'The Day You Begin' by Jacqueline Woodson is a heartwarming picture book that explores the theme of finding connection and self-confidence in a diverse world. The book follows the experiences of children who feel different when they walk into a room but gradually learn to share their stories and realize that they are not alone in their uniqueness. Through poetic verse and beautiful illustrations, the author conveys a message of acceptance, love, and strength in embracing differences. The book addresses the challenges of being new and different in a classroom or any setting, highlighting the importance of bravery and self-acceptance.
Woodson's writing style is described as beautiful and poetic, with language that resonates emotionally and conveys a powerful message of inclusivity and understanding. The illustrations by Rafael López complement the text by depicting the richness of each child's life and the emotions they experience, adding depth to the storytelling and emphasizing the beauty of diversity.
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From The Publisher:
A #1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER!
Featured in its own episode in the Netflix original show Bookmarks: Celebrating Black Voices!
National Book Award winner Jacqueline Woodson and two-time Pura Belpré Illustrator Award winner Rafael López have teamed up to create a poignant, yet heartening book about finding courage to connect, even when you feel scared and alone.
There will be times when you walk into a room
and no one there is quite like you.
There are many reasons to feel different. Maybe it's how you look or talk, or where you're from; maybe it's what you eat, or something just as random. It's not easy to take those first steps into a place where nobody really knows you yet, but somehow you do it.
Jacqueline Woodson's lyrical text and Rafael López's dazzling art reminds us that we all feel like outsiders sometimes-and how brave it is that we go forth anyway. And that sometimes, when we reach out and begin to share our stories, others will be happy to meet us halfway.
(This book is also available in Spanish, as El Día En Que Descubres Quién Eres!)
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This is a multi-layered charming children’s book that shows that although children may initially feel different because no one looks like them or speaks like them, at the end of the day, there are more things that we have in common than what sets us apart.
The book begins with a young black girl entering her classroom and feeling apprehensive because no one looks like her. As the story progresses, she feels more inadequate as she listens to stories from her classmates regarding their summer travels. She begins to feel sad because she has no stories of summer travels to share.
A second story within the story focuses on Rigoberto who has just moved to the United States from Venezuela and feels out of place because his classmates laugh at him when he speaks.
The third story focuses on a young Asian girl who finds herself separated from her classmates due to the type of food she brings for lunch.
The fourth story show a young white boy who is left out of playing with his classmates because he enjoys reading. He feels sad yet brave because although he is chosen to play, he knows he’s a great person.
“The Day You Begin” ends with each child opening up and sharing their lives with their classmates. By speaking about their lives, they each realize that they each have similarities such as siblings, food to eat and games to play.
What can you read after
The Day You Begin?
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