• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Home
  • Baby + Toddler (0-2)
  • Pre-K (3-5)
  • Beginning Readers (6-7)
  • Growing Readers (7-9)
  • Tweens (10-12)
Happily Ever Elephants
Happily Ever Elephants

Happily Ever Elephants

The Best Kids Books Found Here!

  • Home
  • Book Lists
  • Kids Book Clubs
  • Spring Books!
  • About
  • Home
  • Baby + Toddler (0-2)
  • Pre-K (3-5)
  • Beginning Readers (6-7)
  • Growing Readers (7-9)
  • Tweens (10-12)
Uncategorized » Islandborn, by Junot Diaz

Islandborn, by Junot Diaz

By Lauren Bercuson ·  Published: Mar 13, 2018 ·  Modified: Sep 12, 2022 ·  This post may contain affiliate links


IB.jpg

My grandparents met when they were only kids, living in Chicago the 1930s. Gigi taught Poppy how to dance; they met at his first lesson, and the rest (as they say) is history. Shortly thereafter Poppy broke barriers when he went to college—he was the first Jewish boy to receive a basketball scholarship to DePaul University. Poppy was a brave, moral man who always stood up for the underdog and championed those values he held dear. When he went off to fight in WWII, he was put in charge of a camp for prisoners of war. What did he do? He fashioned a basketball court for the men at the camp so they could entertain themselves. Humanity, he said. Even when the world disagreed on the very fundamentals of our rights as human beings, he thought it critical to treat each other with kindness and respect.

I’ve always cherished this story about my grandfather — and I’ve always loved the way oral storytelling can shape and mold our lives as we try to embody the most beloved virtues of our ancestors.  Perhaps this is why I so connected to Islandborn, the exquisite new picture book by one of my favorite authors,  Pulitzer Prize winning Junot Diaz, and exquisitely illustrated by Leo Espinoza. In Islandborn, Lola’s teacher asks the students to draw a picture of the country from which they immigrated.   But Lola, perplexed and upset, can’t remember The Island where she was born; she left when she was just a baby.  She thus begins speaking with relatives and friends to learn more about her homeland.  And as she hears story after story of The Island, Lola quickly understands that “[j]ust because you don’t remember a place doesn’t mean it isn’t in you.”

RELATED: Looking for more books that celebrate our beautiful, diverse word? Check out these incredible diverse books for children!

Islandborn is positively incredible! I love how Lola feels increasingly connected to her island the more she learns from her loved ones. I love how she suddenly sees, hears and tastes her birthplace, this place that is the essence of her core.  More importantly, I love the various ways you can use this text in your homes and classrooms to help your children connect with their pasts, because their family stories will undoubtedly mold their futures.  You can so easily guide children to learn about their ancestors, cultures, countries, and even the history and politics that shaped their families’ daily lives. Read Islandborn and then have your students explore! You can use simple prompts for younger kids (“interview a family member about an experience that shaped his/her childhood”) or go deeper for older children (“how did the political climate of your grandparent’s home country shape his/her upbringing?”) The information they learn can be used to write narrative essays, illustrate a picture book like Lola, or even create video presentations using apps like 30hands.  The possibilities are endless. This is what happens when a phenomenal book finds its way into your hands.  You can’t stop thinking about it, and you want to use it to enhance learning in every way possible. Thank you Junot Diaz for this treasure!

Want the book? Get it here! Islandborn, by Junot Diaz.  *This is an affiliate link.  HEE received a review copy from the publisher, but all opinions expressed herein are entirely our own!

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Email

Uncategorized

« Previous PostInsignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus, by Dusti Bowling
Next Post »Magnolia Mudd and the Super Jumptastic Launcher Deluxe, by Katey Howes

OTHER POSTS YOU MAY LIKE:

  • Uncategorized

    Top Ten Picture Books
  • Uncategorized

    Under My Hijab Celebrates Muslim Women and Culture
  • Uncategorized

    Moon, by Alison Oliver

Never Miss a Happily Ever Elephants Newsletter!

Join our community and discover 28 Unforgettable Books to Make Storytime Magical and Meaningful.

Thank you for subscribing!

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

Welcome to Happily Ever Elephants!

Lauren

Hi! I’m Lauren. I’m a boy mom, former attorney, current elementary school librarian, and moderator of book clubs for kids around the country. My goal is to make storytime with your children both magical and meaningful. Welcome! LEARN MORE 

AS FEATURED IN

Good Housekeeping

Spring Books!

15+ Cute Bunny Books for Kids!

The Best Easter Books for Toddlers

15 Sweet Children’s Books About Flowers

10+ Children’s Books About Rain

SEE ALL SPRING BOOKS

Popular Posts

kindergarten-read-alouds

These Kindergarten Read Alouds Will Wow Kids!

The covers of 9 of the best books for 10 year olds.

The Best Books for 10-Year-Olds To Excite Your Kids!

The cover of Gossie with some rubber ducks, a great book for 2 year olds.

The Best Books for 2-Year-Olds Your Reader Will Love!

beginning-reader-books

The Ultimate List of the Best Books for Beginning Readers!

JOIN OUR BOOK CLUB

Browse by Age

BABY + TODDLER (0-2)
PRE-K (3-5)
BEGINNING READER (6-7)
GROWING READER (7-9)
TWEENS (10-12)
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter

Join 70k+ Instagram Followers

Find even more great book recommendations with the @happily.ever.elephants Instagram community!
Join more than 70k+ parents for more tips, recommendations and reviews.

Footer

Don’t miss a single book.

Join our community and discover 28 Unforgettable Books to Make Storytime Magical and Meaningful.

Thank you for subscribing!

Buy the Books

The best virtual book clubs for kids. Why read alone when we can read together?

JOIN NOW!
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter

Copyright © 2023 ·  Happily Ever Elephants LLC ·  Review Policies & Disclosures ·  Accessibility ·  Website by Anchored Design

0 shares