Introduction
This week, I had the opportunity to read three children's books that allow readers to sit back and appreciate the beautiful world around us. Last Stop on Market Street, Rescue and Jessica, and Red: A Crayon's Story are three picture books that should be in every classroom library. Each book has a very different story, but they are all similar in the fact that they allow readers to look at the world from a critical perspective. Each story will pull at your heart and make you step back and examine your own life and experiences.
Author: Matt De La Pena
Illustrator: Christian Robinson
Copyright: 2015
Publisher: Penguin Books
"Sometimes when you're surrounded by dirt, CJ, you're a better witness for what's beautiful."
Synopsis:
Last Stop on Market Street by Matt De La Pena is about a boy, CJ, and his grandmother. In the story, CJ wonders why his life looks different than some of his classmates. Why do CJ and Nana have to ride the bus when everyone else rides in a car? Why doesn't CJ have earphones when other boys do? Why is the street so dirty when they step off the bus? Throughout the story, Nana answers CJ's questions in a way that helps him see the beauty around him and to appreciate what he is blessed with. Nana exudes kindness and love for everyone around her. By the end of the book, CJ is appreciative for the bus ride with his nana as he discovers the beauty of the neighborhood and people around him.
Themes:
There are several themes that are present in Last Stop on Market Street. The two prominent themes that stuck out to me were the ability to see beauty in unlikely places and building community. CJ's Nana helps her grandson to see the beauty in everything around him. Even though they ride the bus instead of in a car, she brings joy into the experience of riding the creaky old bus. She builds relationships with her fellow bus riders and she helps CJ to do the same. Cj enjoyed hearing the guitar player pluck his strings as he closed his eyes to embrace the beauty of the world around him. "CJ's chest grew full and he was lost in the sound and the sound gave him the feeling of magic". Once CJ and Nana get off the bus and step out onto the dirty street, Nana continues to show CJ how to see the beauty around them. "Sometimes when you're surrounded by dirt, CJ, you're a better witness for what's beautiful." Along with finding the beauty in unlikely places, Nana also shows how to build a community around her. Throughout the book, Nana is making relationships with the people she encounters and she makes sure CJ does the same. On the bus, Nana makes a relationship with the guitar player who she asks to play a song for everyone. After his song was finished, everyone on the bus clapped. This action shows that Nana created a small community on the creaky bus instead of letting everyone sit in silence. Once CJ and Nana get off the bus, the reader eventually finds out that their destination is a Soup Kitchen. CJ and Nana see familiar faces in the window and CJ says, "I'm glad we came". Nana builds communities around her through her kind smiles and loving conversations.
Critical Literacy:
"Critical literacy strategies-or starting points for teaching and learning-help readers to think about texts from a critical perspective" (McLaughlin and DeVoogd, 2004, pg. 38). As I was reading Last Stop on Market Street, I thought of a critical literacy strategy that I read about in McLaughlin and Devoogd's article. This strategy is called "Connection Stems". The purpose of Connection Stems is to provide a structure for readers to make connections while they are reading. The prompts help the readers to monitor their thinking and to encourage reflection (McLaughlin and DeVoogd, 2004, pg. 44). As I am having my students read Last Stop on Market Street, I will make sure they are using the Connection Stems strategy. There are several examples in the article that would be perfect to use with this text:
That reminds me of...
An experience I have had like that...
I remember when...
I felt like that character when...
As students are reading through Last Stop on Market Street, there will be several opportunities to use the Connection Stems above. Many students will be able to make a connection to CJ and the bus ride with his Nana. Students will also be able to connect with CJ's feelings about how he wishes he had things that he doesn't have. I would model with my students how to make a Connection Stem as they're reading. For example, I could say... "I felt like CJ when I had to ride the bus home from school instead of getting picked up in the carline". This will show students how to read the text and reflect on their own lives. This will also allow students to evaluate how they have handled negative situations and if they turned them into something beautiful like CJ and his Nana.
Authors: Jessica Kensky and Patrick Downes
Illustrator: Scott Magoon
Copyright: 2018
Publisher: Candlewick
"But the truth was, they had rescued each other."
