Welcome to the Calivista Hotel
Inspiration Book:
Front desk by Yang, Kelly — Scholastic Inc., 2018 -Fic-; Int Lvl: 3-6; Rd Lvl: 4.5. Recent immigrants from China and desperate for work and money, ten-year-old Mia Tang's parents take a job managing a rundown motel in Southern California, even though the owner, Mr. Yao is a nasty skinflint who exploits them; while her mother (who was an engineer in China) does the cleaning, Mia works the front desk and tries to cope with demanding customers and other recent immigrants--not to mention being only one of two Chinese in her fifth grade class, the other being Mr. Yao's son, Jason. NSSTB 2019 list
Rationale: There are over a hundred books a year that receive recognition as outstanding science or social studies trade books. And, there are many more awardees on other notable and outstanding lists. Do I write a new lesson for every one of the new science or social studies books? No way. First I choose titles that fit my particular school’s curriculum. Then, I think about how I have taught that topic in that subject for that grade previously. If I already have a lesson that is effective, I insert the new title, update the bibliography section and then rewrite portions that need rewriting. That’s what happened with Front Desk. I had written a lesson for the Alvin Ho by Lenore Look (Yearling, 2008) books emphasizing their humor and the Chinese American main character and a technique I like to use to share new books. Well, the sharing aspect can also be used for Front Desk, but there is more substance to Front Desk, especially regarding the immigrant experience and especially the understanding, interpretation, and observations of American life and prejudice, bias, and stereotypes. To emphasize those weightier topics I have developed a lesson similar to the Alvin Ho lesson, but one that emphasizes the weightier topics.
There are many fine picture books featuring Chinese-Americans adapting to American life, including adoption stories and stories about the Chinese New Year adaption to American life. In this posting you will find two ADJUNCT LESSONS for younger grades--Chinese New Year and Chinese American Customs and another ADJUNCT LESSON for middle grades based on the Alvin Ho books and another ADJUNCT LESSON for middle and upper grades describing book auctions. All of those adjunct lessons are an outgrowth of the original Alvin Ho lesson.
My teachers are always looking for new books to share with their students. Reading aloud to them is one of my favorite suggestions, and I make sure that I have recommendations for them. Front Desk is one of my recommendations, especially when a teacher wants a fun, funny yet thoughtful book. Its only negative is that the two primary characters are both female, but they’re spunky enough that even fifth grade boys relate. When deciding whether to recommend a book for reading aloud or for classroom study and analysis I consider at least the following points:
- Either as a read aloud or a study, the book must be a quality book. Evidence of awards received is a good indicator.
- As a librarian I don’t do book studies or analyses; that’s the teacher’s realm. I provide the book(s) for the classroom.
- Time required. If the book is too long students lose interest and lose underlying nuances. Front Desk is right on the bubble, but it’s lively enough that the students will request more reading rather than get bored.
- Is the topic part of the curriculum. Teachers are often pressured for time. Make a book do double-duty by connecting it to an area of the curriculum. Some reading experts recommend no more than two, maybe three weeks on a book study. To manage that time crunch, you may need to provide time in language arts and another subject.
In the case of Front Desk my recommendation is reading the book aloud with stops for discussion. I get involved with a quick introduction and vocabulary activity, then turn the book and discussion over to the classroom teacher and recommend the reading and discussion be done during language arts and social studies.
Teacher Resources for Front Desk:
Website for Front Desk https://www.frontdeskthebook.com
At the bottom of the website is a link for teachers.
YouTube Book Trailer https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=--sDoefzSrY
Curriculum Connections from Vermont Department of Libraries https://libraries.vermont.gov/sites/libraries/files/DCFBookReviewsQuestions19-20.pdf#page=67
Classroom Ideas from Walker Books https://www.frontdeskthebook.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Front-Desk-Classroom-Ideas.pdf
Audio Excerpt narrated by Sunny Lu https://www.teachingbooks.net/book_reading.cgi?id=15772
Preparation:
Arrange for access to a computer lab or classroom set of tablets.
Preview all of the videos at the Front Desk website https://www.frontdeskthebook.com One segment has a series of videos in which Kelly Yang discusses some of the topics of the book. Preview those videos and use them to open discussions as you read the book aloud.
