Alone Like Me

This picture book would be appropriate for Pre-K to 3rd grade.  It has beautiful muted pictures that highlight Liling and her friend Qiqi.  The book shows Liling's life.  She is not allowed to go to school but has to go to work with her parents.  Her facial expressions reveal her thoughts and feelings.  She sees a girl like her and searches for her in the market.  She looks for her at the park.  She does not find her anywhere.  Her Baba takes her to the park, but she is teased and called names.  She hides from them and imagines a dragon is there with her.  Liling finds the girl who lives near her, but the neighbor is unkind and does not let them talk to each other.  Liling is persistent in trying to find her and returns to the park and the market.  The other children are mean to her again, but she pretends her dragon is there to help her.  Then Liling has a great idea and colors burst from the drawing that she makes for her new friend next door.  Liling creates a way to talk to her friend.  They are both excited to exchange stories.  They work hard at writing to each other and eventually meet at the park.  Liling worries that the children will tease them.  But Qiqi convinces her they will be strong and brave with the animals they have chosen to guard themselves.  They have a really good time at the park.

It has a glossary and pronunciation guide on the first page which is very helpful.  At the end of the book is an explanation about the Hùkǒu system.  I am now curious about the children who attended my ECE center in the 90s; is this why they stayed with grandparents in China until they were almost 3 years old?

This book highlights persistence, friendship, and bullying.  It shows how two can be strong against others.  It shows acceptance and how to find ways to be less lonely.  It shows that if you try you can figure out a solution to your problems. In the classroom, persistence can be reinforced by encouraging the children to finish what they started even if it is difficult. Friendship can be hard work, but it is worth the effort.  Emotions that the girls' expressions show can be discussed as to why they may be feeling that way.  

  I am not sure I would use the word, Tủbáozi with my age group, but I would say they were teasing or being mean.  I don't want to provide anyone with a word that they may not have known previously.  I would not want to use a word to insult, bully, or belittle anyone.  In an older group, it would depend on the overall feeling of the group.  Once again I would not want to provide a word to the group that could hurt someone.  I would definitely listen for this word to make sure no one was using it.  In the older age groups, I would teach them that teasing and bullying is not acceptable.  I would talk to the children to see what words they could come up with to use if they are being bully or teased. 

This book could be used at the beginning of the year to highlight friendship.  It could be used whenever bullying is a problem.  It could be used to show Chinese daily life.  This book could be used to discuss how the illustrations highlight parts of the story and how the children could make their own illustrations while using limited colors to highlight their work.