Tony Baloney

School Rules

Written by: Pam Muñoz Ryan

Illustrated by: Edwin Fotheringham

A little penguin was ready to start his first day of school. He was looking forward to being as good as his sister. Once at school, he encountered many different situations that forced his teacher to add rules to the class rules. Due to his alertness, his classmates were safe from danger and didn't get injured. The teacher named him the Friendship Ambassador on his first day of school. The penguin discovered that he can be as good or better by just being himself.

Will I select this text?

I would select this text in a Kindergarten class. This book touches various topics which allows more students to be able to mirror it. I can use this text in the classroom by letting students know that we all experience school differently, and that is okay. Some students can feel excited about school, want to be just like their role model, and some may get into trouble, but at the end, they redeem themselves.

I would create a physical-rich literacy environment by offering opportunities for reading physical books. I would create a social-rich environment by offering books from different topics, written by diversed authors. My students would be able to read these books independently and then collaborate with peers by sharing and their mirrors and windows.

Little Night, Nochecita

Author and Illustrator: Yuyi Morales

Mother sky calls her daughter, Little Night, to bedtime. Little Night hides from Mother sky. Mother sky looks for her daughter in the darkest places in a lovingly way. Little Night is dark-complexion which the author celebrates brown skin. Mother sky represents the love and sacrifice moms overcome for their children.

I would definitely select this book because children of color can mirror themselves in the book as a person of color. In addition, I would tie the book to a parent's love for their children.

I would expose my students to a variety of books from diversed authors. Students would read them independently , identify themselves with the book (if possible), and then work collaboratively to share their experiences and help others to use windows. Students can write a similar text/project by expressing how their moms/guardians express their love to them.

Carmela Full of Wishes

Written by: Matt De La Peña

Illustrated by: Christian Robinson