Sarah, Plain and Tall

MacLachlan, Patricia, Sarah, Plain and Tall, 1985, Fitzhenry & Whiteside Limited.

Keywords:

-Late 19th Century Fiction

-Country Lifestyle

-Abandonment, Loss and Love

Grades:

-3rd-5th

Annotations:

A widower places a mail order bride advertisement to have help for his two kids, Anna and Caleb. Sarah answers that advertisement and makes the move from ocean side Maine to country side Kansas. Sarah is a key role in these children's lives as she helps them cope without their mother and allows for them to trust her as the new mother figure in their lives.

Teaching Suggestions:

-Newspaper advertisements: how they work, what to write, how much they cost, etc.

-Map reading: Locate Maine, locate Kansas, means of transportation, distance, cost of travel then and now.

-Research how times have changed: clothes, transportation, homes, buildings, etc.

-How are Mail Order Bride advertisements viewed now?

Misconceptions:
-Though this story is happy through out, it is important to discuss the problems of advertisements such as these.

-Address how kids may feel now if a parent did that to them: would they be happy or mad?

Overall, this book was a happy read that would allow for positive literary support in poetry and writing. It is important to address time differences and how this book may be different in current times. Kids could either feel happy for the characters in the book, and others may feel sad because their lives may not be as happy as the characters in the book. Address your audience correctly for this particular book and set up positive questions that the students can reflect on.

Apple Pie 4th of July

Wong, Janet S., Apple Pie 4th of July, 2002, Harcourt, INC.

Keywords:

-Chinese American Fiction

-Independence Day

-American Traditions

-Chinese Traditions

-Cultural Diversities

Annotations:

A Chinese American daughter of Chinese immigrants worries that no one will eat the Chinese food her parents are preparing on th 4th of July. She observes everyone outside eating American type foods and wonders why her parents even bothered to keep the family store open on this particular holiday. After guests walk in to eat Chinese food on the 4th of July, she realizes that Americans do eat Chinese food.

Grade Levels:

-Kindergarten -3rd Grade

Teaching Suggestions:
-Lesson on Independence Day?
-What American Immigrants do to celebrate Independence Day?
-Independence Day traditions and how they came to be?
-How does Independence Day compare to other Chinese Holidays?

Misconceptions:
-This book is particular to Chinese Americans alone, so address other cultures (including Americans) that may feel worried that no one else will notice them or like them. Address ways on how an American student can make an "outsider" feel noticed and comfortable.

Overall, this book has a positive story that relates to cultural diversity in America. It is a neat book to share with students when introducing American traditions vs. "other" traditions and how to incorporate lessons to bond cultures together. What a great, positive story.

My Name is Bilal

Mobin-Uddin, Asma. My Name is Bilal, 2005, Boyds Mills Press, Inc.

Keywords:

- Muslim Fiction

-Religious Prejudices

-Cultural Diversity

Annotations:

Bilal and his sister just moved schools, and feel like they are the only Muslims in the school. Bilal struggles to find confidence in his religion and differences as other kids bully his sister for wearing a head wrap. Bilal's teacher confides in Bilal and gives advice on how to stay true to his religion and family values.

Grade Level:

- 3rd-5th Grades

Teaching Suggestions:

-Lesson of Religious Prejudices

-Guest speaker (a Muslim, preferrably for this particular book) to share how it feels to be hurt/attacked emotionally for having different religious backrounds.

-What the purposes of Headscarfs are.

-Why is it important to respect others' beliefs?

-What are stereotypes of Muslims? And why are they disliked?

-Has the War on 911 impacted thoughts and opinions on Muslims?

Misconceptions:

-It's important to address that ALL human beings are subject to bullying and racial judgements.

-This book has white boys as the villians, so it is important to state that not only white males cause hurt and make fun of other religions/race/culture.

Overall, My Name is Bilal, is a great book to share with students because it introduces cultural diversity and allows for a multi-cultural education. It is important for students to gain knowledge about respecting classmates that may have different beliefs. Just becareful to note that everyone can be subject to judgement and all can cause judgement. This book portrays only white males as the villians, so it is important to not offend the white males in your classroom.

I am currently reading Sarah, Plain and Tall by Patricia MacLachlan. It's a really cute story so far and I am getting excited to do a presentation over this book in class in about two weeks. Stay tuned to find out my analysis on this book once I finish it.