focuson Community: Books that Bring People Together

INDIVIDUALS, FAMILY, AND FRIENDS These titles stress the importance of recognizing one's individual qualities, acknowledging and honoring physical and cultural differences in friends and family, and working together to solve problems, despite differences. Gr 1–4-This nonfiction title depicts a range of projects school-age children have undertaken in their Southwestern community, such as knitting hats for homeless people; sorting, packing, and delivering items for a food bank; and picking up trash in an area important to the children. K-Gr 3-Based on the true story of the Urban Art Trail in San Diego, CA, this book shows how one little girl's love for art transformed a once-gray community. While these selections do not directly address some of the more serious issues our nation is facing (e.g., refugees, the current administration's attitude toward immigration, poverty), they do offer opportunities to see potential—potential for collaboration, understanding, appreciating the human condition, and compassion, no matter our race, nationality, religious beliefs, sexual orientation, or level of income.