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I feel rather shamed by all of the Threads posts about how we “should” be reading banned books by living, marginalized authors, instead of the “classics”. I‘ve ditched my original list for books by Black and Palestinian authors actively being banned/challenged. I‘ve only got bandwidth for picture books, but this was a great one about belonging and finding a place in the world. The illustrations are beautiful.

“And all at once, in the room where no one else is quite like you, the world opens itself up a little wider to make some space for you.“

This would be an excellent book to read to children on the first day of school. Especially for upper elementary students as they are able to comprehend this deeper text better. It shows students that no matter what they look like, or where they come from, there is a place for them in the classroom. I want to create a space like this in my future classroom.

“The Day You Begin“ written by Jacqueline Woodson and illustrated by Rafael Lopez, was published in 2018. This is a great book that talks about inclusivity. People may not always look or act like you, but you are always welcomed into the classroom. But people should all use this to their advantage to learn more about other cultures. The images do an amazing job portraying the different cultures and what they are known for.

This book does an excellent job in displaying the big emotions young students may feel on their first day of school. It highlights that everyone is unique as it captures the warmth of finding acceptance through its powerful illustrations.

The book, The Day You Begin, by Jacqueline Woodson and illustrated by Rafael Lopez captures the experiences that young students on their first day of school. This book takes you on a journey to help students better understand and embrace their differences because each person is unique.

Rigoberto‘s home life juxtaposed with his school life.

This book is a great first day of school book. Many students may feel alone or isolated from their peers at the beginning of the school year, and this book can lead students to express themselves or reach out to others who they see may be lonely.

This book uses its imaginative illustrations by Rafael López to juxtapose the beauty and the color of the characters cultures with how isolated they feel in the school context. The characters are surrounded by colorful images when imagining their lives at home or their cultures, but are shown in mostly plain colors when shown in school. As the children feel more at place, the scenes of them at school become more colorful.

Jane Adams Children‘s Book Award
August 28th, 2018
Being different is so great and is something that should be celebrated. Being different is not something that is easy for everyone, this book uses this book to show readers how great it is to be different.

The Day You Begin by Jaqueline Woodson is a Jane Adams Children's Book Award winner. It was published in 2018 and is a children's fiction book. This is about a girl who finds the courage to share her story and even though she is different then everyone else, the world creates a place for each and everyone that they deserve. They call it the day you begin because you don't start living until then. I love this book and think everyone should read it.

Published - 2018
Author - Jacqueline Woodson
Awards - Pura Belpre Author Award Book
Genre- Fiction
A beautifully illustrated and written story that talks about celebrating and cherishing our differences. It is about taking pride in yourself and the way you are. I think this a powerful message suitable for any age reader and would be perfect in a classroom setting.

There will be times when you walk into a room and no one there is quite like you.

I love how this story calls us to accept who we are and to have the courage to be different.

The Day You Begin is a heartwarming and inspiring story about having the courage to be your own beautiful self. The story shows that everyone has a story and that we need to create room for everyone‘s experiences and backgrounds. We need to continue on despite our differences.

Angelina enters her classroom and realizes that her skin, clothing and hair was different than everyone elses. Kids that looked different were laughed at and made fun of. Angelina finds the courage to connect with new friends, even when she feels alone and scared.

Jane Addams Book Award - Published August 28th, 2018. This is a very powerful book and I think everyone needs to read it. The message of this book is about people finding their place in the world. It may be a bumpy road and not everyone will see what or why your doing something but eventually if you speak your voice and pave yourself a path, you will definitely find your space in the world.

Published in 2018, This story is about a powerful message. The message is it's important to be yourself and express your story, and the day you do that is the day you will start living and enjoying your life. This is an empowering book for young readers to enjoy being different than everyone else.

Awards:
Book of Choice

“..... where every new friend has something a little like you- and something else so fabulously not quite like you at all.“

A beautiful, inspiring story about “the day you begin.“ It can be scary and intimidating but you will find something beautiful in everyday and everything about yourself.

The Day You Begin was written by Jacqueline Woodson and illustrated by Rafael Lopez. This story is about the main character and how she is very different from everyone in her class. However, by the end of the story she understands that being different is okay and whenever you start to be yourself, everything will be okay. The illustrations in the book are beautiful, filled with color and life. I would read this story to my students!

In this story, the illustrator used bright and colorful artwork to bring the characters to life. Throughout the story, the perspective/ point of view helps change the focus of being just an outsider in life to working together to celebrate each other's differences.

This book brings out a warm feeling from inside as it talks about how we may all look different, be from a variety of places, talk differently, but we have similar things in common and we should welcome all differences. I think that this would be a great story to talk about at the beginning of the year as an intro into becoming a class family.

“This is the day you begin to find the places inside your laughter and your lunches, your books, your travel, and your stories, where every new friend has something a little like you- and something like you at all.“

This story is perfect for an early childhood classroom, the author does a fantastic job expressing how important it is to be yourself. Despite our differences, we are all unique and should accept one another for who we are. The illustrations are beautifully done and would be a great book to include in a classroom collection! It is now my favorite children's book!

The Day You Begin takes place in a classroom setting where a young girl struggles with being in a new place and meeting new people. This is new to her and way out of her comfort zone. She struggles to feel at home and fit in with others, she feels out of place. This book incorporates identity, culture and inclusion throughout the story of The Day You Begin. Being in a new place such as a classroom not knowing anyone at first can be a struggle.

