Literature For a Diverse Society: Rickshaw Girl by Mitali Perkins

Perkins, M. (2007). Rickshaw girl. Watertown, MA: Charlesbridge.
 
From Kirkus Reviews:
“Money is tight, and Naima wants to do something to help her family. If only she were a boy like her friend Saleem, she'd be able to drive her father's rickshaw and add to the family's income. Naima does have a special talent; she can paint beautiful alpacas--traditional patterns used by women to decorate Bangladeshi homes during special occasions--but how can this help her make money? When Naima decides to disguise herself as a boy and drive the rickshaw, she accidentally crashes it, and the family's debt soars even higher. Now Naima is more determined then ever to help her family--and prove that being a girl can be a good thing. Straightforward black-and-white pastel illustrations incorporate alpaca patterns and depict various elements of Naima's daily life, and a helpful Bangla glossary and informative notes are included. A child-eye's view of Bangladesh that makes a strong and accessible statement about heritage, tradition and the changing role of women, Naima's story will be relished by students and teachers alike. (Fiction. 7-10)”
From Horn Book:
“Ten-year-old Naima may win prizes for designing and painting alpanas, the traditional decorative patterns that women use to adorn homes in their small Bangladeshi village, but, as her mother says, "Alpanas can't put rice on the table." Naima's parents can't afford school fees for both their daughters; now that it's her little sister's turn for schooling, disguising herself as a boy seems the only way for Naima to contribute much-needed earnings to her household. Naima's covert attempt to drive her father's rickshaw during his lunch break is met with disastrous results. Ultimately, though, Naima's recklessness leads to a solution that enables her to earn money with her talents-no disguise necessary. Perkins depicts a rural Bangladesh on the verge of change, as evolving gender roles travel from big cities to small villages. In addition to capturing contemporary Bangladeshi culture, Perkins even connects the vibrant plot to the economic model of microfinance- probably a first for an early chapter book! Black-and-white pastel drawings depict authentic alpana designs and also provide glimpses into Naima's dynamic world, underscoring the novel's accessible message about the intersections of tradition and transformation. A glossary and an author's note are appended. (Younger, Intermediate)”

Keywords: Bengladesh; Rickshaw; Painting; Women’s Rights

I am recommending this book for grades 3-5. I think this could be an excellent discussion starter for discussing gender equality. I think that the the author statement and the glossary add authenticity to this story from another culture. This book can be used to cover the Kentucky Education Standards for Primary and Intermediate Social Studies:
2.14 Students understand the democratic principles of justice, equality, responsibility, and freedom and apply them to real-life situations.
2.16 Students observe, analyze, and interpret human behaviors, social groupings, and institutions to better understand people and the relationships among individuals and among groups.
2.17 Students interact effectively and work cooperatively with the many ethnic and cultural groups of our nation and world.
2.20 Students understand, analyze, and interpret historical events, conditions, trends, and issues to develop historical perspective.
Retrieved from Kentucky Education Standards 11/27/17

(image retrieved form author's Website which also has more information about the author, her work, and her activism.)

Piehl, N. (2007). Rickshaw girl. The Horn Book Magazine, 83(3), 288. Retrieved from http://ezproxy.uky.edu/login?url=https://search-proquest-com.ezproxy.uky.edu/docview/199309538?accountid=11836

RICKSHAW GIRL. 2006. Kirkus Reviews(23) (Dec 01), Retrieved from http://ezproxy.uky.edu/login?url=https://search-proquest-com.ezproxy.uky.edu/docview/917241641?accountid=11836

Informational Books: Electrical Wizard

Rusch, E., & Dominguez, O. (2013). Electrical wizard : How Nikola Tesla lit up the world. Somerville, MA : Candlewick Press.

From the Publisher:

“When a Serbian boy named Nikola Tesla was three, he stroked his cat and was enchanted by the electrical sparks. By the time he was a teenager, he had made a vow: Someday I will turn the power of Niagara Falls into electricity. Here is the story of the ambitious young man who brought life-changing ideas to America, despite the obstructive efforts of his hero-turned-rival, Thomas Edison. From using alternating current to light up the Chicago World’s Fair to harnessing Niagara to electrify New York City and beyond, Nikola Tesla was a revolutionary ahead of his time. Remote controls, fluorescent lights, X-rays, speedometers, cell phones, even the radio — all resulted from Nikola Tesla’s inventions. Established biographer Elizabeth Rusch sheds light on this extraordinary figure, while fine artist Oliver Dominguez brings his life and inventions to vivid color.” Retrieved from Candlewick Press Website 11/13/2017.

