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Challenging Times, Challenging News ~ This category emerged in response to the Los Angeles fires which started on January 7, 2025.

The Breaking News written and illustrated by Sarah Lynne Reul, Roaring Brook, 2018. An important story about a community hit by bad news that upsets all the adults. What a young girl learns from watching her parents struggle with the news is that all of us can do our part through acts of kindness. Small actions add up and aide us in moving forward. 

Simone by Viet Thanh Nguyen, art by Minnie Phan, Minerva Books, 2024. When a wildfire requires Simone and her mom to vacate their home and stay in a shelter, she meets other families also facing uncertainty. Her mother shares her own story of surviving a flood in Vietnam which provides comfort to Simone. By honoring the firefighters and other helpers, and being kind to everyone at the shelter, a community is formed. Simone is fortunate to return to her home. We are reminded this is not true for everyone so we can learn how ongoing actions can provide relief and support.

Understanding Immigration

Any Small Goodness, a novel of the barrio by Tony Johnston. Scholastic, 2001. Moving from Mexico to Los Angeles with a little English in his pocket, eleven-year old Arturo Rodriguez struggles to make sense of his world. As his father says, “In life there is bueno and malo. If you do not find enough good, you must yourself create it.” Arturo’s journey includes reclaiming his heritage, valuing this teachers and mentors, rescuing the family cat, and living “where what you love is always at risk.” His “retaliation” is heartwarming. A glossary translates the Spanish vocabulary used. 128 pp., grades 4-6 and everyone. Contact Cathy (email below) for a curriculum she wrote for this book.

Areli is a Dreamer by Areli Morales, illustrations by Luisa Uribe, Random House, 2021. Born in Mexico City and raised in New York City, Areli appreciated the opportunity despite the challenges for her and her family When the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA, program was enacted by President Obama, she believed she would finally be safe. Follow Areli as she describes her journey and how she dreams of being a teacher one day in America.

Drawn Across Borders: True Stories of Human Migration by George Butler, Candlewick Studio, 2021. Traveling to twelve countries over ten years, George Butler chronicles the people he meets through story and art. These unique histories offer a “view of the world” that we otherwise could miss.

Until Someone Listens – A Story about Borers, Family, and One Girl’s Mission by Estela Juarez with Lisete Noman, illustrated by Teresa Martínez. Roaring Brook Press, 2022. When Estela was eight, her mother “had to go back to the other side of the river, because she wasn’t born in this country.” Estela held firm in her belief that “families should end up how they started. Together.” She read, she wrote, she spoke. Estela also was asked to make a video for the Democratic National Convention when Joe Biden ran for president.

Take Action, Now!

More than Enough – inspired by Maimonides’s Golden Ladder of Giving by Richard Michelson, illustrated by Joe Cepeda. Peachtree, 2025. Moses isn’t quite sure why his parents give money to others in the community. They whisper to him, “As little as we have, sometimes others need it more.” As he sees people change when given a hand up, he comes to know that it “feels better to help than to need help.” This book has a “pass it on” message, and the idea of tzedakah, or “charity” in Hebrew is an act of “justice and fairness and righteousness all rolled into one; it is a sacred and ethical obligation.”

The Circles All Around Us by Bad Montague, illustrations by Brad and Kristi Montague. Dial Books, 2021. Start with a circle just around you. Then add family, friends, and community. As we expand our circle, “there’s a difference we can make and a love that we can show.” Even though “it feels slightly uncomfortable (to include people who are different in all they do), we draw a bigger circle for them too!”

The Complete Guide to Service Learning by Cathryn Berger Kaye. Free Spirit Publishing, 2010. If you want to know how to engage youth from kindergarten through high school in transforming ideas into action, this is your how-to book. Comprehensive, with a section on how to make it happen, themes to take action about, and creating a culture of service. A supplementary digital resource adds 280 more pages of content. Dive in! Nonfiction education, community and family resource.

Good Food, Bad Waste – Let’s Eat for the Planet by Erin Silver, illustrated by Suharu Ogawa. Orca Book Publishers, 2023. Why is there so much food waste in our homes? See page eight  of this fact-filled must-have book to guide all of us in ending the ENORMOUS amount of food wasted daily. And you definitely want to read about Gigi, a teen food activist in Oaxaca, Jaime who began trading trees in Zacatecas, Kay who is a food-waste hero and rancher in Denver, and composting and sustainability in at an elementary school in Kansas. 96pps. Useful for all ages, reading for grades 4 and UP.

Old Enough to Save the Planet by Loll Kirby, illustrated by Adelina Lirius. Magic Cat Publishing, 2020.Do Something for Someone Else, written by Loll Kirby, illustrated by Yas Imamura, Magic Cat Publishing, 2021.  Old Enough to Make a Difference by Rachel Hui, illustrated by Anneli Bray. Magic Cat Publishing, 2022. Need convincing that young people are changemakers? In each of these books, twelve children are featured from around the globe who are being the change in their communities. Maya is fighting fast fashion, Vincent reduced food waste, Eunita’s community garden promotes pollination, Chaeli campaigns for disability access. Each page has inspiration, ideas, facts, and includes tips to build a more sustainable world.

