The Day You Begin

The kind of book that makes you weep the first time you read it and then feel like you HAVE to read this aloud to the kids in your class, family, community. We are all unique or not quite like others--which can make us feel alone in the world UNTIL we start to share our stories, our lives with others. Then we find that we are similar in some ways to those around us or that others are open to the new world we might introduce to them. Woodson's language is beautiful (of course) - "There will be times when you walk into a room and no one there is quite like you." "There will be times when..." "There will be times when the world feels like a place that you're standing all the way outside of..." "There will be times when you walk into a room and no one there is quite like you until the day you begin to share your stories." YES! Read this aloud for pure enjoyment. And then read it aloud again and pose questions for student-led conversations--questions that could also lead to writing. ***Have you ever experienced a "There will be times when..."? ***What does the author mean when she writes "There will be times when the world feels like a place that you're standing all the way outside of"? ***Or a time when you only had your "brave self--steady as steel and ready" even though you didn't "know what you were ready for:? Rafael's illustrations are stunning. With illustrations of each child in that place at that moment (e.g., the classroom, the playground), but then also illustrations of the richness of that child's life (e.g., Rigoberto in a beautiful Venezuela, a girl seeing the world through books, etc.). You could project a two-page layout and pose questions like, ***"What do you notice?" ***"What do you notice as similar and different between the illustrations with Rigoberto on this page and this page?" ***"Why do you think the illustrator chose to include that?" Several pages include an image of a ruler--maybe to signify that a particular scene is in the school but it also made me think about the pressure on kids to "measure up" in many ways when they are at school. Might be worth conversation with students. One more thought. Before reading aloud, ask students to make predictions based on the title. After reading this aloud, go back to the title and ask, ***"What does the author mean by 'the day you begin'?" and maybe even "How can we do that right now?"

I read this book to a class of high diversity students. I feel as if it was able to speak to a lot more students. They like the story and they were able to pick up on the theme pretty fast. The book felt like good quality.

The Day You Begin spoke right to my heart! In my 40 years, I finally found a picture book that made me feel truly seen. Jacqueline Woodson and Rafael López beautifully capture the experience of standing out and the courage it takes to share your story. Readers follow Angelina’s journey, feeling different because of her food, background, and memories. This book shows that our unique stories matter while also revealing the shared experiences that connect us all. I highly recommend it to every child and adult who’s ever felt out of place!

I enjoyed this book, and reading it was healing. Many children will connect to the nervousness of the characters who feel like outsiders in different ways. The young girl feels like an outsider because of her hair and appearance. Throughout the story, the girl realizes that everyone experiences the feeling of being an outsider, but what binds us all together and connects us is shared stories. The book opens a dialogue about inclusivity, bravery, diversity, and perspective. Children can reflect on how they might treat others and react to new spaces.

Wonderful book for beginning of school year, especially if you have a diverse classroom. My fifth graders loved it!

Needed this book for college project in my elementary major. Beautiful story and even more beautiful illustrations. I was able to use a lot of quotes and images to make a beautiful display for my sister’s school and their Black History Month program and parade.

I like Jacqueline Woodson's theme for the book. I like that the story has a twist to it. I read the title and thought I knew what the book would be about. Not! It is a good read for someone who needs inspiration for a new situation.

Being new and different in a classroom or any place can be difficult. Not always will you look like everyone else or talk like everyone else but maybe there will be something you have in common. One young girl is new and shy. The other children look at her with curiosity. She worries that she doesn’t look like them. Others in the class wonder the same. Is it their hair, skin color, lunch meals or the way words roll from their tongues? What happens when you don’t know what to say or you don’t know how to play? Perhaps, you just have to be brave and begin. This delightful story shows kids having doubts about being different. Young readers will see that we are all different and its not a bad thing. Vibrant and gentle illustrations show the emotion of the characters. Poetic verse is calming and rhythmic. Parents, teachers, and caregivers can use this book as a tool to discuss how kids are different and how they are similar.

Beautifully made and written!

Nice book for kids. My kid is loving it

Amazing book with an excellent message. We love it

A wonderful book for kids to learn about the similarities in our differences.

I have bought this book thrice, once for my son and as a gift twice. It is enjoyable to read and has very many lessons. We live in the UAE among expats from many countries. This book is a great way to have conversations on diversity and different cultures.