Prepare a list of the following words, allowing for space for notes and make a copy for each student:
• Empathy
• Racism
• Courage
• Discrimination
• Tolerance
• Prejudice
• Bias
• Sterotype
• Immigrant
Introduction: In the library
Today I’m giving your teacher a book to share with your class, but we’ll begin here in the library. When you hear the words “front desk” what do you think of? Where would you find a front desk? Well, Front Desk by Kelly Yang is the new book I’d like to introduce you to today. Let’s view the book’s trailer and we’ll meet the author.
View Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=--sDoefzSrY Many incidents in the story are from Yang’s real life. She is an immigrant. 40 million people who live in the U.S. were born in another country and the U.S. has more immigrants than any other country in the world. People who are “undocumented” are foreign-born people who come to the U.S. without the legal papers to do so and who often have fled their home countries because of extreme poverty, danger or wanting to be with their families in the U.S. Some enter the country legally as tourists, students or temporary workers and become undocumented when their papers expire. Many have lived in the U.S. for a long time, have families here and feel like citizens. About 11 million undocumented immigrants live in the United States, which has been a stable number for the past five years.
She writes about being an immigrant, empathy, racism, courage, discrimination, tolerance, prejudice, bias, sterotype. Those are big words. I’ve written them on a note page and want you to do a quick search of our online dictionary to find their meaning. (Assign a word or two to every two or three students.) Learn about that word with your partner(s) so that you can give a quick definition to the class. Write the class definitions on the note page, leaving enough room for other notes while your teacher reads the book.
I’m going to begin. (At the end of each read aloud session, we’ll talk about whether you found an example of one of the words from the list.)
(Turn the book over to the teacher to continue the pattern you established. Additional questions for discussion are listed below in relative order of appearance in the book.)
A FEW QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION:
Mia and her mum argue when Mia gets a math question wrong at school. The argument ends when Mia’s mum says “You know what you are in English? You’re a bicycle, and the other kids are cars.” (p. 157) What do you think Mia’s mum meant by this? Mia then likens their relationship to a broken bowl: the pieces could be stuck back together, but you would always see the cracks.
Discuss the ups and downs of Mia’s relationship with her parents. Discuss the idea that the adults in this story and in your own life don’t always say the right thing and are just as affected by emotions and stress as you are. What should you do if you realise you’ve said something hurtful to another person?
- Mr. Yao berates Jason saying “Your math isn’t even as good as the girl’s” (p. 103).
- Hank is unfazed at being interrogated by the police about Mr. Lorenz’s missing car because he says “This kind of thing happens to me all the time” (p. 111).
When Mr. Lorenz’s car goes missing in Chapter 21, Mia sees Mr. Yao and the policemen demonstrating their racist and prejudiced beliefs when discussing who might have stolen the car. Why do you think Mr. Yao and the policemen suspect Mrs. Robinson and Hank? What is your opinion on their beliefs and behavior?
When Mia and Lupe crack the case of the missing Thunderbird and Hank is able to confront Officer Phillips, Hank tells him “Don’t be sorry. Be better.” (p. 229). What does Hank mean by this? How can readers apply this idea to their own lives?
In Chapter 32 Mia’s classmates say to her “You’re Chinese. You’re supposed to be good at math!” Do you think it was appropriate for the classmates to say this to Mia? Why or why not?
In Chapter 35 Mia makes a list of American phrases and customs. Write a similar list for your country or local area that might help someone understand the local language or slang for the first time.
How does Hank demonstrate bravery and selflessness when Mia’s mum is attacked in Chapter 42?
[Note: Before discussing this topic, it is important to consider that you may have students in your class whose family members or they themselves are immigrants and/or undocumented immigrants. Be prepared and sensitive to those students and be mindful as to how you discuss this in your classroom. Students who may not have shared this previously may disclose it during the lesson and that information should only come from the student themselves.]
ADJUNCT LESSON: Grades 4-8--Just a Potpourri Booktalk: Books about Asian Americans
I plan a mishmash or potpourri once a month or once a quarter to introduce middle grade students to new books, books based on a theme for a language arts or social studies class or to introduce a new book. Have each of the books you want to introduce available. The link below introduces Alvin Ho by a student giving a book talk. Use one “unique” book talk method for one title each potpourri day. For the remainder of the session, summarize titles you know well, read the first several pages, read the blurb or back cover, read the cataloging information, etc. Tell the students that each of those methods are techniques they can use when choosing books: read first pages, read blurb or back cover, read cataloging information.
