Natalie Wainner

10/27/16
ELED 310
Multicultural Text Set Assignment
Theme: Families/Family Structure
Book: Going Home, Coming Home by Truong Tran
Description
Presented in both English and Vietnamese, this story focuses on
an American-born girl whose parents escaped Vietnam during
the war.
Appropriate for grades 1 to 5.
Key words representing unique characteristics/themes- history,
adversity, Vietnam war.
Evaluation
This narrative tells about a little girl who struggles to accept her
Vietnamese culture, which is often a relatable situation to young
children or even adults
The young girls story is one that may be familiar to many other
first-generation American children to immigrant parents.
The book can be used to explore family structure and/or
differences between Vietnamese and American cultures.
Recommended Use
This book could be tied to a lesson plan involving the history of
the war in Vietnam (likely upper level grades) to promote
sympathy for those who experience adversity in their homeland.
SOL

WHII.13 The student will demonstrate knowledge of major events

in the second half of the twentieth century by:
c) Describing conflicts and revolutionary movements in eastern
Asia, including those in China and Vietnam, and their major
leaders, i.e., Mao Tse-tung (Zedong), Chiang Kai-shek, and Ho Chi
Minh;

USII.8 The student will demonstrate knowledge of the economic,

social, and political transformation of the United States and the
world between the end of World War II and the present by
c) Identifying the role of Americas military and veterans in
defending freedom during the Cold War, including the wars in
Korea and Vietnam, the Cuban missile crisis, the collapse of
communism in Europe, and the rise of new challenges;

Natalie Wainner
10/27/16
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Book: Our Granny by Margaret Wild

Description
This book includes two children who compare their grandmothers
with others. It explains details that some grannies have thin
legs, fat knees, crinkly eyes, or big soft laps.
Appropriate for grades Pre-K to 2nd grade.
Key words representing unique characteristics/themesMultigenerational, diversity, comparison.
Evaluation
This is a sweet story with fun illustrations and a very nice
tribute to the many kinds of [equally awesome] grandmothers.
The relationship between a grandmother and grandchildren is
oftentimes an important dynamic in some families.
Supports the idea of different kinds of family dynamics and how
everyones family can be different.
Recommended use
One activity that could be done after reading this book would be
to have the students make a poster describing the different
attributes that each of their grandmothers have, and they would
draw a picture representing her as well.
SOL

1.4 The student will develop an understanding of the importance

of a family and of different family patterns.
Descriptive statement: The emphasis is on the need for loving
parents, or other responsible adult(s) in the family, regardless of
the type of family.

Book: Heather Has Two Mommies by Leslea Newman

Description
A young girl, Heather, goes to a playgroup and feels bad because
she has two mothers and no father. But throughout the book she
learns that there are so many different kinds of families and the
most important thing is that all of the people love each other.
Appropriate for grades Pre-K to 3rd
Key words representing unique characteristics/themes- LGBTQ,
acceptance, family dynamic

Natalie Wainner
10/27/16
ELED 310
Evaluation
This book has triggered much controversy on the internet, with
parents, and in the classroom.
Some teachers are against teaching this book to their students in
the classroom, given that the concept of LGBTQ+ is such a
sensitive one.
Some say that, despite the controversy, we must include works
such as this because the landscape of our classrooms has
changed right along with the landscape of our country
Recommended Use
If permitted in the school system, a teacher could connect a
lesson explaining to upper level grades the meaning of the
acronym LGTBQ, and the various sexual orientations people
identify as.
SOL

1.4 The student will develop an understanding of the importance

of a family and of different family patterns.
Descriptive statement: The emphasis is on the need for loving
parents, or other responsible adult(s) in the family, regardless of
the type of family.

Book: On Mothers Lap by Ann Herbert Scott

Description

A young Eskimo boy discovers that there is room for himself

alongside his new baby sister on their mothers lap.

Appropriate for grades Pre-K and K.

Key words representing unique characteristics/themes- family

inclusion, addition to family, acceptance.

Evaluation

Very sweet story of a mother's all encompassing love as shown

through her lap where there is always room.

Natalie Wainner
10/27/16
ELED 310

The author doesn't patronize kids by carefully spelling out

Michael is jealous of his sister or anything of that nature. It's too
easy to do that. Instead, Michael's feelings are clearly shown by
his words ("There isn't room") and the illustrations (him hiding
under his blanket is priceless).

Promotes the idea of acceptance and accommodation of a new

family member

Recommended use

A quick lesson could be executed to educate children on ways to

adapt to change in family dynamic

SOL

3.3 The student will become aware of the changes occurring in

family life that affect daily living and produce strong feelings.
Descriptive Statement: Changes which occur include moving to a
new home, the addition or birth of a sibling, the birth of a
disabled child, death, illness, drug abuse, separation, divorce,
remarriage, and children leaving home.

