I’m really excited about the MCCBD Classroom Reading Challenge: January 27, 2016! Sponsored in part by Junior Library Guild, the Reading Challenge is designed to help TEACHERS build their classroom libraries with diverse, inclusive and multicultural books. It’s a fantastic opportunity for schools, teachers and students! Teachers read up to four multicultural books in their classroom and earn a FREE multicultural book from MCCBD. Having Junior Library Guild on board assures that the free book is a pre-screened, library-quality book that maps to Common Core. PLUS Junior Library Guild will donate up to 200 books for classrooms and teachers!
Continue reading MCCBD 2016 Reading Challenge at Story Quest.
We are just a few short days away from our second Multicultural Children’s Book Day. I’ve been matched with one of our Platinum Sponsors Daybreak Press and Global Bookstore and a really cleverly written book called Sophia’s Journey by Najiyah Diana Maxfield.
This book is for middle school and above readers.
Sophia’s Journal does a very fine job of weaving. Yes weaving. It takes a 21st century muslim teenager, Sophia, who has a bad fall in a river. This dramatic tumble sends her back to the year 1857 and all that means. This beautifully written book looks at the ideas of race, religion, and bigotry from a multi century view. It gives us a front row seat and a glimpse into pivotal moments in American history as well as what it’s like to be a practicing muslim in the 21st century.
Sophia has to get use to new food and some times the lack of food, new entertainment such as knitting, and a new family. Sophia gets a first hand view at slavery and Native Americans from the year 1857. The characters in the story are well developed and the sense of adventure and self discovery are greatly inspiring.
One of the things that really struck me as I read this book is that it dispels the “over there” mentally that we can so easily become a participant in. For example: “Muslims are those people over there,…….” Often times being viewed as the enemy. This myth is dispelled as author Najiyah Diana Maxfield intersperses the daily rhythms and gentle practices of the world’s muslims into this thoughtful coming of age tale. This is later reflected when the slave William is also a muslim from Africa.
Often times we look at things from the past as truly history. In Sophia’s Journal we deal first hand with the ideas of slavery, slave owners and the abolition movement as well as the poor view and treatment of Native Americans, there is even a mention or two of the suffragette movement. We could so easily say, that happened then and doesn’t concern us now. Not so. These topics are still very much alive today and currently continue to unfold.
I greatly admire this book and recommend it. First because is gives a positive light to both teenagers and muslims. Secondly because it is a well written story that is so captivating that I couldn’t put it down.
Something To Do
In the back of Sophia’s Journal are a couple of wonderful recipes as well as two glossaries. One for the 1850’s and the other of Arabic terms commonly used by Muslims around the world.
I our something to do we are going to create a Time Traveler’s Journal where we will write notes about our explorations into 1850’s Kansas as well as Islam.
Take a blank sheet journal, pens, photos that you have printed off the computer and some glue and create a beautiful Common Book Journal about your journey into the world of Sophia.
A Look into Slavery
Slavery in America began in 1607 and continued until 1865. These links tell you more about this controversial but, for a long time, legal practice.
Here are some great book resources as well.
A Look at the Native Americans of Kansas
Kansas, a word readily recognizable as derived from the Native American tribal name Kansa, or “Wind People,” is a state possessing a rich Native American heritage.
The land we now call Kansas had been home to many Native American tribes. The Arapaho, Cheyenne, Comanche, Kansa, Kiowa, Osage, Pawnee, and Wichita are tribes that are considered native to present day Kansas.
To learn more about the traditions of the Kansas Plains Native Americans I find Big Orrin’s website to have many facts geared towards children.
To learn more about these tribes and the history of the region please have a look here.
A Look into Prairie Life in Kansas
Here’s a good look at life on the Kansas prairie in 1850.
Want to know more about Sod Houses and how to build them have a look here.
A fun reading history book list about the prairies.
A Look at Islam
Islam is a world religion practiced by 1.7 billion people. PBS has put together this fact sheet about muslims and the religion of Islam and here’s another look from CNN.
Another way to meet your world is through literature. Multicultural Children’s Books Day is such a celebration which has created a vast resource of multicultural books and authors on our website.
My Gift to YOU!
Don’t forget to grab your FREE copy of my Read Your World Multicultural Booklists and Activities for Kids.
The post Love to Time Travel? Sophia’s Journal Book Review appeared first on Jump Into A Book.
