Books are my ADVIL

Text: The Tiger Who Wore White Gloves - by Gwendolyn Brooks

 

Plot description: A tiger who gets a pair of white gloves is shamed by his community to take them off.  He is saddened and felt ashamed by his choice and that the jungle feels that he cannot be different.

 

Theme description:  The poem speaks about individuality, and how sometimes we force others to be what we want them to be. It is very good for discussions on identity and bullying.

 

Reason for appropriateness: This poem discusses individuality, and how people should be allowed to make the choices that make them happy. It relates to gender through discussions on how females may pressure males to make certain decisions, and how boys may pressure girls, or even people in general not allowing others to be who they are. A great activity with this for the gender lens would be to have students think about how boys and girls are directed into certain activities and directed away from others with regards to games, toys, and clothing.