Where Are You From? by Yamile Saied Mendez

Title:  Where Are You From?

Genre: Fiction/Multicultural

Author: Yamile Saied Mendez

Illustrator: Jaime Kim

Major awards: 2019 Nerdies Fiction Picture Book Award 

Age group: PreK-3rd

Summary: 

This book focuses on self acceptance, culture, and heritage. The book follows a young girl and one question, "Where are you from?" This question is quite common among society. When people look different, this question is often asked. Sometimes this question can make one feel foreign, or like a specimen under a microscope. The young girl asks her abuelo where is she from. The book shares her abuelo's answer through beautiful illustrations and lyrical text. The abuelo gives a meaningful description on culture and heritage with each response. 

Why would I use this book in the classroom: 

As a future educator, I'd use this book in my classroom to foster an appreciation for culture. I think the book raises a very important and often thought question. We all wonder about where we are from. It's important to know where we are from, so that we can become familiar with our identities and heritage. It also helps us to understand and appreciate those who are different from us.

Appropriate grade level:

I think an appropriate grade level for this book is PreK-3rd. Younger students are always a curious bunch. I think this book focuses on a common question that children have, regarding themselves and others. This book explores that theme. It does it in a story-telling way, that almost seems like a bed time story. The illustrations are fascinationg and have a sense of magic to them. The book may not have simple text, but it is a story line students will be able to follow.

Ideas for unit of study to include the book in and how you might use the book in the classroom:

• Language Art: I would use this book to lead a discussion in the classroom. Books are a great way to start a conversation. I would have students analyze the text and create their own poems on culture.