Close Reading/Analysis – Page 12

Guest Post: Classroom Uses for Latinitas by Juliet Menendez, Lost in the Antarctic by Tod Olson, On the Horizon by Lois Lowry, and Stamped adapted by Sonja Cherry-Paul

August 20, 2022 by Kellee

One of the assignments during my Spring Children’s Literature course at UCF was creating a mini-teaching guide for the books we read for book clubs. We started with picture books for practice then students created them in their book clubs each week.

Today, I am happy to share the classroom uses and discussion questions found by my UCF Elementary Education students found for these nonfiction books they read.

Latinitas: Celerating 40 Big Dreamers
Author: Juliet Menendez
Illustrator:
Published

Summary: Dream big with the Latinitas in Latinitas: Celebrating 40 Big Dreamers.

Discover how 40 influential Latinas became the women we celebrate today! In this collection of short biographies from all over Latin America and across the United States, Juliet Menéndez explores the first small steps that set the Latinitas off on their journeys. With gorgeous, hand-painted illustrations, Menéndez shines a spotlight on the power of childhood dreams.

From Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor to singer Selena Quintanilla to NASA’s first virtual reality engineer, Evelyn Miralles, this is a book for aspiring artists, scientists, activists, and more. These women followed their dreams–and just might encourage you to follow yours!

The book features Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz, Juana Azurduy de Padilla, Policarpa Salavarrieta, Rosa Peña de González, Teresa Carreño, Zelia Nuttall, Antonia Navarro, Matilde Hidalgo, Gabriela Mistral, Juana de Ibarbourou, Pura Belpré, Gumercinda Páez, Frida Kahlo, Julia de Burgos, Chavela Vargas, Alicia Alonso, Victoria Santa Cruz, Claribel Alegría, Celia Cruz, Dolores Huerta, Rita Moreno, Maria Auxiliadora da Silva, Mercedes Sosa, Isabel Allende, Susana Torre, Julia Alvarez, Sandra Cisneros, Sonia Sotomayor, Rigoberta Menchú Tum, Mercedes Doretti, Sonia Pierre, Justa Canaviri, Evelyn Miralles, Selena Quintanilla, Berta Cáceres, Serena Auñón, Wanda Díaz-Merced, Marta Vieira da Silva, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, and Laurie Hernandez.

Teachers’ Tools for Navigation: There are so many ways this book provides an opportunity to be used in the classroom. The book can be used during a history lesson as a resource. The book can also be used on its own for women’s month to learn about all of the Latina women who have made an impact in the world, or this book can also be used for Hispanic Heritage Month. This book could also be a resource if a student is looking to learn more about the women who have impacted their culture or just a Latina woman whose story has caught their attention. This book could also be used for language arts and social studies. This is an excellent book for reading circles, independent reading, or even book clubs. The children can choose a Latina they would like to focus on and write an essay on how they captured their attention or their accomplishments. This book is a quick read with various Latinas that will capture any student’s attention during reading time.

Discussion Questions:

Choose one of the Latinitas highlighted in this book and write about how they inspired you.
Juana Azurduy de Padilla is one of the many women who fought for their country’s independence. What are some of the reasons people have fought for a nation’s independence?
Pick your favorite subject or topic and find a Latinita that shares that interest. What does she do in that field and how did she get there?
Many Latinitas were inspired by other great minds, who inspires you? Why?
Where they came from and where they called home heavily impacted the women in this book. How has your identity impacted your life?
Compare and contrast two Latinitas from different time periods. What did they have in common? What was different?
Explain why the work of an Archeologist, like Zelia Nuttall, is important?
Choose one of the Latinitas highlighted in this book and write about how they inspired you.
Juana Azurduy de Padilla is one of the many women who fought for their country’s independence. What are some of the reasons people have fought for a nation’s independence?
Explain why the work of an Archeologist, like Zelia Nuttall, is important?
Pick your favorite subject or topic and find a Latinita that shares that interest. What does she do in that field and how did she get there?
Many Latinitas were inspired by other great minds, who inspires you? Why?
Where they came from and where they called home heavily impacted the women in this book. How has your identity impacted your life?
Compare and contrast two Latinitas from different time periods. What did they have in common? What was different?
Compare two women that you read about in this book. Explain any similarities and differences between the two.
Write about two examples of Latinitas that had to fight for their education and explain how this was important.

Recommended For:

Lost in the Antarctic: The Doomed Voyage of the Endurance
Author: Tod Olson
Published January 1st, 2019 by Scholastic

Summary: There wasn’t a thing Ernest Shackleton could do. He stood on the ice-bound Weddell Sea, watching the giant blocks of frozen saltwater squeeze his ship to death. The ship’s name seemed ironic now: the Endurance. But she had lasted nine months in this condition, stuck on the ice in the frigid Antarctic winter. So had Shackleton and his crew of 28 men, trying to become the first expedition ever to cross the entire continent.

Now, in October 1915, as he watched his ship break into pieces, Shackleton gave up on that goal. He ordered his men to abandon ship. From here on, their new goal would be to focus on only one thing: survival.

Teachers’ Tools for Navigation: This book would make a great book club where students sit in groups and discuss their thoughts about the reading. This would also make an exceptional classroom library book because this could introduce students to survival based books that they may not have a lot of access to and may discover an interest in. This may also make them interested in Narrative Nonfiction that they may not have realized existed before.

This book could be interdisciplinary with science for the climate in the Antarctic and harsh conditions, along with social studies for a nonfiction historic event. Social studies with geography can also be involved as well.

Discussion Questions:

On what day did The Endurance ship slip past the rotting whale carcasses into the South Atlantic?
Do you think Shackleton was a good captain for this voyage? Why or why not?
How do the images impact the story being told in the story? Do these images give you additional information? Explain how the images impact how you read the story.
Do you think that the cold weather made it more difficult for Shackleton along his crew to survive? What if the weather was hotter, do you think they could’ve survived more easily?
Do you think there was a specific action that led to the doom of the voyage? Why do you think this?
If you could bring one person with you on this voyage who would you bring and why?
What would you do to stay positive in this scenario? Use specific instances from the story in your response.
What roles would you assign to each of your classmates on this voyage?
How long do you think you and your class would survive in the antarctic? What would be important to think about, based on what you read in the story, when considering how long your survival would be and what you would need.

Recommended For:

On the Horizon
Author: Lois Lowry
Published April 7th, 2020 by HMH Books for Young Readers

Summary: From Lois Lowry comes an account of the lives lost in two of WWII’s most infamous events: Pearl Harbor and Hiroshima. With black-and-white illustrations by Kenard Pak.

