Introduction:
This week, I had the pleasure of reading three texts that have left an impact on my heart. "Wishtree", "Her Right Foot", and "My Two Blankets" are three children's literature books that have the ability to shape who we are and how we view the world. These texts focus on embracing diversity and cultural differences. One of the most significant goals that I have for my future classroom, is to create an environment that is culturally aware and accepting of diversity. As a text set, these three books promote optimism, diverse friendships, and acceptance of others.
Author: Katherine Applegate
Illustrator: Charles Santoso
Copyright: 2017
Publisher: Feiwel and Friends
"Making others feel safe is a fine way to spend your days."
Synopsis:
"Wishtree", by Katherine Applegate is a unique story that focuses on acceptance and diversity. The story is told from the perspective of an old oak tree, named Red. Red is a very well known tree in her community because she is the "wishtree". For years, community members have been tying wishes on Red's branches in hopes that they will come true. In this whimsical story, Red can speak, along with the other animals and creatures in the community. However, Red never speaks to humans, as much as she would love to. Red is located between a green house and a blue house. A family of Muslims live in the blue house and the residents of the green house are skeptical of their inhabitance. The young immigrant girl, Samar, longs for a friend and ties this wish on one of Red's branches. After several attempts to make Samar's wish come true, the young boy that lives in the green house makes an effort to make Samar and her family feel welcome in the community.
What moral values and social-political messages (race, gender, religion, class, poverty, environment, immigration, education, homelessness, etc.) are dominant in the text? Does the author foster social consciousness?
There are several moral values and social-political messages that are dominant in "Wishtree". The most significant social-political message that is present in this text is immigration. The members of a community outcast a family of Muslims that move into the blue house. A young boy even carved the word "LEAVE" into Red to make a statement to the family. Red notices how negatively this is affecting this immigrant family and she takes a stand to change how unwelcome they feel. She does some meddling until the young boy from the blue house, Stephen, befriends Samar. He has no hesitation to make Samar his friend, unlike his parents. I found it to be so inspiring that the children were quick to be friends despite their differences. However, the parents were skeptical and still chose not to speak. Stephen has such an accepting heart, that he has the community fill Red with notes that say "STAY". A neighbor who was close to cutting Red down, was so inspired by Stephen and the community, that she decided otherwise. She states, "We don't threaten people here. We welcome them. This tree is staying put. And I hope your family will, too." This story of acceptance inspires readers to make an effort to make others feel welcome. Katherine Applegate does a remarkable job at fostering social consciousness. As I was reading "Wishtree", I was evaluating my life and how I make others feel. I strive to be culturally aware and to make my future students have the same goal. I hope to foster a classroom that welcomes diversity and cultural differences.
Author: Dave Eggers
Illustrator: Shawn Harris
Copyright: 2017
Publisher: Chronicle Books
"Liberty and freedom from oppression are not things you get or grant by standing around like some kind of statue. No! These are things that require action. Courage. An unwillingness to rest."
Synopsis:
"Her Right Foot" by Dave Eggers tells the history behind the Statue of Liberty and her significance in our world. Even though this text is actually informational, Eggers does an excellent job at telling a story and capturing the reader's attention. The picture book informs the reader with several facts regarding the Statue of Liberty and then explains how she is a symbol of acceptance in our country. The most interesting fact that Eggers presents, is the fact that the Statue of Liberty is actually on the move! "That's right! She is going somewhere! She is on the move!" Eggers explains that she is "on the move" to welcome the immigrants in the sea. "After all, the Statue of Liberty is an immigrant, too. And this is why she's moving. This is why she's striding".
A Unique Medium:
The illustrations in "Her Right Foot" were created with a unique medium. They were rendered in construction paper and India ink. The illustrations have a unique way of capturing the reader and telling the story that the author is portraying. The pictures in this text are not there to just cover the page, they represent the meaningful message that the words are telling.
