Knock knock: My Dad's Dream For Me

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Beaty, D., & Collier, B. (2013). Knock knock: My dad's dream for me.New York; Boston : Little, Brown and Company. ISBN 0316209171

PLOT SUMMARY

Knock Knock: My Dad’s Dream For Me is an award winning picture book that reveals the struggle a young boy faces when his father goes to jail. The young boy enjoys bonding with his father by playing the “Knock Knock” game until one morning when his father disappears. The young boy experiences a plethora of emotions including confusion, sadness, anger, and loneliness. He really misses his father’s presence in his life and decides to write him a letter in hopes he will return home while he is in school. Time passes and his father finally replies to the letter. His letter seeks to give the young boy advice ranging from how to become a man to how to treat his mother. At the conclusion of the letter, he assures his son that he will have a bright and beautiful future in spite of his absence.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS

Many young African American children will relate to this sensitive topic of losing a loved one. This book reveals the problematic yet authentic reality of the mass incarceration of African American males and the effect it has on the youth. In an author’s note in the back of the book Beaty explains to readers that this is indeed his own life story. He discusses the struggles at risk children of color face with losing their father figure from incarceration, divorce, and even death, which may lead to a lasting negative impact on their future.

Although losing a loved one can be very difficult, Beaty creatively explains to readers that you can still create a beautiful future through believing in yourself. Bryans Collier’s illustrations takes readers on a journey of the main character’s life showing how he grew up to defy the odds against him. The illustrations also allows readers to see how important family is in the African American culture. Young readers of color will be able to see themselves in the book through Collier’s realistic illustrations of the skin tone and hair texture of each character.

REVIEW EXCERPTS

Booklist (November 1, 2013 (Vol. 110, No. 5))

“In a rare topic for younger children, Beaty explores the theme of permanent separation from a parent (it could be prison, death, or abandonment). The desire for guidance encountering life’s experiences is told from a small child’s point of view with candor, as well as hope, as he ends quoting papa’s advice to “KNOCK KNOCK down the doors that I could not.”

Horn Book Guide starred (Spring 2014)

“Each morning, a little boy pretends to be asleep until his dad approaches. "Then I...jump into his arms." One day, his father fails to appear. The author's note explains that Beaty's own father was incarcerated; in the book, the absence is unexplained for a more universal story of loss. The text, powerful and spare, is well supported by Collier's watercolor and collage art.”


CONNECTIONS
More books about African American father figures!

Steptoe, J. (2001). In Daddy's arms I am tall. New York: Lee & Low. ISBN 1430110384

Johnson, A., & Mitchell, R. (2000). Daddy calls me man. New York: Orchard books. ISBN 0531071758

Tarpley, Natasha. (2009). Bippity Bop Barbershop. Bt Bound. ISBN 0316033820

Firebird

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Copeland, M., & Myers, C. (2014). Firebird: Ballerina Misty Copeland shows a young girl how to dance like the firebird. New York, NY : Penguin Group

• ISBN: 0399166157

PLOT SUMMARY
Firebird is the story of a ballerina named Misty Copeland. Misty Copeland meets a young African American girl that admires her but lacks confidence in herself. Misty Copeland shares her story with the young girl and gives her words of encouragement. The young girl learns that with hard work and dedication she too can become a Firebird just like her idol Misty Copeland.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Misty Copeland creatively integrates elements of her life into a picture book format. Readers will really feel the natural flow and rhythm of Misty Copeland’s dance, through the beautiful calming illustrations and the rhythmic poetic text. Firebird is an inspirational read for ALL dancers! Many young girls will be able to connect with the main characters lack of confidence, but will slowly understand that you can be anything if you don’t give up. Misty takes readers on a journey from where she started to where she is now because of her determination and dedication.

There are many cultural markers that readers can view through Myers’ beautiful illustrations of the skin tone and hair texture of the characters to the urban city skyline. In addition, there is a authentic cultural connection to the interest of dancing in the African American culture. Misty Copeland is the first African American principal ballerina to perform at the American Ballet Theatre. She explains to readers that she did not see herself as a Ballerina because she was Black. That is one reason why she decided to write this book, so that she can inspire young readers of color to follow their dreams!

REVIEW EXCERPTS
Booklist (July 2014 (Vol. 110, No. 21))

In an author’s note, Copeland comments on her discovery of ballet, her appreciation of the women who mentored her, and her hope of empowering others to feel that they can achieve their goals. An inspirational picture book for children daunted by the gap between their dream and their reality.”