For a Potpourri related to Asian Americans, try this technique for a starter:
View Book Tube, Springfield PS
Then introduce the following newer titles about Asian Americans (all written between 2010 and 2020 and have at least 5 positive revies). Use any of the methods described above to introduce the titles. Of course, you may use some of the older titles about Chinese Americans that have been on the shelves and could use a reintroduction. BTW the topical bibliographies will usually be in reading level order--adjust your choices to match the class’s interest and ability.
Stargazing by Wang, Jen — First Second, 2019 741.5; Int Lvl: 3-6; Rd Lvl: 2.8. Growing up in the same Chinese-American suburb, perfectionist Christine and artistic, confident, impulsive Moon become unlikely best friends, whose friendship is tested by jealousy, social expectations, and illness
Crouching tiger by Compestine, Ying Chang — Candlewick Press, 2019 -Fic-; Int Lvl: 3-6; Rd Lvl: 3.4. When Ming Da's Chinese grandpa comes to visit, he overcomes his initial embarrassment at his grandfather's traditions and begins to appreciate him.
The year of the book (Anna Wang, Book 1) by Cheng, Andrea — Sandpiper, 2012 -Fic-; Int Lvl: 3-6; Rd Lvl: 3.6. Prequel to: The year of the baby. Follows a young Chinese American girl, as she navigates relationships with family, friends, and her fourth-grade classroom, and finds a true best friend.
Only one year by Cheng, Andrea — Lee & Low Books Inc., 2010 -Fic-; Int Lvl: 3-6; Rd Lvl: 3.9. Nine-year-old Sharon has conflicted feelings towards her copycat little sister and rambunctious toddler brother, who is sent to China for a year to live with relatives.
The year of the baby : an Anna Wang novel (Anna Wang, Book 2)by Cheng, Andrea — Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2013 -Fic-; Int Lvl: 3-6; Rd Lvl: 3.9. Sequel to: Year of the book. Fifth-grader Anna is concerned that her baby sister Kaylee, adopted from China three months ago, is not thriving so she and her best friends, Laura and Camille, create a science project that may save the day.
Red thread sisters by Peacock, Carol Antoinette — Viking, 2012 -Fic-; Int Lvl: 3-6; Rd Lvl: 4.2. After an American family adopts eleven-year-old Wen from a Chinese orphanage, she vows to find a family for her best friend, too.
The way home looks now by Shang, Wendy Wan Long — Scholastic Press, 2017 -Fic-; Int Lvl: 3-6; Rd Lvl: 4.2. In 1972, after his older brother is killed in a car crash, Peter Lee's mother is paralyzed by grief and his traditional Chinese father seems emotionally frozen--but Peter hopes that if he joins a Little League team in Pittsburgh he can reawaken the passion for baseball that all the members of his family used to share and bring them back to life.
Dumpling days by Lin, Grace — Little, Brown and Company, 2019 -Fic-; Int Lvl: 3-6; Rd Lvl: 4.4. Pacy and her family go to Taiwan to celebrate Grandma's sixtieth birthday, and Pacy is excited when her parents sign her up for a Chinese painting class, but she cannot speak the language and struggles to make friends and understand the teacher's instructions.
I'm Ok by Kim, Patti — Atheneum Books For Young Readers, 2018 -Fic-; Int Lvl: 5-8; Rd Lvl: 4.4. Ok, a Korean American boy, tries a get rich quick scheme of starting a hair braiding business and winning the school talent competition to hide the fact that he is struggling with the loss of his father and the financial hardships he and his mother must now bear.
The year of the fortune cookie (Anna Wang, Book 3) by Cheng, Andrea — Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2014 -Fic-; Int Lvl: 3-6; Rd Lvl: 4.5. Sequel to: Year of the baby. Eleven-year-old Anna takes a trip to China and learns more about herself and her Chinese heritage.
The great wall of Lucy Wu by Shang, Wendy Wan Long — Scholastic, c2011 p2013 : -Fic-; Int Lvl: 3-6; Rd Lvl: 4.6. Eleven-year-old aspiring basketball star and interior designer Lucy Wu is excited about finally having her own bedroom, until she learns that her great-aunt is coming to visit and Lucy will have to share a room with her for several months, shattering her plans for a perfect sixth-grade year.
