Elementary Library

●​ What are some “impossibilities” that you dream about? What dreams are nurtured by the people in your family? What hopes do you have for the future? How does your family help you to dream big and be “visionary”? ●​ Dung Ho captures the wonder and love the young boy has for his family. Looking at the beautiful illustrations by Dung Ho, which are your favorite? Why? What strengths do her illustrations bring to the young boy? The All-Together Quilt by Lizzy Rockwell (E ROC) A story of a community coming together to make a quilt is a heartwarming celebration of creativity and teamwork. The kids and grown-ups at a community center begin with lots of colorful fabrics and an idea. Then step by step they make that idea a reality. They design, cut, stitch, layer, and quilt. It's the work of many hands, many hours, and many stories. And the result is something warm and wonderful they all can share. Discussion Prompts: ●​ Before reading: Look closely at the cover. What do you think this story will be about? Does anyone have any experience with sewing? What about quilting? Is it a fast hobby? ●​ What do you notice about the pairs of people working together? ●​ What does the symbol Naika is drawing represent? ●​ The quilt in this story is a metaphor. A metaphor compares two things to help us understand the world or language a bit better. What could the quilt in this story represent? What makes you think that? ●​ After author’s note: What questions would you like to ask Lizzy Rockwell now? Funny Bones: Posada and His Day of the Dead Calaveras by Duncan Tonatiuh (769.92 TON) A brief biography of nineteenth-century Mexican printer and artist Jose Guadalupe "Lupe" Posada, who was best known as the creator of the calaveras, pictures of skeletons doing various activities, that are an integral part of the Day of the Dead celebrations in present day Mexico. Discussion Prompts: ●​ Before reading: What do you know about Dia de Muertos, the Day of the Dead? ●​ Before reading: How could you show your ideas or opinions through art? ●​ Page 9: Can you explain why some politicians lost the elections that year? ●​ Page 11: What do you predict will happen to Don Lupe next? ●​ Page 16: What is a literary calavera? ●​ Page 21: What do you notice about the illustration and words on this page? ●​ Page 24: Based on what you know, how did his country and Mexico City change during Don Lupe’s lifetime? ●​ After reading: Why did Posada make Calaveras that looked like real people doing regular things? What would his Calaveras look like now? ●​ After reading: How do Posada’s Calaveras make you feel? What was the artist’s emotional intention? ●​ After reading: Why was Posada considered rebellious? What does rebellious mean?

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