Diana Engel

This book is a great example of realistic fiction, even though the characters are depicted as animals, they behave like humans and do not mention their "animal" qualities in the story. I liked the illustrations; they are very colorful and include a lot of details, complimenting the story. It includes very colorful comparisons, like "Her words wrapped around Josephina like one of the warm and cozy sweaters she was always knitting" or "But today she felt empty, like the bag, and angry as well". I enjoyed the short story of Josephina who does not like her name. She only comes to terms with it when her grandmother tells her a story about her sister Josephina who was very brave and beautiful. I think Josephina's dislike of her own name is a metaphor for any child disliking something about themselves that is inheritably theirs, like home language, nationality, the color of eyes or hair, or any other particular characteristic that sets them apart from others in a real or perceived way. I believe that this book can be incorporated into a lesson about diversity.… (more)