by Sonia Sotomayor illustrated by Rafael López
by Elana K. Arnold illustrated by Charles Santoso
An Ode to the Warm Fuzzies of Fall
in the same tune as "My favorite things" from The Sound of Music
...
Sweatpants, warm flannels, and booties not sandals,
pumpkin spice everything, 'n warm spiced scent candles,
burrowed beneath fuzzy blankets, wool socks
awestruck by stars, the moon, and my books
When the leaves turn When the tea sings When Fall returns at last,
I simply must share some of my favorite things
And then I will get on task!!!
...
And, on that note, speaking of things that make me feel wArM and CoZy inside, I guarantee that the two books covered this week will likely become a couple of your favorites, too! It's impossible not to love the genuine, authentic, and overall sweet characters that are introduced within the pages of Sonia Sotomayor's and Elana K. Arnold's wonderfully crafted stories, brought to life with the magical illustrations of Rafael López and Charles Santoso.
The timing for sharing Sonia Sotomayor's Just Ask: Be Different, Be Brave, Be You could not have been more appropriate as we wrap up this week honoring the legacy of fellow Supreme Court Associate Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg (March 15, 1933 - September 18, 2020). RBG's passing this week will be a great loss for our country as stories of her courageous work are shared in celebration of her life. Both Sonia and Ruth have dedicated their lives to ensuring that justice at the highest level of the American court system is served. Sonia was nominated by President Barack Obama and appointed to the Supreme Court in 2009, becoming the first Hispanic woman from a working-class background to achieve such an honor (Sotomayor, Oyez). Similarly, Ruth was a trailblazer in her own way; appointed by President Bill Clinton in 1993 to the Supreme Court, she continued to forge her own legacy in leading the fight for women's rights and gender equality by attacking "...specific areas of discrimination and violations of women’s rights one at a time, so as to send a message to the legislatures on what they can and cannot do. Her attitude is that major social change should not come from the courts, but from Congress and other legislatures. This method allows for social change to remain in Congress’ power while also receiving guidance from the court" (RBG, Oyez). But Sonia is not one to be mentioned here as a just a complementary character to RBG; she, too, is well on her way to building up her own legacy as a foundational voice at the table. Most recently, Sonia has fought for the protection of affirmative action with regards to state universities considering race in admission decisions (which Justice Ginsberg also supported), and also supported the legalization of same-sex marriage in all 50 states. Though she is known for her "...cutthroat attitude toward ill-prepared attorneys[, s]he is also known for her kindness toward jurors and the attorneys who work hard to advocate for their clients (Sotomayor, Oyez). And, her reputation for approaching the things that she values with kindness and fiery spirit is just as evident in her book as it is in her work as a Supreme Court Justice.
In an interview with NPR, Sonia and the illustrator of Just Ask, Rafael López share how their own connections and experiences contributed to their ability to bring such a meaningful story to life. Just Ask is a story about the possibilities that become endless when communities come together and recognize that everyone's differences can also be sources for unique talents and contributions. Although each of the characters have their own differences in ability, they also emphasize the unique contributions and interests that make each of them special. In meeting each of these characters, the reader is introduced to a diverse range of talents and feelings that may or may not resonate with the reader themself. Bianca shares how her dyslexia can make it hard to read and write but how proud she is of her imagination and creativity when she gets to create art. Jordan and Tiana emphasize how their experiences with autism can look different from each other. And, Julia emphasizes how frustrating it is to have to explain why she is who she is. But the most compelling detail worked into this book was the connection between each of these characters and how, despite each of their unique abilities, they are able to share experiences and relate to each other; my favorite example is when Julia explains why she experiences frustration and on the following page, Manuel, though having different abilities from Julia, also expresses why he gets frustrated when his needs are not met.
Not only is Just Ask wonderfully written, but it is also beautifully illustrated; Sonia and Rafael couldn't have created anything more cohesive or better presented in terms of conveying their story through both words and art. In the NPR interview, Rafael says, "To him, bright colors represent emotion and diversity. The whole idea is that you're bringing this explosion of color ... this explosion of diversity that we ideally would like to have in a community," and Sonia adds, "Just the way gardens have different plants, and different trees, and different kinds of flowers, and different birds and animals that populate the garden, we in our society have different kinds of people, too, doing different kinds of things." Both the author and illustrator even explain how the inspiration for the story has its own personal connections to their own lives; for Sonia, as someone who has diabetes, and for Rafael as he raises his son, who has autism. They express their wishes that young readers might connect with this book and find reflections of themselves within the pages, but they also emphasize that it's okay to ask questions and be curious about the world and the people around them!
Guiding questions: How is the life of the character with a disability presented as multidimensional?
Each of the characters have so much to offer to the community garden and they are presented in such a way that their abilities and skills are what sets them apart from their peers, not their disabilities. Whose voice is represented and emphasized in the telling of this story?
Each of the kids tell about what makes them special from their own perspectives! How are readers positioned to think and feel about the character with a disability?
The reader's attention is drawn to all of the unique skills that the kids have to contribute to the garden and how they are similar and different from one another's. What steps has the author taken to create and present authentic relationships?
The author includes herself as one of the voices in the story and talks about her experience as a kid growing up with diabetes, what made her feel left out, and how she would want others to treat her instead.
And, if the characters in Just Ask aren't enough to bring warm smiles all around, then Elana K. Arnold's A boy called BAT will be sure to do the trick! In this sweet story, Bat, short for Bixby Alexander Tam, meets a baby skunk that his mom brought home from her work as a vet; although she warns Bat not to get too attached since they would only have it for a short period of time before dropping it off at a rescue center, Bat is determined to change her mind. There are some things we learn very quickly about Bat. First, he hates the fruit-on-the-bottom yogurts. Second, he hates when his mom tries to reorganize his clothes. And third, Every-Other-Fridays make him uncomfortable. But also, fun words like "miscellaneous" are his favorite. He really likes his third grade teacher, Mr. Grayson. And, he LOVES animals. So, he knows that if anyone is going to convince his mom that the baby skunk will make a good pet and be super well-cared for, it has to be him, and Bat is up for the challenge!
This book really warmed my heart because I couldn't help but adore Bat! Elana's characterization and ability to bring Bat's character to life is rejuvenating and one of the most well written, multidimensional characters I have seen in young children's books. Bat reminds us that we all have our own share of pet peeves, some more than others, but also that we all have a role to play in the world around us. Told from his perspective, Bat walks us through some of the most complex experiences that he is expected to confront as a young third-grade boy with autism. Not only is he brutally honest about how he sees the world around him, but he is also genuinely transparent about how things make him feel. This book reminds readers that sometimes feelings can be scary to confront as young children, but knowing that those feelings are normal and experienced by others makes them just a bit less intimidating. Readers will definitely be able to relate to Bat as he embarks on his mission to convince his mom to let him keep his kit, all while navigating the challenges of having divorced parents, having an older sister, and generally just being a third-grade kid.
Guiding questions: How is the life of the character with a disability presented as multidimensional?
Bat is presented as multidimensional because the story is not about his autism, but rather about his mission to save the baby skunk and he just so happens to have autism. His character is three dimensional and representative of his whole self, as a third grade kid who loves animals and who has his share of likes and dislikes. Whose voice is represented and emphasized in the telling of this story?
Bat's voice is represented and emphasized and he welcomes the reader into his thoughts and feelings throughout the story, especially explaining why he feels the way he does and how strong emotions like anger, confusion, and frustration make his body feel. The reader also picks up on Bat's determination and goal oriented logic as he faces everyday situations at school and situations revolving around the baby skunk. How are readers positioned to think and feel about the character with a disability?
Bat is a character who is easy to admire and hard to pity. His eager determination and passion for animals is so genuine and captures the simple missions that kids have when they are young and innocent and dreamers. The way he explains how he feels and thinks just makes sense (he approaches things with such simplicity) and readers will find themselves rooting for Bat through the end of the book! What steps has the author taken to create and present authentic relationships?
Bat's relationship with his family, his teacher, and his classmates are authentic because they are so natural. It is natural for an older sister to feel annoyed that she has to take care of her little brother, and it is natural for kids to get upset because they don't know how to deal with embarrassment, and it is natural for there to be tension between divorced parents and their kids. The natural structure of these relationships emphasize the experiences that Bat faces as a kid who happens to have autism rather than as a kid with autism. There is more depth to all of his experiences than just his disability and we can see the development of his character as it rounds-out over the course of the book.
Fish in a Tree by Lynda Mullaly Hunt
Winner of the Schneider Family book award in 2016, Fish in a Tree tells the story of three young adolescents in the sixth grade who are trying their best to fit in. Ally, Keisha, and Albert not only face the universal challenge of navigating middle school and figuring out how to be "normal," but they also share experiences where they must fight their own personal battles, too. Lynda Mullaly Hunt weaves a beautiful story about friendship, coming to own one's differences, and being persistent in working towards one's dreams, and there's no doubt that readers will root for Ally, Keisha and Albert as they band together to face the challenges that await before them.
Guiding questions: How is the life of the character with a disability presented as multidimensional?
The characters in this book are presented as multidimensional when they rely on each other for support and encouragement when facing a battle that seems overwhelming. Ally, Keisha, and Albert each have different perspectives and advice to offer their friends.
Whose voice is represented and emphasized in the telling of this story?
Ally's voice is emphasized in this story, which I thought was neat because it provided a new perspective. Even though Ally struggled to read and write, the reader experiences the story from her point of view, almost as if she is showing/telling the story herself. How are readers positioned to think and feel about the character with a disability?
Readers will definitely find that the characters who are seen as the most "misfit" are the kindest and most inclusive characters in the story. What steps has the author taken to create and present authentic relationships?
The relationships in this book center around the desire to fit in with "normal" kids in middle school, and by approaching how three different students are faced with this concept of what it means to be normal (emphasizing three different "abnormalities"); the author suggests that normal can look different for everyone, just as people's personal battles can feel different for everyone.
Books, BOoks, BOOks, BOOKs, and MORE BOOKS:
Thank You, Mr. Falker | by Patricia Polacco
Wonder | R.J. Palacio
Miss Spitfire: Reaching Hellen Keller | by Sarah Miller
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time | by Mark Haddon
*REFLECTION QUESTION*
This week, we looked at books where characters with disabilities have been given center stage to tell their own stories in order to directly challenge the narrative others have projected onto them/onto people like them. How does your story differ from the story people think is yours?
Warm and rich prose. Nicely professional. A maturity that is