Running The Road To ABC

Running The Road To ABC

Written by: Denize Lauture
Illustrated by: Reynold Ruffins

Elementary Grades

"The joy of learning shines through in this lyrical, freewheeling tale of a group of Haitian children on their way to school. Leaving at dawn, these barefoot students race through the countryside and town to their school to learn to read and write another letter, sound, word, line, and page in the "great and beautiful books on the Road to ABC." The text flows along with the youngsters, evoking the sounds of the early morning and the shapes of the varied terrain over which they travel. Details of the town with its bread sellers and horse tamers provide another memorable backdrop to the children's passage. This rhythmic, richly descriptive account of a "day in the life" of these young Haitians takes readers into this activity as they follow along."

School Library Journal Review

Online Resources:
http://playonwords.com/blog/2009/12/08/teach-diversity-lesson-plans-for-running-the-road-to-abc/

Where There Is No Name for Art: The Art of Tewa Pueblo Children

Where There Is No Name for Art: The Art of Tewa Pueblo Children

Written by: Bruce Hucko

Elementary Grades

"The Pueblo Indian children of northern New Mexico straddle two worlds. They participate in traditional dances and play video games; they paint airplanes and horses, basketball stars and sacred kivas. This book portrays the lives of Tewa Pueblo children through their own drawings, paintings, and words, complemented by their humorous and thoughtful commentary about living in a changing culture."

Publishers Description

Online Resources:
http://www.brucehuckophoto.com/

A Rainbow at Night: The World in Words and Pictures by Navajo Children

A Rainbow at Night: The World in Words and Pictures by Navajo Children

Written by: Bruce Hucko

Elementary Grades

"Using their words and their paintings, 23 Navajo children, ranging in age from 5 to 13, share views of home and family, daily activities, and myth and culture. Cathlena, age 8, tells of Water Ox, a mythological creature who makes trees grow; Steward, 12, depicts an evil Navajo chiindi; 8-year-old Trista writes and paints the story of round dancing at a pow-wow. The illustrations aren't simply isolated examples of children's art; rather they make visible connections between communal values and specific aspects of Navajo culture and life. Photos of the young artists appear alongside their work. Hucko, who served as the children's "art coach," supplies background and guidance to help children better understand and relate to the pictures and text. An unusual collection that will be welcomed by both students and teachers, particularly those interested in art, myth, and history."

Booklist Review

Online Resources:
http://www.brucehuckophoto.com/

This Same Sky: A Collection of Poems from Around the World

This Same Sky: A Collection of Poems from Around the World

Written by: Naomi Shihab Nye

Junior High and High School Grades

"An award-winning multicultural compilation of poetry introduces more than 125 poems from sixty-eight countries around the world, many translated into English for the first time, and offers glimpses of similarities across people despite cultural differences."

Publishers Description

Online Resources:
http://www.poetryfoundation.org/bio/naomi-shihab-nye