Summary
After seeing his friend’s drawing of his eyes, a young Asian boy notices that his eyes look different from those of his peers. It dawns on the boy after talking to his father that his eyes are special and ambitious. They are like the eyes of his father, his agong, and his little brother—they speak to the stars, shine like sunlit rays, and glimpse trails of light from those who have come before. This story is a celebration of body diversity, family, and Chinese culture.
Theme(s):
Self-Acceptance, Family, Power
Personal Response
After reading this story, I thought that it was so inspiring to read. The Asian culture was beautifully portrayed in the illustrations. It was lovely to see the importance of family in the book with the connection of the boy’s father, little brother, and his agong how they are all similar which makes them special. It was so refreshing to see the story start out with him recognizing and embracing his differences and connecting it to family.
Teaching Ideas
This story is ideal for reading aloud, then engaging in a self-esteem and confidence activity. In this lesson, I would have students talk about how the little boy in the story demonstrated self-love and how he valued who he was. As a result, students could exchange ideas about what they love about themselves and their surroundings. Afterwards, I would have the students create their own lanterns with each of them being personalized with how their own eyes speak to the stars.
Recommended Reading Level
Grade 01, Grade 02