From School Library Journal:

Recommended for Gr 2-5

“Although Edison's inventions are celebrated in many children's books, his rival, Nikola Tesla, receives little attention. Rusch's picture-book biography starts to correct that imbalance. From childhood experiments through college studies, Tesla exhibited an interest in electricity. By the time he designed his alternating current (AC) system, he had moved from Eastern Europe to Paris but could find no investors to fund his projects. Convinced that Edison would recognize AC's value, Tesla came to America. Rather than welcome him, Edison set out to discredit AC because it threatened the direct current (DC) power stations he owned. Tesla's breakthrough came when Westinghouse, which used his inventions, won the bid to supply electricity to the Chicago World's Fair. That success was followed by Tesla's achievements in harnessing power generated by Niagara Falls to supply electricity for New York cities. Dramatic incidents such as Tesla's lighting a bulb with his hand are explained in scientific notes at the end. Diagrams and text clarify how AC and DC work, and Rusch stresses the dangers of experimenting with electricity. She provides source notes for quotations and offers detailed explanations of the Tesla-Edison rivalry and of other Tesla inventions. Dominguez's gouache and acrylic illustrations include impressive panoramas of the World's Fair and Niagara Falls, but the people lack animation. A more serious problem is the failure to provide historical context. There are no dates in the text itself, and there is no time line. Despite this oversight, most libraries should consider purchasing the book for its clear biographical details reinforced by scientific explanations. Students might compare Rusch's presentation with one or more books about Edison.–Kathy Piehl, Minnesota State University, Mankatoα(c) Copyright 2013. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.” Retreived from Amazon.com 11/13/2017.

Key Words:

Electricity, Tesla, Edison, Current

I am recommending this book for children in grades 3-5. This book would make a great read aloud for the classroom. The writing is dramatic. I think the lack of dates makes for interesting discussion and follow up. It will be clear to 3-5th grades that this takes place in the past before electricity was common. This might be a good introduction to studies about the Industrial Revolution, or The Chicago World’s Fair of 1893, or of inventiveness and entrepreneurship. This book would certainly be a good addition to a science curriculum involving electrical currents and how they work.

This story would work well with Kentucky Educational standards for 4th grade 4-PS3-4: “Apply scientific ideas to design, test, and refine a device that converts energy from one form to another.” And  4-ESS3-1: “Obtain and combine information to describe that energy and fuels are derived from natural resources and their uses affect the environment.” Retreived 11/13/2017 from: https://education.ky.gov/curriculum/standards/kyacadstand/Documents/Kentucky_Academic_Standards_Science.pdf

Candlewick Press. (2013). Electrical Wizard How Nikola Tesla Lit Up the World . Retrieved November 13, 2017, from http://www.candlewick.com/cat.asp?browse=Title&mode=book&isbn=0763658553 

(September 1, 2013 ). Electrical Wizard: How Nikola Tesla Lit Up the World. School Library Journal Reviews, Retrieved from www.lexisnexis.com/hottopics/lnacademic

Historical Fiction: The War that Saved My Life by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley

Bradley, K. B. (2015). The war that saved my life. New York: Penguin Group.

Review from School Library Journal:

Gr 4–6

“Bradley turns her keen historical eye from Monticello (Jefferson's Sons, Penguin, 2011) to the British home front during World War II. Ada isn't exactly sure how old she is; for as long as she can remember, she's been a virtual prisoner in her mother's third floor one-room apartment. She was born with a clubfoot and her mother uses her disability as an excuse to abuse her both emotionally and physically. Ada watches the world through the narrow confines of the apartment window, waves to neighbors in the street, and carefully gauges the danger of being beaten during each encounter with her hateful mother. She envies the freedom of her little brother, Jamie, who goes to school and generally roves the neighborhood at will. When her mother prepares to ship Jamie out to the countryside with other children being evacuated from London, Ada sneaks out with him. When the two fail to be chosen by any villagers, the woman in charge forces Susan Smith, a recluse, to take them in. Though Susan is reluctant and insists that she knows nothing about caring for children, she does so diligently and is baffled by the girl's fearful flinching anytime Ada makes a mistake. Though uneducated, Ada is intensely observant and quick to learn. Readers will ache for her as she misreads cues and pushes Susan away even though she yearns to be enfolded in a hug. There is much to like here-Ada's engaging voice, the vivid setting, the humor, the heartbreak, but most of all the tenacious will to survive exhibited by Ada and the villagers who grow to love and accept her.—Brenda Kahn, Tenakill Middle School, Closter, NJ.” (Retrieved from Amazon.com 11/6/2017).