Cilla Lee-Jenkins, future author extraordinaire (Cilla Lee-Jenkins, Book 1) by Tan, Susan — Square Fish, Roaring Brook Press, 2018 -Fic-; Int Lvl: 3-6; Rd Lvl: 4.9. Eight-year-old Cilla Lee-Jenkins is destined for literary greatness. She is up against the clock to get her best-selling memoir written before the arrival of her new baby sister—aka The Blob—causes everyone in her family to forget about her. A few pages spent with this exuberant, guileless narrator is evidence that no one will be forgetting Cilla anytime soon. She loves stories, and the highs and lows of her own experiences make for an animated memoir. Prolonged baldness, a taste for snails, and the slings and arrows of friendship are all part of her joyful narrative. When Cilla talks about her burgeoning realization that she is a biracial child in a society that is trying to label her, and that there is distance within her own family between her Chinese grandparents and her Caucasian grandparents, her introspection on the matter, and how it concerns her without completely derailing her, will hearten readers. Occasional black-and-white illustrations enhance the text, and Cilla’s empathy, candor, and skill at turning a phrase indicate that her claim to be a future author extraordinaire is completely justified. As she says, “My book is over, but my writing isn’t.” Anyone who spends time with Cilla Lee-Jenkins will look forward to reading her in the future.
Unidentified suburban object by Jung, Mike — Arthur A. Levine Books, an imprint of Scholastic Inc., 2016 -Fic-; Int Lvl: 3-6; Rd Lvl: 5.2. Chloe Cho is a Korean American seventh-grader who would like to get in touch with many of the aspects of her heritage, but her parents are unwilling to talk about it--then when a class assignment forces Chloe to confront them directly, they finally tell her the truth about her family, which may just be too much for one girl to handle.
Bluecrowne : a Greenglass House story (Greenglass House, Book 3) by Milford, Kate — Clarion Books, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2018 -Fic-; Int Lvl: 5-8; Rd Lvl: 6.7. In 1810, Lucy Bluecrowne, twelve, is bored living ashore with her stepmother and half brother until two nefarious strangers identify her little brother as the pyrotechnical prodigy they need for their evil plan.
Maya Lin : thinking with her hands by Rubin, Susan Goldman — Chronicle Books, 2017. 720; Int Lvl: 5-8. A biography of civic activist Maya Lin, most famous for her design of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. The Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C., is one of the most famous pieces of civic architecture in the world. But most people are not as familiar with the reserved college student who entered and won the design competition to build it. This ... biography tells the story of Maya Lin, from her struggle to stick with her vision of the memorial to the wide variety of works she has created since then
ADJUNCT LESSON: Grades K-3--Kung Ho Fat Choy (Happy New Year)
Background: The primary classes in my small private school learn about and celebrate holidays around the world. In January, Asians celebrate the lunar new year. 2020 is a year of the Rat, starting from January 25th 2020 and ending on February 11th 2021. It is a Gold Rat year. 2021 will be a year of the Ox. This story hour is one I use as part of the second grade study of holidays about the time of year when the lunar new year occurs.
Preparation:
Preview: Wonder of the Day: Why Is 2011 the Year Of the Rabbit?-Preschool - 6 | Text | Video | Activity Happy New Year! No, we’re not a month late. Wonderopolis is celebrating the Chinese New Year! Around the world (and even in some American cities),...URL:
Select a poem about Chinese New Year to read from this collection:
My Chinatown : one year in poems by Mak, Kam - HarperCollins, p2002, c2002--E--Int Lvl: K-3--Rd Lvl: 3.4.Presents a collection of poems which chronicles a year in the life of a young boy from Hong Kong as he adjusts to his new home in the Chinatown of an American city.
Find out the Chinese zodiac animal that you are by going to this site. Students love to learn which animal corresponds with their year of birth. At this site students may also find out their lucky number and lucky colors. https://www.chinahighlights.com/travelguide/chinese-zodiac/
Craft project to make a paper Chinese lantern website. If you choose to make the lantern project, make necessary prepartion to for supplies and tools like scissors, paper, staples or glue https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CeZKYGmuZn0
Map of the world.
Buy or make fortune cookies.
Computer with projection capability
Introduction: Around the world people celebrate the new year at different times. When do we celebrate the new year in the U.S.A.? People who are of Asian ancestry or live on the continent of Asia (show on map), celebrate during the first full moon of the new year. This year their celebration begins in late January and lasts about two weeks. This is a time to celebrate with family.
