Critical Issues Books

Whoever you are

Fox, M. (1997). Whoever you are. Orlando, Florida: Harcourt, Inc.

ISBN: 978-0152007874

Regardless of the differences between people around the world, there are similarities that join us together, such as pain, joy and love. An excellent approach to teach a child to be part of the world by introducing this story. The full page illustrations by Leslie Staub are charming and rich with a jewelled border that draws the reader's attention. This book teaches children the similarities and differences among cultures and ethnicity. Fox uses a simple and rhythmic phrases to convey that everyone is the same. This book is suitable for 3- 5 years old because it uses short and easy text to bring out a significant message for preschool children that everyone's heart is identical no matter how you look like or where you are around the world. Canada is a multicultural country therefore it is important for children to learn that there are different groups that bring us together. This book is definitely a comforting book for children to adapt the diverse society.

Provocation:

• Teacher can post up photos of family pictures from different culture groups (e.g. Chinese, Japanese, Russian, African, Italian). Listen and allow children to engage conversations
• Ask children if their families are diverse. If yes, allow them to tell others where their mommy or daddy is from.

Presenting the book:

• Colour photocopy and blow up the pictures from the book, tell the story using poster boards
• finger puppets/puppets: use different puppets from different cultures and allow children to learn that they're the same although their skin colors is different (you can make your own puppets with felts or purchase them from 3H craft on 4th Ave- they have hand puppets but you can request them to order finger puppets)
• Felt board story: Make your own characters from different culture groups (you can buy felts from the dollar store to make your own character or buy them from 3H craft)

Extensions:

• Print online (google under images for different ethnic groups) for images of different cultures, laminate it and hide it around the class for children to find pairs of the same groups
• Teacher can find some music from different ethnic groups, and allow children to listen while they draw or paint their family pictures (Library is a good resource for Music)
• Children can bring them family pictures and tell other children who's in their family and where they're from