Skip to main content

Ruby's Wish


Ruby is unlike most girls in her town in Old China. She wants to attend university like the boys. This story is a great example of striving for more and ultimately getting rewarded for hard work. This text is a great example of historical fiction as Events, attitudes, and social issues are portrayed honestly, with historical evidence, and appropriate to the culture and time period (Galda, 2017). "This was unusual in China in those days, as many girls didn't learn to read and write" (Bridges, 2015). The illustrations enhance an understanding of the plot, setting, characterizations, and theme through the use of realistic details and culturally appropriate color schemes.

Teachers can use this text to: 

  • explore themes such as self-esteem, gender equality, family relationships
  • teach about perseverance and goal setting
  • Culturally Response Teaching

-------

Author: Shirin Yim Bridges

Illustrator: Sophie Blackall

Year Published: 2015

Target Age/ Grade Level: Ages 8-12, Grades 3-7

Genre: Historical Fiction, Culturally Diverse

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

The Dragon of Doom

  Readers will be instantly transported to the little town of Pigbone, with it's big hills and cottages. In the Dragon of Doom, characters, setting and events are very detailed and almost believable (If magic was real). Bruce Coville has created a plot that although not realistic, "what happens in the story is logically consistent within the story world" (Galda, 2017). Chairs can walk across the room whimpering, as Moongobble tries to improve his magic skills (Coville, 29, 2003). Katherine Coville's witty illustrations with Bruce Coville's whimsical and wacky word choice, makes for a fantastic novel that will cast a spell of delight on anyone who reads it.  Teachers can use this text: as a read aloud book club book as an anchor text for writing lesson on - setting, writing about fantasy, talking animals, using descriptive language, etc.  ------- Author: Bruce Coville Illustrator: Katherine Coville Year Published: 2003 Target Age/ Grade Level: Ages 6-10/ Grades 1-5...

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...

Emmanuel's Dream: The True Story of Emmanuel Ofosu Yeboah

This true story teaches young readers that believing in oneself and having courage to persevere is the greatest ability of all. Born with a deformed leg in Ghana, many judged and dismissed Emmanuel due to his disability. Throughout this text, there is a unifying theme of overcoming adversity. Thompson does a fantastic job grounding the story in facts, providing details that are vivid, accurate and linked to the accomplishments of Emmanuel (Galda, 2017). Teachers can use this text to:  explore themes such as overcoming adversity, perseverance, and self-reliance Culturally Response Teaching discuss conversations about privilege  ------- Author:  Laurie Ann Thompson Illustrator:  Sean Qualls Year Published:  2015 Target Age/ Grade Level: Ages 5-8 , Grades  K-2 Genre: Memoir