Read Alouds

Nadia's Hands Author: Karen English                                                     Illustrator: Jonathan Weiner Published by: Boyds Mills Press, 1999       Summary: Nadia is a Pakistani-American girl who has been chosen to be a flower girl in her aunts wedding.  It's going to be a traditional Pakistani wedding, which means that for the ceremony Nadia's hands are going to be decorated with designs using henna.  The dye is not going to wash off right away and Nadia is worried about what her classmates will think when she goes back to school on Monday, not knowing if they will understand that the designs are part of her Pakistani heritage Recommendations for Parents: Nadia's Hands is a great book for all children to read.  It will help kids understand that everyone comes from different backgrounds and traditions.  Sometimes it can be scary when we are the one who is different, but this book shows that we should celebrate and be proud of our differences and who we are.  This book can be used as a good lead into discussing your own family traditions and customs with your child. Recommendations for Teachers: Nadia's Hands is an excellent book to use in the classroom.  It's a good book to read to help students feel comfortable sharing with each other about their different cultures.  It will help students develop a greater awareness and respect for each others differences and help students take pride in who they are.  This book also teaches students new vocabulary.  Some of the words in the story are in Urdu and are defined at the beginning of the book.  The definitions of unfamiliar words and the detailed illustrations in the book help support students' comprehension of the story. Personal Notes: I highly recommend reading Nadia's Hands to any age group of children.  The feelings Nadia describes, about being worried to be different, are feelings that anyone can relate to because at one point or another we've all been worried about what others will think of us.  I also really enjoy the illustrations in the book and feel the way they are textured really add to the story.

You're My Nikki Author: Phylis Rose Eisenberg Illustrator: Jill Kastner Publisher: Dial Books for Young Readers, 1992 Summery: Nikki's mother knows everything about her.  She knows her favorite color, favorite food, what she likes to draw, and how she likes to dance.  The day before her mom starts a new job Nikki worries that her mother will forget her while she is at work.  Through the story Nikki discovers that her monther will always love and remember her! Recommendations for Teachers and Parents: You're my Nikki is a great book to read to young children.  Children oftern get very set in their routines and when their routines are changed it can be scary for them.  This book is great to read to your kids when you are starting a new job, when your child is starting school, or any other time you are going to be away from your child.  It's a good book for teahcers to reaf in the classroom in young grades because it will help reassure students that even though they are away from their parents, their parents will always love them.  This book is a heart warming story with beautiful pictures that really illustrate what's going on in the story.  The pictures are a good support to help illustrate unfamiliar words or terms to students. Personal Note: I really enjoy this book.  There are beautiful illustrations that help bring the book to life.  I also really like this book because it reminds me of when I was little, how I felt when I was away from my parents.  I think this book can really help young children understand that their parents love them even when they are not around.