Tsunami
by Kimiko Kajikawa
Author: Kimiko Kajikawa
"For several years, I have truly enjoyed reading old Japanese folklore and adapting those stories for an American audience. This is very therapeutic work for me. When I was little, I would go to sleep and wish that I would wake up looking like all the other kids. Now, I take pride in my heritage." (http://www.author4kids.com)
Folklore
The traditional beliefs, customs, and stories of a community, passed through the generations by word of mouth. A collection of tales passed from generation to generation and from the old to the young.
Illustrator: Ed Young
"It is my purpose to establish growth in the reader [with exciting images]". Illustrator of over eighty books and Caldecott Medalist. He finds inspiration in his work in the philosophy of Chinese painting. (http://edyoungart.com/about.html)
Read-Aloud
Theme: Character
"Tsunami" is a Culturally Relevant and Authentic Selection
- words such as nobori for banners and taimatsu for torch
2. Has an appealing format and is of endearing quality
- illustrations portray depth and
- story is logical
- expresses the good character traits of a person and leader
- endearing in the way it represents a sacrifice made to save people's lives
- The character of Ojiisan is based on a real person, Hamaguchi Goryou, who guided his villagers to safety by lighting rice-straw fires.
Classroom Teaching Application
Grade 2
Key Ideas and Details
ELA. RL.2.2; Recount stories, including fables and folktales from diverse cultures, and determine their central message, lesson, or moral.
Objective: Students will explain the central message of the story using events and example from the text.
Instruction
- Model the think-aloud process of finding the central message
- Students practice this skill with elbow partners and small group. Students are forming opinions, making decisions, and critically thinking.
- Students can compare and contrast qualities of Ojiisan with role models in their own lives
- Students can report on someone they think is a hero
This story can be used in a variety of subjects:
- Geography: students identify where different tsunamis have taken place on a world map
- History: Create a timeline of major tsunamis in history
- Science: Investigate how a tsunami occurs
- Writing: Create an original piece of writing
- Art: Present information about the illustrator. Have students create works of art based on the media that Ed Young used