Seedfolks by Paul Fleischman. Joanna Cotler Book, 2002. According to the author, this is the first point of view novel. Each chapter tells a progressive story from a different thirteen very different voices. It starts with Kim who clears a space in a vacant, garbage-filled lot, to plant seeds to honor her deceased father. And then Wendell, a school janitor who shows Ana how to care for the seeds. Through community voices we hear how young and old from diverse backgrounds create a garden. 101 pp., grades 6+. Contact Cathy (email below) for a curriculum she wrote for this book.

The Wartville Wizard by Don Madden, Aladdin, 1986. A man turns “wizard” to eliminate litter by making litter stick to the people who discarded it improperly! A memorable and comical tale of how people learn about the consequences of their actions. Easily adapted to an amusing play with an important message. This book turns every day into Earth Day!

Identity

Becoming Who We Are – Real Stories about Growing Up Trans by edited by Sammy Lisel and Hazel Newlevant and nine different artists. Wave Blue World, 2024. In this exceptional graphic novel, nine people share their unique pathway to becoming themselves. These stories capture the struggles, persistence and determination to be authentic in the world. Truly inspiring. 144 pp., grades 6+

Girls on the Rise by Amanda Gorman, illustrated by Loveis Wise. Viking, 2025. “We are girls as never before, speaking out more and more.” Amanda brings her kind wisdom and inclusiveness to give voice to girls who may still be finding their own. “But here’s the thing: When one girl stands up, She is never alone.”

Books Worth Reading

My Life as a Book by Janet Tashjian, cartoons by Jake Tashjian. Henry Holt, 2010. Derek wants to enjoy summer and escape from the diabolical summer reading list. What he reads is a newspaper article about a mysterious drowning that involved him when he was two. As he solves the mystery to understand what really happened, Derek discovers that reading heightens his imagination, that monkeys can be aides to humans who need assistance, that a girl in his grade could be a friend, and that he might never get a pet monkey himself (or he might). He also illustrated vocabulary words throughout the book to demystify reading. Action, humor, a heartfelt resolution, and plenty of drawings from the author’s son. 211 pp., grades 4-6 and anyone who wants a fabulous read. BONUS! Janet has more titles, and they all involve some form of thoughtful action including, My Life as a Cartoonist and My Life as a Stunt Boy.

The 5 Elements of Effective Thinking by Edward B. Burger and Michael Starbird. Princeton Press, 2012. In this compact book, two mathematicians illustrate how we can apply a simple framework with profound results. With compelling stories, action items, and methods you can use, the practical mindsets found here form a useful and memorable guide.

Cathryn Berger Kaye, M.A., CBK Associates, is an author and international educator. She has been building book lists for decades, finding titles from publishers of all sizes and diverse themes to reach and represent diverse populations. Her books include Word Works: Why the Alphabet is a Kid’s Best Friend to keep the joy of writing alive in children of all ages, and several books to promote social action: The Complete Guide to Service Learning, and two books written with Philippe Cousteau – Make a Splash and Going Blue. Learn more about her work at cbkassociates.com, and email her at cathy@cbkassociates.com.

What you may not know about me is I love everything food related.  Way beyond a “hobby,” I have studied food and nutrition and the energetics and healing properties of food for decades. I have seen first-hand how food causes illness and, thankfully, how food contributes to wellbeing. As a student of the diverse cultures around us, I have had exquisite opportunities to learn how food traditions are handed down, generation to generation. A benefit to the travel I have been fortunate to do is eating all over the globe. Yum!

Living in Los Angeles, it is easy to take food for granted. My refrigerator and cupboards are well stocked. From my home, I can arrive at an “organic” market within five minutes driving in any direction. If I want to go to a Farmer’s Market where local growers sell recently picked carrots, broccoli, and artichokes, they are available seven days a week. And if I choose to skip cooking, restaurants are in abundance, with various price points. Sounds ideal. Except this picture is far from what is available in many parts of my city, state, country, and the world and it is not sustainable given what is happening with our planet.

So last night I made cookies. I don’t make cookies very often. I was inspired to make cashew butter cookies following the recipe on page 105 of Cool Food: Erasing Your Carbon Footprint One Bite at a Time by Robert Downey Jr. (yes, the actor) and Thomas Kostigen (Blackstone Publishing, 2024). I had seen postings about this book on Instagram and something compelled me to buy and then read these pages. What’s “cool food”? According to RDJ, “Cool food is really about lifestyle—transformational shifts from little actions, experiences, and different choices. It’ s a holistic approach to making the world a whole lot better by simply making more informed decisions about something that each and every one of us does anyway—eat.”

I suspect if you are reading this blog you also care about the planet, and how education can propel us to be better stewards of this swirling ball we live on. My concern is this caring doesn’t always translate into how we educate learners. Information about food and health benefits, how cooking changes what we eat, climate impact of how food is grown, how food travels extensively to be processed and served, and the intercultural connections we find just with what food is on our plate. Could a school have “food” as part of the studies from PreK to graduation? Seems to me this integration would have a range of benefits that could include taking action in our families, schools, and local community. It could mean talking to elders and finding out how food has changed (along with an increase in dis-ease), healing elements of foods and wisdom. We could partner with indigenous populations to learn and protect our habitats. This seems critical to take a bite out of climate impact wherever we are, and as you will see, we can even have reach in other places.

