Everybody Says by Bonnie Dobkin

Book Genre: Fiction

Publisher: Childrens Press. 1993 (29 pages)

Summary: Everybody Says is a good starter book for children because the main character, who is nameless, is African-American. He looks different than the other children in the book and has different feelings, too. Everybody says vegetables are not good, rainy days aren't fun, sports are the best, and having a stuffed animal is for babies. The main character states his own feelings about these statements even though they are in contrast to what everybody else says. This is a simple little story that packs a big punch. We don't always have to believe or agree with what everybody else says. We can look different, act different, and have our own beliefs and it is okay to be who we are. Even as adults, we can learn from this story!

Personal rating and reason for rating: (**** Great) There is a word list in the back of the book, which is a wonderful tool for introducing new words in context. Also, in a cultural responsible classroom, a child of another culture may feel like he doesn't fit in because he is different. This book would help affirm that with different beliefs, looks, language, and actions, it is okay to be who you are, no matter what every body else says.

Reading Level: 1.2
Interest Level: K-3

Possible uses of the text in integrated units of study:

Social Studies: Children will learn about different cultures through stories, songs, and books.
Children will be encouraged to discuss their "family's culture" with family pictures from home, their own holiday activities, and different kinds of food prepared at home.

Geography: Children will view different environments and also discover through DVD's the climates and topography of foreign lands and how the people of that land are affected by where they live.

Music: Students will listen to and learn new music from foreign lands. Instruments will be made that represent sounds found in other cultures.

Writing: Students will write a short story with the prompt, "I like myself because...."

Reading: There is a word list for spelling, vocabulary, and understanding of words through context. The teacher may also read out loud about life in other cultures, such as, Rikki Tikki Tavi, The Little Dutch Boy, and other books related to foreign lands.

Art: The students will make a collage about what makes them unique with pictures from magazines, pictures from home, school work, awards they have won, a candy bar wrapper, anything that makes them realize they are all different with various talents, gifts, likes, and dislikes. These items could also be put in a keepsake box to be sealed and opened when they graduate from high school or college.

Beverly Ross