Lois Lowry looks back at history through a personal lens as she draws from her own memories as a child in Hawaii and Japan, as well as from historical research, in this work in verse for young readers.

On the Horizon tells the story of people whose lives were lost or forever altered by the twin tragedies of Pearl Harbor and Hiroshima. Composed of poems about individual sailors who lost their lives on the Arizona and about the citizens of Hiroshima who experienced unfathomable horror.

Teachers’ Tools for Navigation: This book would be useful in the classroom to teach about two major historical events that happened. Additionally this book can be used to teach students about citizenship, understanding, and cause and effect.

Students could also use the events in the book to create a newspaper because this gives the students a chance to interview people from the book that went through major historical events and offers a range of perspectives for students to look from.

Discussion Questions:

How do you think these events affected her?
Why do you think Lois Lowry decided to write about this event?
What connections can you make to the events of Horoshima and Pearl Harbor and your life?
Why do you think the author chose to write in poems?
Writing prompt: What would your feelings have been if you experienced the wars of Hiroshima and Pearl Harbor?
Why do you think the author chose the title “On the Horizon?”
What do you think Lois Lowry was trying to accomplish by giving different peoples perspectives?
How do you think the events of the war made Lois feel during and after the war?
What were your feelings when reading about the stories of sailors that lost their lives?

Recommended For:

Stamped (For Kids): Racism, Antiracism, and You
Authors: Jason Reynolds & Ibram X. Kendi
Adapted by: Sonja Cherry-Paul
Published May 11th, 2021 by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

Summary: This chapter book edition of the #1 New York Times bestseller by luminaries Ibram X. Kendi and Jason Reynolds is an essential introduction to the history of racism and antiracism in America

RACE. Uh-oh. The R-word.
But actually talking about race is one of the most important things to learn how to do.

Adapted from the groundbreaking bestseller Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You, this book takes readers on a journey from present to past and back again. Kids will discover where racist ideas came from, identify how they impact America today, and meet those who have fought racism with antiracism. Along the way, they’ll learn how to identify and stamp out racist thoughts in their own lives.

Teachers’ Tools for Navigation: The book could be incorporated in classrooms as an introduction to a study. This book discusses an ongoing topic that is still controversial today. With a book like this, it opens up a door for students to discuss whether the author made valid points and how we could contribute his theories in today’s society.

The book is told in mostly chronological order when speaking about the evolution of racism throughout history. So the students could draw out a timeline and write the dates and facts they see throughout the story while they read. For this particular book it would be easier for them to do them in pairs.

Discussion Questions:

In the book what actions lead to the civil war?
How did literature play a big role with how African American as slaves were viewed by society back then?
After reading the book, what part of American History did you learn that you hadn’t previously known?
What is the author’s motive for writing this book?
Can you name one person in the book that contributed to the author’s point? Why?
Who is Nat Turner and what was his role?
Why do you think this author mentioned, “This is not a history book?”
What form of media such as movies or TV shows make you rethink about the content of racism after reading this book?
Who did the author name as the “world’s first racist person” early in the book?
What was the curse theory, and how did it have an effect on the justification of slavery?

Recommended For:

Guest Post: Classroom Uses for All Thirteen by Christina Soontornvat, Astronaut-Aquanaut by Jennifer Swanson, Call and Response by Veronica Chambers, She Persisted: Claudette Colvin by Lesa Cline-Ransome, and History Smashers: Women’s Rights to Vote by Kate Messner

April 22, 2023August 18, 2022 by Kellee

Today, I am happy to share the classroom uses and discussion questions found by my UCF Elementary Education students about some of the nonfiction books they read.

All Thirteen: The Incredible Cave Rescue of the Thai Boys’ Soccer Team
Author: Christina Soontornvat
Published October 13th, 2020 by Candlewick Press

Summary: An account of the amazing Thai cave rescue told in a you-are-there style that blends suspense, science, and cultural insight. Twelve young players of the Wild Boar soccer team and their coach enter a cave in northern Thailand seeking an afternoon adventure. But when they turn to leave, rising floodwaters block their path out. The boys are trapped! Before long, news of the missing team spreads, launching a seventeen day rescue operation involving thousands of rescuers from around the globe.

Teachers’ Tools for Navigation: This book would be great for a full class discussion and read aloud. This book has a lot of important themes that would be great for class discussion such as teamwork and will to survive. Additionally, incorporating STEM activities through engineering would be perfect since this book was full of it. And you can teach chronological order writing from the style of the book.

Discussion Questions:

Have you ever been cave diving or experienced jumping into really cold water? Do you think you would be able to stay in the same wet/cold conditions for multiple days? What would help you get through the experience?
The Wild Boars were used to working as a team on the field, do you think it was easy for them to keep each other’s hopes up or more difficult? Why?
Different experts were called in to help get the team out of the water? Who do you think would be the most helpful in a similar situation? Do you think there are any people who weren’t called in that should’ve been called? Why?
The British divers refused to dive into the cave because of safety hazards on June 29th, and 30th. In your opinion do you think they were right, or do you think the Thai military were right in telling them to go in? Why?
If you were a family member of one of the thirteen trapped inside, what would you do? Would you call whoever you can think to help or keep yourself busy with aimless tasks or help pump water? Do you think you would remain calm? Why?
Draw a scene from the book, why did you choose this scene and how does it make you feel?
Why did the team continue to follow their coach further into the cave although at times it was unsafe? Who is someone you would follow feeling safe? Why?
How did the maps and diagrams make it easier to understand the operation?
There are many heroes in this book, who is someone in the book you consider a hero? and in your own life?

Recommended For:

Astronaut – Aquanaut: How Space Science and Sea Science Interact
Author: Jennifer Swanson
Published January 9th, 2018 by National Geographic Kids

Summary: Astronaut-Aquanaut explores the world of space and sea science, its differences and its similarities. The book is filled with interesting facts of the preparation and journey of surviving in a remote and hostile environment. The book also includes vivid photographs, as well as detailed accounts of real astronauts and aquanauts.

Teachers’ Tools for Navigation:This book could be useful in the classroom as a read-aloud book. In addition, this book is great at incorporating science and can be used within a STEM class, if possible. In addition, students are exposed to many after-reading activities that can help them comprehend the information that they had just read from this book in class.

Discussion Questions:

If you were to pick to be an Astronaut or Aquanaut what would you choose? And why?
What types of places do you think would be useful for aquanauts to discover? Where and why?
If you were an Astronaut how would you describe the similarities of your job to an Aquanaut?
Why do you think that these extreme exploration trips put a strain on the human body? And why do you think the body responds that way?
If you were an Astronaut what type of experiment would you conduct? And how can that also relate to being an Aquanaut?
Why is it important for astronauts to train underwater?
Imagine being called for an emergency involving an asteroid that needs to be identified. In what ways do you think this might affect your life as an astronaut, and how you would feel?
In what ways do you think that astronauts and aquanauts explore their surroundings?
How does understanding pressure, heat, and temperature help us understand space and sea exploration?

