Seedfolks

Seedfolks is a collection of chapters about thirteen individuals that come together to create a garden. It all began when a Vietnamese girl, Kim, decides to plant lima beans in a vacant lot on her street. A nosy neighbor, Ana, takes notice and her curiosity gets the best of her. She investigates and digs up the seeds. In her guilt, she enlists the help of another man, Wendell. A man from a farming background, Wendell helps Ana rehabilitate the seeds. Soon enough, Wendell begins gardening. Over time, the weather improves and more and more people begin to plant their own fruits, vegetables, and flowers.  Dealing with different struggles and from a variety of cultural backgrounds, these people find beauty in a vacant lot. They work together to cultivate an environment that is very different from what they see around them. 

I really enjoyed reading this book, as it was a very quick read that gave me the opportunity to understand several perspectives at once. Beautifully interwoven, these stories share great hardships and prove that everyone is struggling with something. I think that the premise of this book is great, too! Realistically, a community garden is the perfect way to bring people together—even those who don't think they want to be a part of it. 

There were, however, some concerns about the racial aspect of this book. Paul Fleischmann is a white male from the United States. Some of the depictions of minorities in this novel were incredibly stereotypical. I felt as though they could be considered derogatory. The short chapters facilitated this because you could only get a slight glimpse at a character before meeting a brand new one with their own problems and cultural backgrounds. 

Personally, I felt as though Sam—the only white character in the book—was portrayed as the most levelheaded person in the story. While other characters were working to sort out their issues, Sam was the person that started conversations and attempted to bring the garden together. He was the character that noticed the garden was segregated. I felt that this character's role, having been the only white character in the book, was a little unnecessary as he comes off as the nicest and most respectable character of all.  

I wish that the author had been more respectful of the representation of the diversity in the book. The idea of having a garden that brings such diverse cultures and races together is one that is noble. However, it is important to me that I feel the characters are authentic and properly represent their culture. Being of Hispanic heritage myself, I could say that I didn't feel that way about the Hispanic characters in this book. 

Due to the mature content of this book, I would likely suggest that the target audience be middle schoolers. This book can serve as a great conversation starter for these big racial and cultural issues that face us throughout our lives. It would also be a really rewarding project to create a school community garden, integrating science when applicable, to bring this book to life. 

Seedfolks 
By: Paul Fleischmann
Published in 2004

Author Study - The Name Jar

Unhei is the new kid in school. Having recently emigrated from Korea, Unhei and her family are adjusting to life in the United States. It is Unhei's first few days at school and she is excited, but nervous that the American kids will not like her. Having a name like Unhei proves to be a difficult thing because no one on the bus can pronounce it and, unfortunately, some children have made fun of her. When she arrives to her classroom, Unhei decides that she doesn't want her Korean name anymore. Instead, she will adopt an American name. 

Unhei does not tell her classmates her name and they work to help her choose a new name for herself. Her new classmates decide to fill a glass jar with names for her to pick from. Unhei practices American names in the mirror to see which ones fit best. When a classmate is in her neighborhood and discovers her real name and its meaning, the name jar mysteriously disappears. The entire class looks for the jar, but they can't find it. 

Luckily, Unhei had already chosen a name for herself. She tells the teacher that she's ready to introduce herself to her classmates. After much thought, she introduces herself as Unhei. Rather than choose an American name that was not special to her, she chose to keep her name because of its meaning and beauty. She learned to appreciate it and her new friends learned to pronounce it perfectly. 

This was such a great story with a beautiful message! I enjoyed reading about Unhei and could definitely relate to her struggles—although mine may have been a little different. The the aspect of this book I enjoyed the most was the classroom environment that the author created. It was so accepting and welcoming, which is something that I strive to have in my classroom one day. 

I think that this is a great story to share with young readers, especially at the beginning of the school year. It reminded me a lot of another book, Chrysanthemum by Kevin Henkes. It teaches about acceptance of others and oneself and promotes a positive message to students. It teaches that we should respect others and their cultural and racial differences. It would also be a great way to introduce writing about a name for a writing entry. 

