Happy Friday; today I'm excited because I completed my ASCA session this week, for our national conference online at the end of the month. Here's a slide I'm sharing, filled with my favorites to foster empathy, compassion and kindness.
I'm so grateful and honored to be chosen to present a workshop this year and I found it a rewarding challenge to plan for and present it virtually.
Moving onward to today's PPBF.
Title: The Lotus Seed
Author: Sherry Garland
Illustrator: Tatsuro Kiuchi
Publisher: HMH Books
Birth date: February 15, 1997
Suitable for: ages 6-9
Themes: loss, loyalty, hope
Brief synopsis: A young girl forced to leave her home in Vietnam brings with her a special seed to America, to honor the dethroned Emperor she left behind. Can good sprout from the sorrow she feels when, after carrying it with her for years, the seed suddenly goes missing?
Opening page:
My grandmother saw
the emperor cry
the day he lost
his golden dragon throne.
Resources:
Why I like this book: The grandmother's loyalty to her country stays with her as long as the seed does; its importance is amplified when she grabs the seed even over a prized family heirloom. And to me, it begs the question: What would you take if you had to leave your home quickly and could only take one thing? What a fun writing prompt that would make for our budding authors.
In the back of the book, a bit of history to help the reader better understand Vietnam and its people. I connect with cultural diversity and love learning about other countries and their traditions. Use this exquisite text to open up a discussion about the role of an Emperor and compare and contrast it with other systems of government. What are the pros of each? The cons? How must Grandmother have felt to see the Emperor cry? Is it possible that her loyalty was misplaced?
I especially love that the grandson had questions, and that
he jumped into action and planted that seed, because
it makes for a great discussion about right v. wrong.
He upset his grandmother by his choice to take the seed,
but he also got that seed to grow and multiply.
Use this scene to give your learners a dilemma
to chew on, to strengthen their character muscles.
And since a lotus seed grows in mud, this story, which represents resilience, hope, and love to me, is a poignant metaphor for these turbulent times as we search for the good that can grow out of today's unrest and uncertainty, out of the muddy waters that we are floundering through in our world right now.
Check out this classic, then head to Susanna Hill's blog for
her beautiful board-book pick on acceptance and friendship.
Stay safe out there, dear reader, as we start to venture back out.
This book sounds like a treasure and the lotus seed is a perfect symbol for resilience in today's world.
ReplyDeleteAnd congratulations on being selected to present at the ASCA conference this month. What honor. I know you'll feel renewed!
If only the conference could happen in person ... it was to have been in Seattle! But it moved to online, so I recorded my session. It's cool, though, that after they play our sessions, there will be a live Q&A from our homes (and hearts) to theirs! Thank you for stopping by; I do believe this is a book you'll want on your shelves.
DeleteAn interesting selection, Barbara. I love the cover illustration and imagine the rest of the book is just as lovely. Will see if this book is in the library. Thanks for the rec!
ReplyDeleteIt really is a intricately-woven gem; I sure hope your library has a copy!
DeleteI'm so glad your virtual ASCA session came together well! I am eager to hear about the process!
ReplyDelete