Recommended For:

Call and Response: The Story of Black Lives Matter
Author: Veronica Chambers
Published August 17th, 2021 by Versify

Summary: Call and Response: The Story of Black Lives Matter written by Veronica Chambers is a powerful outlook on the events of the civil rights movement of 2020. The Black Lives Matter movement captured global attention and spurred thousands of people of all ages, races, genders, and backgrounds to stand up for progressive social reform. This book tells the story of how social media networks like Instagram, Snapchat, Tik Tok, as well as every news broadcasting site had come together to educate and inform the world on the systematic racism that has been growing in this country for centuries.

Teachers’ Tools for Navigation: This book could be used to help students understand a civil rights movements that is still going on today. The book shares information on the past and present situations that have led to this movement and includes pictures.

After reading this text, we would encourage my students to have a group discussion on there feelings towards the book, if the book made them feel a certain way, if they had an eye-opening facts that they would like to share, etc.

Discussion Questions:

Do you remember another time in history when something was as big and powerful as the Black Lives Matter movement?
What emotions did you feel while looking at some of the pictures provided in the novel?
What are some ways that you can be a leader, like discussed in Chapter 6?
What quote in the novel stood out to you? Why?
In what ways do you perceive this movement
How does it make you feel?
Do you feel you are in a safe and comfortable environment?
Do you or do you know of someone who may have been negatively affected by the BLM?
Chapter 10 discusses young leaders. How did these young leaders lead, and why was it effective?

Recommended For:

She Persisted: Claudette Colvin
Author: Lesa Cline-Ransome
Illustrator: Alexandra Boiger
Published February 2nd, 2021 by Philomel Books

Summary: Inspired by the #1 New York Times bestseller She Persisted by Chelsea Clinton and Alexandra Boiger comes a chapter book series about women who stood up, spoke up and rose up against the odds!

In this chapter book biography by award-winning author Lesa Cline-Ransome, readers learn about the amazing life of Claudette Colvin–and how she persisted.

Before Rosa Parks famously refused to give up her seat on a bus in Montgomery, Alabama, fifteen-year-old Claudette Colvin made the same choice. She insisted on standing up–or in her case, sitting down–for what was right, and in doing so, fought for equality, fairness, and justice.

Complete with an introduction from Chelsea Clinton, black-and-white illustrations throughout, and a list of ways that readers can follow in Claudette Colvin’s footsteps and make a difference!

Teachers’ Tools for Navigation: This book can be used in the classroom to teach students about the civil rights movement as well as the life of Claudette Colvin. By teaching students about influential people of the civil rights movement. This introduction to figures helps students understand the effect that they had on the movement and also the importance of why the fight was important.

Interdisciplinary uses:

Social Studies: This book can be used to help teach students the importance of behavior between different people. Understanding the importance of treating everyone as equals is essential to promoting peace in society. This book talks about the errors of the past and focuses on how even though we have different genders, races, and looks it is important to remember that we are all the same.

History: This does a great job of going over the history of the civil rights movement. This book touches upon why the movement started, what those who lived through the movement went through in everyday life, as well as talking about important events within the movement.

Political Literacy- This book teaches the students on the importance of persisting. This book goes over the importance of having a voice especially in politics. By knowing your rights and expressing them in society it is possible to make a change.

Discussion Questions:

The author cited one inspiration of the novel was the quote “You can’t be what you can’t see.” Why is it important to read books that feature many different main characters?
What effect did the death of Delphine have on Claudette Colvin?
While Claudette Colvin and Rosa Parks protested in very similar ways the story of Rosa Parks is more commonly known. Had you heard of Claudette Colvin before reading this book? Why do you think the story of Rosa Parks is more widely known.
When Claudette Colvin was escorted off the bus she repeated that sitting was her constitutional right. Why is knowing your rights important? How does her knowledge of her rights affect the decisions she made in life?
In the back of the book there is a list of ways to persist. One the top of the list is to conduct research on how others have brought about change. Why is understanding change in the commonuite important to making a difference in the world?
When learning in school Claudette spoke about the attention that was spent on learning about injustice and civil rights. Claudette spoke about how she thought that this was more important and influential than the lessons they had covered in the past. Why is this so?
Why do you think Claudette decided to take a stand on the bus?
How did Claudette inspire others to take a stand?
How did the testimonies of the students on the bus differ from the police officer and other citizens on the bus. Why would they lie?
Claudette Colvin was charged with three charges of violating segregation laws, disturbing the peace, and assaulting a police officer. Why do you think one action resulted in multiple charges in court?

Recommended For:

History Smashers: Women’s Right to Vote
Author: Kate Messner
Illustrator: Dylan Meconis
Published July 7th, 2020 by Random House Books for Children

Summary: Myths! Lies! Secrets! Smash the stories behind famous moments in history and expose the hidden truth. Perfect for fans of I Survived and Nathan Hale’s Hazardous Tales.

In 1920, Susan B. Anthony passed a law that gave voting rights to women in the United States. Right?

Wrong! Susan B. Anthony wasn’t even alive when the Nineteenth Amendment was ratified. Plus, it takes a lot more than one person to amend the constitution.

The truth is, it took millions of women to get that amendment into law. They marched! They picketed! They even went to jail. But in the end, it all came down to a letter from a state representative’s mom. No joke.

Through illustrations, graphic panels, photographs, sidebars, and more, acclaimed author Kate Messner smashes history by exploring the little-known details behind the fight for women’s suffrage.

Teachers’ Tools for Navigation: This book could be useful in a classroom during a Social Studies lesson where women rights is being talked about and the history behind that time. This book would also be useful to help students relate to the same efforts of current movements like,Black Lives Matter and other current social injustices. It teaches history in clear facts on how women sacrificed and fought on amending the constitution to help them have a right to vote and a voice. It also goes over discrimination and how it still was affected.