The Name Jar 
By: Yangsook Choi 
Published in 2003 

Bud, Not Buddy

Bud, Not Buddy follows the story of ten-year-old Bud Caldwell, an orphan from Flint, Michigan who has experienced a lot more than a ten-year-old should. A self-proclaimed "really good liar," Bud has gone through three foster homes in search of a better life after his mother's death. After a messy and dangerous end to his last foster family, Bud decides that it's time he lives on his own. His purpose: finding his father.

With a few clues from his late mother, Bud decides to walk over 120 miles to Grand Rapids to see the great Herman E. Calloway. He believes that this famous jazz musician is his father and is determined to find him. Although he's pretty sure of his discovery, Mr. Calloway is not; he doesn't want anything to do with Bud. His band members, however, take Bud in and care for him. They give him responsibilities and, in exchange, feed him and give him a place to stay—nicer than anything he's ever had!

Eventually, the band discovers Bud's true identity and it is revealed that Mr. Calloway is actually Bud's grandfather. As a result, Bud is happy and feels as though he has found his home.

When I saw that this book was an option for this week, I was so surprised that I had not read it. I have seen the cover of this book for many years and have always been curious about it, but never had the opportunity to read it. I felt as though it was a sign that it was time I cracked it open! I was so pleased that I did.

This story goes through a wide range of emotion and I truly felt so sad for Bud as I came to understand his life. His quick wit and clever insights showed me that he had an understanding of the world around him that was much deeper than we could ever expect from a ten-year-old boy. The author, Christopher Paul Curtis, did a great job of establishing a unique voice for Bud that made me feel as though I got to know him on a deeper level every time he spoke.

The focus on "Bud, not Buddy" was important to me as a reader because I felt as though this was the one thing that Bud could control in his life. It was essential that he had his name. I thought that this was an essential part of Bud's character and it helped shape his image even more in my mind.

Although there were so many sad moments in this book, I was consistently hit with uplifting and hilarious moments that made me laugh out loud. I am so excited that I finally had the chance to read this book and I really wonder what young students think of Bud, too.

Bud, Not Buddy
By: Christopher Paul Curtis
Published in 2002

Ling & Ting: Not Exactly the Same!

Ling & Ting: Not Exactly the Same! is a book that features twins, Ling and Ting, that do everything together. Sometimes, however, they're mistaken for being exactly the same! Through a series of six short stories, the author reveals that these twins are individuals, even if they look the same.

In the first story, the twins are getting their hair cut and Ting accidentally sneezes, causing her to have an unfortunate, but distinguishing hair do throughout the rest of the book. The other stories show the reader how different the twins are through their actions and their words. Ling is the responsible and logical sister, while Ting proves to be forgetful and often imaginative. However different they may be, the two work together to solve the problems that they face throughout the book. 

The language used in the story is incredibly simplistic. This is clearly a controlled vocabulary book, so it is targeted towards young readers that need repetition in order to grasp words. I do not necessarily agree with the use of controlled vocabulary books, but the slight humor makes Ling & Ting easier to read. The author does a great job of using sarcasm and understatement to get the reader laughing.

The author also illustrated this book and, although the illustrations are relatively simple and straightforward, there are small, clever details included. For example, whenever the twins are handling literature in the book, they are often carrying one of the author's previous books. 

Overall, I don't think that I would use a book like this in my classroom, but I can understand why other teachers have resulted to it. The humor and the inclusion of Asian culture throughout the book would be appealing to some students that need a pattern to follow while reading.

Ling & Ting: Not Exactly the Same! 
By: Grace Lin
Published in 2010

Steamboat School

Based in Missouri in 1847, this realistic fiction story retells the true story of Reverend John Meachum and his "steamboat school." Originally, Reverend Meachum was secretly teaching young African American children underneath a church. When a new law forbidding education for African Americans is enacted, their school is shut down and the children are left without an education. Reverend Meachum, however, did not want to give up on his students. He built a new, floating school inside a steamboat. The steamboat was anchored in the Mississippi River, which was outside of Missouri's jurisdiction, and therefore, legal. 

I thought this story was uplifting and really inspiring, as it followed the true story of a person who would not allow the color of someone's skin dictate their right to an education. The Reverend was an accomplished man that managed to save up enough money to purchase his own freedom, along with his family and his wife's. This book shows his courage and determination and how it helped him accomplish so many selfless things. 

