Customer Reviews

Bein' with You This Way

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

What a wonderful, versatile book. I teach a 4-year old Pre-K class and I originally chose this book because it focuses on the fact that while people may all be different from each other physically, we can all enjoy each other's company. I have a very mixed class racially, and it is always a priority of mine to have available literature who's illustrations portray a range of races, especially books that do not specifically deal with a race's holiday or special event. I want to draw attention to the fact that we do not only see non-white, non-"typical" children only at certain times of the year. When I got the book out from the library and began reading it, I discovered that it was also enjoyable to read and listen to. It's writing has a very rhythmic, sing-song quality that appeals to my students. The art work is a mix of watercolor and colored pencil, and depicts people of all races and ages playing together at a park. My children regularly pick this book out of the book area and ask that I read it to them, and as they hear it more and more they begin to speak parts along with me. What a joy it is to have a book that really reaches out to my children that strongly. I have just added the book to my wish list so that I can have a copy for myself, and hope that my own children enjoy it as much as I do so I continue to have a reason to read it at home as well as at school.

My daughter is 5 years old. She's no stranger to learning about differences between people's appearances, but this book was different in a positive, important way. Half-way through our first reading, she said for the first time ever "hey mama it just doens't matter what who [anyone] looks like!" She also picked up the repetitive, sing-songy-ness of this book after only a couple pages, retelling me the story as we went. She has requested for me to read this book more than any other & she continues telling it happily to herself while she plays. I believe this is an excellent addition to any home or early childhood education library, but especially for the musically inclined kids.

What a brilliant tool for reaffirming my children's bicultural identity. My kids, three and a half and seven, absolutely love this book. It's beautifully illustrated with text that's easy enough for children to join along in the reading. This book has rhythm and my kids sing as much as they read. It's one of the best teachers of diversity I can give my bicultural kids at this point. We're still reading it two years after I ordered it! Thank you Nikola-Lisa for writing it.

Carolyn Vines, author
black and abroad: traveling beyond the limitations of identity

This book has a rhythm that is fun and unique. It also teaches children how everyone looks different from the color of our skin, our noses, our hair, and more yet we can enjoy being together, being friends, and being family. What a wonderful book.

My son is only 2 years old and he enjoys this book tremendously. The illustrations and words in this book captivates his attention. I do not really care for the recording tape which comes with the book, but the book itself is great. I usually do the rap and sing the words of the book myself without the tape. My son gets a kick out of that. He already knows the words of the book and likes to sing it.

This book is a great learning tool to teach children about diversity and multiculturalism.