There are two parts to the books – What’s Cool to Eat, and How to Eat Cool.

A selection of personal highlights from Cool Food.

I acquired BIG knowledge of ancient grains and how I can incorporate them more into my daily diet. I already have amaranth and teff in my cupboard, but they rarely make it into the pot to make cereal or pancakes. I eat millet regularly but didn’t know all the varieties. These are all examples of “cool grains” that also tolerate extremes of heat and drought. And I must start using jackfruit (send recipes please!).

Are lentils in your diet? Highly recommend for the planet and for nutrition. And I go for seaweeds. Best minerals you can absorb. Tasty, some are a little salty, and with nori you can make a sushi wrap for an anytime meal or snack. My next purchase will be sea lettuce.

Wherever you are in the world, learn from native indigenous populations about food and cooking and striking balance with the planet.

I can plant macadamia trees in Malawi. Check out the Neno Macadamia Trust. Support small farmers in Malawi to plant and nurture macadamia trees while offsetting carbon emissions from flying or driving (I fly a lot). https://www.nenomacadamiatrust.org/home.html

Check out Plants for a Future https://pfaf.org/user/– a free-of-charge online database with a compilation of “hundreds of plants that can help mitigate problems associated with climate change.

How about some facts from the book? Did you know:

“If just 9 percent more seaweeds were grown in the ocean all the carbon dioxide emitted by humans could be stored underneath the sea.” P 61

“A single maple [tree] can sequester twenty-five thousand pounds of CO2 in its lifetime, or about 50 percent more than the average US home emits in a year.” P 109

 “Animal products carry the biggest carbon footprints of anything we eat.” P 136

Be a “locavore” when possible “to help promote benefits of all things local.” P 138

“Taste buds get replaced about every two weeks.” 142

“The average full service restaurant wastes seventy-five thousand pounds of food per year.” P 171

“The United Nations is tackling [food waste] through its Sustainable Development Goals program . . . ‘Think, Eat, Save’ is how the UN is promoting its plan to reduce our ‘foodprint.’” P 174l

Food is 85 percent of our carbon footprint. P 187

“Climate change is poised to make extinct wine, coffee, chocolate, and other foods we love.” P 264

Good news! Sweet potato fries are planet friendly!

While the book has USA-centric information, it goes well beyond this descriptor. Global connections and examples are frequent, including MAX Burgers in Stockholm, a climate-neutral restaurant chain. There are myriad foods from around the world that may present better options than what many of us typically eat, and an entire chapter on International Markets, highlighting Fair-Trade Certified foods, grown with fair wages and social conditions. Now some companies are adding carbon footprint labels to food or a QR code where you can find out more.

I won’t get into the part about technologies used to grow food out of thin air, however this could spark curiosity in your science classes (have you heard of Solein?).

When home in Los Angeles, I often cook dinner for my two grandchildren, a balanced and fun meal with bean tacos, polenta pizza, lentils (they love lentils!), soup, little sushi rolls, rice and millet, banana muffins, mochi waffles, and vegetables – broccoli, corn, bok choy, cabbage, green beans are current favorites. I know the good fortune of having plentiful resources and I aim to be vigilant to protect this abundance for our collective future.

Food is always on my mind. What to buy, cook, store, reimagine. My personal struggle is reducing food waste; still at it. I have written about Meatless Monday for EarthEcho International so that’s another great resource found here. Most of all, I would like to know what innovation, progress and opportunities are in your school and community to be cool about food.

If food is on your mind let me know. Let’s do something cool.

Contact me, Cathryn Berger Kaye at cathy@cbkassociates.com

Books – compilations of words and images that inspire, enliven, provoke, and place the world with all its complexities into our hands. Each title in this collection is selected to awaken us to our sense of wonder and curiosity, to provide deeper understanding and stimulate questions, to replace complacency with urgency to be part of the next chapter in the story. While some appear to be “picture books,” they truly speak to humans of all ages. Enjoy!

This list has two categories – Getting Involved and Intercultural Understanding. There are many links between these two topics, and three books at the end that are exemplars of the connection.

Assembling book lists to move us from ideas to action began a long long time ago …. but that’s another story! Coming soon!

Getting Involved

José Feeds the World – How a Famous Chef Feeds Millions of People in Need Around the World by David Unger and Marta Álvarez Miguéns, dopress, 2024
“I always said that wherever there is a fight, so hungry people and people in need may eat, that we will be there.” When a terrible earthquake hit Haiti in 2010, chef Andres gathered friends and flew to the island. They cooked rice and beans for local people, and this led to the founding of the World Central Kitchen, already feeding over 200 people affected by war, the pandemic and natural disasters. A story of determination, collaboration, inspiration, and knowing that action makes all of us better.

Can I Recycle This? a kid’s guide to better recycling and how to use reduce Single-Use Plastics by Jennie Romer and Christie Young, Viking, 2023
When we understand the recycling process we can do better – better at sorting, better at selecting products or products in containers that can be recycled, and maybe even buy less. In these pages learn why we recycle and how to recycle correctly and lead the way for others.

