Summary
It’s Afghani schoolgirl Aria’s first day back at school since her accident. She’s excited, but she’s also worried about sitting on the hard floor all day with her new prosthetic “helper-leg.” Just as Aria feared, sitting on the floor is so uncomfortable that she can’t think about learning at all. She knows that before the war changed many things in Afghanistan, schools like hers had benches for students to sit at. If she had a bench, her leg would not hurt so much.
Theme(s):
Courage, Resilience, Determination, Communities
Personal Response
I enjoyed reading this book and loved the illustrations and use of color. Although Aria faced difficulties, she displayed courage and was determined to gather materials to make a bench. I love how resourceful Aria was and that she never gave up. It was nice to see the help from her community and family members as well.
Teaching Ideas
For this book, I would do a read-aloud followed by an activity about communities around the world. I would first discuss the reading with students and see if they have any questions. I would have students think about how our community is similar and different from Arias. Then, students can pair up and share their thoughts and ideas. At the end, we would come together and share what we have learned. It is important to discuss the barriers that women face in Afghan such as education.
Recommended Reading Level
Birth-PreK, Grade 01, Grade 02