Lexile 580, Accelerated Reader Grade level: 4.1

Awards and Honors:

A Newbery Honor Book
Winner of the Schneider Family Book Award (Middle School)
Winner of the Josette Frank Award

(Retrieved from Amazon.com 11/6/2017).

Considering the content and the Lexile level, I recommend this book to children in grades 3-5. This book is very moving. The terrible abuse that the children receive from their mother has led to a recommendation for older children than the reading level allows for, but I do not think this is too graphic for third graders.

Key Words:

Disabilities, Abuse, World War II, Bombs

Tie-ins:

This book can be used for units on WWII and on units on rights for people with disabilities, and for discussions of child abuse and neglect. 
It can tie in with the Primary academic standards for Social Studies 2.16 and 2.20. 
2.16: "Students observe, analyze, and interpret human behaviors, social groupings, and institutions to better understand people and the relationships among individuals and among groups."
2.20 :"Students understand, analyze, and interpret historical events, conditions, trends, and issues to develop historical perspective."
Retreived 11/13/2017 from: https://education.ky.gov/comm/UL/Documents/Kentucky%20Academic%20Standards_Final-9%2011%2015.pdf

Realistic Fiction: This is the Rope by Jacqueline Woodson

Woodson, J. (2013). This is the rope; A story from the great migration. New York: Nancy Paulson Books.

Review from the the Bulletin for of the Center for Children's Books:
6-9 yrs
"An old piece of rope serves as a framing device for a story that follows an AfricanAmerican family from South Carolina to New York City mid-century. The rope remains with the family for three generations, from its earliest use as a jump rope “under the shade of a sweet-smelling pine” in the South to its more utilitarian functions as clothesline and sign holder in the city. The text on each spread begins with “This is the rope” and goes on to tell, in spare, eloquent ragged-right prose, how the rope played a role in the family’s personal history. Short of the introductory author’s note, there is not much history here; this is simply a beautifully told family tale about a loving, close-knit African-American family over several decades. The fictional tale is told from the point of view of the original pair’s granddaughter, a character who herself appears skipping rope on the penultimate spread under the watchful eyes of her parents and grandparents. The language is deliberate and lyrical, and the gentle pacing calls for a slow, deliberate readaloud. Ransome’s oil paintings feature landscapes indicative both of the changing geography and the passing of time; while some figures are a little stiff, others are remarkable, with light falling on faces at the perfect angle and facial features carrying abundant emotion. Young listeners may need assistance to conceptualize the family relations and the passing of time, but they will nevertheless be drawn to this warm and hope-filled tale." (Morrison, 2013).


I recommend this book for grades 3-5. This book can provide a mirror experience for any child who has a strong inter-generational family connection, or who has moved far away, or who has moved from the country to the city, or who loves to jump rope, or is black. It is a window or a door to another way of experiencing the world for anyone who has not experienced one, or some, or any of those things.

This book would pair well with or be a good intro to reading One Crazy Summer by Rita Williams-Garcia (2010) or even in older grades to Brown Girl Dreaming (also by Woodson, 2014). For grades three and up I would read the Author's note at the beginning. I think that this is a great classroom read aloud and discussion starter.

Keywords:Family, Generations, Migration, African American

Morrison, H. (2013). This Is the Rope: A Story from the Great Migration by Jacqueline Woodson (review). Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books, 67(2), 126.

Williams-Garcia. R. (2010). One crazy summer. New York: Amistad.

Woodson, J. (2014). Brown girl dreaming. New York: Penguin Group.

Fantasy & Mystery: The Chronicles of Harris Burdick. Fourteen Amazing Authors Tell the Tales / With an Introduction by Lemony Snicket

Van Allsburg, C. (2011). The chronicles of Harris Burdick: 14 amazing authors tell the tales; with an introduction by Lemony Snicket. Boston: Houghton Mifflin.

From the Introduction by Lemony Snicket:

“The story of Harris Burdick is a story everybody knows, though there is hardly anything to be known about him. More than twenty-five years ago, a man named Peter Wenders was visited by a stranger who introduced himself as Harris Burdick and who left behind fourteen fascinating drawings with equally if not more fascinating captions, promising to return the next day with more illustrations and the stories to match. Mr. Wenders never saw him again, and for years readers have pored breathlessly over Mr. Burdick's oeuvre… This book, then, is suspicious. The stories you find here may have been written, as so many Burdick stories have been written, as the guesswork of authors drawn to Mr. Burdick's striking images and captions. But I believe these are the actual stories written by Harris Burdick, given by Burdick to the various authors who are now pretending to have written them. I have no proof of this theory, but when I questioned the authors involved, their answers did nothing to change my mind.” Retreived 10/23/2017 from the Website for the book.

From Horn Book Magazine:

"Van Allsburg’s The Mysteries of Harris Burdick (rev. 9/84) has entertained and inspired readers for over a quarter of a century, and now this companion volume adds short stories by various authors inspired by each of the fourteen original illustrations. The top-tier contributors are Sherman Alexie, M. T. Anderson, Kate DiCamillo, Cory Doctorow, Jules Feiffer, Stephen and Tabitha King, Lois Lowry, Gregory Maguire, Walter Dean Myers, Linda Sue Park, Louis Sachar, Jon Scieszka, and Van Allsburg himself. The stories embrace a range of styles and subjects (for example, Sachar serves up a ghost story, while DiCamillo offers an epistolary narrative), but, like their enigmatic and mysterious inspirations, each touches on the strange, the odd, and the fantastic. There’s not a bad story in the bunch, but the large trim size may be off-putting to older readers, and the book will likely need adults to put it into the right hands. Of course, that shouldn’t be a problem as many teachers use the original book (especially in its portfolio edition) in creative writing exercises." (Hunt, 2011)

Recommended for ages 8-13 by Kirkus (Chronicles, 2011). 

I am recommending this book for grades 3-5. The story of Harris Burdick is fun and elicits critical thinking. It is a good book to use with the comprehension standards for Primary English Language Arts. See the  Kentucky Academic Standards document, page 71.

Keywords: Mysteries, Illustrations, Fantasy, Short Stories

Chronicles of Harris Burdick: Fourteen amazing authors tell the tales (The). (2011). Kirkus Reviews, 79(8), 48.

Hunt, J. (2011). The chronicles of Harris Burdick: 14 amazing authors tell the tales. Horn Book Magazine, 87(5), 14.

Traditional Literature: Aesop's Fables by Jerry Pinkney

Aesop., & Pinkney, J. (2000). Aesop's fables. New York: SeaStar.

Scholarly review from Publisher's Weekly:

"Beautifully designed, this lush, oversize volume showcases Pinkney's (The Ugly Duckling) artistry in grand style. There's a king's ransom worth of material here, as Pinkney serves up more than 60 of the ancient Greek slave-philosopher's fables. Aesop's wisdom spills across the pages as freely as Pinkney's glorious watercolors, alight with the many creatures who people the tales, from fiddling grasshoppers and diligent ants to wily foxes, clever crows, brave mice and grateful lions. Each of the vigorous retellings concludes with the kind of succinct moral that centuries of readers have come to expect (e.g., "Don't count your chickens before they're hatched"; "You are judged by the company you keep"). And whether the homilies concern a wolf in sheep's clothing or sour grapes, the timeless virtues resonate as freshly as the day they were minted. Pinkney brings his considerable talent to bear on everything from thumbnail animal portraits to sweeping full-page vistas of hearth and woodlands, and his detail, delicacy of line and subtle palette create an elegant foil for the simple parables. If there's room on the shelf for only one picture book version of Aesop, this could be it. All ages."

Retrieved 10/18/2017 from Barnes & Noble Website.

Excerpt of scholarly review from School Library Journal: 

"K-Gr 4-A visually appealing selection of 61 fables that mixes the well known ("The Fox and the Grapes," "The Tortoise and the Hare") with some that have been nearly forgotten ("The Mermaid and the Woodcutter"). In tone and format, this book is reminiscent of early 20th-century Aesop collections for children. Like Arthur Rackham and Milo Winter before him, Pinkney accompanies the stories with a blend of full-page paintings and smaller illustrations. As in those earlier collections, his text uses elevated language and an extremely formal sentence structure."

Retrieved 10/18/2017 from Barnes & Noble Website.

This book is recommended for all ages by Publishers Weekly and for K-4 by School library Journal. 

I recommend this book for grades 3-5. I believe the formal sentence structure and the inclusion of early 20th century vocabulary make this book a great fit for grades 3-5. Many will already be familiar with the stories which will help build confidence in reading these short tales. The morals for each tale lead easily to discussion and reflection. The beautiful illustrations are enchanting, and will lend interest even to reluctant readers.

