Read, Discuss, and Do with MARI IN THE MARGINS

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By Marci Whitehurst The best books make readers feel like they aren’t alone. They’re seen. Understood. Our very own  Rebecca J. Gomez  accomplishes this flawlessly in Mari in the Margins , her new middle grade novel in verse, published by Bandersnatch Books. It releases May 14 th !  Here’s a snippet about the novel, which you’ll surely want to READ:   For Marivel Jiménez, life in her big family is full of chaos. Feeling overlooked by her parents and overshadowed by her siblings is frustrating, and it's even worse to have the constant attention of her annoying, mischievous three-year-old sister, Susana.  Caught between her need to be noticed and her dream of having time to herself, Marivel pours herself into poetry and, eventually, art journaling. When she hears of a school-wide poetry contest, she sees winning as a chance to escape the margins of her family and finally be seen. Doesn’t that sound amazing? That’s because it is. I was honored to read the book ahead of its release—and
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CAN I BE YOUR DOG? Letter Writing Activity

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In Can I Be Your Dog by Troy Cummings, a dog writes letters to various people on Butternut Street, hoping that one of them will be his forever family. Then, after a series of rejections, he receives a surprise note from someone who thinks he would be the perfect partner! This is funny and heartwarming, and it's the perfect book to pair with a letter-writing activity. 

Read: Can I Be Your Dog

Discuss:

  • Why was Arfy writing letters to people on Butternut Street?
  • What are some reasons why Arfy may not have had a family?
  • Have you ever seen a stray dog? 
  • What would the perfect dog for your family be like? If you have a dog, what makes him or her a great pet?
  • Were you surprised when you saw which person wanted to adopt Arfy? Why or why not?
  • When was the last time you wrote a letter or note to someone?

Do: Write a letter of your own. Choose one or both of the following options:

  1. Imagine that you are a dog in need of a home. Write a letter to someone who would be a good person for you. Try to think of ideas that are different from what's in the book. What makes your imaginary dog self special? How might you convince someone to adopt you?
  2. Imagine that you are a person who really wants a dog. Write a note to Arfy explaining why you  would be a perfect fit.
Bonus activity: Put your note in an envelope and address it with a made-up address. Then design your own postage stamp. Look at the end pages in the book if you need inspiration for your stamp.


Comments

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April 25, 2023 at 11:55 PM
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