When I Wrap My Hair

When I Wrap My Hair, is a lyrical masterpiece that offers an intense outpouring of emotion and connection that any reader can feel. Grant's rhythmic word choice and use of metaphors combined with Mohammed's creative use of curved lines and textures/ colors that resemble head covers often seen used among African woman, helps create a beautiful poetic experience for young readers. The traditional act of hair wrapping is clearly celebrated and this tradition that spans generations is positively portrayed. The rich word choice and vivid illustrations work together to "enhance and extend the [joyful] feelings established by the text (Galda, 2017).

Teachers can use this text to:

introduce and make connections to African cultures
showcase how illustrators convey meaning and feelings using a variety of colors, lines, shapes, and other design elements
teach figurative language
introduce poetry
launch discussions about family and cultural traditions

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Author: Shauntay Grant

Illustrator: Jenin Mohammed

Year Published: 2024

Target Age/Grade Level: 4-8 years old

Genre: Poetry and Verse, Picturebook

Comments

Tomie DePaola's Mother Goose

In Tomie DePaola's version of Mother Goose young readers can enjoy the magic of the rhythmic nursery rhymes that have been handed down by word of mouth for generations in combination with his illustrations that fans have come to love. "The illustrations complement and extend the narrative" of each rhyme providing readers with vivid images that enhance the meaning DePaola wants his readers to take away (Galda, 2017). Teachers can use this text to: help children develop early literacy skills such as rhyming, letter-sound correspondence, and print awareness. build phonemic awareness and oral language fluency ------- Author/ Illustrator: Tomie DePaola Year Published: 1985/2011 Target Age/ Grade Level: Ages 4-8/ Grades Preschool - 3 Genre: Folklore

Holidays and Celebrations: A Shine-A-Light Book

Holidays & Celebrations is wonderful introduction to multicultural celebrations around the world. Brown and Konak offer readers a creative way to explore and engage with the text. The shine-a-light format literally illuminates the facts and concepts in both the illustrations and the words. Not only do the authors present facts in an age appropriate way, readers are encouraged to engage by answering the question on each page. Children and adults alike will be excited to learn about different cultures and explore more books in this series. Teachers can use this text to: launch conversations about different cultures, celebrations, and traditions increase engagement during independent reading analyze the creative ways authors and illustrators engage their readers discuss how illustrations can extend and enhance the meaning of the words in a text ------- Author(s)/ Illustrator(s): Carron Brown & Ipek Konak Year Published: 2021 Target Age/ Grade Level: Ages 5-8...

Uncle Jed's Barber Shop

Uncle Jed is a talented barber, beloved by many, who even without a shop never gives up on his dream. The setting is integral to the story and evokes a vivid historical time consistent with historical and geographical evidence. Social issues are portrayed honestly, without condoning bias for race, gender, or other differences. "Even though I was unconscious, the doctors wouldn't look at me until they finished with all the white patients" (Mitchell, 1998). This book is a fantastic is a fantastic read aloud for young children to teach them, regardless of time, place, situation, to never give up on their dreams. Teachers can use this text: to teach about topics such as saving money, segregation, perseverance, and grit culturally Response Teaching use as a read aloud or anchor text for writing ------- Author: Margaree King Mitchell Illustrator: James E. Ransome Year Published: 1998 Target Age/ Grade Level: Ages 4-7, Grades K-2 Genre: Historical Fiction

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