1 of 1 copy available
It’s almost Christmas and school is going great for EllRay. He’s “blending in” just the way he likes. So when his father tells him he should be proud to be part of the African-American “community,” EllRay isn’t so sure he wants to call attention to his differences. After all, he’s only one of two boys in his class with brown skin. And then, totally by accident, he insults the other boy—one of his best friends—and all at once EllRay’s back to being the center of attention. And not exactly for good reasons.
With Sally Warner’s trademark sense of humor and spot-on dialogue, EllRay confronts questions about race and how it impacts both himself and everyone around him.
“Kids of all stripes will identify with EllRay and his unwittingly hilarious antics.”—Booklist
A Junior Library Guild selection
A Scholastic Book Club selection
A Texas Bluebonnet Award Winner 2012-13
-
Creators
-
Series
-
Publisher
-
Release date
October 16, 2014 -
Formats
-
Kindle Book
-
OverDrive Read
- ISBN: 9780698153257
-
EPUB ebook
- ISBN: 9780698153257
- File size: 2909 KB
-
-
Languages
- English
-
Levels
- ATOS Level: 4.4
- Lexile® Measure: 680
- Interest Level: K-3(LG)
- Text Difficulty: 3
-
Reviews
-
November 1, 2014
Gr 2-4-Though he's the smallest kid in his class, EllRay Jakes is huge when it comes to heart: this is one protagonist that readers of all stripes will gravitate toward. In this funny yet poignant holiday tale, the African American boy fears that his principal is encouraging him to emcee the school's winter concert merely as a nod to diversity. Warner perceptively addresses heavy issues such as race and culture as well as EllRay's more typical anxieties relating to friendship, family, and stage fright. Another gentle but satisfying outing with EllRay.
Copyright 2014 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
-
January 1, 2015
In a holiday-themed episode, EllRay finds himself the emcee of his school's Winter Wonderland show. When he accidentally hurts a friend's feelings, it results in an exploration of friendship, values, and race perfectly pitched for middle graders. EllRay must ultimately make a difficult choice and stand up for what he knows is right. Biggs's black-and-white illustrations capture all the emotional nuances.(Copyright 2015 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)
-