Ladybug Nominee

The Day You Begin

Author: Jacqueline Woodson

Illustrator:  Rafael López 

ISBN: 978-0399246531

Publisher: Nancy Paulsen Books (August 28, 2018)

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.

About Jacqueline Woodson

Jacqueline Woodson is the 2018-2019 National Ambassador for Young People’sLiterature.

Website: https://www.jacquelinewoodson.com/             

About Rafael López

Website: http://rafaellopez.com/   

Reading Rockets Interview: https://youtu.be/Bvy0UViYSXY

Book Trailer: https://youtu.be/ZEWlBW51j3A

Big Ideas: Self-Esteem, Diversity

Questions:

• How do you feel when you are in a room of people that seem different than you?
• What is something positive about yourself?
• Talk about diversity and its meaning. What can we do to become a more inclusive community?

Vocabulary: Language, Fragile, Untraveled, Kimchi  

Places: Venezuela, France, India, Spain, Maine, South Carolina

Activities:

• Random House Guide to the work of Jacqueline Woodson
• 10 Ways to be Brave inSchool from the Read Learn Repeat Blog
• Guide from TheCurriculum Corner
• Creative Confidence-BuildingActivities for Elementary Students
• Positive Parenting:Self-Esteem Activities from babies up

Companion Titles:

•  All are Welcome by Alexandra Penfold, Suzanne Kaufman (Knopf, 2018)
• Elmer by David McKee (Lothrop, Lee & Shepard, 1968)
• Giraffes Can’t Dance by Giles Andreae; illustrated by Guy Parker-Rees (Orchard Books, 2001)
•  Last Stop on Market Street words by Matt De La Peña; pictures by Christian Robinson (G.P. Putnam’s Sons, 2015)
•  Lovely by Jess Hong (Creston Books, 2017)
• Red: A Crayon’s Story by Michael Hall (Greenwillow Books, 2015)
•  Same, Same but Different by Jenny Sue Kostecki-Shaw (Henry Holt, 2011)
•  Stand Tall, Molly Lou Melon by Patty Lovell; illustrated by David Catrow (G.P. Putnam’s Sons, 2001)
• Stephanie’s Ponytail story by Robert Munsch; art by Michael Martchenko (Annick Press, 1996)

This is one of ten titles nominated for the 2019 Ladybug Picture Book Award. This info sheet post was created by Deborah Dutcher, Youth and Adult Services Librarian, NHSL and Karen Landsman,  Library Media/Tech Integration Specialist, Hooksett School District.