it, you can do anything.
Main Themes: The main theme of this story is that people can do anything they put their mind to. It doesn't matter if others doubt them, if they put their mind to it, they can achieve great things. When Grace sees the dancer, she is inspired to keep practicing and it paid off for her. Another theme in this book is family. Grace's Ma and Nana are critical to the plot of the book and to the lesson of the story itself.
Critical Review: Strengths: (Illustrations) One of my favorite parts of this book is the beautiful and authentic illustrations. Binch does an amazing job of using watercolors to liven up the pictures while still keeping them realistic. For example, the image on the left shows Grace in bright colors surrounded by less vibrant watercolors to show she was meant to be a star. (Tokenism) Another strength this book possess is that it focuses on minority characters in the United States in a positive way. Grace is African American and she is able to become the lead because of her talent and out-performing the other students. The other students didn't think she could play Peter Pan at first, but she showed them that she was the best fit for the job. (Cultural Details) This book does a great job of using cultural details to represent the storytelling aspect of Grace's family. Her Nana loved to tell stories and Grace loved to listen to the stories. Later on, Grace would even act the stories out because she was so intrigued by them.
Weaknesses: (Multidimensionality and Interconnections) The only weakness I see in this book is the lack of connections with others outside of her family. While Grace shows having connections with her Ma and Nana, you don't see the connections she has with her classmates or her teacher. I feel that those connections, or lack thereof, could have added to the plot of the story and why the students were doubting her abilities to be Peter Pan in the first place.
Resources: Mary Hoffman Official Website - The author of Amazing Grace has a website where she has information about herself, writing tips for young writers, and more books she has written. http://www.maryhoffman.co.uk/
Amazing Grace Lesson Plan Ideas - This website has a ton of different lesson plan ideas for almost any subject. Some of my favorite lesson plans include a physical education lesson where you watch a video of ballerinas and try to mimic their movements. Another literacy lesson plan involves the students acting out a retelling of the story. www.teachingideas.co.uk/library/books/amazing-grace Amazing Grace Audio Book - On YouTube there is an account that makes read aloud videos for students. I think this is a great way for students to listen to the text of the book independently if they are struggling, or as a whole class instruction as well. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ag-f4w7MIs8
Hiromi's Hands
Category: Race & Ethnicity Title:Hiromi's Hands Author: Lynne Barasch Illustrator: Lynne Barasch Publisher: Lee & Low Books, Inc. Year:2007 ISBN Number:978-1-58430-275-9 Number of Pages:30 Reading Level:1st - 2nd Genre:Non-fiction
Summary: This book is based on the true story about Hiromi Suzuki, a girl whose father grew up in Japan where he learned to be an amazing sushi chef after many years of hard work. The company sends him to the United States to be the head chef at their new restaurant where he meets his wife. A year later, Hiromi is born. Her father is very busy and doesn't have much time to spend with Hiromi. One day, Hiromi asked her father if she could accompany him to the fish market to pick out the fish he needed for his sushi. She became really interested in helping him, and eventually asked him if she could train to be a sushi chef. Back in Japan, women were not allowed to be sushi chefs, but in the U.S. her father decided it would be okay. She worked under him for many years, working her way up to being a full sushi chef. Her father's boss from Japan came to the U.S. and Hiromi made him some sushi and he thought it tasted just as good as the sushi back in Japan.
Main Themes: The main theme of this book is that if someone puts their mind to something and works hard at it, they can achieve great things. This book also shows that girls are capable of jobs that previously were only thought of as male jobs. This book can send an inspiring message for all readers.
