Lesson Plan - Changing the Story

Watch a Video: Books for Everyone

Discuss: How did Emi come up with the idea for her project?

Preview Words to Know

Project the online vocabulary slideshow and introduce the Words to Know.

• diverse 
• heritage

Set a Purpose for Reading

Before reading, have students describe characters and stories they have connected with—and tell why.

1. Why does Emi Kim believe it’s important for kids to see people who look like themselves and people who are different from them in books? Emi thinks that kids will feel proud and confident when they see people who look like themselves in books. She also thinks that reading about characters who are different can help kids understand each other better.

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2. What steps did Emi take to bring diverse books into her school’s library? Emi raised money to buy diverse books and got her principal’s permission to donate books. Then she carefully selected and bought books to add to her school and others.

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3. Why did Emi try to choose authors and illustrators who are part of the culture or race represented in the book? According to Emi, “they would know the experiences of that group.”

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FEATURED SKILL: Explain Connections

Use the skill builder “Read and Reflect” to have students write about personal connections to books they have read. 

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