Critical Literacy Perspective:
As I was engaging in "Her Right Foot", there was a particular spread that I wanted to evaluate from a critical literacy perspective:
The beautiful illustrations on this spread show the history behind immigration in the United States. The spread informs the reader that immigration isn't just something that is happening in the present, it has been a part of our past. The spread begins with a ship that came to America in 1886, holding immigrants from Italy. The spread ends with a present day plane that is carrying Syrians and Liberians. The various pictures and immigrants show the rich history and the cultural diversity of our nation. The pictures discuss the thousands of immigrants that have come to America for safety from places all over the world. "5,000 Norwegians", "10,000 Glaswegians", "Cambodians", and "Syrians". This spread has an impact on the reader as we realize how immigration has built our country and our diverse culture. This spread is a "rich combination of word and pictures" as discussed in the Callow (2017) article. "Her Right Foot" will allow my students to develop "empathy and a social conscience" (Callow, 2017) in regards to immigration and the diversity of our nation.
Author: Irena Kobald
Illustrator: Freya Blackwood
Copyright: 2014
Publisher: Little Hare Books
"I will always be me."
Synopsis:
"My Two Blankets" by Irena Kobald, tells the story of a young immigrant girl, nicknamed "Cartwheel". Cartwheel has just moved to a new country with her Aunt and she feels like a stranger in her new home. The food, animals, people, and most importantly, the words were strange around her. She would go home and wrap herself in a figurative blanket of her "old" words and sounds to make her feel safe. She continues to feel like an outsider until she meets a young girl at the park who makes her feel welcome. The young girl provides her with a new figurative blanket of new words and sounds. "My new blanket grew just as warm and soft and comfortable as my old blanket". The story told in "My Two Blankets" portrays acceptance and welcoming as a young girl befriends an immigrant from a foreign country.
What special meaning or message does this book convey? Does it present a worthwhile theme for Elementary/Middle-level students?
"My Two Blankets" conveys a very significant message that I hope to enforce in my future classroom. The text conveys friendship and acceptance despite cultural differences. As I reflect on my own life, I hope to be like the young girl that made Cartwheel feel welcome. We are often so busy in our own lives, that we fail to take the time to notice others. There are always people around us that may feel like an outcast or unwelcome. I strive to be the person that provides comfort and friendship to those in need of it the most. The theme portrayed in this story is extremely worthwhile for Elementary/Middle-level students. There are often students that feel unwelcome in a classroom, especially students that have a different cultural background. I hope through reading this text with my future students, that they will make everyone feel welcome. I hope to create a strong classroom community that welcomes all differences, and "My Two Blankets" is a text that will assist me in this process.
How are these texts connected?
"Wishtree", "My Two Blankets", and "Her Right Foot" are three children's books that would make a successful text set in my classroom. Jennifer Serravallo explains in the "Reading Strategies Book", that "we should talk across books that have a common theme and characters who are similar". These three texts are all connected based on their themes of acceptance, diversity, and immigration. Even though there are prominent similarities with each book, there are also differences. After my students have engaged in each text, I would ask them to compare and contrast the three books. The students should evaluate how each story is told through a different perspective. In "Wishtree", an old oak tree tells the story of a young immigrant girl who longs for acceptance and a friend. "My Two Blankets" tells a similar story of a young immigrant girl who feels lost in a new country until she meets a new friend at the park. In contrast to these two books, "Her Right Foot" tells us the history behind the Statue of Liberty and how she symbolizes immigration and freedom in America. A prompt that I would use in regards to these three texts would be "What issue are you noticing repeat?" (Serravallo, 2015). I want my future students to reflect on immigration in our society and the challenges that people with cultural differences face. Each text has the ability to build social consciousness and cultural awareness in my classroom.
References
Callow, J. (2017). “Nobody Spoke Like I Did”: Picture Books, Critical Literacy, and Global Contexts. The Reading Teacher, 71(2), 231-237.
Serravallo, J. (2015).The Reading Strategies Book: Your Everything Guide to Developing Skilled Readers. Portmouth, NH: Heinemann.
Eggers, D. (2017). Her Right Foot. San Francisco, CA: Chronicle Books.
Applegate, K. (2017). Wishtree. New York, NY: Feiwel and Friends.
Kobald, I., & Blackwood, F. (2014). My Two Blankets. Little Hare Books.