This book is all about how when you realize that even though you are different from everyone else, the world will still create the space for you that you deserve. You just need to find the courage to share your story. The book also talks about how finding friends that are like you are great but it is also okay to find friends that are completely different. The illustrations in the book are a wonderful supplement to the message of the story.

Summary: There's a lot of ways to feel different and how it's hard to step into a place where nobody knows but we find the courage to do it.
Awards won: Jane Addams Children's Book Award
Purpose of Award: Aesthetic excellence that effectively engage children in thinking about peace, social justice, global community, and equity for all people.
Author: Jacqueline Woodson
Illustrator: Rafael López
Date of publication: 2018
Genre: Fiction

The Day You Begin by Jacqueline Woodson and illustrated by Rafael Lopez. This book was published on August 28th, 2022. This story is a fictional story and won the 2019 Floyd‘s Pick Book Award. This story is about the multiple reasons to feel different. This could be from the things you eat to the things you wear.  It‘s not easy to take those first steps into a place where nobody knows but somehow we do it.

Illustrator: Rafael Lopez
Publication: August 28, 2018
Summary: In this book it talks about how there are a lot of reasons to feel different. This could be from several things such as the things you eat to the things you wear. It‘s not easy to take those first steps into a place where nobody knows but somehow we do it.

I had to share the bookish page... I loved the reflection!

This was an adorable picture book that explores how our differences can make us feel isolated and alone, but we have many things in common anyway that can be the basis of feeling connected and included as we share those difference. The illustrations were gorgeous too.

Lovely story about embracing our differences. Woodson‘s writing is lyrical, and I love Lopez‘s illustrations. There are times we feel like an outsider but once we find the courage to connect with others, we can discover new friendships. Great message for young children.
#AuthorAMonth

I loved this picture book and how it lets children know that while they aren‘t going to be exactly like others in their class, it doesn‘t mean that they‘re any less important. Despite one‘s experiences or backgrounds, if you just open up you‘ll find something that connects you to others and make friends along the way. A must have for a child‘s library. #AuthorAMonth

“There will be times when you walk into a room
and no one there is quite like you. “

Jacqueline Woodson's lyrical text and Rafael López's dazzling art reminds us that we all feel like outsiders sometimes-and how brave it is that we go forth anyway.
#bookspinbingo @TheAromaofBooks
#authoramonth2021 @Soubhiville

“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. 'My name is Angelina and I spent my whole summer with my little sister,' you tell the class, your voice stronger than it was a minute ago, 'reading books and telling stories and even thought we were right on our block it was like we got to go EVERYWHERE.'“ 💙

The Day You Begin is a beautifully written and illustrated story about belonging, despite—and because of—your differences.

This book was so impactful it might make you cry. Jacqueline Woodson is such an amazing author, and Rafael Lopez is a phenomenal illustrator, so the combination is out of this world! I think that this book would be a great read in the very beginning of the school year to read to your class because it might make many students feel more comfortable and safe in this new environment, and it can help you build a connection with your students

This book was adorable. It would be good as a gift for the first day of school,etc.
#litsyatoz letter d
#readharder picture book with a human main character from marginalized community

Eloquently written. A must read for all, especially for the children starting preschool, daycare.

Fear + embarrassment are main themes but not overwhelming. Each difference described is followed by something beautiful that difference brings. Vibrant illustrations! Lush yet simple, kids of all colors. One criticism: text describes a child with limited mobility. I wish that child was illustrated with a cane/cast/wheelchair - something physical. Yes, there are hidden disabilities, but they missed an opportunity with this character. #dw2020reads

#AcrossApril Day 28: The opening sentence of this book is like a mentor text in writing: clear, concise, powerful:
“There will be times when you walk into a room and no one there is quite like you.” Times like these makes it difficult to make #FriendsOrFoes. I cherish the fact that books such as this one exists. Find it, hug it close to you. My review of this beautiful book: https://wp.me/pDlzr-lLv

This book is is a heartening book about finding courage to connect, even when you feel scared and alone. It is a Fiction book that would be great for a RA because i feel that every student should have the opportunity to hear this book! This book won the Jane Addams Children Book award! https://www.thecurriculumcorner.com/thecurriculumcorner123/book-study-day-begin/ the UDL principal 7.2 optimize relevance, value, and authenticity

This F JANE ADDAMS award winning This powerful story shares the importance and power of being vulnerable and building the community. this website provides a teachers guide. Allows students to collaborate and relevance. (UDL- 7.2) For ESOL students I can write instructions in simpler terms. (#31)

This was available as a narrated picture ebook through my library, read by author Jacqueline Woodson herself. How wonderful! A sweet story about the worry and pride of being different and the joy of similarities found and differences celebrated. Another picture book I‘d had on my list because of the beautiful illustrations and, of course, the author.

This F. by J. Woodson Read Aloud, a New York Times bestseller book, is a must-have for teachers; it has received multiple awards, including Jane Addams Children‘s book award. The theme of this book is acceptance. There will be moments in your life that you will feel different than everyone else around you, but ones you open up and start sharing with others, you see that you are not that different and that others will accept you the way you are.