Hello McKinley Families and Students!
This October, McKinley, SMMUSD, the City of Santa Monica, and the Santa Monica Malibu Council of PTAs are joining forces for United Against Hate Week (October 19–26), which aligns perfectly with National Bullying Prevention Month.
At the library, we believe that books are powerful tools for building empathy, understanding, and kindness. Stories help us see the world through someone else’s eyes, making us better friends and community members. This week, we're diving into stories that help us understand what it means to be brave, stand up for others, and celebrate what makes us unique.
Exploring the Chain of Kindness with "Jungle Bullies"
"Jungle Bullies" by Steven Kroll is a wonderful starting point for our youngest readers.
The book shows us a powerful chain reaction: The Elephant bullies the Hippo, who then bullies the Lion, who bullies the Leopard, and finally, the Leopard bullies the Monkey. This chain only stops when Mama Monkey steps in with a loving, firm solution. She tells the Monkey to go back to the Leopard and use his voice to say, "Don't you tell me what to do, this [tree's] big enough for two. Share it with me as a friend, don't be mean to me again!"
This powerful phrase is then passed backward—from the Monkey to the Leopard, to the Lion, to the Hippo, and finally to the Elephant—until all the animals are playing together happily in the pond. This is how the jungle breaks the cycle of unkindness!
In the Library:
Finding Your Voice and Place with "Finding Langston"
For our older elementary students, we read Chapter 2 of "Finding Langston" by Lesa Cline-Ransome.
This chapter immediately introduces us to the challenges Langston faces. He has just moved from the South to Chicago and is navigating a completely new world. We see his quiet struggle with feeling different: he goes to the bathroom early so he doesn't have to share, and he's fascinated by simple things like running water and flushing the toilet, which he hasn't had before.
It is heartbreakingly clear that other students make him feel like an outsider. They call him "country boy" and make fun of his different clothes and worn-out shoes.
Themes of Empathy and Belonging:
This chapter is a profound lesson for United Against Hate Week:
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Exclusion and Shame: Langston feels so alone he simply endures the bullying—when students push him, he waits for them to stop and walks home in silence.
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The Meaning of "Different": The book shows how hate and bullying can spring from simple differences—like where someone grew up or what they own. It challenges us to choose empathy over judgment.
Our Students: Powerful Insights from Read-Alouds
As often happens in our library, the students are the ones who share the most powerful lessons! After reading these books this week, our readers showed a profound level of mindfulness and empathy.
A First Grader's Lesson on Talking vs. Fighting
After our reading of Jungle Bullies, a first-grade student shared a brilliant observation. She noted that when the animals broke the cycle, they talked to their bullies using their words, instead of yelling, hitting, or throwing things. She realized this was a key takeaway, thinking of how badly she felt after fighting with her brother. She decided she would try to talk things out next time instead. It's truly amazing that a story about jungle animals can teach us such an important lesson about respectful conflict resolution!
Seeing Differences in Finding Langston
During our discussion of Finding Langston, older students immediately zoomed in on the exclusion, pointing out that Langston was being picked on because he was different—specifically, his clothes and the way he talked.
We discussed the painful scene where Langston is pushed back and forth by his bullies while another student watches. We emphasized the difference between a bystander and an upstander:
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We reminded students that even when they feel too scared or unsure of what to do, the most important action is to tell a trusted adult—a teacher, a librarian, a parent, or a principal. Langston waits for his dad, but in our schools, we always want students to seek help right away.
These discussions are why the library is such a special place! Hearing these different perspectives reminds me of the power of books to help our students identify problems on a large scale and then apply those lessons to their own lives. In fact, my favorite moment was when a student immediately checked out Finding Langston earlier this week!
Join the Movement: Unite Against Hate
Learning to be kind, inclusive, and brave is a skill, and like reading, it takes practice! This week, we encourage every McKinley student to be a kndness champion and an upstander.
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Be a Buddy: Reach out to someone sitting alone at lunch or during recess.
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Be Respectful: Treat everyone, regardless of their background, beliefs, or interests, with kindness.
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Be Brave: If you see something, say something to a trusted grown-up.
Let's work together to make our schools and community a place where everyone feels safe, welcome, and valued. We are all United Against Hate!
Stop by the library to check out these featured books and other wonderful stories about friendship, diversity, and courage!
Happy Reading!
