Read With Me Cultivating a Literary Community 

Today, we were all moved as we shared our current book of the month, 14 Cows for America by Carmen Agra Deedy…even if Mrs. Nash did cry….AGAIN! In this story, Kimeli, a young Maasai who had left his home in Kenya to study medicine in New York, came home to tell his family about the tragedy that occurred in New York City on September 11, 2001.  He felt compelled to do something to help his adoptive nation.  But what could he do?

He knew what he should do.  When he was a child, his elders taught him that he could help to heal a suffering heart by sacrificing something that was important and dear to him.  But, he knew that some burdens are too big for one chest to bear alone.

After speaking with his elders and his people, the Maasai tribe decided to give America a very unique gift:  14 cows.  It is the wish of the Kimeli and his people that whenever someone hears of their gift, we will find some small measure of comfort and peace in our hearts.

Why was this gift so special?  Perhaps this video (Psst! Click here!) will help you understand a little more about how important a cow, or a water buffalo, can be to people in worlds very different than our own.

Oh, and don’t forget your tissues!

Watch and enjoy this video about a pair of squirrels trying to make it up to the top of the wall.

Many times in books, movies, songs, and poems, symbols are used to represent the intangible, the things we cannot see or touch.  Just like our country’s flag is a symbol of our nation, we can use tangible objects, things we can see or touch, to help us understand bigger ideas.  Authors use these symbols, often, to help us grasp the theme of their writing, to help us understand that deeper message they really wanted to write about.

After you’ve watched this cute video, think about what the backpack and sandbag could be symbolizing.