Autumn Field

LS 5343
November 19, 2019

Rationale

Video Link: https://youtu.be/qUiR0smyF3g

Alignment
These three books were selected because each book focuses on the common theme of finding
your identity. When reading the story, Chrysanthemum, by Kevin Henkes, the reader learns
about the young mouse who was told all her life that her name was unique and perfect. But
when she is teased by her peers for the uniqueness of her name, she questions her identify.
The story, The Name Jar, by Yangsook Choi, the reader sees the struggle that Unhei exhibits
when deciding whether to take an American name or keep her Korean name. Unhei’s
classmates accept her culturally differences and are glad she keeps her true name. Lastly,
readers learn about The Ugly Duckling, by Hans Christian Anderson. The ugly duckling learns of
his diversity of having different colored feathers than his siblings and not being accepted by the
other animals. As the months go by, the ugly duckling changes into a beautiful swan and is
taken in by other swans who love him for who he is. Each character in the three books finds
their identify by the acceptance of the other characters in the story.

Standards/Competencies

ALSC Competency (2015)

I.1 Commitment to Client Group: Demonstrates respect for diversity and inclusion of cultural
values, and continually develops cultural awareness and understanding of self and others.

The booktalk provides readers culturally diverse books that focus on having tolerance and
respect for others, being culturally accepting of others from different cultures, and including
others who may look different than you.

II. 2 Reference and User Services: Models and encourages use of culturally diverse materials
and services through bibliographies, booktalks, displays, electronic documents, social media,
and other tools.

The booktalk models and encourages users to read and learn about culturally diverse
materials that are available to library patrons in their local libraries. The librarian explains the
culturally diverse materials through a booktalk format.

V. 8 Outreach and Advocacy- Communicates effectively when addressing or presenting to large

or small groups of children and/or adults, writes proficiently and adjusts content, style, and
delivery format to accommodate diverse functions and audiences, and possesses technology
skills and cultural competencies that enhance communication.
 The booktalk presentation was published online through YouTube and is made available to
library patrons. During the booktalk, the librarian discusses the three book and the theme
that connects the books together. The booktalk has closed caption options for library patrons
to use if needed.

The Books: Target Age Group

The booktalk has a target age group of children ranging in age of five to nine years old. As
stated by Fasick (2011) the tradition of having storytime hours in the library for younger children
establishes a tradition of encouraging children to read. By having this booktalk available to
children in this target age group, children will learn about books that focus on diversity and
finding their own identity and being accepting of others who are different than you. When
looking at this age group, Kaneshiro (2018) states that children in this target age group begin to
develop a sense of body image and how others around them are developing and changing
differently than them. This relates to the story, The Ugly Duckling, because the ugly duckling
exhibits a sense of body image and how he is looks different than his siblings and the other
animals around him. He learns to accept himself and this allows others to accept him too.

Book 1: Chrysanthemum, by Kevin Henkes

Genre: Fiction, Picture book

Length: 32 pages
Review: From Kirkus Review (1991):

“With perfect trust in her doting parents, Chrysanthemum (a mouse) knows that her name is, as
they tell her, ‘absolutely perfect'--until she goes to school and is teased about it by her
classmates, especially the imperious Victoria. Doubt sets in, to be allayed each night by ``hugs
and kisses and Parcheesi,'' but then reintroduced next day. Fortunately, a charismatic music
teacher whose name happens to be Delphinium makes flower names a new fad. The ending
here is preposterously tidy, contributing to the humor of a warmhearted story that celebrates the
security of a happy family while gently satirizing its members. Henkes's language and humor are
impeccably fresh, his cozy illustrations sensitive and funny, his little asides to adults an
unobtrusive delight.”

Contribution to diversity:
This book contributes to diversity by providing readers with information about tolerance and
respect for others who may be different than you. The main character in the story,
Chrysanthemum, finds it difficult to like her name because of the continuous teasing of her
classroom peers. When the students go to music class, the students learn that the music
teacher is also named after a flower. Chrysanthemum’s classmates are surprised by this and
learn to accept Chrysanthemum for who she is on the inside and not by her name. Her
classmates begin to include Chrysanthemum and show her respect.

