Reviewed by Deborah Menkart
Review Source: Rethinking Schools
Book Author: Uma Krishnaswami
Nine-year-old Yasmin Kader, who lives in India, is an avid reader. Her favorite place to visit is the Book Uncle’s free outdoor lending library. His mantra is, “Right book for the right person for the right day.” One day the “right book” he lends her is a folk tale about birds working together to free themselves from a hunters’ net. The parable becomes a timely lesson in organizing when the city decides to shut down the Book Uncle’s stand. Yasmin takes advantage of the upcoming mayoral election to organize a campaign to get candidates to address the fate of the Book Uncle. After the election, rather than simply counting on the winner to do what he promised, she organizes again to ensure the new mayor follows through on his campaign promise. There are valuable lessons for activists of all ages in this lovely upper elementary chapter book.
Book Uncle and Me by Uma Krishnaswami
Published by Groundwood Books on 2016
Genres: Asia, People & Places
Pages: 96
Reading Level: Grades 3-5
ISBN: 9781554988082
Review Source: Rethinking Schools
Buy at Powell's Books
Also by this author: Step Up to the Plate, Maria Singh
Publisher's synopsis: Every day, nine-year-old Yasmin borrows a book from Book Uncle, a retired teacher who has set up a free lending library next to her apartment building. But when the mayor tries to shut down the rickety bookstand, Yasmin has to take her nose out of her book and do something.
But what can she do? The local elections are coming up but she's just a kid. She can't even vote! Still, Yasmin has friends -- her best friend, Reeni, and Anil, who even has a black belt in karate. And she has grownup family and neighbors who, no matter how preoccupied they are, care about what goes on in their community.
Then Yasmin remembers a story that Book Uncle selected for her. It's an old folktale about a flock of doves trapped in a hunter's net. The birds realize that if they all flap their wings at the same time, they can lift the net and fly to safety, where they seek the help of a friendly mole who chews a hole in the net and sets them free.
And so the children get to work, launching a campaign to make sure the voices of the community are heard.
An energetic, funny and quirky story that explores the themes of community activism, friendship, and the love of books.
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