Scan barcode
A review by gymnerdreader
Someone New by Anne Sibley O'Brien
5.0
Annotated Bibliography Entry: Someone New by Anne Sibley O'Brien
Text Set: Kindess
Genre: Picture book
Summary:
There are 3 immigrant students who are new students in 3 different classrooms. Maria is from Guatemala and does not speak English. The other students in the class wish they could help her and wish they could include her in things, such as soccer. They are afraid to mess up their soccer team. However after Maria approaches them asking them if she can play, they have a change of heart and realize she is an excellent soccer player. Jin is from South Korea and connects with the little boy in his class through their love of comic books and sharing things from their culture (Jin showing the boy how to write his name in Korean). Fatimah is from Somalia and she manages to connect with another girl in her class through drawing pictures of their family and home life. All of the students did not know how to help the new students at first because of the English ability, however after befriending them these new students managed to change the other students views and perspectives.
Personal Response:
Love that this book showed the different perspectives of all the characters. That way, readers could understand that it is hard for both parties to forge friendships. I also feel like this type of thing happens all the time in schools and I do think it is realistic that the main issue with other students being reluctant to befriend immigrant children is the language barrier and not knowing how to communicate with them. They want to, but they just do not know how! I think this is what happens in schools when someone new comes into class and that new student is an immigrant or an ELL student. I am sure a lot of kids would love to befriend the student, but it is ultimately the language barrier and not knowing what to do that is holding them back. I feel like this is a story that should definitely be shared in schools because I am sure situations, such as the ones depicted in the book occur all the time in classrooms.
Descriptions of illustrations:
Pictures are very modern and cartoon-like. They resemble people very well. The illustrations and layout reminded me a bit of comics because the characters speak in speech bubbles. I think the illustrations are appealing because of the cartoon aspect. The characters resemble people (nothing abstract) and it fits well with the story. I think because of this these pictures would be very appealing to children.
Classroom Connections:
I think this is the type of book that teachers could share and do activities with if they happen to have someone new come into the class and that student is an ELL student. I think if the book was shared at that time it would be more meaningful for students as they would have personal connections. If shared at a time where there is a new student, teachers could have students brainstorm different ways in which they could make the new student feel at home and make their own greeting cards welcoming the student into the classroom (which I am sure a new student would like). Teachers could also have students write in their journals about ways in which they could make the new student feel welcomed and over coming the language barrier. Since this story is about 3 different situations, I feel that teachers could use this book to talk about the different perspectives and have students write how they think the immigrant students feel about being a new student and befriending other students. This would be best before reading the companion book I'm New Here, which is actually told from the immigrant students' perspectives. So this activity would be a good introduction to the other book.
Text Set: Kindess
Genre: Picture book
Summary:
There are 3 immigrant students who are new students in 3 different classrooms. Maria is from Guatemala and does not speak English. The other students in the class wish they could help her and wish they could include her in things, such as soccer. They are afraid to mess up their soccer team. However after Maria approaches them asking them if she can play, they have a change of heart and realize she is an excellent soccer player. Jin is from South Korea and connects with the little boy in his class through their love of comic books and sharing things from their culture (Jin showing the boy how to write his name in Korean). Fatimah is from Somalia and she manages to connect with another girl in her class through drawing pictures of their family and home life. All of the students did not know how to help the new students at first because of the English ability, however after befriending them these new students managed to change the other students views and perspectives.
Personal Response:
Love that this book showed the different perspectives of all the characters. That way, readers could understand that it is hard for both parties to forge friendships. I also feel like this type of thing happens all the time in schools and I do think it is realistic that the main issue with other students being reluctant to befriend immigrant children is the language barrier and not knowing how to communicate with them. They want to, but they just do not know how! I think this is what happens in schools when someone new comes into class and that new student is an immigrant or an ELL student. I am sure a lot of kids would love to befriend the student, but it is ultimately the language barrier and not knowing what to do that is holding them back. I feel like this is a story that should definitely be shared in schools because I am sure situations, such as the ones depicted in the book occur all the time in classrooms.
Descriptions of illustrations:
Pictures are very modern and cartoon-like. They resemble people very well. The illustrations and layout reminded me a bit of comics because the characters speak in speech bubbles. I think the illustrations are appealing because of the cartoon aspect. The characters resemble people (nothing abstract) and it fits well with the story. I think because of this these pictures would be very appealing to children.
Classroom Connections:
I think this is the type of book that teachers could share and do activities with if they happen to have someone new come into the class and that student is an ELL student. I think if the book was shared at that time it would be more meaningful for students as they would have personal connections. If shared at a time where there is a new student, teachers could have students brainstorm different ways in which they could make the new student feel at home and make their own greeting cards welcoming the student into the classroom (which I am sure a new student would like). Teachers could also have students write in their journals about ways in which they could make the new student feel welcomed and over coming the language barrier. Since this story is about 3 different situations, I feel that teachers could use this book to talk about the different perspectives and have students write how they think the immigrant students feel about being a new student and befriending other students. This would be best before reading the companion book I'm New Here, which is actually told from the immigrant students' perspectives. So this activity would be a good introduction to the other book.