Elementary Library

●​ How is food part of your family’s traditions? What recipes are special to your family? ●​ What do you know about the country of Haiti? What do you know after reading? What else do you wonder? ●​ Why does Ti Gran want to teach Belle how to make Freedom Soup? ●​ There are some things that we can do by ourselves and some that we need to do as a group. What are some things in your life that you could only do with the collaboration and help of others? Our Favorite Day of the Year by A.E. Ali (E ALI) Four kindergartners who think they have nothing in common become friends after sharing traditions of their holidays, including Eid al-Fitr, Rosh Hashanah, Christmas, and Pi Day. Discussion prompts: ●​ How do you celebrate the New Year at home? ●​ What is your favorite day of the year? Why? ●​ What similarities and differences do you notice in these holidays? ●​ What is a tradition? How do you pass a tradition on? What traditions do you have in your family? Why do families have different traditions? Shante Keys and the New Year’s Peas by Gail Piernas-Davenport (E PIE) When Shanté is sent to find black-eyed peas for her family's New Year's celebration, she learns about each of her neighbor's New Year's traditions in their home countries. Discussion prompts: ●​ How do you celebrate the New Year at home? What are the people wearing? What are they eating? Is it a celebration with an extended family, or just the people who live in your house? Does your family celebrate on January 1st or another time of the year? ●​ What is a tradition? How do you pass a tradition on? What traditions do you have in your family? Why do families have different traditions? ●​ How is food part of your family’s traditions? What recipes are special to your family? ●​ What is a resolution? Do you make New Year resolutions? What would you like to change this year? Two New Years by Richard Ho (E HO) For this multicultural family, inspired by the author's own, two New Years mean twice as much to celebrate! In the fall, Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, offers an opportunity to bake challah, dip apples in honey, and lift voices in song. In the spring, Lunar New Year brings a chance to eat dumplings, watch dragon dances, and release glowing lanterns that light up the sky. Discussion prompts: ●​ How do you celebrate the New Year at home? ●​ What is a tradition? How do you pass a tradition on? What traditions do you have in your family? Why do families have different traditions? ●​ What do you notice about this family? How do they honor their heritage and culture? ●​ How do we respect other people’s traditions and culture?

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