Authors and Illustrator: Matt De La Pena, Christian RobinsonGenre: Fiction
Awards: Newbery Award, Caldecott
Grade Level: Kindergarten - 2nd grade
"Sometimes when you're surrounded by dirt, CJ, you're a better witness for what's beautiful." CJ questions the places he goes and the things he sees in his neighborhood. However, his Nana always encourages CJ to find the beauty in everything. On the bus, CJ closes his eyes, alongside a blind man, his Nana, and a spotted dog, to listen to a man play his guitar. CJ opens his mind and finds the beauty. When their stop arrives, his Nana reassures him of the beauty in all things even if it doesn't look like it.
I would use this book in my classroom as a read aloud and have it in a reading center. This book introduces what poverty or run down neighborhood looks like to a child; its reality. Nana guides CJ to find the beautiful things in life, even if it does not appear to be beautiful. I love the message this book conveys. This book would be great for educators to take the chance to talk about the life of their students, and how everything is not perfect.
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