Shigeru Ban Builds a Better World by Isadoro Saturno and Stephano Di Cristofaro, Tra Publishing, 2023.
Learn about the remarkable work of an acclaimed architect, Shigeru Ban. Known for his innovative approach to materials and designs, Ban regularly aids disaster victims and refugees by designing temporary shelters typically made from inexpensive and recyclable paper tubes. His projects include a temporary school after the 2008 Sichuan earthquake, shelters after the 2010 earthquake in Haiti, and a church in New Zealand after the 2011 Christchurch earthquake. The book itself is a work of art (and architecture!).

Something Happened in Our Park – Standing Together After Gun Violence, by Ann Hazzard, Marianne Celano, and Marietta Collins, Magination Press, 2021
In the aftermath of a shooting where his cousin was injured, Miles leans to cope with guidance from family and friends. He realizes that people can work together to reduce the likelihood of violence to be a better community.

The Twenty-One – The True Story for the Youth who Sued the U.S. Government over Climate Change by Elizabeth Rusch, Greenwillow Books, 2023
In Juliana Vs. United States, twenty-one young plaintiffs claim that government support of the fossil fuel industry contributes to climate change. Why young people? They say that citizens, especially children and young adults, have a constitutional right to a stable climate because they cannot vote and will inherit the problems for the future. Comprehensive, with backmatter, a timeline, and photos. Note: This case is still active. 400 pages

Intercultural Understanding

Crowned – Magical Folk and Fairy Tales from the Diaspora by Kahran and Regis Bethencourt, St. Martin’s Press, 2023
Stories shape how we see the world. When our identities are reflected in the stories, we are enlivened and empowered. These folk and fairy tales include familiar classic stories, and new classics – brand new stories. Each has photographs of Black children portraying the characters, as memorable as the stories themselves.

Dancing Hands – A Story of Friendship in Filipino Sign Language by Joanna Que & Charina Marquez and Fran Alvarez, Chronicle Books, 2020
When the new neighbors have “dancing hands,” Sam becomes curious which leads to a new friendship and dancing hands of her own.

The First Rule of Punk by Celia C. Pérez, Puffin Books, 2017
On day one at her new middle school, twelve-year-old Malú (María Luisa) stands out a bit too much with her “punk” eye makeup upsetting school rules and creating a riff with popular girl, Selena. Learning to navigate her new Chicago home with her dad far away and her mom making so many rules, her motto is the first rule of punk – be yourself. Can being yourself also including being proud of your Mexican heritage?  

The Floating Field: How a Group of Thai Boys Built Their Own Soccer Field by Scott Riley and Nguyen Quang and Kim Lien, Millbrook Press, 2023
Travel to Koh Panyee, Thailand in 1986. There you would see a village on stilts, where young Prasit often help his fisherman father before school. Every free moment, Prasit and friends would play soccer (football), but only when the tide was out and sand was available. “We could make our own field.” Could they make a floating field? A story of remarkable ingenuity leading to a remarkable team that became competitive across Thailand – playing barefoot! “What’s more important is that anything is possible. And as a community or team, you can overcome incredibly impossible odds.” Prasit Hemmin, founding member of the Panyee Football Club.

Front Desk by Kelly Land, Scholastic, 2018
Mia Tang keeps many secrets – she lives in a motel, her parents are immigrants, they are hiding other immigrants at the motel, and she wants to be a writer even though she still struggles with expressing herself in English. Can ten-year-old Mia bring about her dream for her family to own a hotel? Set near Disneyland in Southern California, the coming together of people of diverse ages, backgrounds, cultures, and experiences makes this a lively and engaging read. 286 pages

Gibberish by Young Vo, Levine Querido, 2022
It’s all gibberish to Dat who is starting school in a new country and nothing makes sense – that is until a person drops out of a tree and then . . . A story that conveys the distance between hearing and understanding and what having a friend can do, with illustrations that bring ideas and feelings to life.

Glass Slipper, Gold Sandal – A Worldwide Cinderella by Paul Fleischman, Holiday House, 2007
From its earliest recorded telling in China during the ninth century, the magic of Cinderella has traveled cultures and countries around the globe. The French version introduced glass slippers and coachmen mice. With beautiful art that complements the words, marvel at what is added and enhanced as Cinderella brings the world together.

If You Come to Earth by Sophie Blackall, Chronicle Books, 2020
All kinds of people, all kinds of homes, all kinds of families. And “Each of us is different . . . But right this minute, we are here together on this beautiful planet.” A thoughtful guide to our planet and a call to be caring to the Earth and each other.  

My Mother’s Tongues: A Weaving of Languages by Uma Menon and Rahele Jomepour Bell, Candlewick, 2024
Written when the author was a teen, this is a heartfelt celebration of multilingualism. Sumi thinks her mother may have a superpower the way she can switch between speaking Malayalam and English. A story of migration and how even hurtful comments about her mother’s accent cannot lessen Sumi’s admiration. “No matter how they speak, every person’s voice is unique and important.”

My Powerful Hair by Carole Lindstrom and Steph Littlebird, Abrams Books, 2023
A celebration of culture through the tradition of long hair, a source of memories and strength, a way to be close to Mother Earth. As written in Author’s Note, learning how her own mother’s long hair was taken from her as a child by the Indian boarding school she was forced to attend, author Carole Lindstrom grew her hair “to break the vicious cycle” of loss and to regain self-determination. Beautiful drawings capture the way hair is “a living scrapbook” we always carry.