Synopsis:
Rescue and Jessica by Jessica Kensky and Patrick Downes tell their inspiring true story through this children's picture book. Jessica and Patrick were injured in the Boston Marathon bombing in 2013. A service dog named Rescue joins their family a few months later to help them learn how to live with their new injuries. Jessica and Patrick were both amputees after the bombing and Jessica eventually became a double amputee. Even though Rescue saves Jessica in several ways, she also saves him. "This book makes it clear why dogs truly are a man's best friend." (Dr. Jane Goodall)
Critical Literacy:
Rescue and Jessica provides an excellent avenue for students to develop critical literacy. Considering that the book is based on true events, readers can develop more empathy for the authors, who the story is about. The reader can engage in the text and learn more about how people with disabilities go through life. Instead of just reading through the text with students, the teacher should facilitate discussions about the struggles that Jessica goes through in this story. Allow students to discuss the day-to-day struggles that Jessica has to learn to overcome with the help of her friend, Rescue. Teachers can allow students to make personal connections or share stories that relate to the text. "As teachers, we can nurture engagement by encouraging students to read for authentic purposes, make personal connections, focus on comprehension, and respond in meaningful ways." (McLaughlin and DeVoogd, 2004, pg. 35)
Please watch this video of Jessica Kensky and Patrick Downes as they discuss the Boston Marathon bombing and how they chose to bring light to their experience through writing Rescue and Jessica!
Author and Illustrator: Michael Hall
Copyright: 2015
Publisher: GreenWillow Books
"and he didn't stop there..."
Synopsis:
Red: A Crayon's Story tells the story of a young crayon named Red. Red is struggling to find himself because every time he is asked to draw, he doesn't draw the color he is supposed to. Instead of drawing red strawberries, he actually draws blue strawberries. The other craft supplies are all worried because he isn't drawing what he is "supposed to". They try to tape him up, loosen his label, and sharpen him. Even though they tried their best to make him draw red, he was really a blue crayon all along. Eventually the other craft supplies accept him for the crayon that he is and they love that he can draw the color blue!
What special message does this book convey?
Red: A Crayon's Story conveys a powerful message about accepting others for who they are. In today's society, there are so many labels and expectations that we are expected to follow. Many people struggle with their identities because they are scared of being who they actually are. Throughout this story, Red struggles to find himself because all of the craft supplies expect him to draw exactly what his label says. However, on the inside, he is really a blue crayon. Some crayons say really mean things like, "Frankly, I don't think he's very bright". While other crayons are very encouraging towards Red. When Red meets his new friend, Berry, she inspires him to be who he truly is on the inside. She asks him to draw a blue ocean and Red had never felt so happy! This message of acceptance is important for young readers. I hope to inspire my students to be like Berry instead of the crayons that were putting him down. Red: A Crayon's Story inspires all of us to be who we truly are, regardless of the expectations around us.
Teaching Connections
There are several ways to incorporate these three books into the classroom. Each book tells a unique story that will teach the readers a lesson about love and positivity. There are several opportunities for readers to connect with the characters in each story and reflect on their own personal experiences. Each book leaves the door open for rich classroom discussions. Even though I discussed using Connection Stems with Last Stop on Market Street, this strategy will also work with the other two picture books. Students can stop and make connections as we read which will help classroom discussions flourish. As students discuss their own personal experiences, they will continue to be interested and engaged in the texts.
All three of these books provide an excellent opportunity for readers to practice looking for themes in a text. Through classroom discussions and activities, the readers can discuss the prominent themes in these three picture books. Each book will allow the teacher to address the following NCDPI standard:
CCR Anchor Standard R.2 – Determine central ideas (RI) or themes (RL) of a text and analyze their development; summarize the key supporting details and ideas.
References
McLaughlin, M., & DeVoogd, G.L. (2004). Critical literacy: Enhancing students’ comprehension of text. New York: Scholastic.
De la Peña, M. (2015). Last stop on market street. New York, NY: Penguin Random House Company.
Hall, M. (2015). Red: A crayon's story. New York, NY: Greenwillow Books.
Kensky, J., & Downes, P. (2018). Rescue and Jessica: A life-changing friendship. Somerville, MA: Candlewick Press.