Critical Review: Strengths: (Author's perspective) The author of this book added in a note at the end of the book to tell a little more about Hiromi Suzuki in real life. Hiromi was actually Lynne Barasch's daughter's friend since Kindergarten. Hiromi was one of the first female sushi chefs in New York - see image. This note also discusses the origin of sushi and how it has changed over the years. (Cultural details) The information in this book is historically correct and shows how Hiromi became a sushi chef. The book shows in detail, all of the different types of sushi Hiromi could make and even explained what was in each dish underneath a drawing of it. I also love how this book uses some traditional Japanese words for the sushi, tools, and chef. At the back of the book there is also a glossary and pronunciation guide for these words. (Illustrations) The illustrations in this book are unique. Barasch does a marvelous job of showing what the fish market, sushi restaurants, and Japan look like. She uses a lot of small details to make her pictures authentic and realistic. (Tokenism) The book mainly focuses on Hiromi's family and how she becomes a sushi chef because of her hard work and dedication. Her father also plays a part in her success because he allows her to train as a sushi chef in the U.S., even though he wasn't accustomed to that because of his training in Japan where men were the only ones allowed to be sushi chefs.
Weaknesses: I think this book is solid, and I don't see any weaknesses. I love how it's a true story that shows that hard work pays off. This book is inspiring and I can't wait to use it in my own classroom.
Resources: Lynee Barasch Official Website - The author of Hiromi's Hands has a website where she has a place to ask her questions, books she has written and illustrated, awards her books have recieved, and upcoming events she is doing. http://www.lynnebarasch.com/index.htm
Seven Life Lesson From Making Sushi article - This article has 7 life tips from a famous sushi chef in Japan. I think this would be a fun way to add onto the book and read these life lessons to the class. (Upper elementary classes would benefit the most from this article). http://www.creativitypost.com/business/seven_life_lessons_from_making_sushi Hiromi's HandsTeacher Guide - Lee & Low Books have a free teacher's guide to go with this book. It includes, background information, vocabulary, before and after questions, and tips for working with ESL students while using this book. This is a great resource for teachers to use with this book. https://www.leeandlow.com/uploads/loaded_document/392/Hiromis_Hands_Teacher_s_Guide_FINAL_2017.pdf
I Got the Rhythm
Category: Race & Ethnicity Title:I Got the Rhythm Author: Connie Schofield-Morrison Illustrator: Frank Morrison Publisher: Scholastic, Inc. Year:2014 ISBN Number:978-0-545-83176-5 Number of Pages:30 Reading Level:Pre K - K Genre:Fiction
Summary: This book is about a young African American girl who noticed the rhythm in the world on a trip to the park. She has a positive and upbeat outlook on life. She uses her whole body to feel the rhythm and other friends join in dancing with her. Soon, everyone from the park is coming over to watch the commotion and they end up joining in as well. Overall, its a fun and catchy book to read with lots of fun sound words for young children to enjoy.
Critical Review: Strengths: (Illustrations) I love the illustrations in this book. They are fun and catchy just like the book itself. The illustrations also show a wide variety of diverse people. One of my favorite pages of the book, is when there are a chain of people walking in rhythm together. I think this page is very powerful, and shows the bonds between them - see image. The illustrations also show the message that everyone can get along and work together. (Tokenism) The characters of this book all have different backgrounds, but yet they are still able to come together to complete a common goal. I think this book shows that everyone can enjoy music and dancing as well. (Multidimensionality and interconnections) The story does a great job of bringing the diverse characters together. Everyone loves dancing, so having them all dance together is realistic. Music and rhythm are common themes over all cultures. The cool thing about this book is that it connects with the reader, and makes them want to move and dance along with the little girl in the book. (Stereotyping) This book does a great job of avoiding stereotypes and showing that all people are equal. The diverse characters are not seen in a negative light, and instead they show their love of dancing, and of each other.
Weaknesses: I loved this book and I think younger students will feel this way as well. I don't see any weaknesses in this book, and I definitely recommend it to other teachers. Students will love the sound words and will want to get up and dance along with the little girl.
Resources: I Got the Rhythm lesson plan ideas - This website has many different movement activities to incorporate with this story. It also offers other books to pair with this book for a unit or lesson. http://www.libraryasincubatorproject.org/?p=14857
I Got the Rhythm audio book - This audio book on YouTube could come in handy for students to be able to listen to the story. I love how this book is read by a young girl, and I think the students will be able to relate with her. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xJ8WJG0ugjg Connie Schofield-Morrison - This page gives some background information to the author of this book. Connie's husband illustrated the book and they have an online art gallery as well. http://painted-words.com/portfolio/connie-schofield-morrison-2/