Mama, Do You Love Me? ISBN 0-87701-759-X. Barbara M. Joosse. Illustrated by Barbara Lavallee. 1991. Golden Kite Award. Ages 4-8. Traditional Inuit.

This is a simple story in which a young girl seeks to hear from her mother that her love is unconditional. The girl wants to know how much her mama loves her and whether or not her mama will love her even if she does things that she knows she should not do. No matter what happens, Mama always says, “I will love you . . . “ The colorful watercolor and colored pencil illustrations of the mother and daughter’s clothing stands out against the mainly white backgrounds of the pages. The detailed illustrations represent the Inuit culture in a way that the fairly simple text does not. The illustrations represent the traditional Inuit culture prior to the encroachment of contemporary, western influence.

I can see uses for this book by many age groups and across many curriculum areas. Very young children would appreciate the repetition present in the prose, the colorful illustrations, and the introduction to the Inuit culture and Arctic animals. Emotions, as displayed by the mother, could also be explored with younger children. Older children could explore the Inuit culture, as introduced in this book: in art by creating their own masks, in science by discussing the seasons of the Arctic (the Midnight Sun and the Polar Night), by exploring the changing weather and environment of the Arctic, or in social studies by exploring the day-to-day life of the traditional Inuit and their geographic location. Some of these topics could be extended further in an exploration of how the traditional Inuit culture is changing with the encroachment of contemporary, western influence.

Ruby’s Wish. ISBN 0-8118-3490-5. Shirin Yim Bridges. Illustrated by Sophie Blackall. 2002. Ezra Jack Keats Book Award. Ages 5-8. Chinese.

Ruby is a girl in China from a wealthy family who allows her to learn to read and write, at a time when most girls are not allowed to do so. She wishes that when she is old enough, rather than marrying, she can attend university. Ruby shows her grandfather her talent and her desire for education, and he grants her wish. The watercolor illustrations extend the text by showing the reader the beauty of traditional Chinese culture with which many young readers may be unfamiliar, such as the clothing, hairstyles, Chinese calligraphy, and architecture.

Ruby's Wish could be used in the classroom, most likely in the social studies curriculum, to discuss traditional gender roles and traditions of other cultures. The class could have a Chinese New Year celebration with Chinese lanterns and red envelopes with wishes inside for their classmates or families. This book also provides an opportunity to discuss the importance of children speaking-up for themselves. Art is another area in which this book could be used. Simple Chinese calligraphy could be explored along with a discussion about the use of pictographs in the evolution of written language.

John Henry. ISBN 0-8037-1606-0. Julius Lester. Illustrated by Jerry Pinkney. 1994. Caldecott Honor. Ages 5-10. African American.

This American folk tale retells the story of African American John Henry from his birth and tremendous growth to his death. John Henry grows to be so strong that he uses only two sledgehammers to chop through a mountain faster than a steam drill in order to build a railroad tunnel. This wins him the bargain he makes with the owner of the steam drill. However, his enormous effort causes his death. The pencil and watercolor illustrations in this version of John Henry’s story are bold and show the strength of the man and of the world in which he lives.

John Henry could be used in a classroom in many ways. Social studies seems to be the perfect subject area in which to use this book. This book could inspire discussions of folk tales, the construction of the transcontinental railroad, the industrial revolution, and how African Americans contributed to all of these. In addition, a history of oral story-telling could be studied. This story could also contribute to art and music curriculums. Folk music and the oral tradition of passing down stories and music could be dealt with along with how a single folk legend, such as John Henry, can inspire numerous visions of artistic representation.

Red Leaf, Yellow Leaf. ISBN 0-15-266197-2. Lois Ehlert. 1991. Ages 4-8. Child and father could represent any number of cultural and socio-economic groups.

A child tells the story of his/her favorite tree, from seedling in the forest to the garden center and finally to the yard. The child also shows us the sugar maple during all four seasons as it continues to grow in the yard. Following the story is a fairly detailed description of the parts of sugar maple trees as well as how to select, plant, and care for a tree. The illustrations combine watercolor art with photographs and pen and ink drawings in collages. The images add to the information that can be gained from this book by showing us that birds, animals, and even worms use the space around trees.

