Spotlight on Friendship and Compassion in Books by Cori Doerrfeld

Today, I am highlighting two amazing picture books by author-illustrator Cori Doerrfeld.  The first title, The Rabbit Listened, has been on my to-review list for a while.  When I discovered Goodbye, Friend! Hello, Friend! I decided to discuss these books together.  While they are diverse in their subject matter, they have some noteworthy commonalities. 

The Rabbit Listened 
Publisher Summary 
When something sad happens to Taylor, all the animals think they know how to help.  One by one they come, but nothing they say makes Taylor feel better.  Until the rabbit arrives…and the rabbit knows just what to do. 

Evaluation 
This book can be read on multiple levels.  On the one hand, it is a simple picture book about a child’s experience with pain.  However, it resonates as an allegorical tale for adults as well.  

Out of nowhere, life often comes crashing down. This idea of the unexpected in life and sense of things falling apart is a universal experience at all ages.   In the story, this idea is illustrated when a pack of black birds knock down an elaborate building the protagonist, Taylor, has built.

Various animals attempt to “comfort” Taylor.  Each animal parallels the types of people we encounter in life.  These people are often more concerned with their own agendas rather than genuinely helping someone.  In the story, the chicken just wants to talk, talk, talk about it. The bear wants to dwell on angry feelings while the elephant tries to fix it.  When their approach doesn’t work, they walk away.

The rabbit in the book is the only one concerned with just being present.  He is true to his nature:  He sits and listens.  Everyone needs someone just to be present sometimes.  The rabbit allows the protagonist to go through all the emotions he feels.  The rabbit represents what a true friend acts like—compassionate, supportive, and selfless.    

Goodbye, Friend!  Hello, Friend! 
Publisher Summary 
Every goodbye brings a new beginning.  Goodbye to snowmen means hello to stomping in puddles!  Goodbye to the sun means hello to the stars!  Sometimes goodbyes are especially hard, and sometimes new beginnings take time but tomorrow always comes. 

Evaluation 
Several life experiences are represented through this straightforward text all while exemplifying the saying: When one door closes, another one opens.

Initially, Stella is reluctant to go to school.  She learns to make friends and to follow a new routine.  Another aspect of change is having to transition from an activity she enjoys to another one.  

Stella deals with loss.  Her pet dies.  Later, her best friend Charlie moves away.

With each potentially negative experience, Stella learns to see the rainbow on the other side of the storm.  Sometimes optimism is a relatively easy choice,  like having to come inside when it gets dark or having to go to bed during a sleep over.  Other times, she learns this lesson in more challenging experiences like falling down while trying something new or losing a loved one.  

Goodbye, Friend!  Hello, Friend! illuminates the importance of resilience and optimism no matter the circumstances.  The story reminds us that a closed door isn't the end.  Instead, there is an opportunity for a new beginning.

Cori Doerrfeld demonstrates exceptional skill in both picture books.  She shows the complexities of life and friendship while keeping it all on a concrete child’s level. The Rabbit Listened and Goodbye, Friend! Hello, Friend! are must-reads for home and the classroom.  They illustrate the importance of compassion, friendship, feelings, and optimism in challenging times. 

Finding Langston (Lesa Cline-Ransome)

Title:  Finding Langston, A Novel

Author:  Lesa Cline-Ransome

Target Ages:  9-13

Genre:  Historical Fiction

Awards:  Coretta Scott King Honor Book, 2019 Scott O'Dell Award for Historical Fiction,  Junior Library Guild selection

Publisher Summary: 

When eleven-year-old Langston’s mother died in 1946, he and his father move from Alabama to Chicago’s Bronzeville.  Langston must leave behind everything he cherishes:  family, friends, Grandma’s Sunday suppers, even the magnolia trees Mama loved so much.  The northern city is noisy and hectic, and their kitchenette apartment is just a lonely room with old newspapers covering up holes.  At school Langston is tormented for being too country.  But his new home has something his old one did not:  unlike the whites-only library back home, the George Cleveland Hall Library welcomes everyone.  There, hiding out after school, Langston discovers another Langston, a poet whose words are powerful.  In one of his poems lies a secret that will bring Langston closer to his mother’s spirit. 

