Winner of the International Literacy Association Social Justice Literature Award
An award-winning middle-grade novel about the power of grassroots activism and how kids can make a difference.
Every day, nine-year-old Yasmin borrows a book from Book Uncle, a retired teacher who has set up a free lending library on the street corner. But when the mayor tries to shut down the rickety bookstand, Yasmin has to take her nose out of her book and do something.
What can she do? The local elections are coming up, but she’s just a kid. She can’t even vote!
Still, Yasmin has friends — her best friend, Reeni, and Anil, who even has a blue belt in karate. And she has family and neighbors. What’s more, she has an idea that came right out of the last book she borrowed from Book Uncle.
So Yasmin and her friends get to work. Ideas grow like cracks in the sidewalk, and soon the whole effort is breezing along nicely... Or is it spinning right out of control?
An energetic, funny and quirky story about community activism, friendship, and the love of books.
Correlates to the Common Core State Standards in English Language Arts:
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.3.2
Recount stories, including fables, folktales, and myths from diverse cultures; determine the central message, lesson, or moral and explain how it is conveyed through key details in the text.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.3.6
Distinguish their own point of view from that of the narrator or those of the characters.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.4.2
Determine a theme of a story, drama, or poem from details in the text; summarize the text.
Winner of the International Literacy Association Social Justice Literature Award
An award-winning middle-grade novel about the power of grassroots activism and how kids can make a difference.
Every day, nine-year-old Yasmin borrows a book from Book Uncle, a retired teacher who has set up a free lending library on the street corner. But when the mayor tries to shut down the rickety bookstand, Yasmin has to take her nose out of her book and do something.
What can she do? The local elections are coming up, but she’s just a kid. She can’t even vote!
Still, Yasmin has friends — her best friend, Reeni, and Anil, who even has a blue belt in karate. And she has family and neighbors. What’s more, she has an idea that came right out of the last book she borrowed from Book Uncle.
So Yasmin and her friends get to work. Ideas grow like cracks in the sidewalk, and soon the whole effort is breezing along nicely... Or is it spinning right out of control?
An energetic, funny and quirky story about community activism, friendship, and the love of books.
Correlates to the Common Core State Standards in English Language Arts:
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.3.2
Recount stories, including fables, folktales, and myths from diverse cultures; determine the central message, lesson, or moral and explain how it is conveyed through key details in the text.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.3.6
Distinguish their own point of view from that of the narrator or those of the characters.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.4.2
Determine a theme of a story, drama, or poem from details in the text; summarize the text.
| Published By | Groundwood Books Ltd — Sep 1, 2016 |
| Specifications | 152 pages | 5 in x 7.5 in 152 pages | 5 in x 7.5 in |
| Keywords | lending library; reading; Indian protagonist; learning about politics; neighborhood and community; Indian fable; family and family issues; fables and folklore; friends and friendship issues; helping others; social justice; cooperation; respect for others; self-control; figurative language; metaphors; simile; civics; determining importance; summarizing; Common Core aligned; CC Literature Key Ideas and Details; grade 3; USBBY Outstanding International Book List; |
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Supporting Resources
(select item to download) |
Excerpt |
| Written By |
UMA KRISHNASWAMI was born in India and now lives in Victoria, BC. Her Book Uncle trilogy includes the bestselling Book Uncle and Me, winner of the ILA Social Justice Literature Award, Birds on the Brain and The Sunshine Project. Her picture books include Look! Look! and Out of the Way! Out of the Way!, both illustrated by Uma Krishnaswamy. She has been nominated twice for the Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award. Uma is faculty emerita in the Writing for Children and Young Adults program at Vermont College of Fine Arts. |
| Illustrated by |
JULIANNA SWANEY has illustrated numerous books for children, including the first two books in the Book Uncle trilogy: Book Uncle and Me and Birds on the Brain, both written by Uma Krishnaswami. She spends her time at her home in Oregon painting, gardening and daydreaming. |
| Written By |
|
UMA KRISHNASWAMI was born in India and now lives in Victoria, BC. Her Book Uncle trilogy includes the bestselling Book Uncle and Me, winner of the ILA Social Justice Literature Award, Birds on the Brain and The Sunshine Project. Her picture books include Look! Look! and Out of the Way! Out of the Way!, both illustrated by Uma Krishnaswamy. She has been nominated twice for the Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award. Uma is faculty emerita in the Writing for Children and Young Adults program at Vermont College of Fine Arts. |
| Illustrated by |
|
JULIANNA SWANEY has illustrated numerous books for children, including the first two books in the Book Uncle trilogy: Book Uncle and Me and Birds on the Brain, both written by Uma Krishnaswami. She spends her time at her home in Oregon painting, gardening and daydreaming. |
| Audience | ages 8 to 12 / grades 3 to 7 |
| Reading Levels |
Lexile 580L
Guided Reading R |
| Common Core |
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.4.2
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.3.6 CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.3.2 |
Commended, NPR's Guide to 2016's Great Reads, 2016
Commended, USBBY's Outstanding International Books List, 2017
Commended, OLA Best Bets Top Ten, 2016
Commended, Little Free Library Action Book Club Selection, 2017
Commended, Cooperative Children's Book Center Choices List, 2017
Commended, Bank Street College of Education Best Children's Books of the Year, 2017
Winner, International Literacy Association Social Justice Literature Award, 2017
“Yasmin’s campaign should help inspire young readers to believe in their own potential to make a difference and teach the valuable lesson that sometimes it takes several small actions to make big moves.” —Kirkus, starred review
“This sweet slice-of-life tale … demonstrates that children can be empowered to effect change in their own neighborhoods. This is also a perfect title to shine a light on elections taking place elsewhere.” —School Library Journal
“[Readers] will surely be charmed by Yasmin’s upbeat personality and determination.” —Horn Book
Winner of the International Literacy Association Social Justice Literature Award
NPR’s Guide to 2016’s Great Reads
USBBY’s Outstanding International Books List
OLA Best Bets Top Ten
Little Free Library Action Book Club Selection
Cooperative Children’s Book Center Choices List
Bank Street College of Education Best Children’s Books of the Year
“Yasmin’s campaign should help inspire young readers to believe in their own potential to make a difference and teach the valuable lesson that sometimes it takes several small actions to make big moves.” Kirkus, starred review
“This sweet slice-of-life tale … demonstrates that children can be empowered to effect change in their own neighborhoods. This is also a perfect title to shine a light on elections taking place elsewhere.” School Library Journal, starred review
“[Readers] will surely be charmed by Yasmin’s upbeat personality and determination.” Horn Book
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