Seedfolks

Author: Paul Fleischman
Type or emotional/crisis issue addressed: Disrespect and Insensitivity for Individual and Group Differences
Year of Publication: 1997
Publisher and Location: Harper Trophy: New York
ISBN# 0-06-447207-8
Target Age Level: Upper Elementary/Junior High
# of Pages: 70
Quality of Illustrations: B/W illustration on first page of each chapter. Helps reader visualize the characters.
Brief Summary: Each chapter is a vignette of a different character who lives in a poor, Cincinnati neighborhood. A little girl starts a garden in an abandoned dump, and other characters join them. Through this garden, friendships also grow and barriers are overcome.
Personal Comments/Biases, and/or Things to Consider When Using This Book With Children: This book is very easy to read, but some students may have difficulty with the number of characters. For those students, consider using a character map or selecting just a few vignettes to focus on. Can also be used to help heal in other situations, such as a death, or illness.
Activity: 1) Create a worksheet with a chart so the students can write down the character's name, the problem they are having, and how the garden helps them. 2) If possible, grow your own "garden" with the students.

Two Old Potatoes and Me

Author: John Coy

Type or emotional/crisis issue(s) addressed: Divorce

Year of Publication: 2009

Publisher & Location: Alfred A. Knopf, New York

ISBN#: 978-0040417903

Target Age Level: Lower Elementary

# of Pages: 31

Quality of Illustrations: Unique, colorful illustrations, but the text is integrated with the illustrations and gets too busy and confusing at times.

Brief Summary: A girl finds two old potatoes in a cupboard at her father's house. They plant the potatoes in the spring, care for them, and reap a full harvest in September. The girl's parents are divorced, and while this is mentioned, the focus of the book is on the girl and her father's relationship and the creation of a new tradition.

Personal Comments/Biases, and/or Things to Consider When Using This Book With Children: This book portrays the father/daughter relationship nicely. The girl lives with her mother but spends her weekends with her dad. I liked the metaphor of good things coming from something that at first seems bad.

Activities:

1. Have children share a tradition they share with their mother or father. They can bring an object from home that represents the tradition and can share with the class.
   
2. Print off pictures of a potato. Have students cut out the pictures. On one side of the potato have children write the hard things about their parents getting divorced. On the other side write the things that may turn out okay or for the better. Share as a group.