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A Different Pond
A Different Pond | Bao Phi
51 posts | 37 read | 14 to read
"As a young boy, Bao Phi awoke early, hours before his father's long workday began, to fish on the shores of a small pond in Minneapolis. Unlike many other anglers, Bao and his father fished for food, not recreation. Between hope-filled casts, Bao's father told him about a different pond in their homeland of Vietnam"--
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blurb
caitylaycock

A moment in the book that I related to is when the dad was explaining to his son about the Vietnam war and his experiences. I relate to this because it reminds me of a time when I used to go and do things with my granddad and he would explain to me experiences from his childhood.

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caitylaycock

“‘Why do we still have to fish for food?‘ I ask.
‘Everything in America costs a lot of money,‘ [Dad] explains.”

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caitylaycock
Pickpick

This book is a great book that helps the audience understand cultural differences and also economic differences. This book includes father-son bonding time that explains when he was in the Vietnam war. I think this book is also a good book to help children understand that they need to be lucky and grateful for what they have.

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Loganfairbanks
Pickpick

This book was published in 2017 and was an Asian/Pacific American book award winner. This book is about a young boy who lives in America with his family who works very hard. The boy and his father go fishing, and the story follows the relationship between father and son. I would definitely use this book in my class!

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Hcecrle

This fiction story is about a boy and his father. As a young boy Bao Phi and his father decide one morning to go fishing before his father has to leave for work. Bao and his father are fishing not for pleasure but to catch a meal. This is a cute picture book that won the Asian/Pacific American Award. I would recommend reading this story to the upper elementary grades. Published in 2017.

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amberpeltz
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amberpeltz

This is a powerful story. It shines a light on hardworking refugee parents who are making an effort to create a life for their American born children. The dark tones create a feeling that not everything in life is bright and happy.

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amberpeltz
Pickpick

This picture book is about a boy who goes on a fishing trip with his dad. On the trip he learns about his dad‘s past fishing in a different pond, and his present fishing to feed his family. The illustrations provided by Thi Bui add to the telling of the story. Different settings use different colors and tones, but each illustration uses the same strokes that aren‘t always clean around the edges.

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kayleenschultz12
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kayleenschultz12
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The way they use dark greens and blue to capture the night sky is beautiful.

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kayleenschultz12
Pickpick

The relationship between the son and father is very simple yet complex because they care so much for one another and fishing is how they show it.

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ashleyweer

I loved this book! The illustrations pulled me right in and I was hooked. The story itself was super sweet, but the drawings pull everything together and make it such a sweet tale.

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ashleyweer
Pickpick

A different pond, is a book about a son and his father going fishing every morning. They go fishing every morning so they have food for the evening. This story is a sweet tale about how even if you are struggling, you are never truly suffering with your family around.

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ashleyweer

“And I will smile and nod,
and later, when we sleep,
we will dream of fish
in faraway ponds.”

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emileescengie

“I am not a baby, I think to myself, I helped catch dinner.”

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emileescengie
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emileescengie
Mehso-so

This book is a great father-child book. It‘s also a great book for children who have a parent on a schedule like the one the father in this book has. It is a meaningful story of a little boy and his father and the time they spend together.

1 like1 stack add
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bookishdawg
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Pickpick

Loved this gentle picture book about a father and son‘s quiet morning fishing... and so much more. ❤️ #foodandlit #Vietnam

Butterfinger Yes. One of my favorite picture books. 3y
26 likes1 comment
blurb
nquintus
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A Different Pond is a Zolotow award-winning MF picture book by the poet Bao Phi and illustrated by Thi Bui. On the surface, a child may see it simply as the story of a boy fishing with his dad. However, it is actually a tale of immigration, starting over, and survival as a family. I would recommend planning a lesson around the resource provided below!
https://www.capstonepub.com/assets/123/7/A_Different_Pond_Readers_Guide.pdf
#ucflae3414su20