Book: Kids Need to Be Safe: A Book for Children in Foster Care

Description

Natalie Wainner
10/27/16
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Kids are important. They need safe places to live, and safe
places to play. For some kids, this means living with foster
parents.

Appropriate for grades Pre-K through 5th.

Key words representing unique characteristics/themes- Family

dynamic, adversity, foster care.

Evaluation

The book introduces the people who help keep kids safe: foster
parents, police officers and social workers, among others.

Expresses the idea that children are put in a foster care because
their home is not safe, not because of anything the child did,
which is an important concept to teach a foster child.

Recommended Use

As an additional source of information to this book, the students

could be shown an informative video on the basics of foster care,
what it looks like, and why some children are placed in foster
homes.

SOL

K.4 The student will recognize that everyone is a member of a

family and that families come in many forms.
Descriptive Statement: This includes a variety of family forms:
two-parent families; extended families-relatives other than the
immediate family living in the home; single-parent families;
adoptive families; foster families or guardians; families with
stepparents; and other blended families.

Natalie Wainner
10/27/16
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K.6 The student will develop an awareness of positive ways in

which family members show love, affection, respect, and
appreciation for each other.
Descriptive Statement: The focus is on the appropriate words
and actions that promote positive mental health development.
Through words and actions which convey care, protection and
guidance, such as touching, listening, hugging, praising,
encouraging, supporting, helping and playing, the child will
understand that rules are made for safety, and protection.

Book: When Daddy Went Away: A Childs Story of

Abandonment by Cecilia Lynne
Description

Depicts a specific childs experiences of abandonment by her

father

Appropriate for grades Pre-K through 5th

Key words representing unique characteristics/themes- Single

parent, abandonment, broken families

Evaluation

Encouraging words for families dealing with issues of

abandonment. Gently told from the eyes of a child, with an
emphasis on healing and forgiveness.

Promotes the acceptance of traumatic experiences that often

occur in a family, and offers guidance to move forward with a
more positive mindset

Recommended Use

After a short lesson explaining the background information of the

book, students (upper level) can write letters to all of the single
moms and dads raising kids on their own, encouraging them,
lifting them up, and explaining that they can do it. Its a good
way for them to consider all that some parents do on their own,

Natalie Wainner
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and to better understand that some families have it rough when
situational things like this happen.

SOL

4.4 The student will identify basic human emotions and effective
ways of dealing with them.
Descriptive Statement: Emphasis is placed on understanding and
dealing with strong emotions, both positive and negative.
Students learn how to deal with joy and exuberance, as well as
those emotions resulting from loss, rejection, divorce, death,
illness, and moving.

8.9 The student will identify the stresses related to changing

relationships in the home, school, and community.
Descriptive Statement: Emphasis is placed on the grief and
adjustment processes associated with loss or change resulting
from such circumstances as illness, a disabling condition, death,
separation, divorce, loss of friendship, loss of income, or coping
with substance abuse.

3.3 The student will become aware of the changes occurring in

family life that affect daily living and produce strong feelings.
Descriptive Statement: Changes which occur include moving to a
new home, the addition or birth of a sibling, the birth of a
disabled child, death, illness, drug abuse, separation, divorce,
remarriage, and children leaving home.

Book: Happy Like Soccer by Maribeth Boelts

Natalie Wainner
10/27/16
ELED 310
Description

This is a heartwarming picture book about a young soccer

player named Sierra who lives with her aunt in a Latina/o
neighborhood. Although she would love to have her aunt watch a
game, Sierra understands that her aunt cant afford to leave
work. Then Sierra figures out how to make it happen, using
effective organizing and advocacy skills.
Appropriate for grades K through 4th
Key words representing unique characteristics/themes- family
diversity, accommodation, support

Evaluation

Gives a brief, yet emotional glimpse into a young girls difficult,

but happy life. Though there is a soccer element to the story,
there are many other more intriguing layers to it; new
friendships, loneliness, hardships of a poor family struggling to
get by, overcoming disappointment, etc.

Presents the challenges (and resolution) of a working single

guardian in being able to attend the Saturday soccer games of
her niece

Recommended Use

Students could write brief lists of things they wish went

differently in their everyday family life; for example, I wish my
family ate dinner together more often, or I wish my dad and I
could play baseball more often. The students would then
strategize and create methods to compromise with their parents
to put these ideas into effect.

SOL

1.5 The student will identify family members and their

responsibilities in contributing to the successful functioning of
the family.