Discussion Questions:

How did this book help you better understand the movement for women to vote in our country?
Why did Susan Anthony and Elizabeth Cady want the right for every American woman to vote? HH
Why was Susan B. Anthony portrayed as the face of the women’s right to vote movement?
How did the pictures and sidebars in the book help you understand what you were reading?
How did women’s suffrage affect black women?
Why do you think Susan B Anthony was used as the poster child for the book?
What myths were found during the book and who was supposedly the first woman who spoke about women’s rights?
What was the reason for women’s suffrage and the struggle for right for African Americans?
How did women exercise political power throughout the book?
In the book, how were black women involved in the fight for women’s suffrage?
What did Frances Ellen Watkins Harper argue about?
In 1792, Mary Wollstonecraft wrote an official document outlining what?
On page 24, a document called, The Declaration of Sentiments, women listed their demands and read it aloud to a convention at the time. If you had an opportunity to write your demands for this convention, what would they be?
From all the women leaders named in the book, who do you think was the most influential? Why?
Of the strategies that women used to earn the right to vote in the United States, which do you think was the most successful? Why?
After reading the book, what has been the impact of women’s suffrage in the 20th century?
Give examples of some of the outcomes that happened when women’s rights activists would protest and picket?
What was President’s Wilson’s response to the women’s protests?

Recommended For:

Guest Post: Classroom Uses for Stargazing by Jen Wang, The Party by Sergio Ruzzier, Twins by Varian Johnson, and When Stars Are Scattered by Victoria Jamieson and Omar Mohamed

August 14, 2022August 13, 2022 by Kellee

Today, I am happy to share the classroom uses and discussion questions found by my UCF Elementary Education students created for these graphic novels they read.

Stargazing
Author: Jen Wang
Published September 10th, 2019 by First Second

Summary: Christine is a young girl who plays the violin and is suggested by her parents to join the talent show. She then meets a girl, Moon, who is rumored to beat up other kids. Once she gets to know her, she finds out that she is actually a good person and they become great friends who decide on performing in the talent show together. The girls get closer but when Christine’s schedule gets busier, Moon finds a new friend in Madison, making Christine jealous to the point she leaves Moon’s journal open on the table for everyone to see. The girls start laughing at the drawings in the journal but when Moon encounters situations that upset her, she doesn’t know how to act and gets violent. After attacking a classmate, Moon passes out and it’s discovered she has a tumor in her brain that requires surgery. Christine avoids talking to Moon as she was the one that caused the fight and Moon gets surgery to remove her tumor. The girls make up afterwards and Christine bands together with their other classmates to perform at the talent show in tribute to Moon while the school hosts the night as a Fundraiser for Moon and her mother.

Teachers’ Tools for Navigation: This book would be useful in the classroom to help students learn the importance of accepting differences, treating others fairly and anger management. The book touches on topics such as stereotyping, homelessness, and bullying which can help students in the classroom.

Discussion Questions:

How would you react if you were Christine and learned that your new friend has a brain tumor?
Have you ever had a vegetarian dish, if so what was it?
What are some other ways Moon could handle Angela reading her pictures to everyone at the birthday party?
In the book the characters participate in a talent show, if you were to participate one what would your talent be?
Why do you think Moon left during Chinese learning class, do you think she should’ve gone back to learn Chinese?
If one of your friends were feeling sad and alone like Moon was after her surgery, how would you comfort them?
Do you think that Moon was wrong in sharing her concert ticket with Madison after Christine said she didn’t want to go?
Do you believe it was right for Moon to attack Gabrielle for making fun of Vivian about her math puzzles.
Was Christine’s father right for getting mad at Christine for painting her nails and not telling her parents about it?

Recommended For:

Fox & Chick: The Party and other stories
Author: Sergio Ruzzier
Published April 17th, 2018 by Chronicle Books

Summary: Fox and Chick don’t always agree. But Fox and Chick are always friends.

Teachers’ Tools for Navigation: A great activity to do with this book would be “post-ful thinking” where students put sticky notes on pages where they have a connection to while reading and jot a quick comment. These connections are shared when the group meets to identify issues for discussion. The sticky notes can also be used to revisit the book around a particular issue by marking pages relevant to the issue as a way to prepare for the discussion.

This book touched on more of the social-emotional aspects of life which is important for the age that the book is for.

Discussion Questions:

Do you believe Chick’s question was properly stated in The Party?
Did Chick do as he said he would in The Party?
How would you reword Chick’s question in The Party?
How would you react if someone did something they didn’t mention before?
What time of day do you think the story Good Soup is?
Have you ever found yourself not being able to sit still like Chick?
What did you do to help yourself sit still in this situation?
Do you think Fox was correct when they didn’t paint Chick? What would you have done if your friend would not sit still?
What lessons can you take away from this book?
Have you ever made assumed something before you got to know someone like Chick did?

Recommended For:

Twins
Author: Varian Johnson
Illustrator: Shannon Wright
Published October 6th, 2020 by Graphix

Summary:Maureen and Francine Carter are twins and best friends. They participate in the same clubs, enjoy the same foods, and are partners on all their school projects. But just before the girls start sixth grade, Francine becomes Fran — a girl who wants to join the chorus, run for class president, and dress in fashionable outfits that set her apart from Maureen. A girl who seems happy to share only two classes with her sister!

Maureen and Francine are growing apart and there’s nothing Maureen can do to stop it. Are sisters really forever? Or will middle school change things for good?

Teachers’ Tools for Navigation: This book would be useful in classrooms when trying to teach students about the importance of self-confidence, friendships and personal identity.

After reading the book, students can make a quick graphic or symbolic drawing reflecting how the story Twins made them feel/what they thought about the story and discuss their drawings.

Discussion Questions:

How did Maureen and Francine find self-confidence?
How do Maureen and Francine change throughout the story?
What parts of the story do you see these changes?
How are Maureen and Francine alike?
How are Maureen and Francine different?
Why do you think Maureen ran for President instead of another position, such as Vice President or Treasurer?
Why do you think Maureen and Francine’s parents asked the twins to keep the election civil?
How do you think the parents feel about Maureen and Francine feuding with each other?
How does Maureen and Francine’s story influence how you see yourself? Do you know yourself?
Has the story of Maureen and Francine influenced how you view the concept of self confidence?

Recommended For:

When Stars Are Scattered
Author: Victoria Jamieson & Omar Mohamed
Illustrator: Victoria Jamieson
Published April 14th, 2020 by Dial Books

Summary: Heartbreak and hope exist together in this remarkable graphic novel about growing up in a refugee camp, as told by a Somali refugee to the Newbery Honor-winning creator of Roller Girl.

Omar and his younger brother, Hassan, have spent most of their lives in Dadaab, a refugee camp in Kenya. Life is hard there: never enough food, achingly dull, and without access to the medical care Omar knows his nonverbal brother needs. So when Omar has the opportunity to go to school, he knows it might be a chance to change their future . . . but it would also mean leaving his brother, the only family member he has left, every day.

Heartbreak, hope, and gentle humor exist together in this graphic novel about a childhood spent waiting, and a young man who is able to create a sense of family and home in the most difficult of settings. It’s an intimate, important, unforgettable look at the day-to-day life of a refugee, as told to New York Times Bestselling author/artist Victoria Jamieson by Omar Mohamed, the Somali man who lived the story.