The lessons in this book are brought to life with the illustrations by Ron Husband. They were made by first creating sketches of the scene and then using mechanical pen in an ink to add detail and texture to the drawings. Afterwards, they were finished in Photoshop. The lack of color in the pictures really adds another dimension to the story by suggesting a dark time. 

Overall, this book is a really beautiful depiction of a sad time. Deep feelings are brought to life and I feel as though the ideas that are covered would really resonate with children when presented in this way. Broaching subjects such as slavery and civil rights, it is a great book to delve into "tough" topics with. 

Steamboat School 
By: Deborah Hopkinson 
Illustrated by: Ron Husband 

Published in 2016 

King for a Day

King for a Day is a story written by Rukhsana Khan, a Pakistani female. She tells the story of Basant from the perspective of Malik, a young boy. Basant is a kite festival that celebrates the arrival of spring. With feasts and music, the entire city makes their way to rooftops to take part in the kite flying festivities. This year, Malik has build a special kite, the Falcon, which has been built for speed and agility. Although many other kids will have several kites to battle with, Malik put his faith in God that he would only need one. 

The bully next door is battling his kites, too. In two incredible battles, Malik manages to take down his kites and gets back at him for calling his sister a mean word. By the end of the day, Malik has batted many others and has won, earning the title of "King for a Day!" His brothers and sisters help him capture all of the broken kites and they sort through them after the festivities. As Malik looks over the city after the festival, he sees a girl in the alley below being bullied by the boy next door. He steals her kite and she is left crying. In a sudden act of generosity, Malik anonymously throws a kite down to the girl and he watches her happily walk away. 

I really enjoyed this book, particularly because I do not know very much about Pakistani culture and it has always interested me. I thought that Malik was a noble character that proved his determination payed off. Although the story only portrayed this in the illustrations, Malik was in a wheelchair. His personality and spirit were very present throughout the book and were not overshadowed by the fact that he was disabled. I though that this was a great detail that would help connect students to this piece of literature. 

Another aspect of this book that I really enjoyed were the illustrations. They are an incredible mix of paper and textiles from Pakistan. The colors are vibrant and capture the colors and textures from the region and show the reader what a celebratory time Basant is. The unique and careful layers of materials also gives the reader insight into the character's culture. 

As a whole, I think that the words and the pictures work really well together in this book. They give the reader a sense of who Malik is and his cultural background. I enjoyed getting to learn about Basant wish that I could experience it myself. 

King for a Day 
By: Rukhsana Khan
Illustrated by: Christiane Krömer

Published in 2013

Desmond and the Very Mean Word

Based on a true story, Desmond and the Very Mean Word is a story about Archbishop Desmond Tutu's childhood in South Africa. In the story, Desmond gets a brand new bicycle and is excited to ride it all around—he can't wait to show his priest, Father Trevor. On the way, however, Desmond encounters some white boys that call him a very mean word. He is angry and wants to get revenge. To do so, Desmond retaliates with another mean word and he instantly regrets it. He turns to Father Trevor for advice, and learns to forgive others even when they haven't said they're sorry yet. So Desmond finds the courage to apologize for his actions and is proud of himself. 

I particularly liked this story because it was written by Archbishop Desmond Tutu, who is a South African social rights activist. It is primarily a story of forgiveness, but it covers so many other topics that are truly important for children to read. Religious undertones aside, Desmond as a character turned to a trusted adult for advice in a tough situation. This is something that all children need to understand how to do. 

I also think that it is a great book to have in a children's library because it shows that a person of great stature dealt with issues growing up—everyone does! Young Desmond is relatable and I think that his experience is generalized enough that any student could identify with what he is going through. The vivid oil painting illustrations bring great emotion to the character's faces, amplifying the story even more. 

Overall, I think that Desmond and the Very Mean Word is one of the many books about forgiveness that children would really enjoy reading. 

Desmond and the Very Mean Word 
By: Archbishop Desmond Tutu and Douglas Carlton Abrams 
Illustrated by: A. G. Ford 

Published in 2013