Keywords: Morals, Fables, Animals, Folklore

This book fits well with 3rd Grade Kentucky Academic Standards for English Language Arts 

Standard #2:  "Recount stories, including fables, folktales, and myths from diverse cultures; determine the central message, lesson or moral and explain how it is conveyed through key details in the text."

Standard # 3: "Describe characters in a story (e.g., their traits, motivations, or feelings) and explain how their actions contribute to the sequence of events."

and 

Standard # 4: "Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in a text, distinguishing literal from nonliteral language."

Retrieved from the Kentucky Department of Education Website 10/18/2017. 

Poetry: Dark Emperor & other Poems of the Night

Sidman, J. (2010). Dark emperor & other poems of the night. Boston: Houghton Mifflin.

Description from the Author's Website: 

"Come feel the cool and shadowed breeze,

come smell your way among the trees,

come touch rough bark and leathered leaves:

Welcome to the night.

Welcome to the night, where mice stir and furry moths flutter. Where snails spiral into shells as orb spiders circle in silk. Where the roots of oak trees recover and repair from their time in the light. Where the porcupette eats delicacies—raspberry leaves!—and coos and sings.

Come out to the cool, night wood, and buzz and hoot and howl—but beware of the great horned owl—for it’s wild and it’s windy way out in the woods!"
Retrieved 10/10/2017

Awards and Honors:

Newbery Honor Book

Lee Bennett Hopkins Poetry Award Honor Book

Boston Globe/Horn Book Award Honor Book

Chicago Public Library Best book of the Year

NSTA-CBC Outstanding Science Trade Book

Cybils Poetry Award Finalist

Eureka! Nonfiction Children's Book Award 
(from the author's Website)

Publisher's Weekly review:  

"'Welcome to the night!' cries the opening poem in this celebration of nocturnal life. Everything from snails to mushrooms has a role to play and something different to say (the title is taken from a concrete poem about a horned owl, narrated by its would-be prey: "Perched missile,/ almost invisible, you/ preen silent feathers,/ swivel your sleek satellite/ dish of a head"). Spiders offer advice, porcupettes pirouette, and the moon laments the dawn, all illuminated by debut talent Allen's detailed yet moody prints, which encapsulate the mysteries and magic of the midnight hours. Opposite each poem is a short note on the featured creature, explaining its appearance and habits. In Sidman's delicious poems, darkness is the norm, and there's nothing to fear but the rising sun. Ages 6–9."
Retrieved 10/10/2017

I recommend this book for grades 3-5. I have selected this book because it is deliciously evocative. I can smell the wet leaves in the snail's tale, and feel the hiccup of the mouse's little heart as the owl descends.  This book includes nonfiction descriptions of nighttime woodland flora and fauna as well as poetry. The beautiful illustrations and the poems and the fact filled prose all combine to provide a rich portrait of the woods at night. This book will speak to children's imagination and curiosity, as well as providing information about nocturnal creatures and woodland ecology.

Keywords:

Nocturnal, Woodland Creatures, Woods, Poetry

Kentucky Education Standards: 

3-LS1-1. Develop models to describe that organisms have unique and diverse life cycles but all have in common birth, growth, reproduction, and death.

3-LS4-2. Use evidence to construct an explanation for how the variations in characteristics among individuals of the same species may provide advantages in surviving, finding mates, and reproducing. 

5-PS3-1. Use models to describe that energy in animals’ food (used for body repair, growth, motion, and to maintain body warmth) was once energy from the sun. 

5-LS1-1. Support an argument that plants get the materials they need for growth chiefly from air and water.

5-LS2-1. Develop a model to describe the movement of matter among plants, animals, decomposers, and the environment.


Kentucky Department of Education. (2017). Kentucky DAcademic Standards. Retrieved October 10, 2017, from https://education.ky.gov/curriculum/standards/Pages/default.aspx 

Publisher's Weekly. (n.d.). Children's Book Review: Dark Emperor and Other Poems of the Night by Joyce Sidman, illus. by Rick Allen, Houghton Mifflin, $16.99 (32p) ISBN 978-0-547-15228-8. Retrieved October 10, 2017, from https://www.publishersweekly.com/978-0-547-15228-8  

Sidman, J. (2010). Dark Emperor and other Poems of the Night. Retrieved October 10, 2017, from http://www.joycesidman.com/books/dark-emperor-and-other/