First Lines:

“Never really thought much about Alabama’s red dirt roads, but now, all I can think about is kicking up their dust.  I miss the hot sun on the back of my neck and how now the racket of cicadas, seems like not sound at all.” 

Memorable Moment:

“I get to thinking how much I didn’t know about my Daddy when we lived in Alabama.  With Mama there, he barely spoke to me, and I didn’t know what to say to him.  But now, with just us two in Chicago, I know Daddy better than I ever hoped to” (103).

Evaluation:

Finding Langston would fit well into a middle grade classroom.  The post-World War II setting focuses on black Americans who are a part of the Great Migration.  People at different places in the process from second generation to newly arrived illustrate the successes and struggles. 

The influence of Harlem Renaissance, especially its poetry, is shown as the renewed pride in black culture and literature impacts the protagonist, Langston.  As he discovers the connection of his name to the beloved poet Langston Hughes and his mother’s secret passion, the protagonist begins to understand himself, his mother, and his heritage on a deeper level.

The story and characters connect well with middle grade readers.  Short chapters, well-paced plot, and relatable experiences will keep them turning the pages. 

Langston deals with many common middle grade trials.  He experiences loss—both of his mother (and another dear relative) as well as his home when he moves away.  These situations make him feel lonely and isolated.  As the new kid, he tries to fit in, but instead he is mercilessly bullied.  Langston struggles in his relationship with his father, who is a good man dealing with his own loss and trying to make a better life for his son.

Langston learns to see people in a more multi-faceted way.  He is willing to re-examine his initial impressions, allowing him to come to appreciate others.  In addition, he finds positive ways to cope with his loss and loneliness, which helps him make friends with others and become more connected to his new community.

I highly recommend Finding Langston for middle grade teachers and readers.

Historical Connections:

Great Migration

Harlem Renaissance

Langston Hughes Poetry

For other great middle grade book suggestions, visit Always in the Middle for the Marvelous Middle Grade Monday Round Up.

Carlos and Carmen Early Reader Series

I just received set 1 of the Carlos and Carmen early reader series.  I was immediately impressed with the quality of the illustrations and the books’ durable construction.  Then, I read them.  I am officially a fan of this superb series! 

The Carlos and Carmen books are available in Spanish and English.  I read the English version.  However, Spanish words are sprinkled throughout which provides two learning opportunities. First, children are exposed to a second language.  With as many as 50 million people speaking Spanish in the United States, it is valuable for English-speaking children to be exposed early to common Spanish words. In addition, the foreign words allow children to practice using context clues.  They can figure out what the unknown word is by identifying clues in the text and by looking at the illustrations.  There is also a Spanish to English key at the back of each book. 

Each book is divided into five short chapters.  The text is written at a second to third grade reading level.  McDonald does not make the stories feel like a Basal or easy reader though.  She incorporates suspense, humor, and personality into each chapter. 

The series is family oriented.  The parents are active and present. When the twins are running around the backyard, the parents are looking on.  When their yard floods, the parents play in the water and mud with their children. When Carlos and Carmen are concerned about a noise in the night, their dad takes it seriously and investigates. The family sits down together at mealtimes.  Extended family members come over to help out or to spend time with the twins.  The Garcias are a warm and close family.

Author Kirsten McDonald has created multi-faceted young Latino protagonists who have qualities parents want their children to emulate.  They are kind, fun, inquisitive, respectful, and helpful.  They demonstrate a wide range of experiences from fear and boredom to enthusiasm and playfulness. 

Erika Meza’s illustrations are vivid and gorgeous.  The actions are lively, and the facial expressions are wide-ranging.  The best part is how the parents are represented.  They are shown working and parenting side by side.  Their expressions toward each other convey love, playfulness, and admiration.  The illustrations work in perfect harmony with the text.

I highly recommend the Carlos and Carmen series—in Spanish and in English—for public and elementary school libraries.   Parents and teachers should also consider adding these books to their classroom or home collection. 

There are currently 16 books in series.  I read the following four.  I have included the publisher’s summaries.

The One-Tire House

Carlos and Carmen get some unexpected news. They're moving to a new house. The new house is big, red, and has one tire. What! A house with one tire?! The twins worry and worry but soon discover a house with one tire can be fun.

