Inclusive Literature: Junior Classroom Book List A. Durdan Dr.

Seuss, "The Sneetches", grades 4-5 There are two groups of Sneetches, one with a star on their belly, and one without. Those with stars believe they are superior to the others until a machine is invented that puts stars on those without. The Sneetches get stars and have them taken off until no one knows who is who anymore. Dr. Seuss wrote the book because of his opposition to anti-Semitism. The moral is that everyone is equal regardless of their background, and that we should not discriminate against those who are different from us. The grade 7 teachers at my school have used this book to introduce units dealing with identity and self-appreciation.

Deborah Ellis, Kids of Kabul: Living bravely through a never-ending war, grade 6 This book tells the story of a number of children and teenagers living in Kabul. It tells of the trials of everyday life with an undertone of hope for the future. It discusses the desire for education that children in Afghanistan have. This book can shed light on world issues, and is especially meaningful if there is a student in the class who has immigrated to Canada from Afghanistan or a country where youth face similar hardships. The stories are of students their own age so they are able to make comparisons with their own lives and will hopefully see how fortunate they are to be entitled to an education.

Deborah Hodge, The Kids Book of Canadian Immigration, grades 4-6 This book features stories of families from different ethnic groups who have immigrated to Canada over the years. It celebrates Canadas multiculturalism by providing first- hand accounts of those who have come to call Canada home. This book could be used to discuss Canadas multiculturalism and aspects of our history, and would be extra useful if the classroom is culturally diverse itself. It would create an opportunity for students to look into their own roots and to see if/when their families came to Canada, and would allow for students who had immigrated during their lifetime to share their personal experiences.

John Boyne, The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas, grade 6(?) Possibly this book would be too mature for grade 6 students, Im not sure myself. I know some students who have read the book in grade 7 and 8 and it has been a very meaningful experience for them. The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas is a story about a German boy named Bruno who befriends a Jewish boy named Shmuel who lives on the other side of a fence. The story is written through the eyes of a child which helps students to for a sense of attachment or understanding for what was happening in the world at that time. The book can be used in a cross-curricular sense if tied in with a History course as well.