Julie's Library: The Day You Begin
Courtesy of publisher
“There will be times when you walk into a room and no one there is quite like you.” Award-winning author Jacqueline Woodson visits the library and shares a book about feeling different from everyone around you. Plus, she reads a poem about her great-great grandfather, her mother, and her own life. It’s called “it’ll be scary sometimes.”
Get The Day You Begin: | |
“The Day You Begin” written by Jacqueline Woodson, illustrated by Rafael López. Copyright © 2018. Used with permission of Nancy Paulsen Books, Penguin Random House. All rights reserved.
PICTURE THIS: MORE FROM THE ILLUSTRATOR
Rafael López
For illustrator Rafael López, feeling emotionally connected to the story is an important part of the creative process. His connection to The Day You Begin felt very personal.
“I came from another country, spoke with a heavy accent, and could barely understand English, so I related to Rigoberto.” — Rafael López, illustrator of The Day You Begin.
Rafael López
He also shared this fun secret with us!
“Look for the rulers throughout the book and try to find the meaning. I like to leave surprises and visual clues around my illustrations for people to discover when they open the book again and again.” — Rafael López, illustrator of The Day You Begin.
Rafael López
THIS WEEK’S ACTIVITY: WRITE A POEM ABOUT A FAMILY MEMBER OR FRIEND YOU ADMIRE!
Jacqueline Woodson shared a beautiful poem called “it’ll be scary sometimes” about her great-great grandfather, his son, and their bravery in the face of adversity. Do you have a relative or friend you think is amazing? Someone you’d like to write a poem about?
Grab a pen and a piece of paper, and see what thoughts come up. It feels nice to write about the people we love!
READING RECOMMENDATIONS
Your Name is a Song by Jamilah Thompkins-Bigelow
Get this book: | |
All Are Welcome by Alexandra Penfold
Get this book: | |
I Walk with Vanessa by Kerascoët
Get this book: | |
WONDERFUL WORDS
Souvenir (noun) — A souvenir is an object that helps us remember something, like a snow globe you buy to remember a vacation. Souvenir also means “to remember” in French.
