Jerry Pinkney is mostly known as an illustrator for children's books but is very interested in diversity and african-american themed books. He opened up his own art studio, and although he is mostly an artist that likes to focus on diversity, multicultural, and african-american themed books, he also wrote very few books that were very good and diverse as well.
I chose this book because I thought it would be perfect for people to read to children, because everyone at one point or another has felt like an outcast. This book is inspirational in a way to show and prove that in the end, you always find happiness in you life. I connect to this book really well because I too have had problems fitting in around the time of middle school, and was not happy, eventually everyone find their group that they fit in with and love.
The setting was outside in the wilderness, mostly near water for the duckling to swim in when need. There were also scenes that took place in two different homes by humans that stole the little duckling.
The main character in my book is the little duckling that went through his troubling time being different in color and size until he grew up finally realizing that he is a beautiful swan just like everyone, and maybe even a little better.
The struggle that the main character had to over come was the he was so different in comparison to the other ducklings. He was gray and was hatched in a bigger egg then the other ducks, and a family actually got mad because he would not hatch any eggs and did not like him for it.
The mood was sad through the book because you read about the hard times the little duckling had to go through. Then you got to the end when he realized he was a beautiful swan and he was so happy and pleased with his life which made the mood happy.
I absolutely love this book, it is a classic and it brings a warm feeling to your heart knowing that an unhappy duck, gets very happy and pleased with their life in the end. "The swan knew that it was worth having undergone all the suffering and loneliness that he had" (Pinkney, 29).
I would recommend this book to maybe 3 or 4th graders because that when children are starting to realize that they either fit in with some groups or not. It would be encouraging to hear a story that encourages the idea of being different and that everything will be okay in the end.
I agree that is would be an excellent book for teaching students about being an outsider. Most kids probably have felt like they don't belong at least once in their life (I know I did). It is important that they know that they aren't the only ones that feel this way, and that being different isn't always a bad thing. Overall, one of my favorite books.
ReplyDeleteI love this book, and the way you presented it in class was excellent.It really is a classic that has a happy ending. I would use this book in a classroom. It shows children that like you said things do turn out good. It is a book that children can relate to and turn to for hope.
ReplyDeleteThis was one of my favorite books as a kid. I think it's a great book to read to children, especially when they start to develop "cliques" and leave kids out. It teaches children that it's okay to be different, and sometimes, it takes a while to reach your full potential. It has a great morality lesson in it that children can understand and look deeper into.
ReplyDeleteThis book is definitely a classic. I think it is a great book to be discussed with students. Everyone at some point has been an outcast or the person making fun of the outcast. I think it's important for them to see how cruel the people making fun of the duck were. It's also important if there is an outcast for them to know that things will get better.
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