The Nighttime Noise

Carlos and Carmen have a hard time falling asleep in separate rooms. Once they solve that problem, they're kept awake by a spooky noise. The twins get their mom and dad to help them solve the mystery of the noise, which turns out to be something not very scary at all.

The Big Rain

It's been raining and raining and raining. When the sun finally peeks out from behind the clouds, Carlos and Carmen find their entire backyard is one big puddle. But the twins don't mind once they discover it's not just a puddle of water--it's a puddle of fun!

The Green Surprise
Tío Alex is joining the Garcia family for a cookout, and he's bringing a surprise. A big green surprise. At first, Carlos and Carmen are disappointed in the lumpy green surprise. But with their mom's help and a few poles and stakes, the lump becomes a green surprise filled with fun. 

Juna's Jar (Jane Bahk)

Title:  Juna’s Jar

Author:  Jane Bahk

Illustrator:  Felicia Hoshino

Target Ages:  4-9

Genre:  Magical Realism

Publisher Summary:  

Juna and her best friend, Hector, love to go on adventures in the park, collecting things to put in Juna’s empty kimchi jars. But then one day Hector unexpectedly moves away, and Juna is left wondering who will play with her. With the help of her special jar, Juna searches for her friend the world over. What Juna finds is that adventure—and new friends—can be found in the most unexpected places. 

First Lines:

Juna’s family always has a large jar of kimchi in their fridge.  After they finished eating all the kimchi, Juna sometimes got to keep the empty jar. 

Memorable Moment:

There was Hector asleep in his bed.  And on the bedside table was the kimichi jar Juna has given him.  Hector looked like he was having happy dreams.

Evaluation: 

Juna’s Jar is a sweet book about friendship, loss, and imagination.  The jar, a symbol of Juna’s feelings of emptiness, is filled each day with something new—a plant, a fish, and a cricket. 

During the night, she dreams of an adventure related to the item in the jar.  Each adventure reveals Juna’s feelings of loss.  When she imagines seeing Hector sleeping peacefully with a remembrance of her nearby, she gets the closure she needs. Using the jar adventure to reflect and to resolve her inner conflict is both inventive and effective. 

Juna meets a new friend at the park who shares her love of nature.  Her jar (and her heart) is empty no more.

Juna’s Jar can be used as a conversation starter for a class or child who has experienced a friend moving away.  The book also encourages empathy and imagination. 

Ideas for Extension Activities at Home or Lesson Plans for Teachers:

• Letting Writing:  Write a letter from Juna to Hector or from Hector to Juna (or both).  Younger children can write it as a class or a parent.  Allow older children to write on their own.  Teach the basic format of letter writing as well as encourage children to imagine what they would say to each other.
• Art or Writing:  Allow the children to imagine another jar journey.  Either draw a picture or write a story. 
• Teacher’s Guide:  Lee and Low has tons of activities, comprehension questions, and across the curriculum connections. 

                Visit Susanna Hill for Perfect Picture Book Friday. 

I'm New Here (Anne Sibley O’Brien)

Title:  I’m New Here

Author & Illustrator:  Anne Sibley O’Brien

Summary From the Book Jacket:

At their new school everything is different…Back in Guatemala, Maria knew the language.  Back in Korea, Jin could read and write.  Back in Somalia, Fatimah felt like she fit in.  Now, in the United States, there are new words and new ways.  But with a little support—and a lot of courage—Maria, Jin, and Fatimah begin to find their way.

Preview of the Text:

“Back home I knew the language.

My friends and I talked all day long.

Our voices flowed like water and flew between us like birds.”

Evaluation:

Three new students—Maria, Jin, and Fatimah—are introduced to the class.  Each child represents a different cultural background, yet their thoughts and feelings have many similarities.  They are shown in their home culture on one page while the corresponding page illustrates how the new culture seems strange to them.  The author does an excellent job with both the illustrations and words showing the contrast.  For instance, Maria is playing soccer while smiling and talking with her friends in her home culture.  She is the same size as the other children.  On the other page, she is small and alone.  She is looking and listening to other children with lots of unfamiliar sounds going on.  It is large and chaotic.

