Jamie's Class Has Something to Say: A Book About Sharing with Grown-Ups

by Afsaneh Moradian, Maria Bogade (Illustrator)

Overview

Jamie and classmates learn self-advocacy skills and help adults understand them better.

Jamie is excited for Family Day and all the visitors that will be coming to the classroom. As the class prepares, they share how they feel when adults don’t listen closely enough to what the kids want, need, like, and don’t like or when adults place unfair, often gendered expectations on them. Together, they decide to use their Family Day celebration to practice self-advocacy skills and help adults understand them better.
 
Part of the Jamie Is Jamie series, Jamie’s Class Has Something to Say is a lighthearted, sweet story that gives young children language and self-advocacy skills to help them speak up for themselves when adults aren’t listening carefully enough. A special section includes tips for adults for expanding on the concepts in the book and for talking with children about how to communicate their needs and identities to adults.

The Jamie Is Jamie Series
Jamie helps kids feel safe and confident as they explore who they are. The Jamie Is Jamie series invites young children to join Jamie as they build confidence through imaginative free play, break down gender stereotypes, respect pronouns and gender identity, and learn self-advocacy skills. Each book includes a section for adults to help them reinforce the books' messages.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781631985553
Publisher:	Free Spirit Publishing
Publication date:	08/16/2022
Series:	Jamie Is Jamie
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	32
File size:	13 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

Afsaneh Moradian has loved writing stories, poetry, and plays since childhood.

After receiving her master's in education, she took her love of writing into the classroom where she began teaching children how to channel their creativity. Her passion for teaching has lasted for over fifteen years.

Afsaneh now guides students and teachers (and her young child) in the art of writing. She is also a vocal advocate for diversity and representation in children's books.

Afsaneh lives in New York City and Oaxaca, Mexico.

Maria Bogade is an illustrator and author with an animation background.

She loves creating illustrations with a strong narrative, colorful and beautifully composed to entertain children and adults alike. Her work is internationally published and is also found on greeting cards and products such as chocolate.

With her three children and spouse, she lives in a tiny village in southern Germany where fox and hare bid each other good night.

Editorial Reviews

Jamie’s Class Has Something to Say offers a heartwarming example of the importance of listening to kids and helping them feel that it’s okay to speak up for what’s important to them in appropriate ways. The section at the end for parents and educators is especially well written and gives practical advice for showing kids you care and that their wants and needs are being heard and valued.

Dr. James J. Crist

Backmatter includes helpful notes about listening to and offering decision—making power to children whenever possible.

Kirkus Reviews

Backmatter includes helpful notes about listening to and offering decision-making power to children whenever possible.”


“Backmatter includes helpful notes about listening to and offering decision-making power to children whenever possible.”


“Backmatter includes helpful notes about listening to and offering decision-making power to children whenever possible.”


“Backmatter includes helpful notes about listening to and offering decision-making power to children whenever possible.”


“Backmatter includes helpful notes about listening to and offering decision-making power to children whenever possible.

From the Publisher

2022-05-11
A classroom of children practice expressing preferences with their teacher and caregivers.

A bright yellow school bus drops off Jamie, who is light-skinned with reddish-brown hair, and their classmates for Family Day at a suburban school building. Jamie’s peers discuss the ways their caregivers misunderstand them. Jamie admires the unicorn shirt worn by Alicia, a blond, light-skinned child. Alicia replies, “My mom made me wear it,” and Jamie offers their green sweater to cover it up. Joey, a brown-skinned child with a tight Afro, complains, “My dad wants me to play soccer, but I want to go to art class with Jamie,” and Xavier, who has brown hair and light skin, wishes his uncle would not shame him for crying. The group is rounded out by Cynthia, who has light skin and a blue hijab, who longs to play with her food instead of focusing on manners. The children resolve their issues neatly and, with their teacher’s blessing, organize an art project to share their truths with their caregivers. Chunky black text is paired with illustrations filled with cheerful greens, calm blues, and warm browns. Though the story is well intentioned, it lacks verve; the children’s distress about gender norms and expected behavior feels less like a narrative and more like a laundry list of woes. Backmatter includes helpful notes about listening to and offering decision-making power to children whenever possible. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

An unentertaining presentation of complex topics. (Picture book. 5-7)

Kirkus Reviews