View the short video clip of a New Year’s celebration http://wonderopolis.org/wonder/why-is-2011-the-year-of-the-rabbit-2/
The Chinese often have special celebrations, as you could see in the video. Even birthdays are celebrated in a special way by Chinese-Americans, and age is figured out differently than we usually do.
Read aloud: Henry's first-moon birthday by Look, Lenore - Atheneum Books for Young Readers, p2001, c2001--E--Int Lvl: K-3--Rd Lvl: 4.3.A young girl helps her grandmother with preparations for the traditional Chinese celebration to welcome her new baby brother.
I found a website for the Chinese zodiac. I found out that’s I’m a ________________. Let’s check in which zodiac animal year some of you were born. (Use students with birthdays in the month.) We can also find out lucky colors and numbers.
And weddings are fun, too. To get ready for Uncle Peter’s wedding, we’re going to make some Chinese decorations. Follow directions at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CeZKYGmuZn0 to make the lanterns. (Omit if time is short.)
Read aloud: Uncle Peter's amazing Chinese wedding by Look, Lenore - Atheneum Books for Young Readers, p2006, c2006--E--Int Lvl: K-3--Rd Lvl: 4.1. A Chinese American girl describes the festivities of her uncle's Chinese wedding and the customs behind them.
Complete the celebration by sharing fortune cookies. Have students share the fortune in their cookie.
Additional Chinese New Year Titles:
My first Chinese New Year by Katz, Karen — Square Fish, 2012 -E-; Int Lvl: K-3; Rd Lvl: 2.3. A girl and her family prepare for and celebrate Chinese New Year.
Maggie's chopsticks by Woo, Alan — Kids Can Press, 2012 -E-; Int Lvl: K-3; Rd Lvl: 2.4. Maggie has new chopsticks, but her family tells her that she is holding them all wrong, until Father comes along to tell her that she is unique and can do it her own way.
A New Year's reunion by Yu, Li-Qiong ( — Candlewick Press, 2013 -E-; Int Lvl: K-3; Rd Lvl: 2.6. Little Maomao, whose father works in faraway places, barely recognizes him when he comes home for his annual visit for Chinese New Year, but she quickly warms to him amidst the excitement of the holiday, and it seems the time passes much too quickly until he must leave again.
The Nian monster by Wang, Andrea — Albert Whitman & Company, 2016 -E-; Int Lvl: K-3; Rd Lvl: 2.7. The legendary Nian monster has returned at Chinese New Year. Nian is intent on devouring Shanghai, starting with young Xingling! But Xingling is clever and thinks quickly to outwit him with Chinese New Year traditions.
Crouching tiger by Compestine, Ying Chang — Candlewick Press, 2011 : -Fic-; Int Lvl: 3-6; Rd Lvl: 3.4. When Ming Da's Chinese grandpa comes to visit, he overcomes his initial embarrassment at his grandfather's traditions and begins to appreciate him.
The runaway wok : a Chinese New Year tale by Compestine, Ying Chang — Dutton Children's Books, 2011 -E-; Int Lvl: K-3; Rd Lvl: 3.9. On Chinese New Year's Eve, a poor man who works for the richest businessman in Beijing sends his son to market to trade their last few eggs for a bag of rice, but instead he brings home an empty--but magic--wok that changes their fortunes forever. Includes information about Chinese New Year and a recipe for fried rice.
ADDITIONAL ADJUNCT LESSON: Grades K-3-- Becoming a Chinese-American
Background: Instead of the Chinese celebration story hour, the following more seriously themed lesson, about becoming part of the American culture when people first came from China could be shared. Since the Chinese no longer have a one child policy, adoption of Chinese baby girls is no longer so common. This story hour ties in with the themes of Front Desk, lessons for olders students.
Preparation: Gather materials for making a kite as per directions at the following website: http://www.gombergkites.com/nkm/plan1.html
Introduction: Not all children are born in the country where they live. Sometimes it’s hard for those children to understand the ways of people in their new country. Sometimes it’s difficult for children in the new country to understand the habits and ways of living of the newcomers.
Read aloud: Henry and the kite dragon by Hall, Bruce Edward - Philomel Books, p2004, c2004--E--Int Lvl: K-3--Rd Lvl: 3.5. In New York City in the 1920s, the children from Chinatown go after the children from Little Italy for throwing rocks at the beautiful kites Grandfather Chin makes, not realizing that they have a reason for doing so.
