Review By: Erin Paul
This story is about a girl named Anjali who is excited to
get a brand new bicycle. At the school
carnival, Anjali and her friends find personalized license plates for their bikes. While her friends easily find license plates
with their names, Anjali is sad to discover she cannot find her own. Meanwhile, she begins to be teased for her “unique”
name. As Anjali begins to feel
embarrassed and frustrated with her name, she decides to change her name to “Angie”
in order to fit in. Anjali’s parents work
to help Anajli understand its meaning and importance to who she is – but will
Anjali still change her name?
Always Anjali shines a light on appreciating and
celebrating our differences. The author
encourages readers to embrace who they are rather than conforming to fit in. I strongly suggest this book to any classroom
that wants to help students identify and celebrate what makes them unique and
special.
This text may also be used in the context of having students
complete a personal culture project. The
book helps Anjali identify how her national origin is important to her personal
identity. The story also illustrates
various components of Indian culture such as instruments, foods, and traditions
- such as not wearing shoes in the house - which could help students come to
understand how their cultures are a part of who they are and how it affects
their daily lives.
I believe that many readers can make personal connections to
Anjali’s story. While some students may identify
with an experience such as their name, other students may identify a personal
trait that makes them unique or different.
This story may also build connections for students that are navigating two
different cultures like Anjali: her friends’ (American) and her family’s
(Indian). How can we help our students
embrace their cultural and personal identities without implicitly having them
conform to the dominant narrative?
Here is a link to a YouTube Video of author/actress’s
interview at her book launch:
Title: Always Anjali (2018)
Author: Sheetal Sheth
Illustrator: Jessica Blank
No comments:
Post a Comment