Knock Knock My Dad's Dream for Me

Title:  Knock Knock My Dad's Dream for Me 

Author/Illustrator: Daniel Beaty/Bryan Collier 

APA Citation: Beaty, D. (2013). Knock knock: My dad's dream for me. New York, NY: Hachette Book Group. 

Lexile Score: AD780L- Recommended adult read to child (Ages 5-7) 

Target Audience: I think this is a great story for a variety of ages.  It would be especially helpful for any student dealing with the loss of a parent. 

Summary: This was a heartbreaking story about a young boy who had a very strong relationship with his father.  However, one day his father did not come home, so the boy wrote him a letter to tell him how much he was missed.  The father wrote back, explaining he would not be there for the pivotal moments in his son's life, but that he should strive to do his best and live a life he could be proud of. 

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Historical Value	The story's historical references were accurate and did not convey a biased opinion of the event depicted.	The story's historical references were accurate, did not convey some biased opinion of the event depicted.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: 26/32 

Literary Elements: Repetition, ellipses, onomatopoeia 

Social Justice Elements:  Strong sense of family, turning negatives into positives, coping with the loss of a parent 

Sample Lesson:  If I were to do a lesson on this book, I think I would pair it with the book Abuelo and have the students write a letter to the influential people who have made an impact in their lives.