Yes, this. I just LOVE this book, and recently gave away my copy to a friend and had to buy myself a new one.
I work with English language learners in a public school system in the U.S., and this book is particularly appealing because a) it's wordless, and thereby totally accessible b) the story is really compelling, c) the emotional arc of the main character is often really familiar to my students.
This book is also really useful in teacher education. For many teachers in the U.S., they've never had the experience of going somewhere and being completely unfamiliar with the language, alphabet, customs, food, etc. Vicariously experiencing this, through the fabulous illustrations of Tan, is a step towards helping them understand how to best support their newly arrived students.
And also, because the illustrations are so rich and detailed, I've found I can get lost on a single page, just studying the faces and expressions. The inside of the cover is just fantastic. Tan is really a gifted illustrator!
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timeasmymeasure
no subject
Date: 2009-01-25 02:45 am (UTC)I work with English language learners in a public school system in the U.S., and this book is particularly appealing because a) it's wordless, and thereby totally accessible b) the story is really compelling, c) the emotional arc of the main character is often really familiar to my students.
This book is also really useful in teacher education. For many teachers in the U.S., they've never had the experience of going somewhere and being completely unfamiliar with the language, alphabet, customs, food, etc. Vicariously experiencing this, through the fabulous illustrations of Tan, is a step towards helping them understand how to best support their newly arrived students.
And also, because the illustrations are so rich and detailed, I've found I can get lost on a single page, just studying the faces and expressions. The inside of the cover is just fantastic. Tan is really a gifted illustrator!