Niki Nakayama: A Chef’s Tale in 13 Bites by Jamie Michalak & Debbi Michiko Florence and Yuko Jones, Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2021
A yummy book about a chef discouraged from pursuing her hunger for success. Despite naysayers, Niki proved that determination and resilience can turn a woman into a master chef and visionary for her own Los Angeles restaurants. Devour this one! You can also meet Chef Niki on the Netflix program Chef’s Table. A heroic journey to become perhaps the world’s first female Kaiseki chef! Remember “kuyashii” – when people told Niki she couldn’t be a success – her response kuyashii, “Yes I can!”

One of a Kind – The Life of Sydney Taylor by Richard Michelson and Sarah Green, Calkins Creek, 2024
Born Sarah Brenner, Sydney was truly a one of a kind – the middle child of five sisters, lived in a crowded impoverished section of New York City, and changed her name to “Sydney” to have a gender free name – giving her the ability to “speak out and be fearless.” Sydney boldly dared to write a book, All-of-a-Kind Family, the first Jewish children’s book to become popular with non-Jewish readers. Sydney helped to break down barriers so all ethnic groups could eventually have a voice in children’s literature.  

Swimming Toward a Dream – Yusra Mardini’s Incredible Journey from Refugee to Olympic Swimmer by Reem Faruqi (check) and Asma Enayeh, Page Street Kids, 2023
Yusra could swim before she could walk, and swimming became her passion! Yet her Olympic dreams shattered with a relentless war in her home, Syria. Escaping to Germany at 17 was a harrowing journey, especially when traveling by boat and needing to help steer the boat from in the cold Mediterranean water. Her dream renewed, Yusra did compete with the Olympics and continues to represent refugees as a flag bearer in the 2021 Tokyo Olympics.

Your Name is a Song by Jamilah Thompkins-Bigelow and Luisa Uribe, The Innovation Press, 2020
When her teacher and classmates cannot pronounce her name, a little girl tells her mother she is not returning to school. “Tell your teacher that your name is a song,” says the mother and then sings so many names: some that have fire, and some that are from the heart. Some names sing strong, and some are magnificent. Returning to school, Kora Jalimuso sings her name loud and proud – and the other children’s names too! All are “music to her ears.”

Getting Involved AND Intercultural Understanding

Breaking the Mold – Changing the Fact of Climate Science by Dana Alison Levy, Holiday House, 2023
The author asks us to “close your eyes and picture a scientist.” Most people imagine a “white dude in a lab coat surrounded by test tubes and beakers.” This picture is changing. Our planet needs the diverse knowledge, perspective, and understanding possible only by having a diverse group of scientists (and policy makers) committed to being part of solving critical issues facing our changing planet. This essential book profiles 16 scientists who defy stereotypes and are working all over the globe on ocean health, health factors of climate change, meteorology – and so much more. “Look in the mirror. You definitely look like a scientist.”

Old Enough to Make a Difference – Be inspired by real-life children building a more sustainable future by Rebecca Hui and Anneli Bray, Magic Cat, 2022
And
Old Enough to Save the Planet – Be inspired by real-life children taking action against climate change by Loll Kirby and Adelina Lirius, Magic Cat, 2020
Need convincing that young people are changemakers? In each of these books, twelve children are featured from around the globe who are being the change in their communities. Maya is fighting fast fashion, Vincent reduced food waste, Eunita’s community garden promotes pollination, Chaeli campaigns for disability access. Each pages has inspiration, ideas, facts, and includes tips to build a more sustainable world.  

For more titles, check out The Complete Guide to Service Learning and other resources.

Cathryn Berger Kaye, M.A., CBK Associates, is an author and international educator. She has been building book lists for decades, finding titles from publishers of all sizes and diverse themes to reach and represent diverse populations. Her books include Word Works: Why the Alphabet is a Kid’s Best Friend to keep the joy of writing alive in children of all ages, and several books to promote social action: The Complete Guide to Service Learning, and two books written with Philippe Cousteau referenced on this list – Make a Splash and Going Blue. Learn more about her work all over this website!

I have been at schools where the entire focus of service is on drives:

Food drives – for both people and dogs/cats

Coat drives

School supply drives

Book drives

Toiletry drives

Penny drives

And likely more types than I can think of at the moment. Of course there are organizations that rely on these donations and the partnerships that are created can be meaningful and substantial. Or they can be superficial and misleading.

Years ago, I was describing this type of activity and found myself calling it “taxicab service” with the image of students transporting items from home to school – collecting and dropping off. And I wondered, if we are promoting service learning, where is the learning?

Perhaps even more important, if this is the only kind of service that youth participate in (this being indirect service), then the hidden or not so hidden message is “we can keep others at arm’s length and not be personally involved.”

In all cases of aiming for meaningful service learning, I advise following the five stages – Investigation, Preparation, Action, (ongoing) Reflection, and Demonstration. Often, and not always, drives start with the action and an announcement: Bring in cans of food and place them in a box by the office. Or the dynamic in setup as a competition which is detrimental in that it pits students against students rather than all collaborating with a common purpose and aim: to ease food access within the community. And if the receiving organization is not part of the picture, then an assortment of food that doesn’t meet the specific community needs may be gathered. Another scenario: using a canned food drive to clean out the old cans in the cupboard, some without labels, and some expired.

