I Am Malala: How One Girl Stood Up for Education and Changed the World by Malala Yousafzai with Patricia McCormick - Young Reader's Edition

Genre: Memoir

Grade Level: 4-7

Interest Level: 4-8

Themes: education, freedom for children,girls/women, human rights,  standing up for what you believe, courage, perseverance, gratitude

Culture(s): Pakastani, children/youth, girls/women

“To those children all over the world who have no access to education, to those teachers who bravely continue teaching, and to anyone who has fought for their basic human rights and education.”

                                                                          Malala Yousafzai

Malala’s story of courage, steadfastness and survival has touched the hearts of millions, so I was delighted on a recent bookstore trip with my 10 year old when she picked this up and then proceeded to devour it (without waiting for our nightly bedtime reading as I had hoped). Mind you, this is a 10 year old that I usually have to cajole into finding AND reading a book, so it was significant that she discovered this on her own. She remembered that  Malala had won a prize, said that she was very pretty and she wanted to find out more about her. 

This young readers edition of Malala’s courage and triumph has important instructional possibility for middle grade readers. The Common Core’s focus on informational text makes it a great choice. It includes a map of Pakistan, Swat and surrounding areas, as well as color photos of Malala, her family, and Pakistan. The photos would work well for pre-reading/during reading discussion or quick write. The book is divided  into five parts, and includes a time line of important events. All of these elements would work well with a study of informational text features, and/or in dividing reading and instruction according to the lesson focus or themes.

When I asked my daughter what she liked about Malala’s story, she said “It’s about every girl just wanting to be a regular girl…you know, go to school, watch Twilight or her other favorite shows, and hang out with her family/friends. Some girls can’t do that because of the Taliban. That’s not right, and Malala is trying to fix it.” 

Validate, Affirm, Build and Bridge with I am Malala: How One Girl Stood Up for Education and Changed the World.

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Dalia's Wondrous Hair/El cabello maravilloso de Dalia by Laura Lacamara

Genre: Fiction/Fantasy

Grade Level: K-2

Interest Level: K-4

Themes: Self-Love, hair, imagination, butterflies, Cuban flora & fauna

Culture(s) – Cuban, youth

Hair is a big deal for many people. How does it look? I’m having a ‘bad’ hair day. Is it long? Is it short? Thick? Thinning? Gray? How shall I wear it? 

For many underserved and marginalized cultures, hair is often not only a big deal, but it is inextricably tied to their cultures, traditions and sense of self-love and standard of beauty. Unfortunately, for those same groups, it can also be a source of ridicule, judgment and self-loathing

It was just a few weeks ago that a twitter, instagram, media frenzy erupted over comments made by a Caucasian media personality about the locs of the teen Disney personality, Zendaya. The former, disparaged Zendaya’s Oscar night locs by saying they must smell like Patchouli and weed. Zendaya launched a quick, direct and intelligent response, educating folks on black hair texture, and the heritage, and pride associated with the hairstyle.

This is not the first time however, that an African American woman’s hairstyle choice has been met with an unfortunate,  uninformed and biased comment.   Unfortunately, it will not be the last, because in our culture where we are all held to a Caucasian beauty standard, any hair that is not long, straight and blonde for females and/or straight, and  neatly trimmed for males, will be looked upon by many as substandard and undesirable. (Note - many of these confused opinions are held by other African Americans)

Fortunately, we  have the opportunity to Validate and Affirm the beauty of hair that is “good” in ALL it’s textures, lengths and styles, and also Build and Bridge understanding and acceptance for the wonderful differences in our “locks”.

Dalia’s Wondrous Hair by Laura Lacamara is one of the latest delightful, authentic picture books that addresses a culture of “hair” for one little Cuban girl. The vibrant illustrations, bilingual text and whimsical tale of Dalia’s thick, exuberant, towering head of hair provides many instructional possibilties.  As a bonus, Lacamara also provides a glossary of the plant life native to Cuba mentioned in the story.

VABB your student's hair knowledge with this beautiful book!

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