Make kites following the directions of the website above. While making the kites, talk about the book. First have the students think like the Italian children. Why did they throw rocks? Then have the children pretend they are the Chinese children. What did the Chinese children think? How did they begin to understand each other?
Many Americans have adopted children, especially girls from China. What does it mean to be adopted?
Read aloud:
Star of the week : a story of love, adoption, and brownies with sprinkles by Friedman, Darlene — Bowen Press, 2009 -E-; Int Lvl: K-3; Rd Lvl: 2.6. As her turn to be "Star of the Week" in her kindergarten class approaches, Cassidy-Li puts together a poster with pictures of her family, friends, and pets, and wonders about her birth parents in China.
OR
Read aloud:
Motherbridge of love — Barefoot Books, 2013 895.11; Int Lvl: K-3; Rd Lvl: 1.8. Lyrical text accompanied by vivid illustrations explains to an adopted daughter how the love of her anonymous birth mother and the woman raising her combine to shape who she is.
ALTERNATE: Another strand to pursue is understanding or misunderstanding a name.
Asian names often sound different than ours. The main characters in this book are Korean.
Read aloud:
My name is Yoon by Recorvits, Helen — Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2003 -E-; Int Lvl: K-3; Rd Lvl: 2.1. Disliking her name as written in English, Korean-born Yoon, or "shining wisdom," refers to herself as "cat," "bird," and "cupcake," as a way to feel more comfortable in her new school and new country.
OR
Read aloud:
The name jar by Choi, Yangsook — Dell Dragonfly Books, c2001 p2003 -E-; Int Lvl: K-3; Rd Lvl: 4.1. Being the new kid in school is hard enough, but what about when nobody can pronounce your name? Having just moved from Korea, Unhei is anxious that American kids will like her. So instead of introducing herself on the first day of school, she tells the class that she will choose a name by the following week. Her new classmates are fascinated by this no-name girl and decide to help out by filling a glass jar with names for her to pick from. But while Unhei practices being a Suzy, Laura, or Amanda, one of her classmates comes to her neighborhood and discovers her real name and its special meaning. On the day of her name choosing, the name jar has mysteriously disappeared. Encouraged by her new friends, Unhei chooses her own Korean name and helps everyone pronounce it-Yoon-Hey.
Other Titles about Asian Americans, Friendship, Fear and Building Self-confidence that can be used for display or substituted for one of the titles in the suggested storyhour.
Ling & Ting : not exactly the same! (Passport To Reading: Level 3-Ling and Ting) by Lin, Grace — Little, 2010.-E-; Int Lvl: K-3; Rd Lvl: 1.4. Ling and Ting, Chinese American twins, are alike in so many ways, but they also like to point out the many ways they are different from one another. FREE Teaching Resources available for download at www.titlewave.com
My first Chinese New Year by Katz, Karen — Square Fish, 2012 -E-; Int Lvl: K-3; Rd Lvl: 2.3. A girl and her family prepare for and celebrate Chinese New Year.
Round is a mooncake : a book of shapes by Thong, Roseanne — Chronicle Books, 2014 -E-; Int Lvl: K-3; Rd Lvl: 2.9. As a little girl discovers things round, square, and rectangular in her urban neighborhood, she is reminded of her Chinese American culture.
Paper son : the inspiring story of Tyrus Wong, immigrant and artist by Leung, Julie — Schwartz & Wade Books, 2019 700.92; Int Lvl: K-3; Rd Lvl: 4.0. A . . . picture-book biography of animator Tyrus Wong, the Chinese American immigrant responsible for bringing Disney's Bambi to life.
Auntie Yang's great soybean picnic by Lo, Ginnie Follett eBook — Lee & Low Books, 2012 -Fic-; Int Lvl: K-3; Rd Lvl: 4.9. A Chinese American girl's Auntie Yang discovers soybeans-a favorite Chinese food-growing in Illinois, leading her family to a soybean picnic tradition that grows into an annual community event. FREE Teaching Resources available for download at www.titlewave.com
ADJUNCT LESSON: Grades 3-6--I Alvin Ho Am Afraid of Many Things
Inspiration Book
Alvin Ho : allergic to girls, school, and other scary things by Look, Lenore - Yearling, p2008, c2008--Fic--Int Lvl: 3-6--Rd Lvl: 3.8. A young boy in Concord, Massachusetts, who loves superheroes and comes from a long line of brave Chinese farmer-warriors, wants to make
friends, but first he must overcome his fear of everything.
