"It (also) benefits students to see and hear the teacher highlighting important data, skimming sections of the text, making connections to past experiences, and taking the time to pause and think about what is being read."
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I Walk with Vanessa: A Story About a Simple Act of Kindness
Author: Kerascoët
Illustrator: Kerascoët
Grade Level: PreK-3
Independent Reading Level: 2nd – 3rd Grade
Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars
Genre: Fiction
I Walk with Vanessa, by Kerascoët, is a wordless picture book about a shy girl named Vanessa who moves to a new school. No one notices Vanessa. No one that is, except Suzy. When Suzy sees Vanessa being bullied, she decides to take action. Through one child’s simple act of kindness, Vanessa’s life is forever changed.
I Walk with Vanessa is a perfect book to teach about kindness and friendship in the primary grades. The story teaches students that any act of kindness, no matter how small, can make a difference. The illustrations create a story for readers, while the lack of words allows the readers to create their own story. Wordless picture books engage students and help them develop observation and critical thinking skills.
As a kindergarten teacher, I think this book is a wonderful addition to my unit on feelings and friendship. The text is engaging for all students and shows them that one person and one simple act of kindness can change another person’s world entirely. I believe this book will teach students the value of friendship and the importance of being a leader by taking initiative, rather than being a bystander.
Courtney Fergen
Ten Cents a Pound
Author: Nhung N. Tran-Davies
Illustrator: Josee Bisaillon
Grade Level: K-3
Independent Reading Level: 2nd grade level
Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
Genre: Fiction
Ten Cents a Pound by Nhung N. Tran-Davies is a story about a young girl living in Asia in a small village with her mother. The girl is afraid to leave her mother and the village she lives in to go to school. Her mother wants her to leave the village to go to school and live a better life than she could have in the village. This book is beautifully written in prose form. The author uses this rich language and provides students with an opportunity to hear a multicultural story using the prose. The illustrations are very bright and help the students visualize the story and what is happening. The illustrations allow students to feel like they are in Asia standing in the village. The pictures add to the story with illustrations that support the student’s comprehension.
This book is a wonderful book to read aloud to students. Students are able to hear a different style of writing as well as learn about another culture and way of living. This text will provide the students with a different point of view and chance to see someone else’s life and struggles.
Many of my students who come from a variety of backgrounds and cultures enjoyed reading this book. Many of them could connect with the book and it created a discussion about how important school is for us in America. Students were able to share their views on going to school and many were able to understand how lucky we are that we get to go to school in America for free or right down the street from our houses. This book provided all students with a new perspective.
Claire Mansur
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