Margin Notes

Can you feel the butterflies in your stomach? Are they excited butterflies or nervous butterflies – or maybe they are both? A new school year brings many unknowns with it which can result in a mixture of emotions for children.

One way to ease some of those jitters would be to welcome your students into your classroom community by reading the book All Are Welcome by Alexandra Penfold and Suzanne Kaufman. Students are sure to see themselves reflected in the bright, cheery pages of All Are Welcome. The opening images of the nervous, uncertain children saying good-bye to their parents will offer them some reassurance that they are not the only ones feeling a bit scared about going to school. As students begin to meet the unique characters in the story, they will be delighted to see themselves portrayed on the pages. All Are Welcome will not only act as a mirror for children, in which they can see their own stories being told, but it will also provide a window from which students are invited to view the experiences of others. A visual celebration of diversity and individuality greets the reader at every turn of the page. The vibrant images are accompanied by the mantra, “All are welcome here”, which is echoed throughout the text. Inviting illustrations, paired with rhyming, simplistic (yet impactful) text will ensure that students receive the message that they belong to a special classroom community that recognizes and values diversity; the message being that, “You are welcome here.”

You will want to make space in your classroom library for All Are Welcome. It is a story that belongs to your students.

Sarah Carr is a K/1 teacher at Geary Elementary Community School who enjoys buying and reading books. One of her favorite pass-times is playing with her active puppy, Murphy.

Clap When You Land by Elizabeth Acevedo is a powerful novel written in verse, about two sisters, Yahaira and Camino, who, when the story opens, don’t know the other exists. Soon though, they are thrust together by their father’s death and left to deal with the secrets and devastation he leaves behind. Told in alternating perspectives and set in alternating countries, Yahaira and Camino, struggle to find forgiveness for a father they both loved, and who was living two very separate lives. The story explores grief after the loss of a parent, the recognition of familial bonds, and how our decisions and relationships can inexplicably change the course of people’s lives.

Packed with diverse own-voices representation, Clap When You Land is a great novel-in-verse addition to any high-school classroom library. Both girls have unique and distinct voices, which lends well to the telling of the story in two different geographical locations and strengthens the characterization of the girls. It would serve as a great mentor text for lyrical and verse writing, as Acevedo has mastered the rhythm and pacing for a novel in verse, that makes it both easy to read and impactful in its purpose. The tough subjects the book deals with, like grief and forgiveness, are done realistically and sensitively, and would be great introductions to having conversations about those themes in a classroom setting. Acevedo has created a masterpiece YA novel with Clap When You Land, as well as a must-have for your bookshelf.

Lauren Sieben is a High School ELA teacher at John Caldwell School in Grand Falls, New Brunswick. Her favourite activity is reading books. Her second favourite activity is talking about them.

A beautiful story about finding your voice in a world that sometimes you do not feel apart of.

“There will be times when you walk into a room and no one there is quite like you”. Most students can relate to a time when they felt left out or felt like they did not have anything interesting to say or share. When asked what they did during a summer break lots of kids are eager to share about their summer adventures, but there may be a student who does not share and usually behind that there is an insecurity or worry that what they did was not exciting enough. This story shares many examples of how one might feel different from the rest, whether it be clothing, skin color, hair, or the food they eat. The art and the words in the book lead us to a point where a student feels like they are on the outside looking in. Until one day they find their voice and courage to speak up. “There will be times when you walk into a room and no one there is quite like you until the day you begin…” and then you find “the world opens itself up to make some space for you”. The art is so beautiful and the color contrast between the moments of feeling left out to the moments of celebration are breathtaking.

This was the first book I have read from Jacqueline Woodson; she has a lyrical way of telling a story and with Rafael Lopez’s art it is as if the words are singing and the pictures are dancing.

My grade 5 students really enjoyed the book and the pictures. One student said, “Not everyone is the same and that’s okay!” Another said, “I felt really sad in the beginning but in the end happy”. “I love the art! Each kid is different. I loved the book!”

