Building Home Libraries
Each of our Community Nights during the school year consist of educational parent workshops, literacy-based child mentoring activities, book giveaways, and a free, healthy family dinner. The workshop books we select provide both an entertaining story as well as valuable lessons. Over the past four years in Chicago, we have used a variety of books from diverse authors and illustrators. Book topics ranged from math and literacy connections to social and emotional learning. Here are a few selections that show the wide range a parent can explore to bring stories to life for their children.
Marvelous Cornelius by Phil Bildner
Opening with a quote from Martin Luther King Jr. and based on a real person, this book follows the life of a New Orleans street-sweeper before, during, and after Hurricane Katrina. It pays homage to one of the country’s most unique and aesthetically pleasing cities. The literary context also explored the musicality of the city. We used this book to discuss the importance of community and working together, despite the obstacles (be it physical or mental) that may get in one’s way.
Uptown by Bryan Collier
Like Marvelous Cornelius, Uptown is a love-letter to a city and its people, its sights and sounds, its history and future. This time, the location is New York City, specifically Uptown and the neighborhood of Harlem. Our lead storyteller describes the subway, the jazz clubs, barbershops, the Apollo Theater, and all the people that work and live in these spaces to create one unified neighborhood. After reading this story, families were better able to identify their relationship to their own communities.
The Last Stop on Market Street by Matt de la Pena
CJ laments that his friends get to drive while he has to take the bus, but it’s his public transportation experience that is richer in life lessons. CJ’s bus is filled with characters he never would have met had him and his Nana driven in a car. The rich tapestry of city life weaves together the good and the bad, but they play off each other perfectly. “Sometimes when you’re surrounded by dirt, CJ, you’re a better witness for what’s beautiful,” Nana says. A quote that helped parents in our workshops see the light at the end of the tunnel.
School’s First Day of School by Adam Rex
Kids aren’t the only ones nervous about their first day of school! Frederick Douglass Elementary School is also preparing for its first day. That includes dealing with kids that don’t like it, the embarrassment of accidentally ringing the fire alarm, learning about shapes, and telling jokes at the lunch table. Families enjoyed retelling this story to their children at the start of the year and discussing ways to support other people having new experiences.
Blackout by John Rocco
On a hot and humid night in New York City, a power outage disrupts the very busy lives of a family. They realized that this was a blessing in disguise, as it gave them time to reconnect with each other. The family goes up to the rooftop lit by starlight and down to party with neighbors on the street. This story was a great reminder for our families that no matter how busy our lives get, nothing is more important than setting aside time to be with the people we care about.
Dragons Love Tacos by Adam Rubin
Everyone loves tacos! Even dragons love tacos. “And if you have plenty of tacos, nothing could possible go wrong at your party. Right?” This story is a great reminder to always pay attention to make every experience in life an enjoyable one. We used this story to present ways families can reinvent or improve important experiences with their family like dining together. The book provides several different fun and interactive ways families (or dragons) can have quality time around food in particular.
Something Beautiful by Sharon Dennis Wyeth
Many students in cities face daily struggles inherent with their urban environments. It isn’t always easy to find beauty in one’s surroundings, but the characters in this book found beauty through things as simple as jumping rope, fresh fruit at a market, the innocence of a baby or having new sneakers. This book was used to discuss how often times, the most beautiful things aren’t material at all. It then concludes with a heroic attempt by the main character to create beauty for others to experience.
All of these books explore the theme of togetherness, whether through a shared city, a shared meal, or shared experiences. They can be used to help families define their roles in the various types of communities to which they may be a member. Our next post in this series will take a look at some books that introduce more abstract concepts to students like math, emotions, and creatvity.