Some reading inspiration...
Last Stop on Market Street, Rescue & Jessica A Life-Changing Friendship, and Red A Crayon's Story are all incredible stories that address overcoming adversity, loving who you are, the impact friends and family can make during hard times, identity, and diversity. These books are connected through common themes, but are also unique and engaging in their own way. Read on to find out more about these awesome stories!!
Rescue & Jessica
A Life-Changing Friendship
By Jessica Kensky and Patrick Downes
Illustrated by Scott Magoon
This book tells the story of two lives that went in different directions than expected and how their beautiful friendship brought them out of the dark to discover who they were going to be. A dog named Rescue thought he would grow up to be a seeing eye dog, just like his family had always done, but when his trainer decided he needed to be a service dog he wasn't sure how to feel. Until he met Jessica, who was learning how to live life in a new way after losing one and eventually both of her legs. The story beautifully parallels between Rescue and Jessica's lives and their worries about what the future might hold. Their lives changed side by side, until they were joined to begin the sweetest friendship. Rescue & Jessica is such an important read for young people to learn about people with disabilities. It is challenging to read, but books are supposed to make us feel and empathize which is exactly what this story does.
"This true story shows the major role dogs like Rescue play in the lives of people with disabilities. Heartwarming and compelling, this book makes it clear why dogs truly are a man's bestfriend." -Jane Goodall
Story behind the story
Rescue and Jessica is based on a real life friendship between a dog named Rescue and Jessica Kensky, who was injured during the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing. Both Jessica and her husband were injured that day while participating in the race. Rescue gets his name from a firefighter, Jon Davies who gave his life in the line of duty in December of 2011. He rode on a firetruck known as Rescue 1.
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This book is a true example of a #ownvoices story, both authors were directly effected by the terrible events of the boston bombing as well as the illustrator. On his blog, Magoon writes, "This book is perhaps the most personal work I've ever done, closely connecting personal experience, work and love for the city of Boston. I was running the 2013 Boston Marathon as an unofficial (or "bandit") runner on Boylston Street when the first bomb exploded in front of me...Unlike so many around us—like Patrick and Jessica—we escaped physical injury but I struggled with post traumatic stress disorder in the aftermath. "
This video could be shown to students to provide real perspective about the author's lives.
Teaching Ideas
This book would create the perfect opportunity within a classroom to discuss the role of service animals, people with disabilities, and the terrible events that occurred at the Boston marathon. In general, Rescue and Jessica's story would teach students about empathy, inclusion, and compassion. This story also teaches children about resilience, Jessica wasn't sure how to move on with her life after becoming a double amputee until Rescue came along and provided her with independence and happiness.
Some possible discussion questions from Candlewick Press Teacher's Guide...
1. What does it mean for someone to have a disability? What types of disabilities exist? Why is it important to understand different types of disabling conditions?
2. Everyone has strengths and areas of challenge. What are things you are good at doing? What things do you need to practice or try a new way in order to improve?
3. Can you think of another book that you have read about an individual that has a disability? How is the character similar to and/or different from Jessica? What important message or central theme do you learn in both books?
4. The story says that “Rescue didn’t want to let anyone down.” Why was it important to Rescue to be an exceptional Service Dog?
5. Look through the illustrations in the text. Which one of Rescue and Jessica is your favorite? Why? What does the picture suggest about the relationship between them?
6. Rescue was trained to support Jessica during everyday tasks. What other supports or tools do individuals with disabilities use to help them with their daily needs? Are they similar to or different from the tools we learn about in the story?
7. Have you ever seen a Service Dog or Seeing Eye dog? What should you do if you see a Service Dog? What types of actions might distract or prevent a Service Dog from doing his or her important job?
8. Why is it important to support everyone in a community? How can your community be supportive of someone who is experiencing physical or emotional challenges? Can you think of a time you provided someone in your community with support?
9. Imagine Jessica is a new student in your school. How would you welcome her? How can you build the school community so that it is welcoming to her? How can you make your school more accessible for her?
These questions could be used as a whole group class discussion, group discussion or writing prompts. Talking about challenging topics with students is so important because it expands their world view, books like this one make that experience so much more rich. There are so many great ideas for instruction surrounding this book which can be found on www.candlewickpress.com
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In order to look at this story with a critical lens, students could examine the book and think about who is represented in this book? Who is missing? Why do you think so? This could spark a conversation about other types of disabilities, ethnicities, etc. Students may have varying opinions as this is a true story and includes only the people actually involved in the story, but may also brainstorm ideas to include more diversity.
"For the first time in a long time, Jessica felt happy. And that made Rescue happy, too."
