Summary
When Nari brings her traditional Asian lunch to her school, she doesn’t expect her classmates’ reaction… “Pee-yoo! It smells like someone farted!”Feeling embarrassed and rejected, she asks her mother to make her American lunches from now on, only to discover that what makes her different is actually her strength!
Theme(s):
Cultural differences, Acceptance, Diversity, Individualism
Personal Response
I enjoyed reading this book and how it shows the importance of accepting one another for who they are. The author shared how she used to be teased for brining “yucky” lunches to school which is why she wanted to share her experience. Many kids are mean to their classmates if they bring in unfamiliar or “weird” food since they are not familiar with different cultures. I liked the ending of this story since all were accepting towards their peers cultures and ended up liking the various foods.
Teaching Ideas
After reading aloud this book in my classroom, I would have a cultural appreciation day in my class for all students to learn about the different cultures within our classroom. Students would be encouraged to bring in an outfit from their culture to share, as well as their favorite cultural food. By having a cultural appreciation day, students would be able to appreciate the differences among their peers. In addition, students may come to realize that they like food from various cultures.
Recommended Reading Level
Birth-PreK, Grade 01, Grade 02, Grade 03
