Multicultural book: Title: “Molly’s Pilgrims” Author: Barbara Cohen Illustrator: Daniel Mark Duffy Publisher and date published: Lothrop, Lee & Shepard Books, 1998 Summary: Molly, a young girl who comes from a Russian immigrant family goes to an American school and is made fun of for eating different food, wearing different clothes, and having a different accent.  As Thanksgiving nears (an American holiday that is unfamiliar to Molly) Molly’s teacher gives her class an assignment where the students are to make pilgrim dolls and bring them to class.  Molly’s mother helps with the project and ends up making Molly a Russian refugee doll instead of a New England Pilgrim.  Once again the students make fun of her, but through discussion, Molly finds her place in modern day America. Recommendation for Parents: This book is very relevant to activities that occur in a student’s everyday life.  It is a great way to teach a child about the lifeskills of tolerance and friendship. The illustrations also serve as an additional support to help a child comprehend the story. Recommendations for other teachers: This is a great book to start discussion about tolerance and friendship.  It is also a great read aloud for a thanksgiving lesson about Pilgrims; about the meaning of Pilgrims and how Pilgrims of the past are connected to modern day Pilgrims. Personal Note: My third grade students really enjoyed this story, and could connect it to personal experiences (either being the new student in a school, befriending a new student, or recalling a time when they were made fun of for being different). There is also a short 24 minute movie which makes the reading more exciting because the students can watch it afterwards. Title: “Parts” Author/Illustrator: Tedd Arnold Publisher and date published: Puffin Books, 1997 Summary: One day a little boy wakes up and discovers a few pieces of hair that have fallen from his head.  In his belly button he finds a piece of lint and when he is outside playing he notices his feet are peeling.  As the list goes on the little boy thinks that his body is falling apart and is fearful of the future. Recommendation for Parents: This is a great story for younger children.  It is a comedic way to teach your children about human shedding for all of the actions and feelings present in the story are natural.  The emotions that the boy experiences throughout the story are most likely similar to the feelings that a child is feeling about his/her own body.  The illustrations also colorfully and cleverly compliment the meaning of the story. Recommendation to other Teachers:  It is a real short and engaging story for K-3. The story is written in rhyme which keeps the story rolling.  Not only are the words funny, but the illustrations also provide an additional level of excitement.  Personal Note: The story provides a level of excitement from the moment the first word is read to the very last.