Book: The Caged Bird of Phnom Penh*
Author: Frederick Lipp
Copyright Date: 2001
Suggested Level:
Genre: Picture and Realistic Fiction
Summary: This story is about a girl in Cambodia living in poverty. She sells flowers to help raise money for her family but keeps a small amount in hopes of one day buying a bird so she can make a wish, for a better life, and set it free. (Symbolism-the bird will carry your dreams)
Reaction: I enjoyed this book because it had a nice message and I came to find out that it is based on a custom (which is why I wrote that it is realistic fiction). A bird lady in Cambodia owns several birds and you can buy one, make a wish, and set it free so your wish can come true-however, the birds are trained to fly back to her.
Uses: Discussions of social issues; homelessness and poverty, as well as dreams/hopes and symbolism.
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I apologize that I forgot to incorporate the suggested grade level. It would be appropriate for grades k-4.
ReplyDeleteThis sounds like an interesting book. I think it's neat that people make wishes by buying birds and setting them free. Another use could be to have children discuss other objects that they make wishes on such as an eyelash, birthday candles, ladybugs, and a shooting star.
ReplyDeleteI just learned something new because of your Blog, thanks.
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