Teachers’ Tools for Navigation: When Stars are Scattered is an impactful graphic novel that tells the story of the authors hardships throughout his childhood. It places us into his shoes as he navigates his new life in a Kenyan refugee camp. It was interesting to see our country from another persons point of view. Throughout this book Omar and his brother had to face challenges not familiar to most his age. They often went hungry, not knowing when or where the next meal would be coming from. It was really great to see and show children that what we might take for granted is not available to others across the world. In the book Omar had to decide if school was worth leaving his brother by himself everyday. School wasn’t accessible to everyone in the camp, especially middle and high school. It was a great accomplishment that Omar was accepted into middle school. Omar also had to battle taking care of his brother by himself with the help of a neighbor. Omar and his brother got separated from their mother shortly after fleeing their home. Overall this book is a great example of what children across the world go through on a daily basis.

This book has a lot in it that can be unpacked and discussed within the classroom. This book hits on war, disability representation, women’s rights, and perseverance. Omar and his brother were faced with challenges they shouldn’t have been faced with at their age. But they overcame them and eventually accomplished their goal. You could open up a discussion within the classroom talking about the hard topics that might not get talked about anywhere else. You could talk about war and how it happens around the world. You could show how Omar’s brother had a disability but didn’t let it stop him from achieving his goals. You could hit on how women are treated in other countries compared to our own. Honestly I feel this book is a great book to just promote a safe space for open discussions. Children might not have a safe space to discuss these types of things.

Social Studies tie-in: The students can use this graphic novels to study the region of this book, the conflicts that have taken place, and how others around the world live.

Math tie-in: The refugee camps that are mentioned in the graphic novel are very large have the students calculate how large these camps by adding together the size of the three. Have the students graph the number of refugees coming to the camp every year.

Art tie-in: Have students draw their own section of a graphic novel inspired by this book.

Economics tie-in: Throughout this book Omar and Jeri do their best to make money in order to buy new essentials such as clothing and food. Have the students analyze how the market in the refugee camp fluctuates and how Jeri and Omar made profits.

Astronomy/History tie-in: Students can learn about stars and how they have guided travelers of the past.

Social Emotional Learning tie-in: The book could teach students about responsibility, compassion and values. Students can relate to the message this story brings. Some kids can be going through a somewhat similar situation that you may not be aware of. It teaches students the importance of perseverance through difficult times. It allows for students to engage in discussions about social issues that are going on and how to be compassionate about them.

Discussion Questions:

Who do you believe had the most influence on Omar’s life in the camp?
What is your first impression of Omar and Hassan?
Why do the boys think of Fatima as their foster mom? What is a foster parent?
Why was Omar hesitant to go to school?
Why was Maryam forced to quit school?
When Omar went to school why was there less girls then boys? Was this normal?
Why was it so difficult for Omar to talk about his mom at the UN?
Why was Omar not going to school and when Salmen offered for him to go to school?
Write a diary entry from the perspective of Omar, describing thoughts and feelings about your day at school.
Omar realizes that he does have many people that love and support him, write about what you are grateful for, do you feel that love and support are things that mean the most in the world?
If you were Omar, would you have chosen the same path and attended school? Or stayed home to take care of Hassan? Explain
Throughout this graphic novel young girls and boys are treated differently within camp. Write about a time that you have seen someone be treated differently based on something they can’t control.
How were the schools within the refugee camp different from the schools in the United States?
Fatuma is considered a part of Omar and Hassan’s family despite not being related to them. Write about a person who is not related to you but who you love and consider a part of your family.
Which child in the story did you relate to and why?
Did this novel change your perspective of school? How so?
What is one lesson you learned from this book?
Have you ever read a story about a refugee before? Did it change your thoughts about what it means to be a refugee?
Who do you believe had the most influence on Omar’s life in the camp?
What do you want to be when you grow up? What makes you want to do that?
What is your first impression of Omar and Hassan?
Why do the boys think of Fatuma as their ‘foster mum’? What is a foster parent?
Why did the author choose “Hooyo” to be the last words said in the story?

Recommended For:

Guest Post: Classroom Uses for Astronuts by Jon Sciezska, El Deafo by Cece Bell, Jukebox by Nidhi Chanani, One Dead Spy by Nathan Hale, and Squish: Super Amoeba by Jennifer L. Holm

August 14, 2022August 11, 2022 by Kellee

Today, I am happy to share the classroom uses and discussion questions found by my UCF Elementary Education students about these graphic novels.

AstroNuts Mission One: The Plant Planet
Author: Jon Scieszka
Illustrator: Steven Weinberg
Published September 10th, 2019 by Chronicle Books

Summary: AstroWolf, LaserShark, SmartHawk, and StinkBug are animal astronauts that were sent on a mission to find a sustainable planet for humans to live on once we’ve ruined Earth. So off they rocket to the Plant Planet in the nose rocket! They must perform experiments to gather all the information needed to know if the planet would be able to sustain humans, Or do Plant Planet’s inhabitants have a different plan in store. This book uses real life science with a fun twist.

Teachers’ Tools for Navigation: This book would be great for teaching all about planet Earth, how to recycle, and how to protect the planet. Also, this book does a great job on putting a fun, zany twist on its characters that make this educational, engaging, and entertaining. These are all great things that students can look forward to when reading this book and are introduced to it, in the classroom.

In terms of interdisciplinary elements, we have discussed that the best subject that the book AstroNuts can be connected to is science. This book can be seen from many different angles when connected to science, but can be more specifically geared towards the knowledge of climate change, protecting one’s planet, and cell information (ex: plant cells).

Discussion Questions:

Why do you think AstroWolf thought that he knew it all?
Out of all the characters in AstroNuts (AstroWolf, LaserShark, etc.), which character do you think you could relate to the most? Explain.
What could the AstroNuts have done differently in order to not anger the plants, when they first arrived on the planet?
Which of the AstroNuts do you feel accomplished their goal for the mission? Why or why not?
What aspects of the story do you see in our society when it comes to protecting our planet?
How does this book inspire you when it talks about the environment and the ongoing topic of global warming?
Which AstroNut do you think contributed the most to their mission? Explain.
If you were an official for the NNASA how could you help prepare the AstroNuts for their next mission?
If you were to draw Plant Planet, how would it look different from Earth. What types of things would be shown in your illustration? Explain.

Recommended For:

El Deafo
Author: Cece Bell
Published September 2nd, 2014 by Abrams Books

Summary: Starting at a new school is scary, even more so with a giant hearing aid strapped to your chest! At her old school, everyone in Cece’s class was deaf. Here she is different. She is sure the kids are staring at the Phonic Ear, the powerful aid that will help her hear her teacher. Too bad it also seems certain to repel potential friends.