nquintus I highly recommend using an LC strategy for your class based on this wonderfully touching book! The resource above provides numerous questions to get students thinking deeply about the complex issues raised in the story, such as surviving a war, leaving the home country, and poverty. These discussions will allow students to support each other‘s thinking while fostering collaboration and community (UDL 8.3) and encouraging cooperation (ESOL 2). 4y
JoslynB I think your UDL principle is perfect for this type of story. Your resource link also offers a nice introduction to figure out where to begin. The focus on collaboration will make discussions for ELL students to be able to provide input or receive support. 4y
DrSpalding This could be a literature circle and also a very powerful read aloud during social studies instruction. We must teach about immigration in second grade. Excellent job aligning the appropriate universal design for learning principles and English learner strategies. 4y
7 likes3 comments
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Laughterhp
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Pickpick

I didn‘t realize this was a children‘s book when I got it from Libby. I thought it was going to be longer, but it wasn‘t a big deal. This focuses on a day in an immigrant Vietnamese family. The illustrations are done by the same women that wrote and illustrated The Best We Could Do.

Using this for Pan Asian Author - honestly I don‘t know if this fits the prompt it‘s tough to find anything online for this prompt. #Booked2020

Cinfhen Works for me!! It‘s frustrating when u can‘t find a challenge book from online resources. Glad you were able to pick something up❣️ 4y
50 likes1 comment
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ValeriaCastaneda23
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Pickpick

A Different Pond by Bao Phi is a RF picture book about a son a father going fishing early in the morning. This picture book won the Charlotte Zolotow Award in 2018. This very peaceful and realistic story gives us a look into the life of a refugee family from Vietnam.

ValeriaCastaneda23 Though they struggle, they find beauty and peace and simple tasks like fishing together as father and son. I would use this book to teach my students about hardwork, family life, and privilege. UDL 7.2 optimize elements, value, and authenticity. EL 6. Continually monitor students comprehension. This link provides helpful tips to do before while and after reading this picture book! (edited) 4y
DrSpalding This book could be a window or a mirror! Provide a little more elaboration on how you would use the wonderful resources you have embedded in your posts. 4y
2 likes3 comments
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taylorscalfaro
Pickpick

This book won a Caldecott Honor for its amazing illustrations that really bring the text to life. The images are gentle just like the text, so children would have an easy time following along while learning a new message.

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taylorscalfaro

I would use this book in my future classroom because it is a gentle book with a good meaning that children would like.

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taylorscalfaro

“A kid at my school said my dad's English sounds like a thick dirty river. But to me his English sounds like gentle rain“

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agreco1925

“A kid at my school said my dad's English sounds like a thick dirty river. But to me his English sounds like gentle rain“

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agreco1925

I would use this book in my classroom to teach students about relationships.

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agreco1925
Pickpick

This award winner is a very heartfelt book about a son and father's relationship. The illustrations have a lot of detail and help to keep the readers engaged and extend the text.

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leximcmillin
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Pickpick

This RF Caldecott Honor picture book is a story about a boy who wakes up early with his father and goes to the pond to fish for food. While fishing, his father tells him about a different pond that he used to fish at in Vietnam. http://readingtokids.org/Books/BookView.php?pag=5&bookID=00001423 This site contains different resources relating to the book including discussion topics and vocabulary words used in the book. #ucflae3414f19

leximcmillin A UDL principle that aligns with this book would be 2.1 Clarify vocabulary and symbols. This is because this book has a few words that may be hard for readers to understand such as refugees and callouses. An EL strategy that could be used with this book is 5. Teach technical vocabulary supporting key concepts 4y
kradebaugh This looks like a very interesting book. Sounds fun to read. I will have to check it out 4y
DrSpalding Several of you have commented on this book. With the assistance of a knowledgeable teacher, you could make many text to world connections. Excellent choice. Maybe this is a book that should be in the STARS database if it isn‘t already. 4y
6 likes3 comments
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karlasanabria1
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Pickpick

A Different Pond by Bao Phi and illustrated by Thi Bui is a beautiful Caldecott RF story. Phi speaks volumes with this incredible story that students with struggling families will connect with, having them do an AS will be perfect. This story manages to balance sadness and content all while teaching kids the value of family. Although some underlying messages may be overseen by elementary aged students, it is still a book all educators must have.

