Same Same but Different by Jenny Sue Kotecki-Shaw

 

Title: Same, Same but Different

Author: Jenny Sue Kotecki-Shaw

Illustrator: Jenny Sue Kotecki-Shaw

Genre: Fiction, Realistic-Fiction, Children-Literature, mult-cultural

Major Awards: Ezra Jack Keats Book Award: New Illustrator Award, 2012

Ages: 4-7 Years old

Summary:

This story speaks about two different children, who show each other in how their cultures, their lifestyles,and their their interests may be similar to each other, but at the same time different.Elliot lives in America and Kailash lives in India.Elliot lives in a city, while Kailish lives in a village. They write letters to each other and send pictures to learn about each others homes and lives. As they read each other's letters, they both realize that even though their environment may look different from one another, they both still have families, homes, pets, and hobbies. In the end, Elliot and Kailash realize that they are not so different after all. 

Book Evaluation:

1) I would recommend this book to my class because this would be a great way to get my students to know one another, and learn something new from their peers.

2) I would recommend this book to the Pre-Kinder to Second grade level.

3) I would use this book in the unit of Language Arts or Social Studies. I would use this book for a first day of class or first week of class, and have them get to know their peers. This would be an excellent way to break the ice and make new friends. This would be an excellent opportunity for them to share their interests, their hobbies, and their lifestyles to get to know one another. I would put them in pairs, or in groups, so that they can get to know one another. Then, I would have a couple of them share their group discussions to the class. Afterwards, I would have them write a letter to a friend sharing who they are. Then, I would post every letter on a special bulletin board with a picture of them on the wall.