Multicultural Books: Islandborn
Author: Junot Diaz
Illustrator: Leo Espinosa
Illustrator: Leo Espinosa
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Major Awards: N/A
Age Group: 5-7 years old
In Lola's School, there are people from all over the world in faraway places, and Lola herself is from the Island. One day in class Lola's teacher Ms. Obi gave the students an assignment to "draw a picture of the country they were originally from, their first country and bring it into class tomorrow." Everyone in the class was so excited and brainstorming what they were going to draw in their pictures, but Lola. Although Lola loved drawing, she left the island when she was a baby and didn't remember anything about it. When Lola told Ms. Obi, they simultaneously had the idea to ask Lola's friends and family what they remember about the island and draw that. Even though Lola was planning to ask her family and friends about the island, all during recess she tried everything she could to remember. On her way home, she asked her cousin Leticia who told her of bats as big as blankets. Mrs. Bernard told her about the music and dancing on the island, and how the people even danced in their sleep. In the local barbershop, they told her about the delicious coconut water, mangoes that are so big and sweet they bring people to tears, the vibrant colors all around the island, and the very hot sun. When Lola got home her and her cousin Leticia tried to ask Mr. Mir the superintendent of their building, but he didn't want to answer. Lola then went home to ask her Abuela who told her about the beautiful beaches with dolphins and whales. Lola's mom then came and told her about a terrible storm that hit the island when Lola was a baby. After hearing all of these stories Lola one by one just kept sketching everything everyone told her in her book. To get more information, Lola's grandma suggested that she talk to Mr. Mir, but when Lola said she tried earlier and he didn't want to talk Lola's grandma arranges for them to speak. Mr. Mir tells Lola stories of the island and how in the past for 30 years a monster came and took over the island until one-day brave men and women defeated the monster. Hearing all these stories all day inspired Lola so much that she went home that night and drew so many cultures to the point it filled a book. In the end, Lola shared her book of drawings of the island with the class. Lola also learned that even though she may not remember it, the island is and always will be a part of her.
Islandborn is a really nice book that would make a great addition to any Kindergarten-2nd-grade classroom. Houston itself has such a rich and diverse community, with people from all around the world. These cultures are likely to be represented in the diversity of our future classrooms. I think this book is wonderful for showing students about culture and how even though we may not see it, it's a part of us and who we are, and most importantly we should celebrate it. As a social studies integrated lesson and connection to the read aloud, I love the idea the teacher had of having the students draw a picture of the country or state their originally from, and paste them on the wall just as the teacher did in the story. After the students completed their drawings, I would display them in class and give the same explanation that Ms. Obi did in the story that we now have "windows in our class, and anytime they want to look at someone else's first home they just need to look out the window".
Age Group: 5-7 years old
In Lola's School, there are people from all over the world in faraway places, and Lola herself is from the Island. One day in class Lola's teacher Ms. Obi gave the students an assignment to "draw a picture of the country they were originally from, their first country and bring it into class tomorrow." Everyone in the class was so excited and brainstorming what they were going to draw in their pictures, but Lola. Although Lola loved drawing, she left the island when she was a baby and didn't remember anything about it. When Lola told Ms. Obi, they simultaneously had the idea to ask Lola's friends and family what they remember about the island and draw that. Even though Lola was planning to ask her family and friends about the island, all during recess she tried everything she could to remember. On her way home, she asked her cousin Leticia who told her of bats as big as blankets. Mrs. Bernard told her about the music and dancing on the island, and how the people even danced in their sleep. In the local barbershop, they told her about the delicious coconut water, mangoes that are so big and sweet they bring people to tears, the vibrant colors all around the island, and the very hot sun. When Lola got home her and her cousin Leticia tried to ask Mr. Mir the superintendent of their building, but he didn't want to answer. Lola then went home to ask her Abuela who told her about the beautiful beaches with dolphins and whales. Lola's mom then came and told her about a terrible storm that hit the island when Lola was a baby. After hearing all of these stories Lola one by one just kept sketching everything everyone told her in her book. To get more information, Lola's grandma suggested that she talk to Mr. Mir, but when Lola said she tried earlier and he didn't want to talk Lola's grandma arranges for them to speak. Mr. Mir tells Lola stories of the island and how in the past for 30 years a monster came and took over the island until one-day brave men and women defeated the monster. Hearing all these stories all day inspired Lola so much that she went home that night and drew so many cultures to the point it filled a book. In the end, Lola shared her book of drawings of the island with the class. Lola also learned that even though she may not remember it, the island is and always will be a part of her.
Islandborn is a really nice book that would make a great addition to any Kindergarten-2nd-grade classroom. Houston itself has such a rich and diverse community, with people from all around the world. These cultures are likely to be represented in the diversity of our future classrooms. I think this book is wonderful for showing students about culture and how even though we may not see it, it's a part of us and who we are, and most importantly we should celebrate it. As a social studies integrated lesson and connection to the read aloud, I love the idea the teacher had of having the students draw a picture of the country or state their originally from, and paste them on the wall just as the teacher did in the story. After the students completed their drawings, I would display them in class and give the same explanation that Ms. Obi did in the story that we now have "windows in our class, and anytime they want to look at someone else's first home they just need to look out the window".
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