Horn Book Guide starred (Spring 2015)

“In an imagined dialogue, American Ballet Theatre soloist Copeland reassures a disheartened African American ballet student that she also had self-doubts: "darling child, don't you know / you're just where I started." Richly hued collages make the dancers on stage seem to fly. An author's note says that Copeland never saw herself in ballet books; this book encourages aspiring dancers of all colors.”
CONNECTION
This would be a great book to introduce a biography project about Misty Copeland!
https://www.scholastic.com/teachers/blog-posts/alycia-zimmerman/get-inspired-biography-research-part-2--project-ideas/

Brown Girl Dreaming

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Woodson, J. (2016). Brown girl dreaming. New York, New York Puffin Books, 2016. ISBN: 0147515823


PLOT SUMMARY
Brown Girl Dreaming is a memoir about Jacqueline Woodson’s childhood.. She shares with readers her experiences growing up in America during the Civil Rights movement. Jacqueline witnesses many things when she moves down South to stay with her Grandparents from racial division to discrimination. This does not stop Jacqueline from loving the South, her culture, and family history. She continues to see racial inequality when she is forced to move up North to New York. In this world full of division, Jacqueline learns to find herself and real passion in life.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS
This award winning narrative memoir written by Jacqueline Woodson reveals to readers what it is like being an African American child during the Civil Rights era. The in text cultural markers that I felt led to this book being culturally accurate is the fact that the author is writing about her real life experience growing up in the 1960’s.This provides readers with a firsthand account about what it was like being a person of color during this time period. Many readers are able to understand Jacqueline's drive and passion to find herself and escape this world of inequality.

There are many other cultural markers that can be found in this book including Woodson’s religious life as a Jehovah Witness and Muslim. She speaks of not being able to eat pork or listen to her favorite songs on the radio due to her religious upbringing. Woodson also integrates the Spanish culture when she discusses hanging out with her friend Maria and her family. Readers will be exposed to the negative effects of mass incarceration and family issues in the black community. This is a recommended read for anyone interested in Black history or for readers that like poetry. Many young readers will be able to connect to the major themes in the book including family and equality.


REVIEW EXCERPTS
Library Media Connection (March/April 2015)
“This is a beautifully crafted work that should be read for its own sake, but it also works well to meet Common Core Standards.”

Publishers Weekly (May 26, 2014)
“The writer's passion for stories and storytelling permeates the memoir, explicitly addressed in her early attempts to write books and implicitly conveyed through her sharp images and poignant observations seen through the eyes of a child. Woodson's ability to listen and glean meaning from what she hears lead to an astute understanding of her surroundings, friends, and family. Ages 10-up.”

Connection

More middle grade books written by Jacqueline Woodson!
Woodson, J. (2015). Locomotion. New York, NY: Puffin Books.ISBN 0142415529
Woodson, J. (2011). Hush. Place of publication not identified: Perfection Learning.ISBN 0142415510
Woodson, Jacqueline. (2010). Behind You. Turtleback Books. ISBN: 0142415545

The talking eggs: A folktale from the American South

BIBLIOGRAPHY
San, S. R. D., & Pinkney, J. (1989). The talking eggs: A folktale from the American South. New York: Dial Books for Young Readers. ISBN: 0803706197


PLOT SUMMARY
Blanche is a very sweet girl that lives with her greedy and rude mother and sister. Her sister, Rose, was her mother’s favorite daughter and they made Blanche do all the chores. One day, on her way back from getting water for her greedy sister and mother she runs into an old thirsty woman. Blanche kindly blesses the old lady with water not knowing in return she would receive her blessing in threefold. A surprise twist at the end leads to her Mother and sister thinking twice about being greedy and disrespectful to anyone else again.


CRITICAL ANALYSIS
The Talking Eggs is the Creole version of Cinderella. Students will be able to think deeper when they are inferring the multiple themes and lessons in the book including kindness and generosity. Although this is a folktale there are many elements that authentically connects to the African American culture from Pinkney’s Beautiful watercolor illustrations to the southern dialect found in this book. Many young African American girls will see themselves as the main character because of her personality, skin tone, hairstyle/ texture, and facial features. 

Another cultural marker that really makes readers feel like they are living in the 1800’s is the mode of transportation and clothing. The main character Blanche is found riding in a horse carriage wearing a long Victorian dress. Many young readers will connect with Blanche and her frustrations of being the outcast of the family and being mistreated. The author integrates the unfortunate reality of violence and crime in the African American community and reveals to young readers the negative effects of being greedy and inconsiderate.


REVIEW EXCERPTS
Horn Book Guide starred (February, 1990)
“Adapted from a Creole folk tale, the story captures the flavor of the nineteenth-century South in its language and story line. The watercolors are chiefly responsible for the excellence of the book. “

Kirkus Reviews (1989)
“Pinkney sets the story in an eerily tangled southern forest; his black characters glow with personality, each one distinct and believable, while the cow and chickens are rendered so matter-of-factly that it takes more than one look to discern their unusual features. Blanche's gentle ingenuousness may seem at odds with her ready abandonment of her family, but that traditional ending does keep the thematic waters unmuddied.”

CONNECTIONS

More Folktales that will interest young readers of color!

Haley, Gail E. (2010). A Story, a Story: An African Tale. Paw Prints.ISBN: 0689712014

Steptoe,John, . (2001). Mufaro's beautiful daughters: [an African tale]. United States: Live Oak Media. ISBN: 0140559469

Hester, D. L., & Urbanovic, J. (2015). Grandma Lena's big ol' turnip. New York, NY : AV² ISBN: 0807530271