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Health & Fitness

Malden Reads Selects K-8 Companion Books for Next Community Read

Malden Reads announces the K-8 Companion books to the main book selection for the next year of One City, One Book.


The Malden Reads team of educators and librarians is pleased to announce their choice of three companion children’s books to be read alongside this year’s community read, The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, by Sherman Alexie.  The three books by Joseph Bruchac allow children to explore ideas such as cultural identity,  cross-generational relationships,  leadership, bullying, self-worth, and tolerance. Like Alexie’s novel, Bruchac’s engaging  stories tackle these universal themes from the perspective of Native Americans living in modern America.

Governor Patrick has proclaimed that November is Family Literacy Month in Massachusetts, and Malden Reads joins the governor in encouraging parents and children to read together. Reading these and other books as a family helps children develop not only the skills necessary to thrive in life, but a lifelong love of reading that enhances learning and sparks the imagination.   

Grades K-3: How Chipmunk got his stripes by Joseph and James Bruchac

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When bear’s boast that he can stop the sun from rising proves to be untrue, brown squirrel teases him for his failure and feels the consequences of bear’s anger. A light-hearted re-telling of a Native American folk tale.

 

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Grades 4-6: Eagle Song by Joseph Bruchac

Danny Bigtree is finding it hard to fit into his new city home where his classmates tease him and call him “Chief.” With the help of his strong family Danny finds the courage to stand up for himself and express the pride he feels in his cultural roots.

 

Grades 6-8: The Heart of a Chief by Joseph Bruchac

Chris Nicola is doing better than he expected at his new school, given that he is one of only a few Indians who go there. His confidence increases when he is chosen to lead a group project on whether to keep the name “Chiefs” for the sports teams at the school. When a casino is proposed on his reservation that would ruin a sacred place at the heart of his people’s land, Chris’s solution to the problem shows that he has truly learned what it means to be a Chief. A coming of age story about living in two different worlds.

Copies of the children’s will soon be available books at the Malden Public Library for loan. Copies also will be made available to the public school libraries through the generous support of local businesses, organizations, and individuals who contribute to Malden Reads. Funding support also goes toward providing related curriculum and materials for the schools and afterschool programs.

Beginning in early 2013, the Malden Reads committee will invite the entire community to participate in book discussions, movie screenings, cultural events, social gatherings, sporting events, children’s programs, a service activity, and more.

The Malden Reads Core Committee is comprised of library staff, city leaders, community groups, and residents. More information about Malden Reads can be found online at www.maldenreads.org. You can also “friend” us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter. (Just search for “Malden Reads.”) To help with event-planning or receive updates about the program, email us at maldenreads@gmail.com. You can also donate to the program by following the link on the website. If you’d like to speak with a committee representative, call one of the co-facilitators: Anne D’Urso-Rose at 781-321-6400 or Jodie Zalk at 781-608-6938.

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