Kathleen Lacapa

There are many reasons why I like this book. The book takes readers outside of their comfort zone and confronts the realities of how we sometimes question who we are and where we come from. The book illustrates this through Tony's curiosity. For example, "I don't look like Scott or Will, and Will says I'm less than half, what does that mean?" In this part of the story the author draws on the curiosity children feel when they do not look "similar" to others their age. It makes readers realize the realities childhood and how others can sometimes make us feel insecure about where we come from. Also, this can relate to others who have experienced the same thing, and also those who may have done this to someone else. Confronting this who may have made someone else feel less than. Another reason I like the story is because there are many children who come from mixed backgrounds, and this story reminds them that they are still just as special as someone who does not. For instance, "Some will only see blue in the ear of tis corn, some will only see red, but I do not see anything less than a whole ear of corn and all that it means to our people." Here Tony's grandfather makes him discover that where he comes from is unique and to appreciate it. This can help children who feel different to recognize that their background sets them aside from others in a positive way. The main message of the story is to appreciate your roots and that being different from others is what makes our stories unique.… (mais)

In my opinion, this is a five-star children’s book to show different students appearances. This book expands on the idea that everyone is special and unique in their different ways, and no one person looks or has the same personality.
First, the illustrations throughout the novel supports the text. In the beginning of the book, Tony, the main character, and his friends mirror a pond that shows their reflections. Then, one friend makes the comment of “I think you’re only half, or less than half” which makes Tony conflicted with what that phrase means. The picture of the mirror with Tony’s reflection gives the reader a visual of what the text is directing to. In addition, in the ending of the book, a multiple colored corn shows symbolism. Tony’s family member said, “… a gift the creator has given me- my family of many colors.” This shows Tony’s representation of his beauty of the mixed races that creates him whole.
As well as the illustrations throughout the book, the extra-textual features sum the book as a whole. At the end of the book, a glossary is given with words and phrases explained in depth. The picture book brings Tony’s culture by introducing readers to food such as fried bread, which is not typical in American food culture. The glossary is helpful because it is like a dictionary to make sure readers are interpreting the plot accurately.
This children’s book pushes readers to view everyone as equal and as unique. Weather one is biracial or has a deformity, that does not conclude that one is “less” than another person.… (mais)

This book was great and I liked it for several reasons. First of all, the illustrations in the book are extremely vibrant and beautiful with big pictures of Native American patters all over them. Not only are they beautiful, they have great use in the book. This book teaches a wonderful lesson about diversity. It brings about the fact that the main character, a mixed boy of Caucasian and Native American descent, looks different than his two friends who have either full white or dark skin. This book is very relatable to not only children of different ethnicities but to all children as well. It gives the full-raced children an essence of why someone looks different and how they might feel about that. The main character was confused why he was the way he was and his grandfather explained it in a lovely way the child would understand. He was describing how his grandson was like corn of various colors and said, “Some will see only the blue in this ear of corn, and others will see only the red, but I do not see anything less than a whole ear of corn and all that it means to our people. You are not half a person because of your color, my son; you are a whole, beautiful person.” This is an imperative life-lesson to be learned by children so they understand that it is as beautiful to be different as it is to be “normal”. It also teaches a wonderful life-lesson of taking pride in who you are and where you come from, which is a message that every person, not just children, can learn from.… (mais)