Then Cece makes a startling discovery. With the Phonic Ear she can hear her teacher not just in the classroom, but anywhere her teacher is in school — in the hallway… in the teacher’s lounge… in the bathroom! This is power. Maybe even superpower! Cece is on her way to becoming El Deafo, Listener for All. But the funny thing about being a superhero is that it’s just another way of feeling different… and lonely. Can Cece channel her powers into finding the thing she wants most, a true friend?

Teachers’ Tools for Navigation: El Deafo teaches students about inclusivity which is something kids sometimes struggle with, and its books like this, that may just do the trick! This novel could also be a great choice as a book club book because it is a real-life story and could very well be a kids favorite. You can challenge your students, and have them create a piece of writing or art work that is inspired by this story, to show understanding. It’s great to have different books about kids with certain challenges, so other students can read and understand them better and see that they are not so different from other students, which is why it is encouraged that you to add this to your classroom library if it isn’t there already!

Discussion Questions:

Based off of the cover of the book, what predictions do you have for the book?
Why did Cece dislike the way Ginny spoke to her?
How did Martha treat Cece when they first met?
Do you think that Mike Miller was a good influence?
Do you think that Cece missed out on a new opportunity to learn something new because she went into sign language school with a negative attitude?
What would you have done if you were in Ceces’ shoes when the teacher slipped out of the classroom and your friends wanted you to listen for her?
Why do you think the illustrator chose bunnies to be the characters?
Based off of the cover of the book, what predictions do you have for the book?
In what ways can you relate to Cece?
Cece thought about herself as a superhero? What do you think makes a person a superhero?
Why did Cece dislike the way Ginny spoke to her?
How did Martha treat Cece when they first met?
Do you think that Mike Miller was a good influence?
Do you think that Cece missed out on a new opportunity to learn something new because she went into sign language school with a negative attitude?
What would you have done if you were in Ceces’ shoes when the teacher slipped out of the classroom and your friends wanted you to listen for her?
Why do you think the illustrator chose bunnies to be the characters?
How did the illustration help you understand what is going on in the story?

Recommended For:

Jukebox
Author: Nidhi Chanani
Published June 22nd, 2021 by First Second

Summary: When her dad goes missing, Shahi and her cousin Naz discover a magical time traveling Jukebox and are transported throughout history. Traveling through time, Shahi and Naz race to find Gio and uncover the truth behind the Jukebox.

Teachers’ Tools for Navigation: This book is educational because it goes over important social issues and it has an engaging story line that will catch the reader’s attention.

Literature logs would allow students to make connections and critically think while they read the novel. The students can then revisit their notes before coming together for class discussions. Free writes allow students to get their real impressions of the book out. They are asked to write freely about the novel for a given amount of time. The absence of a prompt gives the students the chance to explore the aspects of the novel that stood out to them the most.

This book’s interdisciplinary concepts contain history, music and sexuality. Each record that plays brings you back to an event in history without giving too much information, this may lead readers to want to learn more about what was happening at different points of musical history and history in general. Along with this, there was mention of sexuality and the acceptance of it in their family. This can show the reader that it is okay to have a sexuality that isn’t heterosexuality.

Discussion Questions:

Describe the relationship Shahi has with her parents and with Naz.
What clues does the illustrator use to let the reader know what time period they are in?
Why do you think Gio and Earl prefer to listen to music on records?
Are you familiar with any of the music artists talked about in the book? If so, who and how did you learn about them? If not, who do you think would listen to and why?
Do you think the store owner (Earl) was a bit selfish, if so, why do you think that?
How does music influence your life?
Do you think music and history go hand in hand to shape our communities today?
Which historic time travel trip stood out to you the most and why?
Describe one event in the book that stood out to you the most. Give your reasoning.
Did you think that Shahi and Naz were ever going to find their father/ uncle? Why or why not?
Why do you think the Jukebox was so important to Gio and Earl?
Describe one time in history that was mentioned in the book that you would like to go back to.

Recommended For:

One Dead Spy
Author: Nathan Hale
Published August 1st, 2012 by Abrams Books

Summary: Nathan Hale is the first ever American spy during the Revolutionary War, who is to be hung by the British. Before the approval of the hanging a giant history book picks him up to go through the past events through Nathans’ point of view which made him a spy during the Revolutionary War, and what the future of the war will be.

Teachers’ Tools for Navigation: The book can be used with history and also when learning the time period the book is a good reference as far as word choice and vocabulary. It gives a good reference as far as seeing into the reality of the time period. It has great comedic relief and can be used to be an ice breaker when dealing with difficult things such as history, especially with our ELLs because it incorporates pictures and texts will allow them to make connections when reading and following along with pictures as well.

Discussion Questions:

How does this book compare to the textbook as far as history? Does this text provide more of a reference or as pleasant reading?
Knowing now that the main character is in reference to a real time activity, how does this change the pace and voice of the book?
What connections can we make from the graphic novel to the text as we are reading the text?
What can we infer from the textbook to foreshadow to happen in the graphic novel?
Why couldn’t the British soldier hang Nathan at the beginning of the graphic novel?
What were Nathan Hale’s famous last words?
What other history figures are present in the book?
How did Henry Knox get the cannons to General Wasington?
What was the first American victory of the war? And who won it?
How does the setting and the time period give more background knowledge as a reader? Does it help you for see the ending of the book?

Recommended For:

Squish: Super Amoeba
Author: Jennifer L. Holm
Illustrator: Matthew Holm
Published May 10th, 2011 by Random House

Summary: A student named Squish (who loves Science) encounters school life with his friends Peggy and Pod. In the midst of his everyday shenanigans, Squish discovers the meaning of right and wrong when faced with unexpected occurrences at his school. Looking up to his favorite role model, “Super Amoeba”, Squish is determined to become his own superhero, save his friend Peggy from the school bully, and fight against the difficulties that come his way!

Teachers’ Tools for Navigation: When it comes to interdisciplinary elements in this book, we have found that the closest subject that could be connected to Squish is science. Some ways in which you could connect the book to science is by conducting a couple of experiments where students can find amoebas, or other microorganisms, under a microscope. Amoebas can be found in water puddles and lakes, and most of these places are nearby a school, which can be a great field day for students as well.

