This is a very good book to introduce to students to different religions around the world and the problems that other countries face. This would be a great lesson on diversity as well as the country of Ireland. Students tend to think that there are only problems in the U.S., but this is an eye-opener for everyone. ( )

“Walking to School,” is a book that reflects the real life events of some issues Northern Ireland had between Catholics and Protestants in the past. The story starts off with a girl named Allison, who is scared to go to her new school because she would have to pass “Protestant” territory. On her way to school the Protestants are lined up, yelling mean things to the children and their parents on their way to school. But one day Allison’s jacket gets pulled on and a button came out. When Allison sees a Protestant girl go after her button, she assumes the worst and thinks that the girl will take her button as a souvenir from a Catholic. But instead, the little girl reaches out to Allison and gives her back her button. The girl also explains to Allison that she hates the fighting that’s going on, and that her mother forced her to come. Allison gets to school safety and realizes that the girl was just like her, they both hated the fighting and Allison thought about how they could have both been friends if their parents would have let them. I think this is a sweet book that not only shows a true depiction on how Catholics and Protestants acted towards each other in Ireland some time ago, but also how we should not judge one another so easily. This is also a good book to relate back to today’s society and how hatred between each other based on differences should not exist, but still exist now. This is a good lesson to teach students about how we should instead try to understand each other’s differences and try to get along instead of discriminating against one another. ( )

Walking to School a book written by Eve Bunting this is a book when Catholics and Protestants did not get along. This is a very educational book that i would recommened to others. Catholics had it hard from Protestants, in this book is talks about how Catholics had to walk through the Protestans neighborhoods and would get things thrown at them and yelled at. This book was set in Ireland and talks about an event that took place in history once before. I enjoyed reading this book and following the story of the girl who walks to school going through what she did. I think people should be informed on a true event that once what happened. I would recommened this book to all ages.I think this would be a book to teach a great history lesson on because it shows what times were like and how everything was not equal. ( )

WALKING TO SCHOOL is a slice of life book. It gives a recap of just a small portion of the child's life. This book is about a little girl who was Catholic had to walk to school through protestant "territory". On her way to school she dealt with people screaming foul language, throwing things, even spitting on them. The next day it was not only grown ups who lined the streets it was also their children. This was a tough time. However, one day on her walk to school the little girl was pulled and tugged on. The button on her coat fell off and when she went to go get it a protestant girl got to it first. This seems like it would turn out bad however the girl actually gives her the button and says sorry and that she wished this wasn't going on. The girls believe they would be good friends if their parents would give them a chance to be. The illustrations are painted and look very real. They add a lot to the emotions on the faces of all of the stories characters as well as what is happening in that time. I think this book would be good to teach children about their own innocence and just because their parents do not like someone does not mean that you have to not like them as well. This shows the little girl trying to find her own place in the world. I believe this would be really good for a discussion with older elementary students or younger middle school children. ( )

If I could give this 10 stars, I would. I feel that my 5-star ratings of other books were a waste. This is the best picture book I have read in a long time. I'm speechless.

I'm going to use this for my Anne Frank unit, even though it is about intolerance between Catholics & Protestants. Half of my own students are probably Catholic, and the other half Protestants, so this context is so much easier for them to imagine themselves in than the idea of Jewish persecution, or even racial issues.

I can't even tell you how awesome this book is--read it! ( )