An educator once shared that his school was giving used textbooks to a school that was in short supply as they received bright and shiny new books to go along with their one-to-one laptops. Never mind that there was significant dated content that was inaccurate in these books.

When toiletries are collected from hotels on holiday and then donated, perhaps these can meet an immediate need for a select group. However, are we learning about people and their situations and circumstances that require this assistance? Are we reinforcing a deficit model or service learning by only considering “what’s wrong?” as opposed to an asset-based model where we also look at the strengths people have despite their circumstances, and all grow together?

I learned of a high school that was visiting a men’s shelter and saw a library filled with books. Being curious, a student asked, “Why so many books?” The director responded, “The men tire of watching television and spend more time reading in the evening.” The students asked if they could arrange a book club and meet and discuss books everyone has read. I always wondered who learned more in this situation.

Kindergarten children in Massachusetts visited a local food bank and charted the different kinds of foods and quantities. They learned about how food was collected and distributed. Photographs were taken and the children wrote an informative book about the organization, described how it worked, and itemized the ongoing year round support needed to meet ongoing food insecurity. The distribution of this book significantly increased the amount of food received and ensured the kinds of food were collected.

Students at an international school in Tanzania read a book written by local girls in a nearby school, describing their lives – challenges and joys. They asked if they could meet the authors. A visit brought mutual learning as they exchanged experiences through interviews and games. When the visiting students saw the lack of books at the school, they all collaborated together to design a book drive to ensure the school library was better equipped to move towards educational equity.

In Cincinnati, after attending one of my workshops, a teacher returned to her high school class with quote cards. If you have ever been to my in person workshops, you know that my business cards have 60 different quotes on the back, and I use them for interactions and to stimulate service learning ideas. While the teacher was using these for interactions, a coat drive was happening at the school. Another “taxicab” situation which the teacher said later was annual and never really engaged the kids. However, this year a student had an idea: transfer the quote cards onto fabric and sew a quote in each coat creating “quote coats.” According to the teacher, this was transformational. The students took each coat and really thought about who would wear the coat, the age, and how it may be worn. They took their time to select the right quote for each coat. And then the students wanted to be part of the coat distribution.

Book drives can be extremely dynamic, a wonderful opportunity to discuss child development and what books are good for what ages. And what to do with a used book that is too worn. How wonderful to sit with a child and read a book and then gift it to them, and perhaps write a book together that can be given to another child.

Students in Warsaw raised money for children who had chronic illness. Probably through another bake sale. During a consultation with their teachers I simply asked, “What interests, skills and talents could these sixth graders share?” The ideas were astounding! And then they asked their students! They had wanted to connect – but didn’t know this was possible! They made friendship bracelets, exchanged postcards, and made short videos of original stories.

More and more I see service learning as building mutually valued relationships. When we pause to consider how taxicab service can be transformed, we elevate everyone involved and grow meaningful reciprocal relationships for all.

Cathryn Berger Kaye, M.A.

CBK Associates

All around is the buzz from a new school year starting and I am somewhat envious. Heading back to classrooms, we may wear new shoes or be eager to meet new friends. There is wonder and awe about this place we call school and what these miracle makers (teachers) have in store for us. Our senses awaken with colors and scents, announcements and bells. My granddaughter had her first taste of returning; for her it was to preschool, to a higher age group, and being a “big girl,” she knows that now there are children younger than her, along with her new classroom and teacher.

While watching this from afar, i.e., not from inside the walls of a school with recurring role of teacher, administrator, support staff, or any other position that keeps the wheels of education moving forward, I have three modest recommendations.

1. Notice everything. That’s actually an impossible task, however, in the aiming we can be more present. Silent. Attentive. In my own process, becoming still allows me to be more cognizant of what is right in front of me and on the edge of the horizon.

Leading a daylong service learning workshop with about 100 New York City educators, towards the end of the session I invited them to stand by the long bank of windows – we were on the 8^th floor with a significant view. I led this experience:    

• Take a moment to look; notice something.
  • Keeping your gaze in this same direction, notice something you didn’t see the first time.
  • Staying with that view, notice something you didn’t see the two previous times.
  • Now, can you see a connection between what you were noticing and what we have been experiencing together today.

The conversation was uplifting, describing both the “layers of seeing” and finding a relationship with our work.

              “There’s a park with a few trees that have a multitude of green colors. With service learning we can bring out various shades and tones of learning we might otherwise have missed.”

              “The way the light is hitting the windows on the building across the way creates unexpected patterns. When we allow for youth voice in service learning, surprises are inevitable.”

One teacher said, “I spend all my time trying to get students to stop looking out the windows. I am changing that now.”

• Embrace joy. We often hear, “It’s the little things.” That’s how it is – the small moments add up to what I am calling joy, the uplifting of our spirit mixed with appreciation and gratitude. Especially when on the edge of feeling a mite overwhelmed, add up the minutiae and welcome joy.

Evidence suggests that we can actively choose to practice gratitude— and that doing so increases our happiness and improves relationships and personal well-being. Keeping a gratitude journal of these precious “small” moments can improve physical health and improve a person’s outlook; entries can be every day or a few times a week. Try this yourself! If beneficial, introduce to your students and let them see what happens. For more resources on gratitude, see below.