Discussion Questions:

What event(s) in the book do you think shows poor/unfriendly behavior? Why?
What is a Planaria? Why did the authors make the principal of Squish’s school a Planaria?
If you were a friend of Squish, what advice would you give him when confronting the bully in the story? Would you not give him advice? Why or why not?
What types of connections could you make with Squish’s character, and his emotions at the end of the story? Explain.
Why do you think Mr. Rotifer didn’t ask more questions on why Squish helped Lynwood?
Is Pod a good friend in your opinion? Why or why not?
What animal would you want to eat the bully in the story? Explain.
Would you help the bully cheat to protect your friend?
What are some ways that Squish could have handled his bullying situation?Why or why not?

Recommended For:

Guest Review: Hidden Figures: The True Story of Four Black Women and the Space Race by Margot Lee Shetterly, Illustrated by Laura Freeman

August 6, 2022August 6, 2022 by Kellee

Guest Reviewer: Kayla, UCF Elementary Education Student

Hidden Figures: The True Story of Four Black Women and the Space Race
Author: Margot Lee Shetterly
Illustrator: Laura Freeman
Published

Summary: Dorothy Vaughan, Mary Jackson, Katherine Johnson, and Christine Darden were good at math…really good.

They participated in some of NASA’s greatest successes, like providing the calculations for America’s first journeys into space. And they did so during a time when being black and a woman limited what they could do. But they worked hard. They persisted. And they used their genius minds to change the world.

In this illustrated picture book edition, we explore the story of four female African American mathematicians at NASA, known as “colored computers,” and how they overcame gender and racial barriers to succeed in a highly challenging STEM-based career.

About the Creators:

Margot Lee Shetterly is the author of Hidden Figures: The American Dream and the Untold Story of the Black Women Mathematicians Who Helped Win the Space Race (William Morrow/HarperCollins). Shetterly is also the founder of The Human Computer Project, an endeavor that is recovering the names and accomplishments of all of the women who worked as computers, mathematicians, scientists and engineers at the NACA and NASA from the 1930s through the 1980s. Shetterly is a Virginia native, University of Virginia graduate, an entrepreneur, and an intrepid traveler who spent 11 years living in Mexico. She currently lives in Charlottesville, VA.

Originally from New York City, Laura Freeman now live in Atlanta with her husband and their two children. Freeman received my BFA from the School of Visual Arts and began her career working for various editorial clients. She has illustrated over thirty children’s books, including Hidden Figures written by Margot Lee Shetterly, the Nikki & Deja series by Karen English and Fancy Party Gowns by Deborah Blumenthal. In addition to illustrating books and editorial content, Freeman’s art can be found on a wide range of products, from dishes and textiles to greeting cards.

Review: This book was a gem to find. I didn’t really know the story of how NASA got the skills to make it to space when planning the exploration. I was very intrigued when I read the story of these four African American women who were mathematical geniuses. These women were around during the segregation era but that didn’t stop them from doing what they loved even through tough times. In this picture book I was able to explore their story and how they made everything possible to help NASA put the first man into space. I also really like the message of women entering a career we only see men in but overcoming gender and racial barriers will allow any women to be successful in her career.

Teachers’ Tools for Navigation: This book can be used in many ways. We can use in social studies when talking and exploring segregation and how these women overcame a lot of obstacles to help NASA but men into space. We can also speak about STEM based careers and how difficult it was for many women to enter science or engineering jobs or schools because it was considered a “mans” job. This book will allow many children to see that hard work and dedication pays off. We should follow are dream and work hard and overall, not let any obstacle allow us to fail.

Discussion Questions:

How did these 4 women make NASA hire them to work on the program to allow humans into space?
Was it easy for these women to get into school or even work for NASA? Why?
Who would you identify more with Dorothy, Mary, Katherine or Christine?
Descried how the segregation affected Black people?
What two major obstacles did Dorothy Vaughan face to become a computer at the Langley Laboratory?
Using the timeline in the book what were the most important events in the story?

Flagged Passages:

Read This If You Love: Counting on Katherine by Helaine Becker, Mae Among the Stars by Roda Ahmed

Recommended For:

Thank you, Kayla, for your review!

Warrior Princess: The Story of Khutulun by Sally Deng

August 6, 2022August 4, 2022 by Ricki

Warrior Princess: The Story of Khutulun
Author and Illustrator: Sally Deng
Published: August 23, 2022 by Farrar, Straus, and Giroux

Summary: This picture book follows the life of the great-great granddaughter of Genghis Khan, a princess who could rule on the battlefield as well as—or better—than any soldier, and when faced with a potential marriage, learns that sometimes the best way to serve one’s community is to stay true to oneself.

Ricki’s Review: This creative nonfiction text shares what we know about the life of Khutulun, great-great granddaughter of Genghis Khan. She was a princess who had never been defeated in a wrestling match and was a force on the battlefield. When she is forced to marry, she agrees that she will only do so if a man can defeat her in a wrestling match. If they lose, they owe her family ten horses. I really, really enjoyed reading this story. I started reading it to two of my sons, and my third son creeped on over because he was listening and was hooked. It is captivating! The characters are well drawn and the pacing is perfect.

Teachers’ Tools for Navigation: This book would inspire students to research and learn more about Khutulun and Genghis Khan. Teachers might include other books that creatively imagine people of the past to talk about writers craft and agency in reimagining people of our past.

Discussion Questions:

In what ways does Khutulun show strength?
What important decisions does she make in the text? Why does she make it?
What themes does this text teach you?

Flagged Spread:

Read This If You Love: Creative nonfiction, historical fiction, autobiographies, reading about historical figures

**Thank you, Macmillan for sending an advanced reading copy for an honest review!**

Guest Post: Classroom Uses for Dragons in a Bag by Zetta Elliott, Magnificent Makers: How to Test a Friendship by Theanne Griffith, Polly Diamond and the Magic Book by Alice Kuipers, and Sisters of the Neversea by Cynthia Leitich Smith

August 14, 2022July 28, 2022 by Kellee

Today, I am happy to share the classroom uses and discussion questions found by my UCF Elementary Education students about fantasy novels.

Dragons in a Bag
Author: Zetta Elliott
Published October 23rd, 2018 by Random House

Summary: Jax is left by his mom to an old lady by the name of Ma. Jax later finds out that Ma is a witch who has 3 dragon eggs that hatched. They need to return the eggs because they won’t survive in the regular world due to lack of magic. They go to portals through time that takes them to the time of dinosaurs. Along the way, Jax meets his grandfather who also knows magic, and has him return two of the dragons to the magic council but accidentally left one left behind so he returns to the regular world. He forces his mom and the witch to hash out their problems.

Teachers’ Tools for Navigation: When using fantasy in the classroom it is always a good way to spark your students’ creativity. This source could be used as a creative writing prompt to boost off their creativity of the story: Conduct an activity based upon the book like have them write a short story about what they would do if they were in Jax’s shoes and have them draw pictures of dragons, name them, and design the dragons how they would like them to be pictured.

