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Book 1: The Water Princess by Susan Verde
Book Level: 2nd -4th grade
Standards: 3.10
Summary Response: This is a story about a girl named Gie Gie who lives in Africa. She likes
to be called Princess Gie Gie. The story follows her routine starting with waking up in the
morning and spending time with her mother. One of their tasks during the day is to fetch
water. To do this, both Gie Gie and her mother balance a jug on their heads. They embark on a
long journey. Once they reach the water source, Gie Gie enjoys playing with her friends in the
water. After filling up their jugs, they make their way home ready to repeat the process again
tomorrow.
Personal Response: I believe this book is a resource for illustrating concepts to students. It
provides experiences for someone their age while also showcasing the unique way in which
Gie Gie lives. The illustrations throughout the story are vibrant and colorful and perfectly
complement the narrative. The storytelling itself is easily digestible for students. However, I
feel that this book would be better suited for elementary grades as it may challenge some
students understanding that access, to water isn't universal
Pedagogical Response: The main charactert of The Water Princess is a girl named Gie Gie.
Since Gie Gie is a girl I believe it would be easier for female students in the class to relate to
her. This book would serve as a tool to demonstrate how people in different parts of the world
live. Gie Gies’s location in Africa is a place so it presents an opportunity for students to learn
about Africa and various countries. Integrating this book into the social studies curriculum
would be highly beneficial. It could inspire students to engage in research on countries and
even initiate community projects aimed at raising funds for clean drinking water. This story is
particularly suitable for students, in 2nd 4th grade. For those who may not yet grasp the
concept that water's not readily available everywhere some preliminary teaching might be
necessary.
Explanation and Sample: Students will write a compare and contrast between their life and the
life of Gie Gie in the book Students are expected to use full sentences and proper punctuation.
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Book 2: Dreamers by Yuyi Morales
Book Level: 4th grade
Standards: 4.6
Summary Response: Dreamers is a captivating nonfiction book that goes into the experiences
of a family as they navigate the challenges of immigrating to a country. The narrative captures
their journey highlighting their fears and struggles with language barriers in this land.
However, amidst these obstacles, they discover solace and empowerment in a library that
becomes their sanctuary, for learning how to read, write, and speak the language. As they
acquire these skills their dreams are. Hope fills their hearts.
Personal Response: Although not as big as migrating to a new country, I have traveled to
other countries. I can understand how hard it is to understand people in a language you do not
understand. When I went on a mission trip to Guatemala last year, I was unable to talk to the
people who lived there because I did not speak the language. But I learned to communicate
through body language, smiles, and laughter. By the end of the trip, I still couldn’t speak the
language, but I was able to fend for myself.
Pedagogical Response: Even though this book doesn't have too many words, the words it does
use are quite advanced. At times I found myself unsure of their meanings, which makes this
book a great tool for teaching and enhancing children's vocabulary. It also helps them
understand how language differences can be overcome or adjusted depending on the situation.
The diversity of languages in America is truly fascinating since we have people, from
backgrounds coming together like a cultural melting pot.
Explanation and Sample: Students will do an assignment to identify what the main idea of the
book is about to show that they are getting a grasp on how to determine what it is.
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Book 3: I like Myself by Karen Beaumont
Book Level: Kindergarten
Standards: 1.8
Summary Response: This book spreads a message about self acceptance from beginning to
end. The main character is a girl brimming with an infectious sense of positive self worth. She
doesn't mind if her hair is messy if she has a horn on her nose or polka dot lips. She takes
pride in being who she is. Throughout the book the author radiates positivity. They Start off
by saying, "I have great affection for myself! I'm grateful to be me." And she concludes the
story, with these words; "I like myself because I am ME!" The little girl makes it abundantly
clear that others opinions or comments don't faze her. She's too busy enjoying herself to let
them bother her. This captivating story highlights the significance of nurturing self esteem and
assures young readers that it's perfectly fine to be unique while still loving oneself.
Personal Response: Self esteem is such a fragile thing at a young age. It is even fragile as you
grow up, but just not as much. I definitely have had my fair share of battles with self esteem. I
think it is so important to learn to love yourself no matter what anyone else says or thinks. I
really like the concept of this book and I genuinely hope that it can help some students.
Pedagogical Response: This book has received awards and is suitable for readers of all ages
regardless of their gender or race. The vibrant. The author’s writing is really strong and they
seem to bring the book to life. Students can easily grasp the concept without any need for
explanations since the characters actions are straightforward and easy to understand. In
today’s society, where there is a tendency to modify one’s appearance and people freely
express their opinions about others, it becomes crucial for children to realize that embracing
their selves is what truly matters. This story delivers a message that resonates with people of
all ages promoting self acceptance and personal growth.
Explanation and Sample: For this assignment, I would simply want my students to list reason
why they like themselves. It is important for them to realize those things so hopefully it can
benefit them.