• Breathe. We breathe all the time, obviously, as part of our autotomic nervous system, so we can ignore our breath all together and be confident it will keep on happening. With awareness, breathing becomes what grounds us. As life speeds around us, aspects of who we are and how we are in the moment can seem to dissipate in the ether sphere. With a conscious breath we can come back to ourselves, reminded of who and how we are, and have an easier time with “noticing everything” and “embracing joy.”

I often share in my workshops how we take about 25,000 breaths every day. However, as poet Maya Angelou said, “Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.”

Whether you enter this time of year as students, educators or in a myriad of support roles, what you do matters deeply. I applaud you and send California sunshine and “good vibes” for this beginning. Always, our team is here to provide support, resources, and practical ways to bring connected learning to life.

For more resources on Gratitude from our Social and Emotional Dynamics curriculum for classrooms and Advisory, email cathy@cbkassociates.com.

Stay in touch!

On Twitter @cbkaye

Register for an upcoming Getting Started: Foundations of Service Learning Course here:
September Cohort
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Yours in service,

Cathy

Cathryn Berger Kaye, M.A.

CBK Associates

Decades ago, in 1981, I led a retreat for 30 high school students from Los Angeles and Orange County. We stayed in a wooded retreat center for three days to launch a year-long program of students engaged as school service leaders. 

Seeking a higher level of engagement in uncovering what it means to be a leader, my colleague Megan Swezey Fogarty and I asked students to “build-a-leader” with long sheets of paper and markers. This initial experience has continued in a myriad of forms ever since, always generating insight and in-depth conversations. The biggest plus is seeing 100% of the youth engaged as they collaborate simultaneously to add and connect ideas, inevitably laughing along the way. During this first experience, students added knees for “flexibility,” a bald spot for “open-mindedness,” and one group turned their paper over and added a buttocks as something “to fall back on.” 

When led with adults in workshops around the world, whatever the focus, the results are the same: same laughter, same ping-pong of ideas, same collaboration with 100% engagement, same meaningful conversations and range of insights. 

In the years of this “build-a-___,” participants (grade 3 and up) have built leaders and learners. They have built advisors and advisees. They have built friends, teachers, and graduates. At a Back-To-School Night, in one room parents built “teens” while their offspring built “parents” in another room with a dynamic a conversation to follow. As the CBK Associates team leads professional development for the NYC Youth Leadership Councils program, we guide police officers in building “facilitators” before leading this same experience with their youth council members. This is a process for everyone. 

In 2019, at the Nagoya (Japan) Service Learning and Advisory two-day workshops, a few adult groups used animals as their form, for example, one group “built-an-administrator” in the form of a dolphin, and another an octopus. One group went full abstract and built a service learning brain! An entire new world of possibilities!

After a visit to Chadwick International School in Incheon, South Korea, I received a visual from educators Emily Nunn and Jessica Sonneveld with this note: “Emily and I have been reading ‘The Power of Inquiry’. Instead of writing out what an inquiry teacher looks like, we decided to use the tool we learnt during your workshop and made our learning visible by drawing what we think an inquiry teacher looks like. Although she doesn’t look like the average human, it truly shows how incredible teachers with an inquiry mindset are! I have attached a photo for your viewing pleasure.”

Send comments, questions, or to receive a description of how to “Build-a __” with your students or group, email cathy[at]cbk.associates.

Cathy

Cathryn Berger Kaye, M.A.

For years, I have assembled book titles and a book talk for a giveaway hosted by The City of West Hollywood. This list, from January 16, 2020, had books on three topics: Environment, Voting and Democracy, and A Better World. 

Environment

Coral Reefs: Cities of Our Ocean (Science Comics) by Maris Wicks. “We need to protect biodiversity to maintain food sources, symbioses, habitat, and so on.” This graphic comic book is filled with colorful images and surprising information (did you know coral is an animal?). Learn about biodiversity, underwater creatures, and in Chapter 5, CHALLENGES facing our home: Earth! Grades 4 and up

Going Blue: A Teen Guide to Saving Our Oceans, Lakes, Rivers, & Wetlands by Cathryn Berger Kaye and Phillipe Cousteau. More than a “how to,” Going Blue is an adventure guide into the world of water. Travel from the Mekong River to Lake Superior to the Great Barrier Reef to learn how we are interconnected by water. And find out how teens around the world are diving in to protect our most valuable resource – and what you can do. Grades 6-12

Make a Splash: A Kid’s Guide to Saving Our Oceans, Lakes, Rivers, & Wetlands by Cathryn Berger Kaye and Phillipe Cousteau. Water, water, everywhere! At every age we can become water stewards to care for our greatest resource. Learn about the benefits of clean water for a healthy planet, and find out about trash, climate change, animals in danger, and kids taking action. Grades K-5

Our House Is On Fire: Greta Thunberg’s Call to Save the Planet by Jeanette Winter. Can one voice start a movement? Greta’s has. This young courageous girl stepped forth to interrupt negligence for our planet. A direct and compelling description of the challenges we face and a call to action. Picture book

