Becky BirthaRecensioni

grades 2-6

Age:4-8y

This book is incredible powerful for a children's book. It describes what African-Americans went through in a way that makes it easy to understand for children. I love how strong grandma is portrayed in the book. She directs the girls attention somewhere else when the girls start to notice segregation. Grandma would tell them that they wouldn't want to go to that bathroom or drink from that water fountain anyway because they are dirty. It is inspiring to see how the family in this book takes something so negative and discouraging and handles it easily and with grace. They are great examples of powerful and smart women who know their worth.

I found this story to be more about a math lesson than about the Great Depression. Marshall is frustrated with his family’s financial situation, he has to eat beans every single night. One day in a store window Marshall sees a contest, guessing the number of beans in the jar, and the prize was a brand new sewing machine. Marshall wants to win for his mother. Marshall is able to use his knowledge of measurements to correctly guess the number of beans. This story touches on the importance of education, family, hard work, and even a touch on segregation. The illustrations were my favorite part of this story. I really enjoyed the watercolor.½

On their yearly trip to the south to visit their grandmother, Sarah Marie and her family experience segregation. Her grandmother would give excuses as to why she would walk instead of ride the bus when going to town or give reasons why she shouldn’t use the public water fountain. Those excuses were her grandmother’s pride. Sarah Maria didn’t notice any of it until she learned to read while visiting and noticed signs in public places like, “Whites Only”. The next year the experienced the end of segregation. They were then able to ride in the front of the bus, sat in the waiting area and used the public restrooms.

This book takes place during the time period of the Great Depression. Marshall is the main character in this story, who is not too fond of eating beans repeatedly due to his Father losing his job and money being tight for his family. One day, Marshall and his brother walk by a store with a sign regarding a guessing game of how many beans are in a jar, and the winner wins a sewing machine. Applying the arithmetic he learned in Math class, Marshall correctly guesses how many beans are in the jar. His Mother won the sewing machine and she was able to get paid for all of the sewing she was completing. This book has some themes that are crucial for readers to takeaway from, as well as discuss. For example, Math can apply to a lot of real-world situations, being grateful for what you have, and what life was life during the Great Depression. The images in this book are very well though out. They show the setting and clothing of the time period, as well as the characters emotions, leaving room for young readers to apply what they are reading or hearing to the pictures.½

This is a book about incarceration and ways families and children can cope with this. Age appropriate for ages 4-5 years. Found at pierce college library

At first, I wasn't sure why this book was tagged as a math book. This book is about a young boy, Marshall, who hates eating beans, but that is all his family can afford. When he and his younger brother walk by a nearby store, he sees a sign that says "How many beans are in this jar? Win this brand new sewing machine!" The family joins together to solve the puzzle. At first, they try to use a similar size jar, but that strategy doesn't quite work out. The next day, the teacher says, "Use what you already know to solve the problem." That gives Marshall an idea, and he gathers what he knows about measurement to solve the problem.

I think this book is an important read because it addresses how math connects to everyday life. Students are always going to ask, "why do I need to know this?" Students need help bridging math concepts to its real-world application, and I think that this book shows how what the student was learning in school actually applied to his life. I will definitely use this book when teaching about volume during a measuring unit.½

A book about a child who is dealing with emotions about losing a dad because he is in prison. He has to deal with being embarrassed,and the sadness he feels about daddy being gone. He does however keep in touch by phone and letters.

This book is about a child who has a parent in prison. They are sad that they are not there with them.
Ages 4-8
Available at Pierce College Library

This story is about a boy named Rafael. Rafael is embarrassed about his father being incarcerated but he learns to stay close to his dad through hone calls, letters and drawings, and visits to help him communicate his emotions.
Ages-(6-8)
Source- (Pierce College Library)

This book talks about different ways a child deals with their emotions of a family member being in prison. Emotions of embarrassment, guilt, resentment of the parents. They find ways of coping and ways of communicating with their loved ones in prison. Ages 3-5. Pierce library.

Ages 3-6. Dealing with the emotions of having a parent in prison.

family with a person in jail

In this book talks about the emotions that children are going through when someone they love is in prison. This books shows children different ways that they can stay close to their loved one who is far away but close to their heart.

I thought this story about how the little boy used estimation to help him Mama win the sewing machine. I was a really cute book and I loved his response at the end when Mama won the big jar of beans.

This book takes place during the Great Depression. Marshall Loman's dad has lost his job and food is scarce now. There is no money left but there are a lot of beans available. Marshall's mother wants a sewing machine and a store is giving one away id you answer how many beans are in a jar question. Marshall is able to guess the number of beans correctly due to what he learned in his arithmetic class and his mother gets a brand new sewing machine. This book can teach children the history and struggles people endured during the Great Depression.

This book is about a colored little boy who complains to his ma about always eating beans because they're family was poor. He also mentions his worn out jacket. The book tells the story of the great depression from the perspective of colored boy. The book uses math to tell a story of how the little boy raised enough money for his mom to buy a sewing machine!

This is a great book about kids having to deal with their loved ones being incarcerated.

It is a diverse book about children who have loved ones in the prison system. Since some students are dealing with this in real life it is a great book that they could relate to and find comfort in.

Far Apart, Close in Heart is about how children are feeling when their parents are in jail. it shows emotions and struggles of the children. this is good for ages 3-8 Pierce College Library Steilacoom

I loved the Grandmama in this story, and her pride and strength really made this story whole. Grandmama's Pride is about two girls who visit their grandmother in the south, where segregation was still in existence. The girls did not understand why they could not sit at the front of the bus, or why they had to use separate water fountains and restrooms. Instead of the Grandmama being down or getting worked up about her grandchildren's questions, she had prideful replies. For example, when the girl asked about drinking from the "whites only" water fountain, the Grandmama would say her iced tea at home was better. When the girl asked why they could not sit down on the waiting area seats, the Grandmama said "you don't know who's been sittin there." I loved that, and I think it teaches children the lesson of being confident and strong in difficult or tough situations.

This is about a child who is trying to be a family while a loved one is incarcerated making it harder to have a life. this book is bibliotherapy because it is families in crisis.
source: pierce college library
ages: 4-8

This books is about a parent in prison. It shows there are ways they can improve their circumstances. Sending letters, talking to a trusted grown up about their feelings, and even visiting a parent in jail or prison can help keep a parent close in their hearts.
Ages: 3-6
Source: Pierce County Library

Far apart but close in heart is about the emotions a family is going through while a parent is in jail.
Ages: 4-5 Resources: Pierce county library system.