Embedded Files
Areli Is A Dreamer by Areli Morales (2021)
Summary: A true story of a Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipient's journey. Yareli has grown up in Mexico, knowing that one day she would join her parents and brother in New York. When she's in kindergarten, she makes the journey to join her family, where she faces struggles like her immigration status. Unlike her brother, who was born in America, Areli is an immigrant. She discusses how the DACA program helped her live the American Dream and become the educator she is today. This book is an own-voices true story of the author and does a great job introducing DACA to young readers. It helps to build empathy and understanding of others.
Controversy Scale: Medium-High (4/5)
DACA is a highly controversial topic in today's political climate, which families might find polarizing. Additionally, while there is a need for more stories like Areli's, this book also follows some tropes that highlight that America is the land of immigrants, while glossing over the complexities and injustices relating to immigrants. Overall, it is an age-appropriate read to help citizens understand the fear and struggles immigrants face that will require adult explanation and opportunities for discussion.
Themes: Immigration policy, dreams, perseverance
Dreamers by Yuyi Morales (2018)
Summary: Author-illustrator Yuyi Morales shares with us her and her son's immigration story to the United States from Mexico. Filled with vibrant and diverse illustrations, we follow their journey as they adapt to their new environment and make a new home for themselves. Sprinkled with Spanish words throughout, this work is a love story to libraries and highlights ways that the library fosters community.
Controversy Scale: Low (1/5)
*The title "Dreamers" refers to how the author sees all immigrants coming over with their hopes and dreams as dreamers. Dreamers do not reference the community or represent the immigration status known today. It is a wonderful mirror and window opportunity to showcase the journey families take seeking a better life and adapting to their environment.
Themes: Hope, family, new beginnings
Not Far From Here by Nydia Armendia-Sanchez (2022)
Summary: This picture book tells the story of a young girl's father and his journey from El Salvador to the United States. The text has Spanish phrases embedded throughout and a Spanish English dictionary in the back. It is a great resource showcasing why people immigrate to the United States and begins to introduce some struggles they face at an age-appropriate level.
Controversy Scale: Low (1/5)
This multi-generational bilingual story of perseverance, family is open enough to be inclusive and diverse but not enough to be controversial. A great read for all ages about those that came before us.
Themes: Immigration, belonging, resilience, hope
Sometimes People March by Tessa Allen (2020)
Summary: Continuing the idea of caring and social justice, this picture book introduces readers to the concept of marching. When there is something that needs to be changed, people can come together and march to bring awareness to that need. This would be a great resource to introduce to students before their first march or to help explain the marches going on around them.
Controversy Scale: Low-Medium (2/5)
This is a wonderful age-appropriate book to explain why people choose to march but will require adult intervention. Students may have questions and could prompt valuable discussions on social justice. This book encourages being an active participant in creating a better world.
Themes: Peaceful protest, community action, standing up for beliefs
Watch Me by Doyin Richards, illustrated by Joe Cepeda (2021)
Summary: Celebrates diversity and children's potential to achieve dreams. This picture book tells the story of Joe, a boy who comes to the United States from West Africa. It follows him overcoming obstacles while adapting to his new life in America. Inspired by the story of the author's father, this book gives you a look at the life of a West African immigrant.
Controversy Scale: Low (2/5)
This is an uplifting story that also provides kids with a mirrors-and-windows experience and showcases that immigrants come from all over the world. One thing to be wary of is that this book does follow the trope of pulling oneself up by the bootstraps and overcoming obstacles through hard work. While this is true, this also ignores other obstacles that immigrants face.
Themes: Empowerment, representation, self-belief
We Care by Megan Madison, Jessica Ralli, & Sharee Miller (2024)
Summary: Social justice can be a big, scary word, but this picture book helps explain what it means. It talks about working together and helping each other in our community. The book can help answer questions about fairness and give kids the next steps to fighting injustices. It is an extremely diverse and inclusive read that offers adults opportunities for discussion and reflection as to what social justice can mean to different people.
Controversy Scale: Low (1/5)
Not only is this book inclusive and diverse, but it is also a great resource to introduce what social justice means. It provides many examples of how to be an active participant in creating a better world.
Themes: Community action, empathy, helping others
Implementation ideas:
Library, English, and Social Science cross-curricular collaboration. Below are more in-depth lesson plans to help give you ideas on ways you can use these titles with your child or classroom. Use your own discretion and professional judgement!
Library: Learn how to create two different displays that reinforce the concepts of immigration and social justice. In one, have kids connect the dreams immigrants come seeking to their own, while also thinking of ways to be better advocates. In another, create a map display of where everyone in our community is from.
Bonus: PBS Arthur America, Our Country Lesson Plan. Have students watch an episode of Arthur and establish what made Kidonia a separate country - connect to the founding of America and the 13 colonies. Identify American symbols.
English: Use the stories to help kids empathize and connect to their family history, showcasing that we are more similar than different. In this lesson, students compare and contrast the experience of characters in the stories we read to their own family history. They will then share their family's story by creating a picture book.
Social Science: For this lesson, students will reference the books we read and use the skills in the other classes to create a culture quilt. The culture quilt will be displayed in the hallway and used as a launching point to discuss ways to be better advocates for everyone in our community.
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