Dreamers by Yuyi Morales Activities

D is for Dreamers by Yuyi Morales in my Inspiring All Readers with Books from A-Z blog post AND video series. If you are new to this series, I share with you a different story that begins with each letter of the alphabet. In each post, I will share with you some different reading strategies and skills that correlate with the story and discussion questions to ask your students after reading. I also have a FREE reading response journal AND FREE graphic organizers for you to use with each and every book A to Z…keep reading to snag your free copy!

For 26 days, one day for each letter of the alphabet, I will share with you 26 different multicultural books and authors that I recommend, which all have similar themes- each book promotes inclusion, diversity, justice, empathy, compassion, love. 

Creating an inclusive classroom starts from day one of the school year and continues to the last day of school. So although these stories and lessons can certainly be used at any time of the year, I recommend that you start reading them on the first day of school, just like I will be with my own second graders! My goal in this books from A-Z series is to create a class community of engaged readers who love to read!

When choosing what books I wanted to read aloud in the first month of the school year, I wanted to make sure that I selected multicultural books that focused on building and establishing classroom routines but also creating an inclusive and welcoming classroom environment.

I have one special book to share with you today, which represents letter D in Inspiring All Readers with Books from A-Z series. But, before I get started, would you rather watch my video instead? If so, click below to watch my YouTube video, where I share all my fun ideas for this book that begins with the LETTER D!

D represents Dreamers by Yuyi Morales, who is the author and illustrator of this award winning book. This is a beautiful story to read at the beginning of a new school year to help build a welcoming and inviting classroom environment, but you can also revisit this story during Hispanic Heritage Month, from September 15-October 15, or when you are teaching a specific reading strategy or skill.

Yuyi Morales, the author and the illustrator, of Dreamers was born and raised in Mexico and immigrated to the United States with her son in 1994. At the time, she barely spoke any English and often felt alone and ignored. She found her “home” in a world a books, the library, and fell in love with reading.

Prior to reading aloud the story, I recommend reading the summary on this inside cover and giving a bit of background knowledge about the author and how was was an immigrant from Mexico. You will

There are many Spanish words throughout the story, that you may want to review with your students- amor, corazon, migrantes, aay, estacion, si, se, puede, caminantes, lucha, sonadores. Encourage your Spanish speaking students to read these words with you!

After reading the story, there are a few discussion questions that you can ask your students.

After reading the story, some discussion questions include:

1. What do you think it would feel like to to some place new and not understand what people were saying? (Reference pages 9-10 in the book)
2. On the last page of the story, ask your students, “What is YOUR dream for the future?” You can also reference the “My Story” page at the end of the book. Yuyi ends her story by asking “Now I have told you my story. What’s yours?”

This is also the perfect time to pass out the reading response journal, which is FREE for you, at the link at the bottom of this post!

After writing their response in their reading response journal, students can share with the class during the morning meeting, or another time of the day, to get to know each other better. 

Looking for some reading strategies and skills that correlate directly with this story? Check out some ideas listed below!

1. Teach about the symbolism! Symbolism is when one idea, feeling, or emotion is represented by something else. In the book, Yuyi Morales uses butterflies in her illustratiions to represent her thoughts and feelings about what being an immigrant means to her. The author says monarch butterflies represent starting migration to give a better life for the generations after.

After reading the story, go back through and take a picture walk, pointing out the butterflies on each page, asking your students to reflect on what the butterflies represent.

Yuyi uses symbolism in other illustrations throughout her book, including snakes and bats

2. Point out the illustrations: Throughout the story, Yuyi drew the covers of many popular children’s books. Ask your students if they can spot them! Some of the familiar books that Yuyi created in her illustrations include: No David, by David Shannon, A Mother for Choco by Keiko Kasza, The Stray Dog by Marc Simont.

Ask your students, “Why you think Yuyi Morales decided to include these book covers in her illustrations? (Be sure to read aloud the “My story” at the end of the book!)

3. Ask your students, “What would YOU put in YOUR backpack? Refer back to page 3 of the story, where the illustration shows the author and her son packing up their belongings in a green backpack. “One day we bundled gifts in our backpack, and crossed a bridge outstretched like the universe.”

“If you had to leave your home, what 5 things would you put inside your backpack?”

Use the FREE backpack writing template that I made! You can snag this freebie at the bottom of this post!

This is a great way for students to get to know each other at the beginning of a new school year!

Like this blog post? Be sure to check back tomorrow! I have 25 more posts where I will share book ideas, free printables, and lesson plan ideas!

Don’t forget to download your free copy of the reading response journal and graphic organizers for each and every story in my Books from A-Z series! Look at the sign up form at the end of this blog post!

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