For the Love of Literacy

Nguyen brings readers an unforgettable story about a Vietnamese American girl whose life in unexpectedly transformed by a California wildfire. The main character, Simone, is multidimensional; changing and developing over time as she experiences evacuating from her home and learning the tale of her mom's experience of evacuating as a kid due to flooding. This powerful tale is one that many can relate to  and has a theme that is intrinsic to the story and applicable to readers' lives. Hope and healing in the wake of generations of displacement is a real feeling for many.  Teachers can use this text to:  explore themes such as hope and healing fictional supplemental to nonfiction learning about wildfires in parts of our country Culturally Response Teaching ------- Author: Viet Thanh Nguyen Illustrator: Minnie Phan Year Published: 2024 Target Age/ Grade Level: Ages 5-9, Grades K-4 Genre: Contemporary Realistic Fiction, Culturally Diverse  

This story exemplifies characteristics of excellence in narrative fiction. The text and illustrations work together to establish setting, characters, and theme that many students, especially student who move to a new place, can relate to. The way Vo illustrates the characters to look like aliens and the language they speak to look like symbols is a great analogy for what it must look/sound/feel like for students who are from a different place that speak a different language. The problems are believable and are solved in a realistic, culturally grounded way. The "foreign words and people" gradually start to morph into people Dat recognizes and understands. The illustrations clearly expand on the story appropriately, reflecting and extending the text. (Galda,2017)  Teachers can use this text to:  teach lessons of friendship and acceptance of differences inspire students to reach out to students who may be new Culturally Response Teaching ------- Author/Illustrator:  Young V...

A young boy with Dyslexia loves to write, but struggles to get his ideas down on paper. Through grit, determination, and the support of an inspiring author, Abdul learns a powerful lesson about making mistakes. Illustrator, Tiffany Rose, captivates readers will illustrations that perfectly capture the emotions and experiences of Abdul. They expand on the story appropriately, reflecting and extending the text (specifically when showing what Abdul's stories look like on paper - eraser marks, holes, and all). A powerful text that can be enjoyed by teachers and students alike. Teachers can use this text:  to teach lessons about acceptance and learning differences read aloud featuring characters from Philadelphia ------- Author: Jamilah Thompkins-Bigelow Illustrator: Tiffany Rose Year Published: 2022 Target Age/ Grade Level: Ages 4-8, Grades K-3   Genre: Contemporary Realistic Fiction 

 Mirha, the main character, is very excited for her first day of school. Unfortunately, when her classmates cannot pronounce her name, she contemplates changing it to an "easier name". As in all contemporary realistic fiction books, Mirha is a multidimensional characters, who's feelings change and develop overtime. Her problem is believable and is solved in a realistic, culturally grounded way, when she has a conversation with her mother learning the heritage of her name and the powerful meaning behind it. What a powerful book to use at the beginning of the school year to teach the power of one's name and how to stand up for yourself. Teachers can use this text:  as a beginning of the year read aloud/ discussion about names discussions about standing up for yourself and loving your name ------- Author/ Illustrator: Anoosha Syed Year Published: 2022 Target Age/ Grade Level: Grade PK - 1 Genre: Contemporary Realistic Fiction, Picture books