karlasanabria1 The following link provides educators with excellent resources to include in your lesson plans of this amazing story, https://www.capstonepub.com/assets/123/7/A_Different_Pond_Readers_Guide.pdf. The UDL Guideline most relevant to the story is promoting understanding across languages (2.4). As for the ESOL Strategy, continually monitoring students‘ comprehension (6) would be best for this particular story. 4y
4 likes1 comment
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Juliafass

“A kid at my school said my dad's English sounds like a thick dirty river. But to me his English sounds like gentle rain“ UGH are you kidding me ?? thats absolutely gorgeous.

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Juliafass

I think this is just an absolute must read in any classroom. I love the cross cultural perspectives it brings and how beautifully it is written.

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Juliafass
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Pickpick

A different pond by Bao Phi was a 2018 Caldecott honor book. This gorgeously illustrated and beautifully written book talks about the bond of father and son. They go out fishing everyday to catch their dinner and while they wait the dad tells his son about a pond back in Vietnam. Bao Phi's poetry is so moving. I love the way he evokes emotions through the littlest amount of words.

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Erinehart
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Pickpick

A Different Pond is a realistic fiction children literature book that illustrates the life of a child and a father on a long who fishing trip. This book is a 2018 Caldecott Honor Book and is a must read. This author gives a glimpse of what his life was like growing up and how the boy and father woke up hours before the father had to go to work to go fishing on the shore of a small pond in Minneapolis to make sure the family is fed. #ucflae3414f19

Erinehart This would be a great book for an IR for a third grade class. An ESOL strategy I would use is #44; focus on thinking skills, predict, categorize, classify, observe and report, sequence, summarize. This would fall hand in hand with this IR because it allows the student to jot down some inferences while reading the text. 5y
Erinehart https://www.capstonepub.com/assets/123/7/A_Different_Pond_Readers_Guide.pdf This is a fantastic resource for this book. It provides a lesson plan and discussion questions to go along with the text. 4y
Erinehart https://www.capstonepub.com/assets/123/7/A_Different_Pond_Readers_Guide.pdf
This is also a great resource for teachers as it provides a few tips for reading.
(edited) 4y
DrSpalding I am not sure if it was on your log or another students log, but I want this book! Why do you think it should be an independent read versus a read aloud. Excellent resource from the publisher. 4y
5 likes1 stack add4 comments
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GatheringBooks
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Pickpick

#LiteraryLove Day 20: I did not expect this book to affect me the way it did, but it was like a zing through my heart: #HeartOfTheMatter. The story was resonant, honest, and simple but never simplistic in its telling. It was unadorned, and there you find rare glimpses of beauty between father-and-son that tug at the heartstrings. My review: https://wp.me/pDlzr-gDS

58 likes1 stack add1 comment
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Edenmonet
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Pickpick

A Different Pond (HF), a Caldecott Honor book, by Bao Phi is a wonderful book that can be used as an (AS) Author Study. The end of A Different Pond has a lot of information about the author that can be a good start to an author study. This book is about a boy who goes on an early morning fishing trip and learns about his dad‘s life back in Vietnam. A different Pond is a great book to have in a classroom because it highlights the sacrifices

Edenmonet immigrant parents make for their children to have a better life. This is the lesson plan I would use. http://www.capstonepub.com/assets/123/7/A_Different_Pond_Readers_Guide.pdf. The UDL principle I would use is 3.1, activate or supply background knowledge, and the EL strategy would be 2, promote cooperation (author study can be done in small group). #LAE3414SP19 5y
DrSpalding I must read this one. Again another book that could be successfully integrated into social studies curriculum. Adding this to my stack. 5y
1 like2 comments
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heidisreads
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Pickpick

This would be a great multi-generational common read for a community. A simple but complex story of finding common ground in a new place. #BeInspiredBooks #tdscampread18

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stargazerblue49
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Tater Tot is going to be so well read. Packing for a move and loving the books that I‘ve stashed away for baby over the last year or so.