Natalie Wainner
10/27/16
ELED 310
Descriptive Statement: The focus is on the tasks that must be
performed in order for a family to function successfully. Examples
of tasks are providing food; providing shelter; providing and
caring for clothing; providing money for these and other
necessities; providing love and caring

2.2 The student will realize that adults other than parents also
provide care and support for children.
Descriptive Statement: Adults, other than parents, who provide
care and support for children include foster parents; child-care
providers; day-care teachers; extended family members;
neighbors; family friends;

Book: Alfredito Flies Home by Jorge Argueta

Description
This extraordinary book celebrates an experience familiar to the
many who have left their original country to find a new life
Appropriate for grades Pre-K through 4th
Key words representing unique characteristics/themes- new life,
homeland, emigration/immigration
Evaluation

Arguetas book can be used to help students possibly relate to

the story. Students can learn about an immigrants experience
through the story and allow discussion of their feelings if in
Alfreditos shoes.

Recommended Use

This book can be used to incorporate multicultural diversity into

the classroom. A lesson could be integrated in after the book is
read to discuss this topic. Students of immigrant parents and
ELLs may relate to the difficult journey that Alfredito
experienced, and the story will likely draw a direct connection to
these students.

Natalie Wainner
10/27/16
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SOL

VUS.8 The student will apply social science skills to understand

how the nation grew and changed from the end of
Reconstruction through the early twentieth century by

c) examining the contributions of new immigrants and

evaluating the challenges they faced

Book: Antonios Card by Rigoberto Gonzalez

Description

Mother's Day is coming soon, and Antonio searches for the words
to express his love for his mother and her partner, Leslie. But
he's not sure what to do when his classmates make fun of Leslie,
an artist, who towers over everyone and wears paint-splattered
overalls. As Mother's Day approaches, Antonio must choose
whether or how to express his connection to both of the special
women in his life.

Appropriate for grades Pre-K through 1st

Key words representing unique characteristics/themes- Family

dynamic, acceptance, love

Evaluation

Rigoberto Gonzalez's bilingual story about a nontraditional family

resonates with all children who have been faced with speaking
up for themselves or for the people they love.

The story expresses an acceptance about a diverse family

composed of a son, the mother, and the mother's partner.

Natalie Wainner
10/27/16
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Recommended Use

This book could be used in a lesson plan to inform students

about different types of families that our peers have. The teacher
would express that diversity is not a negative and that a family
with two mothers/two fathers/a single parent/etc. can still be fully
functional.

SOL

1.5 The student will identify family members and their

responsibilities in contributing to the successful functioning of
the family.
Descriptive Statement: The focus is on the tasks that must be
performed in order for a family to function successfully. Examples
of tasks are providing food; providing shelter; providing and
caring for clothing; providing money for these and other
necessities; providing love and caring

Book: Pablos Tree by Pat Mora

Description

This book depicts a story of a young boy named Pablo, which

captures the special relationship between grandparent and child.

Appropriate for grades Pre-K through 3rd

Key words representing unique characteristics/themesmultigenerational family, grandparent, diversity

Evaluation

Natalie Wainner
10/27/16
ELED 310

What I may have liked most about this was the fact that the boy
was adopted is incidental to the story. He's a normal kid with
family members who love him. So I thought it was cool that his
adoption was secondary to the really lovely relationship with his
mom and grandpa.

The author does a great job in writing and creating an authentic

Hispanic context as she weaves some Spanish effortlessly into
the dialogue

Recommended Use

The teacher may implement an activity in which the children

make a list of all of their favorite things about their
grandparent(s) and why they love them. This could be very
personalized with specific drawings that remind the students of
their grandparents and can be colored accordingly.

SOL

2.2 The student will realize that adults other than parents also
provide care and support for children.
Descriptive Statement: Adults, other than parents, who provide
care and support for children include foster parents; child-care
providers; day-care teachers; extended family members;
neighbors; family friends; and personnel of community support
agencies, civic organizations, and religious organizations.

1.4 The student will develop an understanding of the importance

of a family and of different family patterns.
Descriptive statement: The emphasis is on the need for loving
parents, or other responsible adult(s) in the family, regardless of
the type of family.

Natalie Wainner
10/27/16
ELED 310

Clicking,B.(n.d.).Goodreads.RetrievedOctober26,2016,fromhttps://www.goodreads.com/
Education,V.D.(n.d.).VirginiaDepartmentofEducation.RetrievedOctober24,2016,from
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TeachingforChangeBookstore|TeachingforChangeBookstore.(n.d.).RetrievedOctober24,2016,from
http://www.tfcbooks.org/