This book could easily prompt many hands-on activities, including making a bird seed treat as is suggested on the hardcover book jacket. In addition, though, younger children could perform leaf-rubbings or plant a tree in the school yard. This book could be used to teach simplified plant biology to young children. Teachers could also lead conversations about taking care of the environment and what trees contribute to the earth, including homes and food for animals as well as maple syrup. This book also has the potential to inspire many types of art projects, including painting or pressing leaves, using leaves as texture, and creating collages with leaves. Many of these projects could be used any time of year, but fall would be the best season for using Red Leaf, Yellow Leaf in the classroom.

Lois Ehlert received the Caldecott Honor for Color Zoo in 1989.

Tales from Grimm. ISBN 0-8166-4936-7. Wanda Gag. 1936. Ages 9-12. European peasants and royalty.

Wanda Gag retells classic Grimm folk and fairy tales, from the well-known such as “Hansel and Gretel” and “Cinderella” to lesser-known tales. In these traditional tales, we see princess, princes, witches and magic as well as peasant families and talking animals. Many lessons can be had from Grimm’s tales including but not limited to generosity, kindness, triumph over adversity, and that things are not always as they appear. The pen and ink drawings lend to the prose of these classic tales in their beauty but simplicity. These illustrations are as timeless as the stories themselves.

Folk tales could be used in the classroom in many ways. Students could write their own fairy tales, and, in doing so, learn the characteristics of fairy tales. A teacher could incorporate art by having the students make puppets and perform puppet shows of various folk and fairy tales. Folk tales can also be used to discuss culture by reading and discussing other versions of “Cinderella”, for example. The Korean Cinderella, Mufaro’s Beautiful Daughters, and The Rough-Face Girl are all based on the story of Cinderella but represent cultures other than the European as in the Grimm’s version.

Wanda Gag received the Newbery Honor for Millions of Cats and the ABC Bunny and the Caldecott Honor for Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs and Nothing at All.

Where the Wild Things Are. ISBN 0-06-443178-9. Maurice Sendak. 1963. Caldecott Medal, New York Times Best Illustrated Book, Boston Globe-Horn Book Award. Ages 4-8. Caucasian.

Young Max’s mother sends Max to his room without supper, because he was making mischief. While in is room and wearing his wolf suit, Max’s room turns into a forest, and he travels by boat to another world full of large monsters. The “wild things” make Max their king, but Max gets lonely and hungry and wants to be home. Max travels back across the ocean and ends up back in his room with his supper waiting for him. The pen and ink drawings have subtle color but give texture to the landscape as well as to the "wild things" themselves.

The beautiful drawings are colorfully sketched. This lovely book could be used to discuss emotions, dreams, and nightmares with young children. Keeping in mind the background of the individuals in the classroom, one could also discuss having a safe and loving place or person to go to. Creativity could also be challenged as the kids create their own “wild things”.

Flower Garden. ISBN 0-15-228776-0. Eve Bunting. Illustrated by Kathryn Hewitt. 1994. Parenting Outstanding Children's Book of the Year. Ages 4-8. African-American.

A young girl and her father buy and plant a flower box of different types of flowers as a surprise gift for her mother’s birthday. They buy the flowers at the grocery store and live in an apartment in a city. The girl must carry the flowers from the store, on the city bus, and up the stairs of the apartment building. Then, the planter must be planted before Mom arrives home. “I can hardly wait” and “Hurry! Hurry!” cause us to wonder what the excitement is all about. Is she simply excited to plant her flowers, or is there something else about to happen? The bright oil paintings in this book bring the story to life by showing emotion on faces as well as a sense of joy and peace on pages absent of words.

Discussion surrounding this lovely picture book could go in many different directions, from the types of flowers and their colors to why there might be ladybugs on the flowers. In a rural or suburban school, there could be a dialogue about city living and differences in lifestyles. This book could also be used to talk about finding joy in giving to others.