Reading Journal: He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands

He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands by Kadir Nelson

This book is introduced as following: “What began as a spiritual has developed into one of America’s best-known songs, sung at churches, schools, and campgrounds the country over.” I did not know this was a spiritual. When I played the piano with given notes in the back of this book, I realized that I had heard this song before. This book consists of beautiful pictures which match every few sentences. I especially like a picture in which a boy is smiling in the rain because his smile looks so peaceful and naïve. In addition, one family in this book shows me real happiness through their facial expressions. When a father and a son face each other, their profiles and eyes show unlimited love. During reading, I felt very comfortable and had a peaceful emotion. I began to love Kadir Nelson’s pictures because they have a living feeling. In other words, his pictures show not only the situation of the story sentences but also the feelings of the characters.

Craft Lesson 1

Title: Let’s talk about culture.

According to TEKS: In part of listening/speaking/culture, “The student listens and speaks to gain knowledge of his/her own culture, the culture of others, and the common elements of cultures. The student is expected to: (A) connect experiences and ideas with those of others through speaking and listening (K-3); and (B) compare language and oral traditions (family stories) that reflect customs, regions, and cultures (K-3).”

Resource: La Mariposa by Francisco Jiménez, Illustrated by Simón Silva

Discussion: It is really important for even young students to understand their own culture and other cultures. If students do not have opportunities to think about other cultures, they can have stereotypes about those cultures. There are plenty of trade books related to various cultures. This kind of book helps children to have a chance to know other cultures, providing appropriate pictures. Foreign language also reflects one of the aspects of different culture. Somebody who uses a foreign language also has a different culture from me. La Mariposa shows how a boy who cannot speak English spends his time in an English speaking school. There are people who have different cultures from each other in America. The more students have time to think about and learn about other cultures, the better they can understand them.

How to teach (2nd – 3rd grade): Before a teacher reads this book aloud, the teacher would show the cover page of the book to the students and ask them the meaning of the title, “La Mariposa.” The student who knows the meaning of the word might answer that it means a butterfly. The teacher would write two words, la mariposa and a butterfly, on the blackboard. Then, the teacher would write down some words from other languages, which she prepared before the class, that also mean a butterfly. The teacher would ask the students if they know how to say a butterfly in any other languages, and then explain briefly that there are many other languages and cultures in the world. After that she would begin to read the book aloud. After reading aloud, the teacher would ask the students the following: Why did Francisco imagine flying to his father during the class? How did Francisco feel in his school? If you were his classmate, how could you help him? and so forth. The students would also have time to talk about their experiences related to other languages and cultures. As homework, they will make posters introducing the family stories that show their own cultures. And, they would have time to present their posters and discuss their presentations, such as whose poster is impressive or interesting.

Reading Journal: Henry’s Freedom Box

Henry's Freedom Box by Ellen Levine, Illustrated by Kadir Nelson

Before I read this book, my eight-year-old son read it first. When I asked how it was, he said that this book is interesting and sad. Also he said it was a really unfair thing that there were slaves. Even to a small child’s eye, this story is sad and slavery is unjust. I do not have much information related to slavery in the U.S., and through this story, I could understand more about it. When I read this book, I felt as if I were watching a movie. It is really impressive and sad when Henry’s mother said to Henry that “Do you see those leaves blowing in the wind? They are torn from the trees like slave children are torn from their families.” I am able to feel a little bit how all slave families suffered from the sorrow of parting like Henry’s family did. I am even sad whenever I say goodbye to my family to come back to Lubbock after every summer vacation in Korea. Thus, Henry’s sadness must have been indescribable when he separated from his lovely family. From the past even until now, many people of many countries have struggled to find their freedom like Henry did. Through this story, I am able to realize again how important my freedom and family are.

Reading Journal: La Mariposa

La Mariposa by by Francisco Jiménez, Simón Silva, and Simon Silva

This book is story about one Spanish speaking boy who cannot understand English. As an international student here, I understand his situation well. People communicate with each other through language, and if one cannot use language proficiently, problems of misunderstanding can happen as Francisco experiences. This young boy must have a hard time at his school, so he usually spends his time imagining going to his father because he cannot understand what the teacher says during class. In addition, he has trouble with his classmate, Curtis, because of a jacket that has been given to Francisco by the principal. If he could communicate in English, he would not have that kind of trouble. Finally, these boys are reconciled with each other through butterfly drawing. I love this story because it provides several different aspects of one bilingual boy’s school life. Through this story, children might have a chance to think about other cultures and languages which are different from theirs.

Reading Journal: Goodnight Pillow Fight

Goodnight Pillow Fight by Sally Cook, Illustrated by Laura Cornell

My husband and I say to our two sons go to bed at 9:00 pm every night, but it is not easy to make them sleep at that time. They usually make various excuses not to go to bed. Even though they lay down in the bed, they make noise, giggle, and talk. When I read this book, I really sympathize with this book. This book describes a silly situation like mine. On the first page, I see several families who live in an urban apartment, and all of these parents try to make their children go to sleep with several ways. In spite of parents’ efforts, children make their parents exhausted. They keep asking their parents for something to do and argue with each other. Finally, the parents fall asleep before their children do. Their goodnight pillow fight is over, and calm and deep night comes again. Although all of the parents in this book have had a hard time before they sleep, I am able to see exhausted parents still love their children so much.