Realistic Fiction
When Jamaica overhears her brother saying he is going to play basketball at the park, she wants to go. Ossie, her older brother, says for her not to tag along. She went anyway, watching her big brother and his friends play basketball. When they see her, Ossie again tells her she cannot play and Jamaica goes off to play on her own. She begins building a castle out of sand when a little boy comes to help her. Because Jamaica does not want him to play with her and her castle (because she is afraid he will mess it up), she tells him something similar to what her brother always tells her. Finally, Jamaica realizes the mistake she has made by being mean to the boy younger than her and allows him to help her build the castle. Her worry was that he would tear up the castle, so she shows him how to build it correctly, and they are both happy in the end. This character-building story could teach any age student the importance of being kind to others, especially those who may be looking up to the as a role model. With older elementary students especially, it is not unusual for them to have siblings, particularly younger. If they are the older sibling, this story could help them realize the role they play in their younger brother or sister's life. As a role model for their younger siblings, they could come to appreciate their brother or sister wanting to play with them and do things like them. This story could also be used to discuss older-elementary students' role in the school atmosphere. As a fourth or fifth grader, younger students look up to them and try to mimic their actions. If students understand this superiority, it is possible that they may feel a responsibility to be a good citizen in the school. I believe a counselor could easily use this book as an aid when discussing being a role model, or a teacher could use this book as a topic for a classroom meeting.
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