Stacy McCarthy teaches at Andover Elementary School. She has been teaching for 10 years and loves being introduced to new authors. When she is not teaching you can find her with her family, sledding or skating.

Padma Venkatraman was introduced to the plight of homeless children in India by her mother at an early age. Though a poor, single mother herself, she taught Padma to support charitable causes, especially those that provided education for children. Using a variety of true stories and characters as the basis for The Bridge Home, she creates a powerful look at what home and family looks like for the young and homeless.

Sisters Viji and Rukku do have a “traditional home” at the beginning of the book. However, when their abusive father starts beating not only the mother, who makes excuses and forgives him, but also the girls, Viji decides it is time to take control. The next morning Viji packs their school backpacks with necessities instead of schoolwork. Though the bags are heavy she adds the book her teacher had given her as a gift, unable to leave it behind.

The girls use most of their money on bus fare. Once they arrive at their destination, they struggle to avoid danger and find safety. Rukku is a special needs child and Viji has been taught all her life to keep her sister hidden, and avoid hospitals or schools where they would take Rukku away from the family. Viji worries about taking care of her sister, when in fact, Rukku finds many ways to take care of Viji. The girls meet up with two homeless boys when they seek shelter, eventually coming together as a family, complete with a dog that Rukku befriends.

This story shows how resilient and strong homeless children must be, and how trusting and working with others makes it better. However, they are children and need the support of good, kind adults to break the cycle.

This book is eye opening- examining poverty even beyond books like Paper Things, No Fixed Address, and Benefits of Being An Octopus. And yet, these children become a family and move towards a better life while enduring an incredible loss, together. Hope shines strong throughout.

Jean Anne Green is a middle school teacher in Florenceville, NB- the French Fry Capital of the World. She loves to read, watch hockey and talk books with her daughter, an aspiring librarian.

After meeting Darius for the first time a couple of years ago in the first installment of the Darius series, I was thrilled to hear of the second book. The first touched on mental health, the importance of speaking your truth, and understanding the importance of families. Khorram wrote about being in a multi-racial family and showed the beauty of learning about your own heritage and culture. While the second book in the series does have small parts that focus on microagressions and how they are dealt with (or not dealt with) Darius the Great Deserves Better reminds us what it’s like to fall in love for the first time. This book is about falling in love not only romantically, but learning to love yourself, too.

The best part of this book was what wasn’t there. We learn quickly that Darius has come out to his family and friends as gay – and what’s missing? There’s no fall out. There’s no dismissive or abusive parents. There’s no being kicked out of your church, family, or school. There’s support. And you know what? That’s needed. Books that show positive reactions to queer young people need to exist, and this novel is a fantastic example.

This is not meant to be dismissive of LGBTQ+ centered media that does shed light on the abuse and neglect that happens to queer people, but there is a serious lack of positive and affirming media that shows how being gay is not the end of the world, and it doesn’t mean that your life will become dismantled in all ways, shapes, and forms. We are inundated with negative facts and statistics about LGBTQ+ youth, but so rarely is there a spotlight given to anything that may talk about the positives of being gay. There are times in Darius where there are characters that may say something homophobic, but there is not a central plot that focuses on any sort of abuse and this, sadly, is rare to see. Having three young male characters who are not heterosexual yet do not fall into stereotypes is fantastic and can often be a source of healing for many.

Daruis and his extended family are easy to fall in love with – his gifted younger sister, his workaholic but loving mother, and of course, his father. The real relationship that should be spoken of is the one between Darius and his father – both of whom suffer from depression. Having an adult character who is dealing with mental health issues in a realistic way is important for young readers to see. This novel sheds light on the fact that parents do not always have the answers, and that’s ok.

While I would suggest reading the first book in the series beforehand, you will be happy to have this novel on your shelf. Covering many relevant and current issues, this book is one that will inspire and encourage young folks to be their true selves – and what more could we ask for?

Laura Noble teaches English and Writing at Leo Hayes High School in Fredericton. She is an avid reader of true crime, realistic fiction, and feminist literature.