Book 2: The Name Jar by Yangsook Choi

Genre: Realistic fiction
Length: 32 pages
Review: From Kirkus Review (Kirkus Review, 2001):

“Unhei has just left her Korean homeland and come to America with her parents. As she rides
the school bus toward her first day of school, she remembers the farewell at the airport in Korea
and examines the treasured gift her grandmother gave her: a small red pouch containing a
wooden block on which Unhei’s name is carved. Unhei is ashamed when the children on the
bus find her name difficult to pronounce and ridicule it. Lesson learned, she declines to tell her
name to anyone else and instead offers, “Um, I haven’t picked one yet. But I’ll let you know next
week.” Her classmates write suggested names on slips of paper and place them in a jar. One
student, Joey, takes a particular liking to Unhei and sees the beauty in her special stamp. When
the day arrives for Unhei to announce her chosen name, she discovers how much Joey has
helped. Choi (Earthquake, see below, etc.) draws from her own experience, interweaving
several issues into this touching account and delicately addressing the challenges of
assimilation. The paintings are done in creamy, earth-tone oils and augment the story nicely.”

–" The Name Jar." Kirkus Review: 32. Academic Search Complete, EBSCOhost (accessed
November 17, 2019).

Contribution to diversity:
This book contributes to diversity by teaching children how to be culturally accepting of others
from different cultural backgrounds. When Unhei moves to America from Korea, she is nervous
about starting her new American school. While riding the school bus, a few students ask her
what her name was and upon stating her name they begin to mock her and the pronunciation of
her name. This shows the students not being culturally accepting of Unhei. For a whole week,
Unhei tells her classmates she has not decided what her name is and they create a name jar to
help her decide what her new name will be. When Unhei decides to tell them her Korean name
and the meaning of her name, the classmates are exhibiting cultural acceptance by being
respecting her name and her cultural difference. This allows Unhei to find her identity.

Book 3: The Ugly Duckling by Hans Christian Anderson

Genre: Traditional Literature

Length: 32 pages
Review: From Kirkus Review (Kirkus Review, 2009):

“A gentler, milder version of Andersen’s classic tale of the misunderstood cygnet, inexplicably
despised for his comparatively large size and definite lack of yellow but not for any real ugliness.
Vainio reveals through delicate watercolors the whitish-gray fluff of a charming, tender baby
desperately alone in a soft, beautiful world. Though the illustrations are lovely, they lack power.
In every situation where the innocent swan is abused and finds no respite from hatred, the art
handles this horror too gently. His reactions to rejection and verbal abuse are revealed in the
illustrations, with a slight incline of his head showing his dejection. He is also unnaturally slow in
growing, remaining a fuzzy baby over the course of months and then suddenly growing to
adulthood in a page turn—a problem inherent in most illustrated versions of the tale. The
unnamed translator has edited out the most violent verbal and physical abuse found in the
original, making a place for it in collections for younger picture-book readers yet losing the
story’s raw spark.”

–" The Ugly Duckling." Kirkus Review: 32. Academic Search Complete, EBSCOhost (accessed
November 17, 2019).

Contribution to diversity:
This book relates to diversity by teaching children that everyone is unique and we need to be
accepting of other people’s differences. When reading, The Ugly Duckling, the readers learn
about the ugly duckling’s uniqueness by learning about his gray feathers and how his siblings all
have yellow feathers. In the beginning, the other animals are not accepting of the ugly duckling’s
differences and treat him poorly. After the duckling runs away, the ugly duckling transforms into
a beautiful swan. In the end, he accepts his uniqueness and the other swans in the pond accept
him into their herd.

References:

American Library Association. (2015). ALSC competencies for librarians serving children in a
public library. Retrieved from http://www.ala.org/alsc/edcareeers/alsccorecomps

Fasick, A.M. (2011). From boardbook to Facebook: Children’s services in an interactive age.
Santa Barbara, CA: Libraries Unlimited.

Kaneshiro, Neil K. (2018). School-age children development. Bethesda, MD: US National

Library of Medicine. Retrieved from https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/002017.htm

The Kirkus Review. (1991, August 15). Chrysanthemum kirkus review. Retrieved November 18,
2019, from Kirkus website: https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/kevin-
henkes/chrysanthemum/

The Kirkus Review. (2001, June 1). The name jar kirkus review. Retrieved November 17, 2019,
from Kirkus website: https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/yangsook-choi/the-
name-jar/

The Kirkus Review. (2009, May 15). The ugly duckling kirkus review. Retrieved November 17,
2019, from Kirkus website: https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/hans-christian-
andersen/the-ugly-duckling-6/