EVALUATION OF CHILDREN’S LITERATURE 1

Evaluation of Children's Literature

The Empty Pot,​ Is a great story about a little boy that is a gifted cultivator but approaches

a significant obstacle. His challenge is to grow the best flower possible by a seed given by the

Emperor. The winner will be named the next Emperor, so everyone is trying their best to win.

Ping knows he has a great chance of winning because everything he plants turns into blossoms.

So when his seed does not sprout, he begins to worry and does everything possible to get his

seed to grow. A year later it is time to display the flowers to the emperor Ping shows up with an

empty pot. Everyone else shows up with beautiful flowers. When the emperor sees Ping with his

empty pot, he tells everyone he has found his successor. The emperor goes on to explain that all

the seeds he handed out had been cooked, so it was impossible for a flower to grow. Ping was the

only one that was honest and brave enough to come and see the emperor with an empty pot. The

Empty Pot has a great simple appearance with neutral colors. The plot, mood, and setting I

believe are great because after reading this book children will learn about being trustworthy.

Also, the plot is an original approach and very well constructed. It creates a compelling narrative

on how every child gets a seed. The book also touches on being truthful even though that means

losing at the end.

I Love You Because You’re You​ is another excellent book that shows acceptance for

oneself and makes children forget about prejudice. The book does a great job illustrating possible

emotions a child could face in their development. The illustrations throughout the book are great

support throughout the book. For example, on most pages, there is a child and a mother together

displaying support in every way. Since the mother is present throughout the book, it gives the

child a sense of security. Besides, the images correspond very well with the narration in addition
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to holding the child's interest while reading. Mainly because of the beautiful Illustrations so

bright and detailed. The book is important because it illustrates that children go through many

emotions but aside from that everything is going to be okay. I would recommend this book for

younger kids ranging from ages 3-7 because within those ages children are learning how to deal

with their emotions.

Going Home​ was a heartwarming story about a family of four that leaves Mexico to come

to the United States and work in the fields. The daughters Nora, Dolores, and Maria, are great

girls that are very confused about the reason why their family goes back and forth from the U.S.

to Mexico. Their parents take time to travel back and forth to visit family since they are far away.

At least that is what the parents want the girls to think. Once in Mexico, the whole family was

happy to be there. Maria, Dolores, and Nora noticed their parents were thrilled to be in Mexico

that they wondered why do they not live here instead. Late at night, the girls were sleeping, and

their parents were talking they heard them say how much they miss their homeland “La Perla.”

The lack of work and money in Mexico does not allow them to come back. Also, opportunities

for education are essential for their girls. The last thing they heard was that they are saving

money to go back to Mexico where they love to live. Throughout this heartwarming story, you

see bright pictures with colorful flowers and pots. As you read the story, the illustrations provide

the reader with an excellent feel for the Mexican culture. The plot is very realistic because we are

in a time where many of our students are facing this kind of situation. So this is a great book that

can help explain some confusion. The entire story was very well constructed for a younger age

group even though the plot is a serious topic. The word choice was perfect towards the sensitive
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subject. The message was clear expressing that our parents do various things for different

reasons, looking out for our best interest.

​Families​, Is a book that illustrates different cultures and families around the world. The

illustrations are great because they display various pictures of African American, Mexican,

Caucasian, and Asian, families in their everyday environment. The book goes on and states

people in families love and care for one another even on bad days. In addition to helping one

another in every given situation. Accepting each other just the way they are leaving judgments

out. This book also touches on the family structure, explaining that some families have a mom

and dad and others have two moms or two dads. This book does a great job illustrating how

families look in today's society. In the pictures, all the families look happy and seem to be

enjoying themselves. I believe this book is worthy of a child's attention because it helps children

understand that even though we may look different, we are all the same. We are attracting those

curious kids that question any difference. Also, the title is very appropriate for the overall

concept of this book because Families come in different shapes and forms and that is what we

should teach our children.

​Cesar Chavez Fighting for Farmers i​ s a story about prejudice and unfair treatment of

immigrant farmers. It starts when the police take away the Chavez family land for not paying

property taxes. With no way to fight Chavez and his family as many other migrant farmers head

to California. Where they have to work hard and wake up early to claim their jobs for the day.

After many days of unfair treatment, and salary decrease of two dollars Chavez and his family

finally had enough. With no other choice than to quit their field jobs. At the age of seventeen

Chavez left to serve in the U.S. Navy upon his return he noticed that nothing had changed. Field
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workers were still being mistreated. He riles up people to create a "huelga" but he plans on

protesting without violence. This book is very interactive because it is in the form of a comic

book. Great for older kids rather than younger because the book teaches children that it is okay to

have an opinion and to protest without violence. The illustrations complement the setting, plot,

and mood because they display what a "huelga" is and how they managed to protest in peace.
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References

Baker, L. (2001). I Love You Because You’re You. Scholastic Inc.

Braun, E., & Roland, H. (2006). ​Cesar Chavez: Fighting for farmworkers.​ Mankato, MN:

Capstone Press.

Bunting, E. (1996). Going Home. Harper Collins Publisher.

Goldish, M. (n.d.). ​The empty pot​. Orlando, FL: Harcourt School Pub.

Morris, A. (2000). Families. HarperCollins Children’s Books. Hampton- Brown.