We’re All Wonders by RJ Palaco.
This is a picture book based off of the chapter book. It is a great book that we read at least once a week to Little A during our bedtime reading routine. He would repeat parts as we read it. It warmed my heart to hear “I am a wonder” in his tiny three-year old voice. I have also used this book in my classroom to help teach kindness and discuss how everyone is unique and different, but we all want the same thing. We all want to be included and loved for who we are. A few years ago after reading the story aloud to the class, they had to write on a post it what makes them a “wonder”. Some wrote they are wonder because they are good at something and others wrote they are wonder because they have certain qualities that they copied from our be kind pledge (which was ok that they looked around the room for ideas). One student really blew me away with how deeply she thought about the book and really understood the message. She not only wrote, but stood up to share that she was a “wonder because she has cerebral palsy and that makes her unique”. She basically said I have this, it helps shape who I am, but it does not define me. She proved every day she is comfortable in her own skin and no one could really change that. After she shared, other students changed their answers a little bit and thought about it more of what makes them unique and a wonder. Definitely a book I will continue to not only use in my own classroom, but read to my child each day. I want him to walk into a room and own it with confidence!
Wonder by RJ Palaco (the chapter book)
A few years ago, I decided to read two chapters a day with my third grade students. My students as well as I really got into this book, and it was one of our favorite parts of the day. It has helped me to realize that the majority of the time, kids are kind and the bullies are the minority. My students were able to relate more to how Auggie was feeling or going through than with Julian’s actions in the book. They often said if we had a new student join our class who was like Auggie they would make sure to show him kindness. The message is strong that everyone is unique and that makes me happy.
Wonder (the movie)
When this movie first came out, I had already fallen in love with the book and couldn't wait to see it just because I was teaching and it had such a great message. After Little A was born, I use this movie as a reference point for treacher collins all the time, but it has taken me about 5 years to watch the movie in its entirety again. Over those 5 years I would catch it on TV and watch parts of it and even those small parts would make my eyes teary. The movie sticks closely to the book and brings the characters to life. I think in a couple of years it will be a good movie to watch with A and maybe be the opening to talking about his own feelings.