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LibrarianRyan
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Mehso-so

3⭐️ A young boy and his father go on an early morning fishing trip. This story seems like a look at an immigrant family through the eyes of the oldest son. It‘s quite somber, but with a bit of hope. I wish there was more about the family and their struggle, but sometimes kids don‘t realize the struggle, all they realize is it‘s saturday and their parents have to work.

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elizabethlk
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Pickpick

This is such a touching story. A glimpse into the life of Vietnamese refugees in America following the war. A glimpse into such a small piece of life. The illustrations are to die for and have absolutely sold me on reading more from Thi Bui as well.

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GraceNeg
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Pickpick

2018 Charlotte Zolotow Award winner is written by: Phi Bao and illustrated by: Thi Bui. This (RF) delivers a powerful, honest glimpse into a relationship between father and son - and between cultures, old and new. A Different Pond is an unforgettable story about a simple event - a long-ago fishing trip. Unlike many other anglers, Bao and his father fished for food, not recreation. #UCFLAE3414SP18

LisaMart @GraceNeg This would be a great book for boys to relate to, especially those that enjoy fishing with their fathers. Sounds like something I would enjoy reading as well! 6y
GraceNeg TS: IR, RA, PR & GR. This link takes you to an amazing reading guide; before reading, during, and after reading. This is a great guide to monitor students comprehension. http://www.capstonepub.com/assets/123/7/A_Different_Pond_Readers_Guide.pdf ESOL 6, 16. (edited) 6y
4 likes2 comments
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Lindy
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Pickpick

Gorgeous. Understated. Deep bonds of love sustain a Vietnamese #refugee family in Minneapolis. The emotions are restrained and yet palpable in this autobiographical #picturebook, told from the viewpoint of the youngest child. Author Bao Phi & illustrator Thi Bui were both born in Vietnam and raised in USA. #OwnVoices For all ages.

UrsulaMonarch Excellent synopsis for a wonderful book! 6y
52 likes3 stack adds2 comments
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Lindy
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Thi Bui‘s artwork really evokes the setting: mid-70s Minnesota. The earth tones of harvest gold, olive green, turquoise and orangey red are perfectly chosen. Also, I love her filmatic presentation, viewing scenes from a variety of angles. #OwnVoices #picturebook

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MarriedtoMrT
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Pickpick

Bao Phi and Thi Bui are a winning combination and this book deserves every one of its accolades. Simple yet multi-layered story of a boy going fishing with his father. They fish for their dinner, despite the fact the father also works two jobs, and while they fish they bond and the son listens to stories from his father‘s childhood in a different country. Fantastic. #WeNeedDiverseBooks

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MarriedtoMrT
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“A kid at my school said my dad‘s English sounds like a thick, dirty river. But to me his English sounds like a gentle rain.”

❤️

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stargazerblue49
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Pickpick

I just love Thi Bui and her art 💙💙💙

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stargazerblue49
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To cap off a month of completely terrible reading stats, me failing miserably at a book buying/library ban, and just being somewhat miserable in general, the Book World announcement meant that my home town book store is closing. I went for the first night of the liquidation sale and got a pretty good haul. They‘ll be open for another couple of months, so surely this isn‘t he last, but still sad to see them go 💔

ReadingSusan 😢😢 6y
Gezemice That sucks 🙁 We had ours closed many years ago, I am still sad. I remember taking my kids there when they were toddlers. 😥 6y
cariashley I‘m so sorry, that‘s the worst 😢 6y
DebinHawaii Such a bummer when bookstores close.😰😥 6y
stargazerblue49 @Gezemice This is the place where I went to HP midnight releases growing up, so it‘s hitting me hard. 😞 6y
35 likes5 comments
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Caryl
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Pickpick

This picture book is stunning. I had the honor of hearing the author, Bao Phi, read it tonight at one of our local indy bookshops. Six starred reviews (so far 😊), and very much deserved.

#livetotell #AugustGrrrl

Cinfhen 💕💕 7y
46 likes1 comment