Styling Librarian: International Mindedness Part 3

Here’s my third post on International Mindedness: Various books also cultivate deep discussion to develop International Mindedness: I use these books for a variety of purposes. Rain School by James Rumford is a terrific book for beginning a discussion on similarities and differences. Additionally, I adore sharing Torina’s World and My Painted House, My Friendly Chicken, and Me, they’re not only amazing read alouds but also books that can be reread for different purposes with students enjoying the book again and again.

Favorite read aloud books I use to develop International Mindedness:

1. Rain School by James Rumford
This wonderful story can lead to deep conversation, empathy discussion, and lead to students understanding the world from a different perspective. Summary: The children arrive on the first day of school and build a mud structure to be their classroom for the next nine months until the rainy season comes and washes it all away. *I also appreciate his book Silent Music: A Story of Baghdad which is another world awareness book.
http://jamesrumford.com/jamesrumford.com/My_Books.html

2. Torina’s World: The Villages of Madagascar by Joni Kabana
Beautiful pictures and simple text questions lead students to make connections to another culture and life experiences. Summary: A photo essay that shows life on the island of Madagascar. http://www.torinasworld.com/

3. My Painted House, My Friendly Chicken, and Me by Maya Angelou, photographs by Margaret Courtney-Clarke; designed by Alexander Isley Design. This book has fabulous voice that students quickly can connect with and enjoy reading. *There is a sequel called: Kofi and his magic. Summary: Eight-year-old Thandi describes the traditional artwork of the Ndebele people of South Africa, highlighting her village’s painted houses and her mother’s detailed beadwork.

4. Madlenka by Peter Sis
This is my favorite read aloud. What a wonderful celebration of world travelling and imagination. I adore Peter Sis illustrations and love the series of Madlenka books- Madlenka’s Dog, Madlenka Soccer Star. The first book makes me wheel over my large rolling globe and point out all the places Madlenka travels to. Students love that I have to turn the book sideways, upside down, and also love the peek through pages and hidden pictures on some illustrations. I’ll repeat: This my favorite read aloud.– I use with Kindergarten. Summary: Madlenka, whose New York City neighbors include the French baker, the Indian news vendor, the Italian ice-cream man, the South American grocer, and the Chinese shopkeeper, goes around the block to show her friends her loose tooth and finds that it is like taking a trip around the world. *Note- on Peter Sis’s webpage, there’s a free game connected with Madlenka! http://www.petersis.com/index2.html

5. Carmen Learns English by Judy Cox
Wonderful read-aloud selection to help students understand the point of view of an immigrant becoming familiar with another language, etc. Students really connect with this book and have deeper discussions. I’ve mentioned before how much I enjoy Judy Cox’s books, her other popular series, Don’t Be Silly, Mrs. Millie is a fabulous read aloud I enjoy sharing every year. Summary: Newly-arrived in the United States from Mexico, Carmen is apprehensive about going to school and learning English. http://www.judycox.net/

6. Mrs. Katz and Tush by Patricia Polacco
Touching, beautiful story to enjoy as a read aloud. Summary: A long-lasting friendship develops between Larnel, a young African-American, and Mrs. Katz, a lonely, Jewish widow, when Larnel presents Mrs. Katz with a scrawny kitten without a tail. http://www.patriciapolacco.com/

7. My Granny Went to Market – A Around-the-World Counting Rhyme by Stella Blackstone and Christopher Corr
Very cute picture book. Summary: A child’s grandmother travels around the world, buying things in quantities that illustrate counting from one to ten.

8. This is the Way We Go to School – A book about children around the world by Edith Baer, illustrated by Steve Bjorkman
Perfect travelling story. Summary: Describes, in text and illustrations, the many different modes of transportation children all over the world use to get to school. http://tct.murrieta.k12.ca.us/reading/grade2/harcourt/this_is_the_way_we_go_to_school/author.html

9. The World Turns Round and Round by Nicki Weiss
This is a fabulous picture book introducing gifts and family members from around the world. Summary: Describes, in text and illustrations, the many different modes of transportation children all over the world use to get to school.
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3278441-the-world-turns-round-and-round

10. If You Lived Here by Giles Laroche.
Brand new non-fiction book bringing you around the world exploring different homes. This book brought students to saying “oohhh, aahhhh” and asking to explore other homes of the world books, which I was happy to supply! Summary: Imagine living in a house on stilts, where you could catch fish from your bedroom window! Explore fifteen kinds of homes found around the world through history. http://gileslaroche.com/ifYouLivedHere.html

11. Our World of Water: Children and Water Around the World by Beatrice Hollyer I really enjoyed the format of this book with information and then personal story from people and their interaction with water. Summary: Explains how vital water is to human survival, and examines where water comes from, along with the ways children in Peru, Mauritania, the United States, Bangladesh, Ethiopia, and Tajikistan use this natural resource. http://us.macmillan.com/author/beatricehollyer

12. If the World Were a Village: A Book about the World’s People by David J. Smith, illustrated by Shelagh Armstrong. I strongly suggest reading this book aloud, every time I do, my students’ eyes widen more and more. It is a wonderful visual example of our world. I also recommend the companion book: If America were a village : a book about the people of the United States written by David J. Smith; illustrated by Shelagh Armstrong. Summary for If the World Were a Village: Breaks down the population of the world into a collection of one hundred representative people and describes what one would find in this global village, covering languages, ages, religions, food, air and water, schooling, and possessions, accompanied by vivid color illustrations.

13. Chiru of High Tibet by Jacqueline Briggs Martin
I loved the message that people can make a difference in animal’s lives. It is a touching, beautiful book that terrific for showing how a person can take action. Summary: A caring scientist and four mountain-climbing explorers risked their lives to keep the Chang Tang chiru, a small, endangered, antelope-like animal, safe from poachers.

14. I was wrong, I have more to share… will post again about this topic soon…

I wrote four other posts on International Mindedness/World Awareness: 

International Mindedness: Celebrations

International Mindedness: Authors

International Mindedness: Favorite Read Alouds Part 1

International Mindedness: Favorite Read Alouds Part 2

International Mindedness: Rights and Responsibilities

World Awareness Wonderful Blog Resources:

Here’s a perfect list- with other ones at the bottom for world awareness:
http://delightfulchildrensbooks.com/read-around-the-world/getting-started/

Why our kids must read far and wide, wonderful video by Mitali Perkins @mitaliperkins
http://www.mitaliblog.com/2012/02/why-our-kids-must-read-far-and-wide.html

Take a Worldwide Reading Challenge:
http://www.papertigers.org/wordpress/spread-your-reading-wings-and-join-the-papertigers-reading-the-world-challenge-2012/

Reading Challenges galore including some very thoughtful ones on World Awareness:
http://gatheringbooks.wordpress.com/2012/01/14/reading-challenges-for-2012-and-total-books-read-for-2011/

Wonderful selection of resources suggested by RIF, just finished listening to their Carol H. Rasco on Katie Davis’s wonderful podcast: http://katiedavis.com/rif/
http://www.rascofromrif.org/?p=22453

El Dia de los Ninos
http://www.nlci.org/El-Dia-de-Los-Ninos.html