Tag Archives: diversity

My Town= Mi Pueblo

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written by Nicholas Solis; Illustrated by Luisa Uribe

Two cousins live on either side of the Mexico-U.S border and share what they love about their homes as well as their enjoyment of their cousin’s town. Each two page spread shares a unique aspect of their towns in both English and Spanish. They share about their houses, schools, markets, holidays and time together in both towns. This sweet story ends with the cousins and their families crossing the border, a bridge over a river, with guards on both sides and both kids expressing the wish that visits could be easier. They stand overlooking the river and share that both towns feel like home.

This story is great on many levels. The lovely illustrations, which offer details of life on both sides of the border, are perfect for some compare and contrast discussions. The English and Spanish is simple enough for language learners and read alouds. And, students will notice the joy that these two cousins experience no matter what town they are in together.

Prepped by Bethany Mangle

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This is a story about a community of “Doomsday Preppers.” The narrator, Becca, is a third generation community member, she’s been born into the world of safety at all costs. Now, as a soon-to-be-graduate, Becca desperately wants to leave behind the craze she’s grown up in. Fortunately she finds an ally in Roy, the boy that her parents have pre-arranged her marriage to, both are keeping the same secret: they do not believe in Doomsday. The only thing really holding Becca back is her younger sister; she knows that her absence within the community will put her sister in a dangerous position. Becca and Roy work together to devise a plan to help Becca’s sister and escape from the community.

I really enjoyed this book. The characters are well developed and the storyline is unique. As readers we root for Becca and Roy and wonder what the future holds for the two of them. You could hand this book to almost any student and there will be something for them to relate to.

Amazon.com: Prepped (9781534477506): Mangle, Bethany: Books

Marsha is Magnetic. Written by Beth Ferry and illustrated by Lorena Alvarez.

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I loved this story. Marsha is an adorable science “nerd” who views the world through her scientific mind. This is useful as she contemplates her birthday party. Using the Scientific Method, she plans her party. Step 1: Observe kids at school, Step 2: Question why some kids are popular and have friends and others don’t, Step 3: Hypothesis and build a creation, Step 4:Testing it out at school (and yes her magnetic suit does attract friends) and Step 5: Data which demonstrates that she has attracted friends by being her “scientific minded” self. Step 6: Conclusion is to just be herself!

This is a delightful read and the illustrator is mindful of a strong representation of children of color and diverse characters. The charming pictures add to the likability of this book, along with the easy to follow and application of the scientific method wrapped up in a story that children can relate to and enjoy! I recommend this book.

Iqbal and His Ingenious Idea: How a Science Project Helps One Family and The Planet

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At first glance, I wondered if this book was about Muhammad Iqbal who was a philosopher, poet, and politician, respectfully dubbed the “Poet of the East”. Or if it was about Iqbal Masih, 12 year old child rights activist. The story was about neither. It is a fictional tale about Iqbal the inventor.

Iqbal needs an idea for his upcoming science fair. He wants to win the prize money so he can buy a propane stove for his family. He has one month to create something that is sustainable. After much thought and some computer research, Iqbal sets out to create a solar cooker.

Highly recommended

What I like about this book: The story is one of perseverance, creative thinking and family unity (sister is involved in the work).
It is very approachable for many grade levels. There are so many jumping off points for discussions on similarities and differences (family structure, schooling structure, home arrangements…).
The back matter gives more information about clean cooking stoves and there are even directions to create one. This would be great as a STEM activity. Also included is information about Bangladesh and a brief snapshot of Bengali home life.  Included in the glossary is pronunciation and meaning for the Bengali words used in the story. Children love to learn to count in other languages (ēk, dui, tin…one, two, three)!
The majority of the colored pencil drawings cover a two page spread with the text condensed and highlighted on one page. This will engage young readers.
Lastly, this would be a great story to use before introducing students to their first science fair.

I also appreciate the fact that the story is a collaborative work of two women, author Elizabeth Suneby (Razia’s Ray of Hope) and illustrator Rebecca Green.

Publisher stated: 3rd – 7th grade.
This could be used as a read aloud beginning as early as late Kinder, especially if tying into the STEM project.