Elementary Library

Discussion Prompts: ●​ What is an ode? Why is this book considered an ode? ●​ Do you enjoy getting your haircut? Why or why not? ●​ How does a fresh cut make the boy in the story feel? ●​ How does the author compare the boy’s haircut to a piece of art? Why does he do this? ●​ Why do you think the author wrote this book? What is his message? ●​ Talk about how the author’s word choices affect the reader. For example, on page 4, how do the words “royalty” and “princely robes” help the reader understand the author’s message? ●​ On page 19, the main character looks in the mirror and sees the “gold medal” version of himself. Who is the “gold medal you”? Who is the best version of yourself? ●​ Lump of clay, a blank canvas : What does this mean? ●​ Hooks up your intellectual : Do you think the way a person looks impacts how they feel or think? Why or why not? ●​ Being viewed in your mother’s eyes as someone that matters – now that’s beautiful.: How do people make each other feel that they matter? How do you make others feel that they matter? How do others make you feel that you matter? Drawn Together by Minh Le (E LE) A boy and his grandfather cross a language and cultural barrier using their shared love of art, storytelling, and fantasy. Discussion Prompts: ●​ Before reading: The title of the book is Drawn Together. What are the different meanings of the word “drawn together”? As you read the book, look for ways both definitions of drawn together are used in the story. ●​ Before reading: Looking at the front cover, what do you notice about the art and the relationship? Turn to the copyright page and read the dedication to the grandparents. Think about what you do with your grandparents and what they teach you. ●​ Before reading: This book includes words in Thai. Look at the copyright page to see the grandfather’s words in Thai translated to English. How might this be helpful as we read the book? Tell about a time you had to make meaning of words in another language. ●​ How do you think the boy is feeling when his mom leaves him with his grandfather? What do you think the grandfather feels? Talk about ways families support one another. ●​ Look at the picture of the meals the boy and his grandfather are eating. What do you notice about their food and their utensils? Why do you think they might be so different? ●​ What are some ways they try to connect? What does the relationship between the boy and his grandfather make you think of? Have you ever felt like the boy or the grandfather? ●​ There are very few words in this book. Why do you think the author chose to let the illustrations tell the story? How is that choice related to the story? ●​ Look at the illustrations on the page that reads “All the things we could never say come pouring out…” What do you think the boy means by this? Talk about the symbolism and the details in the picture with the bridge. ●​ The boy and the grandfather found a way to communicate even though they didn’t speak the same language. It isn’t always easy to talk with other people, even people in your own family. What are some things you can do or questions you can ask to help you communicate with other people?

I Talk Like a River by Jordan Scott (E SCO)

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