Last Stop on Market Street
Words by Matt De La Peña
Pictures by Christian Robinson
"I read my mom’s endless worry about the bills. About the empty fridge. But I also read the way she looked at me and my two sisters. Like we were special. Like we could make something of our lives." This quote Matt De La Peña's Newberry medal acceptance speech perfectly illustrates that every child can be a reader. Even if they are not reading books upon books, thou ey are reading something and it is up to us as educators to find that interest and ignite it. Last Stop on Market Street teaches the reader to be proud of who they are and where they come from. CJ's nana pushes him to see the beauty in a life that may not look so beautiful. Last Stop on Market Street is a powerful read that addresses diversity, socioeconomic background, and social class without being explicit in doing so. A first time reader of this book may simply appreciate the sweet story about a boy and his Nana who shares her positive outlook on life. This is why it is important to teach our students to be critical readers and comprehend in a much deeper way. Stories have so much to tell us, but we have to be able to read into what they want us to know. According to McLaughlin and DeVoogd in their article, a great way to begin a child's critical literacy journey is to discuss point of view in a story and alternative perspectives. For example, "why do you think this story was told from an outsiders perspective rather than being told by CJ or his Nana?" In my experience in school, we never really learned about the author, so just having the chance to see the author and gain information about why they wrote the book is so valuable to children. To specifically use the alternative perspectives strategy discussed by McLaughlin and DeVoogd in their article, it would be interesting to do photo juxtaposing with students. If we replaced the scenery in Last Stop on Market Street with houses in a suburban area and nice cars, how might the text be perceived differently? Students could discuss how the illustration impacts the story and whether or not CJ's surroundings might effect the way he perceives his life.
It is so powerful to watch the author of a book read the story, and explain why they included certain parts and what it means to them.
"How come it's always so dirty over here? She smiled and pointed at the sky. Sometimes when you're surrounded by dirt, CJ, you're a better witness for what's beautiful...He wondered how his Nana always found beautiful when he never thought to look."
Teaching Ideas
This story would be an avenue for such great discussion with students about where we come from, diversity, a new perspective (living in the city) or a connection to their own lives. An idea from The Classroom Bookshelf that I really love is to use this book for students to write about the special people in their lives. Using The Last Stop on Market Street could be a good avenue to do so because students who may live with someone besides their biological parents would not feel excluded. So often in schools we use holidays such as Mother's Day, Father's Day, and Grandparent's Day as a celebration and we tell students who may not have these people in their lives, "it's okay just write about someone who is special to you!" While this is a great effort to make all students feel included, it still creates a divide. By using this book and discussing special people in our lives, that are not limited to people that are related to us all students can participate and write about anyone that makes a difference in their life.
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Another idea would be to look at this book critically and examine the intentional use of diversity. This activity could teach students to not only read the words that the author writes, but to examine the illustrations that go along with them. What types of people do you see? Why do you think it is important for that type of person to be represented in books we read?
Red A Crayon's Story
Written and illustrated by Michael Hall
This book tells the story of a crayon named Red who simply does not fit his label. No matter how hard he tries to do what he is supposed to and draw in red, he is only able to draw in blue. The people around him can't seem to figure it out they tell him to just try harder and he becomes frustrated. Red becomes miserable trying to be what everyone else thinks he should be! Until a new friend comes along and asks him to make a blue ocean for her boat, she saw him for what he was all along! With her inspiration he continues drawing in blue and is proud of how well he does it, it seems that he has found himself. His community of crayons is accepting and excited about his newfound identity.
Themes: This is a book about identity, finding yourself, accepting yourself, and how the help of a friend can really make all of the difference in the world.
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On his website, author Michael Hall writes about his connection to this book. In a lot of ways, Red represents him. He is dyslexic and was often labeled as not very bright as a child. He felt the same frustration that Red did and was supported by a community of people who believed in him, but he writes, "Everyone tried their best to help. But almost no one could see beyond the label, and their actions only made things worse. I believe that most of the damage we do to each other is the result of ignorance rather than cruelty." This book and statement made me look at myself with a critical eye, as an educator I always want to help, but am I really helping or am I furthering the frustration? While reading this book I immediately thought of gender roles within the classroom. It is important not to mislabel students or people in general and expect them to perfectly fit into the given label.
This is friendship. Real friends not only accept us for who we are, but whole heartedly encourage us to be ourselves.
Teaching Ideas
This book could be used in so many ways in a classroom, from teaching colors to going in depth and discussing identity. Hall's story is versatile, I could imagine using it in a kindergarten classroom to discuss friendship, colors and loving yourself to a high school classroom to discuss family/peer/community acceptance and identity.
Possible discussion questions...
1. Why is Red struggling? What might help him feel better?
2.What makes someone a real friend?
3. Have you ever experienced not fitting in with friends or family? How did it make you feel?
4. Why is it important to accept people for who they are without expecting them to conform to their society given label?
Critical Questions...
1. How might this book relate to gender or sexual identity?
2. What message is the author trying to convey? Why is this an important message to discuss?