Week 2: Children's Book Diversity Theme

 Where Are You From?

By Yamile Saied Mendez

   "For kids everywhere"

  Where Are You From? is a Children's book written by Yamile Saied Mexdez and illustrated by Jaime Kim. This book is so beautifully illustrated, the pictures are captivating and paint a real picture of cultural heritage. This story is centered around a young hispanic girl who is repeatedly asked the question, "Where are you from?" by friends and others around her. 

    The young girl is unsure how to respond to their repeated question, so she turns to her Abuelo (grandfather) for some guidance. Her Abuelo takes her on a very poetic journey through their heritage and family history. He describes to her of the rich and diverse cultural background that defines her identity. He tells her about the pampas, mountains, animals, and the sky of their homeland. He emphasizes to her that her identity is shaped by various elements, including those who came before her, the places where her ancestors lived, and the love and strength that has been passed down through the generations in their family. 

 

    In conclusion, this book conveys an important message teaching children that identity is multifaceted and where each person comes from is not just about geography, but also history, culture, and family bonds.   

In The Classroom: 

    Where Are You From? would be a lovely addition to anyones classroom library! This beautifully illustrated book represents diversity and culture by addressing the complexity of where one person may come from, beyond just geographical location. By depicting the main character whose seeking to understand her identity through the wisdom of her Abuelo (grandfather), this story emphasizes the importance of family history and traditions in shaping us into who we are. This story can help students with diverse backgrounds, helping to see their own self in literature. 

    This book is suitable for students that are 4-8 years old, ideally for elementary school students. Activities that can complement this book in the classroom can include creating family heritge projects where students can share stories (poster board), and artifacts (show n tell) from their own backgrounds. It would be a fun idea to even bring in a guest speaker for students that shares a different cultural background sharing information of their heritage. This could also be a cross-curricular activity with history. Another engaging activity could be drawing or writing about a specific place that feels significant to them, helping them to understand the personal identity that we all have. Since this book is very poetic, older students could be introduce to poetry and conduct their own poems about who they are and what makes them who they are. 

YouTube Read Aloud: