Book+Review

** // The Other Side // ** ** Kristin Halmi **  ** Introduction:  ** Title: // The Other Side // Author: Jacqueline Woodson Illustrator: E.B. Lewis Publisher: G.P. Putman’s Sons Copyright date: 2001 **  Summary:  ** This book is a story about a young African American girl who lives beyond the fence of a white girl. The girls spend much time not interacting with one another, but simply staring from the “other side” of the fence. Each of their parents instruct them that it is dangerous to cross the fence. The girls slowly begin hanging around the fence and playing together. The ending quote states: "Someday somebody's going to come along and knock this old fence down.”   **  Subject Areas, Content/Concepts, Vocabulary  **  This book hits on culture. It shows the importance of coming together as different cultures and embracing one another. It shows the affects of racism and discrimination, by showing that two young children broke the barriers of society.     Vocabulary: The “fence” is actually symbolizing a divide and separation needing to be broken.      ** NCSS Themes, PA Standards:  **  <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Themes: Culture, Time/Continuity/Change, People Places and Environment ** <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;"> Grade Level: **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;"> <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;"> // The Other Side //could be used in any grade, but could very effectively be used in 2-4. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;"> ** <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Using this book in a classroom: ** <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">This book could be used in a variety of ways. However, I would use it as a read-aloud book. This would be used to teach the importance of accepting cultures and people’s differences. I would have the children share their thoughts after reading the book, and create a wall of different colored handprints to signify diversity and coming together. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;"> <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;"> <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;"> <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;"> <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;"> <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;"> <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;"> <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;"> <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16pt;">Children’s Trade Book Review **