Brianna, Jamaica, and the Dance of Spring

Title:  Brianna, Jamaica, and the Dance of Spring 

Author/Illustrator: Juanita Havill/Anne Sibley O'Brien 

APA Citation: Havill, J. (2002). Brianna, Jamaica, and the Dance of Spring. Boston, MA: Houghton Mifflin. 

Lexile Score: N/A- (Ages 4-10) 

Target Audience: I think this is a great story for a variety of ages.  It focuses on different typical conflicts that may arise in a child's life. 

Summary: This was a very sweet story about two friends and their upcoming dance recital.  Both girls were disappointed when they were cast as flowers, however, due to illness of others, each girl gets the chance to play a different part.  Unfortunately, one of the girls fell ill at the last minute, and to make the best of the situation, the girls performed the routine for their families once everyone was back to health. 

Evaluation: 

	4	3	2	1
Theme/Moral	The theme/moral of the story was worthwhile and provided a non-biased message for the reader.	Theme of the story was worthwhile but portrayed a somewhat biased message for the reader.	Theme of the story was somewhat worthwhile, but portrayed a biased message for the reader.	Theme/moral of the story was not worthwhile and portrayed a biased message for the reader.
Characterization	Characters in the story were relatable and did not portray typical stereotypes.	Characters in the story were relatable but some characteristics portrayed typical stereotypes.	Characters in the story were somewhat relatable, however portrayed characteristics  typical of stereotypes.	Characters in the story were relatable and portrayed characteristics  typical of stereotypes.
Illustrations	Illustrations in the story were relatable and did not portray typical stereotypes.	Illustrations in the story were relatable but some characteristics portrayed typical stereotypes.	Illustrations in the story were somewhat relatable, however portrayed characteristics  typical of stereotypes.	Illustrations in the story were not relatable and portrayed characteristics  typical of stereotypes.
Multicultural Aspects	Story provided accurate representations of  several cultures.	Story provided accurate representations of more than one culture.	Story provided accurate representation of only one culture.	Story did not provide accurate representations of  the culture discussed.
Historical Value	The story's historical references were accurate and did not convey a biased opinion of the event depicted.	The story's historical references were accurate, did not convey some biased opinion of the event depicted.	The story's historical references were somewhat accurate, and did convey a biased opinion of the event depicted.	The story's historical references were not accurate, and conveyed a biased opinion of the event depicted.
Self and Social Identities	This book positively counteracts stereotypical messages based on gender, color, economic status, family structure, and/or abilities.	This book attempts to counteracts stereotypical messages based on gender, color, economic status, family structure, and/or abilities.	This book does not reinforce stereotypical messages based on gender, color, economic status, family structure, and/or abilities.	This book reinforces stereotypical messages based on gender, color, economic status, family structure, and/or abilities.
Language	This book did not contain any "loaded" words, and used alternatives to generic terms.	This book did not contain any "loaded" words, but did use some generic terms.	This book did not contain "loaded" words, however, consistently used generic terms.	This book did contain "loaded words, and consistently used generic terms.
Overall Rating	I would use this book in my future classroom and recommend it to other teachers.	I would try to use this book in my future classroom and might recommend it to other teachers.	If the occasion arose, I might read this book, but probably would not recommend it.	I would not use or recommend this book.

Overall Score: 30/32 

Literary Elements: Various sentence beginnings (gerunds/infinitives), similes, personification, quotes within a text 

Social Justice Elements:  Making the best out of a bad situation, empathy for others, maintaining strong friendships 

Sample Lesson:  If I were to use this book, I might pair it with The Rain Stomper and ask the students to think of a time when their plans did not turn out the way they wanted them to.  I would have them describe the situation, and if needed, create an ending in which they made the best out of their situation.