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| We Need Diverse Books (M.A. Reilly, 2014) |
Yesterday I presented a workshop about how to prevent reading difficulties to a group of principals all of whom lead elementary schools in the Bronx. I had asked Abe Barretto, Vice President of Educational Sales for Lee and Low Books, if he could provide some book samples with a focus on read aloud. Abe put together books and information about Lee & Low for each participant. I spoke with the administrators briefly about the quality of read aloud books.
I was surprised when Abe shared a thank you email that one of the principals who had been at the workshop sent him later that afternoon. Here's a portion of it:
I was pleasantly delighted to see the presenter share your books as great books for Read Aloud to expose our students to world knowledge. Your books are like hidden treasures ( I knew this 9 years ago when I first read a lee and low book ). Finally, the treasure is reaching a larger audience of students and educators. Let me be the first to fill your bucket and thank you for sharing such amazing treasures. I am sure you will receive many calls this week. Have a lovely evening.
After I read and reread the email, I thought a long time about the graciousness that abounds; how we have been connected well before there was an Internet.
So in the spirit of the local publisher who makes sure that a group of principals leaves with some books to bring back to the children at their schools and a fine principal who recalls a connection made years earlier, I too wanted to share with you a handful of titles I routinely use for read aloud that are published by Lee and Low. And I would agree with the principal that these are like hidden treasures. The children actually cheer to hear and interact with these texts.
Here's the list with links to the Lee & Low website.
Kindergarten
From Unit 1: Concepts
From Unit 2: Neighborhoods
- Lakas and the Manilatown Fish
- Quinito's Neighborhood / El Vecindario de Quinito
- Quinito, Day and Night / Quinito, día y noche
From Unit 3: Giving Thanks
From Unit 8 Contemporary Stories
Grade 1
From Unit 1: Going to School
Grade 1
From Unit 1: Going to School
From Unit 2: Family Stories
From Unit 7: Birds
From Unit 8 Contemporary Stories
- When This World Was New
- Un mundo nuevo
- Catching the Moon: The Story of a Young Girl's Baseball DreamCatching the Moon: The Story of a Young Girl's Baseball Dream
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Grade 2: Read Aloud & Small Group Study
From Unit 1: Himalaya
From Unit 3: Inspiring People
From Unit 8: Community
From Unit 9: Wants and Needs
From Unit 10: Cinderella Tales Across the World
From Unit 10: Cinderella Tales Across the World
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Unit 1: Building, Engineering, and Architecture
Unit 4: Perseverance
Unit 5: Thinking About History
Unit 6: Contemporary Narratives
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Unit 1: From Stardust
Unit 2: The Change Makers: Nobel Peace Prize Winners
Unit 3: The Heroic
Unit 4: The Arts
Unit 5: Mongolia
I appreciate your thoughts on diversity in books. Where I work, the school is 99% white. I have tried to open teachers eyes to the fact that books can be a way to share other cultures with your students. It's an uphill battle, but I'm making small gains.
ReplyDeleteIt's a battle worth taking on. These stories are appealing, necessary, well written and beautifully illustrated. I think your colleagues and your students would love them .
DeleteI teach in a privileged public school - 99.9% white. It is SO important to expose these kids to books such as the ones you have shared - they live in a bubble of ignorance and entitlement.
ReplyDeleteCouldn't agree more. Additionally these books often speak about the human spirit that need not be race or economic-specific.
DeleteI teach in a privileged public school - 99.9% white. It is SO important to expose these kids to books such as the ones you have shared - they live in a bubble of ignorance and entitlement.
ReplyDeleteLove this list, Mary Ann--and the comments that have followed. Very insightful! And I love that you are sharing books from a small book store.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad the list is helpful, Deborah. Love this book publisher.
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