Discussion Questions:

What was Jax’s first impression of Ma?
How do you think Jax will return the last dragon to the magic council?
Who do agree with and why? Ma who wants to keep the world of magic separate or L. Roy who wants magic to come back to earth.
Why do you think Jax decided to open the window for the squirrel?
What were 2 things the dragons were not allowed to have?
When you first hear the word apprentice what comes to mind? Did you have the same thinking as Jax?
How does the story tie in with real-life scenarios with the fantasy?
Who are the most influential character apart from Jax?
When do we see the change of events come in play throughout the story?
When reading the book your imagination goes wild,in what other circumstances does your mind go other places when reading this story?

Recommended For:

The Magnificent Makers: How to Test Friendship
Author: Theanne Griffith
Illustrator: Reggie Brown
Published May 19th, 2020 by Random House Children’s Books

Summary: Pablo, Violet and Deepak are three friends who get sucked into a telescope and must play science games to come back and play again. Deepak is the new kid who makes Pablo jealous with his presence. Throughout the book, the team works together and build their friendship to complete the games.

Teachers’ Tools for Navigation: The book could be used as a classroom read-aloud over the course of a few days or a week. Due to the science elements, this book would be a good way to start off science discussions in the classroom. For example, the second chapter includes the students learning about food chains. This book is perfect to make connections back to science.

Discussion Questions:

Why do you think Pablo was jealous of Deepak?
What were some of the challenges they had and what did they have to do?
Why do you think Pablo, Violet, and Deepak were chosen for the Maker’s Maze?
What do you know about producers, consumers, decomposers, and scavengers?
What were your favorite aspects of science that you learned from the book?
What type of emotion did the characters experience in the book?
When Deepak arrived to class, what did Pablo notice about him?
How does Pablo overcome is jealous toward Deepak?
Toward the end of the book why did they relate their friendship to the ecosystems?

Recommended For:

Polly Diamond and the Magic Book
Author: Alice Kuipers
Illustrator: Diana Toledano
Published April 22nd, 2018 by Chronicle Books

Summary: Polly Diamond is a little girl who receives a magic book that lets her bring to life the things that she writes and draws. She has a little sister who she doesn’t like very much and a brother on the way. Polly loves to write, she writes lists and stories and anything that she thinks is worth writing. When she starts writing in her magic book she realizes that the book can talk back to her. She writes to her book and comes up with lists and stories to write. She realizes that whatever she writes in the book comes to life when she writes about making a ladder to paint her room and the books on the floor magically move to make a ladder. The book tells her that is what she’s for and Polly quickly learns she can do anything she writes. She makes herself invisible and her sister into a banana. But she realizes that the book is taking everything she says literally. When she writes about eating a club sandwich the book gives her two slices of bread with a bat in between because it took the definition of a club literally. She told the house to fix up the carpet and turn her room into an aquarium. But the carpet was on the ceiling and fish were swimming around her room. She then realizes that everything she wrote was crazy and tries to put the house back to normal because she can’t even recognize it anymore. She fixes it just in time for her parents to come home with her new baby brother. At the end of the story she gives the book a name, Spell. And looks forward to writing and drawing another day with her new book, and friend Spell.

Teachers’ Tools for Navigation: Polly uses and explains words like metaphor, affixes, alliteration, and hyperbole. This is a great opportunity to talk about these definitions, make lists of words and phrases that relate to these words, and do activities where the students use metaphors, alliteration, homophones, homonyms etc. It seems like a useful book to have in a first grade classroom and use with a higher level reading small group or a second grade class. It could also be used as a read aloud, again discussing the key words and their meanings, then practicing using those skills. There is a lot of use of imagery in this book as well as understanding literal meaning and how words matter.

After reading the text, students can respond to the story by engaging in a free write activity after they finish the reading. As a teacher, we could set a timer for five minutes and ask the students to write continuously about their thoughts on the book, good or bad, and afterwards, go over it as a small group.

Discussion Questions:

Polly had many favorite words throughout the book, what are some of your favorite words and why?
Make a list of activities you would do to have a Super-Fantastic-Day.
In the book, Polly writes down what her dream bedroom would look like. If you could have your dream bedroom, what would it look like?
When Polly writes in the magic book, she learns that she needs to write clearly and use as much detail as possible. What are some important rules to follow when writing so people can understand your message clearly?
When Polly is playing hide-and-seek, why does she become invisible?
Imagine the turquoise notebook has changed your house like Polly’s. Please write a short story explaining what your home looks like in order to get it back to normal.
How does Polly feel having to share a room with her little sister when her brother is born?
If you had a magic notebook that could bring three things you wrote about to life, what 3 things would you write or draw and why?
Polly loves words with double letters like “Dizzy.” List 5 words you can think of that have double letters.
Polly loves alliteration. That’s when two or more words in a row begin with the same letter. What alliterations can you think of?

Recommended For:

Sisters of the Neversea
Author: Cynthia Leitich Smith
Published June 1st, 2021 by Heartdrum

Summary: This book is a tale about three children, Lily, Wendy, and Michael. Their parents, Mr. Darling and Ms. Florene Roberts-Darling are separating, splitting the family between two different locations. The night before Wendy and Mr. Darling are supposed to leave, the children are visited by a boy named Peter Pan and Belle. Stories of pirates and merfolk persuade the children to follow Peter Pan and Belle off to a mystical land called Neverland. Upon arriving the children are separated and discover once you arrive you can never leave. The children meet merfolk, pirates, native children, the lost, and fairies in a desperate attempt to figure out how to get home.

Teachers’ Tools for Navigation: This book will be great for a read aloud, book club, or close reading because it involves a lot of higher level vocabulary than some students may currently be reading at and it has long sentences and dialogue which again, some children could struggle with. These classroom uses would allow for discussions.

Geography could also be tied in because students could illustrate and demonstrate caves and waterways the Merfolk might have dwelled in. They also could show their knowledge of what an island like Neverland might have, and include what trees they think the lost boys were living in.

And, of course, it could be looked at versus Peter Pan as it is a retelling.

Discussion Questions:

If you were a character in this book, who would you be and why?
If you were to create a different ending, How would it go?
Why do you think Mr. Darling and Ms. Florene wanted to separate?
What was your favorite part of the book?
What were some challenges that the children had to face or overcome?
Why do you think Peter Pan and Belle appeared?
Why do you think it was hard for the lost boys to remember who they are?
Why do you think Peter Pan never wanted to grow up?
Why do you think Belle brought Peter Pan to the island?
Why do you think the crocodile made a TikTok sound?
Does this book remind you of any other children’s stories? If so why?

Recommended For: