So many times in the media now of days we hear the importance of keeping people out of the United States. However, we fail to remember that our country is a melting pot of all different ancestral backgrounds. This week, I was reminded to be empathetic of the ones who continue to risk it all for a better life through three wonderful children’s books, My Two Blankets by Irena Kobald and Freya Blackwood, Her Right Foot by Dave Eggers and Shawn Harris, and Wishtree by Katherine Applegate.
Evaluating from a Critical Literacy Perspective
My Two Blankets and Her Right Foot are two children’s books that do a remarkable job of tugging at heart strings. They both focus on diversity and revolve around immigration. When thinking about these two books from a critical literacy perspective, the first thing I notice is the focus itself. I really enjoyed the background information on the Statue of Liberty in Her Right Foot. I knew that it welcomed immigrants into the harbor in New York City. However, I never realized the Statue of Liberty was “moving.”
In relation to the “movement” of this iconic statue, the reader is encouraged to think critically about where she is going. Eggers (2017) does a great job of presenting different locations in New York and the surrounding areas that she might be on her way to, but opens it up to the reader to ponder this question. At the end, the book wraps up by suggesting that the Statue of Liberty is meeting the new arrivals into the country. Furthermore, Harris also presents a story through the illustrations and photographs that are used. Not only do they line up with what Eggers wrote, but they tell their own story of the Statue of Liberty. I really appreciated how I was able to look at the illustrations, but also look at the photographs as well. When we visited last April, I never noticed the ideas that were presented in the book. It has given me a new appreciation for the iconic statue.
In addition, the illustrations in My Two Blankets can also be evaluated from a critical literacy perspective as well. Before reading the book, I thought the blankets would be real items used in some way by the main characters. However, now knowing the “blankets” are words that the main character knows and understands makes much more of an impact. From the illustrations, I get the feeling of how an immigrant coming from a war-torn country would feel, sad and alone. The feeling is made even deeper when they do not know the language of the country. It really sheds light on the situation and our role in it when the other child enters the scene. If not for the character helping the child learn the language, her experience may have been a lot different. As a teacher, it makes me aware to teach a culture of responsibility to help others that we may not understand and to develop empathy for other cultures and sacrifices for a better life. I can definitely relate to this in my own life because I have a student that just moved to America from Honduras. She speaks hardly any English, and after reading this story, it makes me want to help her to understand her story better.
As a Whole
First off, I absolutely love Katherine Applegate. She wrote one of my favorite children’s books, The One and Only Ivan. Once again, I am inspired by her newest addition, Wishtree. I’ll be honest, at first I had a little bit of trouble connecting to the book, but as I kept reading I fell in love. This book, in addition to My Two Blankets and Her Right Foot weave in ideas of immigration and accepting people as they are. I love how Applegate (2017) incorporates the Wishtree as a selfless character just wanting to see the good in people and the world. Applegate does an amazing job of bringing to light social issues of mistreating cultures that are not completely understood, but showing that we can be friends with all people if we give them a chance.
All three of these books would be a great addition to any classroom, especially when talking about diversity and the acceptance of all people and cultures. They all shed light to social issues present in our society and how to overcome them. I believe that these issues should be brought to light, even at a young age. If we teach how to overcome them, then perhaps our world will be a little sweeter in the future.
References
Applegate, K. (2017). Wishtree. New York, NY: Fewer and Friends.
Eggers, D. (2017). Her Right Foot. San Francisco, CA: Chronicle Books.
Kobald, I., & Blackwood, F. (2014). My Two Blankets. Melbourne: Little Hare Books.
Mrs. Pitman's Classroom 