The Wartville Wizard by Don Madden. The town of Wartville is buried in litter — until one frustrated fellow realizes Mother Nature has given him the power over trash and the results are hilarious and cause the town to consider their messy behaviors. A picture book for everyone

We Are All Greta: Be Inspired to Save the World by Valentina Giannella, illustrated by Manuela Marazzi. A young girl wakes a generation with a shocking message about the planet: we can’t wait for politicians, our future depends on actions we take now. In short chapters, the author explains the science, the politics and action being generated and neededto protect and preserve our planet and wellbeing. Grades 4-8

What a Waste: Trash, recycling, and protecting by Jess French. The author writes: “Humans are now producing more waste than ever before and our planet is suffering.” Visually appealing and informative, find out essential facts to inspire action. Consider that: 92% of the world’s population are breathing polluted air; 15 billion trees are cut down every year; around 20,000 plastic bottles are bought per second and less than half are recycled. All ages

Voting and Democracy

Granddaddy’s Turn – a Journey to the Ballot Box by Michael Bandy and Eric Stein illustrated by James E. Ransome. Based on one family’s struggle for voting rights in the civil rights–era South, this tale shines an emotional spotlight on past challenges so we can link with challenges that remain today. When Michael walks to town with his grandfather to cast his first vote, he struggles to have patience when it seems justice cannot come fast enough. Picture book

Lillian’s Right to Vote: A Celebration of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 by Jonah Winter, illustrated by Shane E. Evans. This visual history of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 traces an elderly African American woman en route to vote. While making the “long haul up a steep hill” to her polling place, she sees her family history – the passage of the Fifteenth Amendment, her great-grandfather voting for the first time, her parents trying to register to vote. And she sees herself marching in protest from Selma to Montgomery. All ages  

One Person, No Vote: How Not All Voters are Treated Equally by Carol Anderson with Tonya Bolden. This young adult version of the author’s bestselling book provides an extensive review of rollbacks to African American participation in voting since the 2013 Supreme Court decision that eviscerated the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Anderson explains how voter suppression works, from photo ID requirements to gerrymandering to poll closures. She explores the resistance: the organizing, activism, and court battles to restore the basic right to vote to all Americans as the nation readied for the 2020 presidential election season. Includes ideas to getting involved. Grades 7-12

President of the Jungle by André Rodrigues, Larissa Ribeiro, Paula Desgualdo, and Pedro Markun. In this fabulous and funny introduction to how elections work, the animals decide they are tired of their king and that it is time to vote for a president. This funny, non-partisan story features lively illustrations, a helpful glossary, and colorful characters who have an infectious enthusiasm for the election process. Picture book

Who’s in Charge? Big Questions about Politics DK Publishing. Learn about political systems around the world, from the Sumerian Empire to modern governments. Who’s in Charge? is packed with information on evolving notions of citizenship, rights, power, and elections, along with the difference between democracy, monarchy, and anarchy. Learn how politics can become global when countries band together. Grades 4-12

Winning the Vote for Women by Caryn Jenner. Winning the Vote for Women reveals stories of strong-willed people from around the world who fought for the right to vote. Through photography, illustrations, and narrative, meet women and men who fought both for and against the suffrage movement, and those continuing the fight today. From New Zealand in 1894 to Saudi Arabia in 2014, discover the global petitions, campaigns, peaceful protests and marches, as well as extreme measures taken by suffragists and suffragettes in their determination to change history. Grades 6-12

A Better World

Any Small Goodness, a novel of the barrio by Tony Johnston. Meet Arturo Rodriguez, a middle school student from a loving family who reside in the Los Angeles barrio, where acts of generosity and goodwill improve the lives of the community. Arturo’s father reminds him “In life there is Bueno and there is malo. If you do not find enough of the good, you must yourself create it . . . any goodness is of value.” Filled with humor and wisdom and enough Spanish to warrant a glossary in the back. Grades 6-12 (an easy read for upper grades, but the compelling story is relatable and memorable)

Douglas, You’re a Genius by Ged Adamson. A ball goes through the hole in a high fence and someone sends the ball back. “But, who?” Nancy wonders. Determined to find out, Nancy invents a series of plans that her dog Douglas must carry out (think water jets and trampolines). A fun escapade with a reminder about neighbors and fences and walls. Includes a Spanish glossary. Picture book 

Hey, Little Ant by Philip and Hannah Hoose. “Hey, little ant, down in the crack; can you hear me can you talk back? See my shoe, can you see that? Well now it’s gonna squish you flat!” So begins the book and the song of Hey, Little Ant written by a father/daughter team. Will the ant get squished? Will the lyrics change the boy’s mind? A must read and sing (for all ages) to find out!

Little Libraries, Big Heroes by Miranda Paul, illustrated by John Parra. Have you seen Little Free Libraries popping up in many neighborhoods? Meet Todd Bol, who had difficulty reading as a boy. Fortunately, his mother told him gave him confidence and assurance that he “had something big to offer to the world.” As an adult, Todd built a small little schoolhouse to share books in his neighborhood. Now Little Free Libraries have been built around the U.S. and near the US-Mexico border, in Uganda, Brazil, South Korea, and the South Sudan. A picture book for everyone

Please send comments, questions, and ideas to cathy[at]cbkassociates.com.

Cathryn

Cathryn Berger Kaye, M.A.