"Whenever a storm came and
the thunder rattled the windows
and shook the ceiling, my big brother
would make me feel safe by coming
and sitting right next to me.
He'd lean in really close and say,
"No matter what, I'll always
be here for you. I got you.""
As school opens for another year, it's very important to be thinking clearly about the books we share with the children in our classrooms. It's not good enough to choose 'any old' book. Kids need to see themselves and others in these books. Classroom community is built when we read books that resonate with the children who are hearing them. We want them to care about each other; we do that by choosing books that allow them to see life through another's eyes. We cannot live all the experiences that impact our classmates. We can learn to feel empathy and understanding. That happens in all the best classrooms.
Rasheed has a lasting memory of his big brother, Anthony. As a very young baby, he recalls that Anthony's is the face he saw the first time he opened his eyes. Anthony smiled a brilliant smile, and immediately promised to the big brother Rasheed needed.
""I got him, Momma," Anthony said.
"I'll be careful. I promise. He's my
little brother.""
From that moment on, Anthony was the big brother everyone would want to have. He snuggled, stacked blocks to knock down and build again, sat next to a frightened Rasheed during a thunderstorm, showed him how high a swing could fly, splashed in newly-formed puddles, and taught him every other important lesson needed while growing up. Learning to let go, as Anthony wanted to do things with his friends on his own, was a tough change to accept. Still, Rasheed knew his brother would always be there when he needed him.
When the two brothers learned that another baby was on the way, they were filled with joy. Rasheed had learned all of the lessons needed to be just the kind of brother that Anthony had always been for him.
""You're my little brother," I said
as I held him close. "I got you."
Always will."
Rasheed's narration is filled with love and honesty. Collage and multi-media illustrations immerse readers in this family's world, using differences in perspective and textures. This is exactly the kind of book we want to share in classrooms ... it offers warmth, understanding and an opportunity for discussion.
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