Oh, Brother

Oh, Brother
By Johniece Marshall Wilson

Scholastic Press
New York
1989
 
This is a realistic story of sibling rivalry between two young African-American boys who learn to overcome their character flaws. Andrew and Alex are opposites in personality and always manage to get on each other's nerves. Andrew, the older brother, likes to socialize and has a hard time keeping a part-time job. Alex, the younger brother, is athletic and a paperboy with his own bicycle. Their relationship changes for the better when a gang of boys harasses Andrew and steals the bicycle he borrowed from Alex. The fight inspires Alex take matters into his own hands, while Andrew learns how to be a more responsible person.

Noteworthy Features:

• Sibling Rivalry
• Bullying

Students will enjoy this book because they can relate to it. Most children can relate to a sibling rivalry. This makes it a good book to engage students in reading and help them enjoy reading. I would not do activities with this book. I would use this book as a method of getting students to read for the enjoyment of reading. This factor of reading is missing so often in school. 

The Rainbow Bridge

The Rainbow Bridge
Audrey Wood and Robert Florczak

Harcourt Brace and Company
Orlando
1995


On the island of Limuw, where the heavens touch the sea, Hutash the earth goddess was alone. But then she planted the seeds from a sacred plant. Instead of flowers, beautiful people came from each plant and populated the island, forming the Chumash tribe. The tribe flourished, but then there were too many people on the island. Hutash knew she must send half of them to the land across the water. This legend reveals how the goddess accomplished this dangerous task and how she saved some of the Chumash from drowning by transforming them into dolphins.
 Noteworthy Features:

• Illustrations are paintings with bold colors

Some students may enjoy this tale of how dolphins came to existence. This book may appeal especially to girl students. However, I do not think all students will enjoy this book. Especially the boys, may really dislike this book because of the topic of dolphins and its unrealistic nature.


Links to Classroom Activities:

• Audrey Wood Website

Under the Sunday Tree

Under the Sunday Tree
Elois Greenfield and Amos Ferguson

Harper Trophy
Washington D.C.
1988

This book of poems includes 20 peoms. Each of the poems are matched with a painting by Amos Ferguson. He is from the Caribbean and this culture shows vividly in the illustrations.





Noteworthy Features:

• Illustrations: Bright Colors, Paintings, Full Pages

This book is great to use with students because of the poems, but even more so because of the illustrations. It is a multicultural book that will allow students to understand the Caribbean culture that is apparent in the illustrations. 

Links to Classroom Activities:

• Caribbean Art Lesson

Duke Ellington: The Piano Prince and His Orchestra

Duke Ellington: The Piano Prince and His Orchestra
Andrea Davis Pinkney

Jump at the Sun
New York
1999

This is the story of one of America's greatest composers, Duke Ellington.  He is introduced as a smooth talkin,' slick-steppin,' piano playin' kid with his "fine as pie looks and flashy threads" — thus earning him the name "Duke," by which he would be known his entire life. Readers learn of other key milestones in Duke's life.

Noteworthy Features:

• Written in a jazz-style prose
• Illustrations: rainbow colors, strokes that swirl

I think students would enjoy this book. It would be a good book to introduce a musician to the students. Duke Ellington also stopped music for a little bit to play baseball. Some students, especially the boys, might find that interesting and therefore become more engaged in this book.

Links to Classroom Activities:

• Book Info and Lessons 
• Lesson Plans from ReadWriteThink 

Tiktala

Tiktala
Margaret Shaw-MacKinnon

Fitzhenry & Whiteside
NewYork
2005

This is a multicultural and Fantasy novel. The girl in the story is afraid of being lonely. She begins to turn into a creature and she asks the spirit to change her back. The girl gains knowledge and wisdom about being a soapstone carver.

Sweet Clara and the Freedom Quilt

Sweet Clara and the Freedom Quilt
Deborah Hopkinson

Knopf
New York
1993

This is the story about a slave girl named Clara, who is separated from her mom. With help of another slave, Clara gets to work as a seamstress inside instead of in the fields. Her position allows her to overhear the white men talk about the path to freedom for slaves. Clara decides to use scraps to create a secret map for slaves to use to go north toward freedom. Once she completes the map, she uses it, but leaves the actual map she made behind for others to use.

Noteworthy Features:

• Written in conversational dialogue
• Illustrating are paintings
• Multicultural
• Slavery, Underground Railroad

Teachers can use this book to teach students about slavery and the underground railroad. Teaching this topic through the use of books will be beneficial for the students, because they will have a better understanding of the thoughts and emotions of all involved.

Links to Classroom Activities:

• Unit Plan 
• Lesson Plan 
• Create Freedom Quilt (see picture)

Three Years and Eight Months

Three Years and Eight Months
Icy Smith

East West Discovery Press
Manhattan Beach
2013

This Moonbeam Children's Book Award winning multicultural picture book tells the story of a Chinese boy named Choi. It tells about the struggles he faces as the Japanese take over China. He is separated from his mother and ends up working at military base in order to survive. This story tells of the struggles, pains, and emotions Choi and others experienced during World War II.

Noteworthy Features:

• The pictures in this book are extremely detailed. Some details include writing on a filing cabinets, on the soldiers uniforms, and on postcards. 
• The author of this book is from China
• The book is based on her father and grandmother experience during World War II. 

This is an emotional and informational book. It is a book worth reading, however, the topic could be difficult for some students. Teachers need to be sensitive when reading this book with students or when allowing students to read this book. It is a good book to use to teach World War II from a different perspective.

Nora's Duck

Nora's Duck
Satomi Ichikawa

Philomel Books
New York
1991

This tells the story of a little girl named Nora who finds an injured duckling. She brings the duckling to Dr. John and learns that he cares for many animals. She meets all the animals and visits with them. Once the little duckling is healed, the duckling meets all the other animals. The duckling looks at Nora as if she is trying to tell Nora something, but Nora does not know what she is saying. Dr. John explains to Nora that just because they can not speak with words does not mean they cannot communicate. Nora "listens" to what the duckling wants and helps the duckling achieve her desire.

Noteworthy Features:

• This book was written by a Japanese women who based this book after her friend Doctor John who lives in Europe with many animals like Doctor John from the story.
• The pictures in this book appear delicate. The lines used to draw the images are thin and exact. The characters features appear to be Japanese. Almost every page has a picture on it. 

This is a very cute book about a little girl taking care of an animal. I think that a bigger lesson from this book is learning the ability to understand someone without them physically speaking. Teachers can use this book as a cute story, but then go on to talk about body language and how she is using this with animals, but people also use body language to portray their feelings and thoughts.

Links for Classroom Activities:

• Understanding Body Language Activities
• Video Idea for teaching (below)