Background: The main character and his family in this older inspiration book are Chinese Americans, but that is not the major thrust of this book. It transcends ethnicity into a universal theme of self-confidence, overcoming phobias, and friendship. Thus, there are a number of possibilities for story hour themes, book talks, and theme studies. I’ve reserved the study of Alvin Ho to the grades 3-6 group because the title can easily be read by those students.
Alvin could become a read aloud for grades 2 & 3 interspersed with other titles to present an extended unit. Alvin is such an irrepressible character that every 2nd and 3rd grader (maybe 4th also) should hear the book read aloud. His voice is so original and so only Alvin. Plan to read a chapter in the morning, a chapter after lunch and you’ll be finished in less than two weeks because the kids will beg you to read more. You might get started with the reading of the first chapter by Disney star Everett Plen at the website below.
Preparation: Determine whether you will use the narrator resources listed below as the introduction to the Alvin Ho book.
Reading of 1st Chapter http://www.teachingbooks.net/book_reading.cgi?id=3747
When you get to Chapter 3, pause and listen to Lenore Look tell about how she got the idea.
Then she will begin reading Chapter 3 and you pick up where she leaves off.
These resources are available via www.teachingbooks.net.
You may need to register when you use the resources the first time.
Collect as many Alvin Ho titles as possible via interlibrary loan, student sources, paperback book clubs, or purchase.
Readers’ Theater Script http://static.squarespace.com/static/533e5b23e4b089b274abbdc9/t/540b94b5e4b02ecebb6434d8/1410045109640/5IntermediateRT.pdf#page=6
Introduction: I’d like to introduce you to one of my favorite series book characters, Alvin Ho. Alvin is a Chinese American who is not very self-confident. What does that mean? (allow students time to respond) He also has a lot of phobias or fears. Are you afraid of anything? We’ll find out all about him because Alvin Ho : allergic to girls, school, and other scary things is our next read aloud. This is the first book in a series about Alvin. I have copies of this read aloud Alvin book available plus others about him. We’ll stop periodically to talk about what I’ve read.
Let’s listen to the first chapter being read by Evertt Plen. http://www.teachingbooks.net/book_reading.cgi?id=3747
(Follow along in the book you’re using to read aloud, begin to read aloud when Plen is finished, and when you get to Chapter 3, pause and listen to Lenore Look tell about how she got the idea. https://www.teachingbooks.net/book_reading.cgi?id=3796
Some discussion questions and activities to do after a few chapters:
Chapter 1: Alvin likes to pretend he is the superhero Firecracker Man. If you could make up a superhero character, who would you be? What would your costume look like?
Collect some clothes from your parents or other family members, and come up with your own superhero costume, like Alvin did.
Chapter 2: Are you afraid of some things? What would you put in your PDK - Personal Disaster Kit - to help you survive the things that scare you?
Make a PDK
Chapter 5: Flea made a book called “The Book of Alvin”. Why did she make it, and what did she put in her book?
Chapter 9: Alvin takes his father's Johnny Astro toy to school without asking, because he hopes it will make him more popular. Does his plan work?
Chapter 16: At first Alvin is excited when it seems like Pinky wants him to join his gang. But then he discovers there's some problems with joining a gang. What are they? Would you join the gang?
Chapter 17: Flea made a book called “The Book of Alvin”. Why did she make it, and what did she put in her book?
Make a book like Flea did about a fellow student. All must be positive.
Each day hold a quick book auction. Give students random play money each day. They may save it or “buy” a book to read. You could have an oral auction or silent auction or alternate days. Share one book that fits the themes or genre. By the end of Alvin Ho, each student should be reading at least one of the titles. When a student finishes a book, it can be on the auction table again. For each auction, read part of the first chapter to “whet the whistle.”
At the end of the read aloud, randomly group students for quick book discussions. In advance of discussion, students should write at least two topics that they’d like to talk about in the discussion.
Auction Titles:
Stargazing by Wang, Jen — First Second, 2019 741.5; Int Lvl: 3-6; Rd Lvl: 2.8. Growing up in the same Chinese-American suburb, perfectionist Christine and artistic, confident, impulsive Moon become unlikely best friends, whose friendship is tested by jealousy, social expectations, and illness.