When the immigrant children first arrive, they feel alone, confused, and sad.  However, the more they work at learning to speak, to write, and to understand the culture, the more they begin to fit in.  I like how the author encourages their active efforts to assimilate. The American children also play a vital part.  They are helpful, encouraging, and accepting.  The characters are excellent models for young children. 

The foreign students find they have a place in their new school and new home country.  I love how the book ends:  “Here there are new beginnings.  Here there is a place for me.  Here is a new home.”  Lively pictures of the children integrating as well as enjoying their new school and friends accompany each sentence. However, the parts that make them unique also continue to thrive—Maria loves to play soccer. Jin loves stories.  Fatimah loves drawing.  The story celebrates what makes people unique and what makes them the same. 

This book is an excellent opportunity to build empathy and compassion because children learn what it is like to come into a new cultural.  The story is an encouragement to new immigrant students who are trying to figure out how to acclimate.  The author ends by giving an important resource for educators and parents.  It is a website whose focus is on children’s books and reading projects that build bridges between new arrivals and long term communities.  Visit I’M Your Neighbor Books for more book suggestions and articles on this topic. 

I’m New Here is an essential book for libraries and classrooms.  I highly recommend it for ages 3-9. 

Other Teaching Ideas

• Similes:  Discuss the various similes used in the story.  Students can write their own similes about how they think they would feel going into a new culture and listening to a foreign language. 
• Social Students:  Pick one or more cultures of students in the class or people in the community to learn more about.  Discuss ways to make people of that culture feel more welcome. 
• Welcome Kit and Activities designed to go with the book.

My Diary from Here to There (Amada Irma Perez)

Summary of My Diary from Here to There (Amada Irma Perez)

Mi Diario de Aqui hasta Alla (Spanish Title)

Amada learns that her family must leave their little house in Juarez, Mexico for better opportunities in the United States. Both nervous and intrigued, Amada, along with her mother and siblings, stays with relatives in a border town while her father moves to California to get work and to secure green cards for them.  From waiting for all the preparations to be made for their immigration to their final move to a new country, Amada records her memories, fears, and hopes in her diary. 

Evaluation

Perez records each diary entry by Amada in both Spanish and English, representing her cross-cultural experience and family (her father is an Mexican American citizen). Amada expresses feelings typical for children in this situation.  She is sad to leave her home and friends as well as nervous about learning a new language and culture.  Her younger siblings annoy her, but close ties with her family and extended family are evident. Overall, Amada is hopeful and positive for their future.  The Latino voice and migrant experience are based on the author’s own journey to America as a child, making them genuine and vivid.   

Illustrator Maya Christian Gonzalez has created strong character images in bright colors contrasting with neutral tones.  She captures well the sense of community in the culture.  Nearly every page includes several members, often multi-generational, of Amada’s family close together. 

I chose to highlight this title because the topic is relevant and relatively new in the picture book world.  With millions of migrant and immigrant children in American schools, their experiences are important to share and to discuss in the classroom.  An additional picture book title to examine is Two White Rabbits.  While the topic is similar, the experience is quite different. 

My Diary from Here to There is a Pura Belpre' award winner.  I recommend it for ages 6-11.  

Lesson Plan Ideas and Extension Activities

• Literature:  Read both My Diary from Here to There and Two White Rabbits.  Compare and contrast the two stories using a Venn diagram.  Pam Munoz Ryan’s Esperanza Rising, a middle grade fiction, is also about the migrant experience.
• Journaling:  Have students write about a time they were nervous or afraid because of a change or unknown situation. 
• Social Studies:  Show a TV program in Spanish OR have someone present a short lesson in a non-native language.  Afterwards, discuss how the children felt as they listened.  How would they feel if instruction, signs, and everything around them were in Spanish/another language?  Connect it to Amada and other immigrants’ experiences. 
• Writing:  Discuss the parts of letter.  Practice composing a letter (like Amada does).  Write to either a friend or relative who is far away.  Another idea is to connect students to a pen pal in other country to share cultural experiences. 
• History:  Learn about Cesar Chavez and the United Farm Workers.
• Language Art Lesson Plan with multiple ideas and activities.