Book Uncle and Me

Book Uncle and Me

Written by: Krishnaswami, Uma
Illustrated by: Swaney, Julianna
ages 7 and up / grades 2 and up

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
Supporting Resources
(select item to download)
Excerpt
Written By

UMA KRISHNASWAMI was born in India and now lives in Victoria, British Columbia. Her other publications include Two at the Top, illustrated by Christopher Corr; Book Uncle and Me, illustrated by Julianna Swaney, winner of the ILA Social Justice Literature Award; and The Girl of the Wish Garden, illustrated by Nasrin Khosravi. She has been nominated twice for the prestigious 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 grew up birdwatching with her dad, and birds have always had an important place in her life. She has illustrated numerous books for children and 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, British Columbia. Her other publications include Two at the Top, illustrated by Christopher Corr; Book Uncle and Me, illustrated by Julianna Swaney, winner of the ILA Social Justice Literature Award; and The Girl of the Wish Garden, illustrated by Nasrin Khosravi. She has been nominated twice for the prestigious 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 grew up birdwatching with her dad, and birds have always had an important place in her life. She has illustrated numerous books for children and spends her time at her home in Oregon painting, gardening and daydreaming.

Audience ages 7 and up / grades 2 and up
Reading Levels Lexile 580L
Guided Reading R
Common Core CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.4.2
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.3.2
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.3.6

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