Diversity Chapter book "Ryan & Jimmy"

Shoveller, H. (2006). Ryan and Jimmy: And the Well in Africa That Brought Them Together. Tonawanda, NY: Kids Can Press, Ltd.

This book and author doesn't appear within our textbook, but I thought it was definitely worthy of being included under the diversity category in my blog. The story is for older elementary students and consists of eight chapters. I think Ryan and Jimmy should be included in every school media center library because it is a true story that was created from an actual TV documentary about a 9-year old boy named Ryan visiting a village in Uganda, Africa in July of 2000. Ryan visits the village to meet a young African boy named Jimmy (Akana was his African name). Readers learn how communication had started between the boys four years before through a pen pal project in Ryan's 1st grade classroom in Kemptville, Canada. Ryan's teacher started the pen pal project when Ryan became interested in raising money to help build water wells in areas of Africa that desperately lacked safe drinking water. This is a wonderful story of determination and global-awareness for students to read because Ryan takes the initiative upon himself to start raising money to have a well built in Africa. Ryan's peers and his teacher wanted to become involved in this mission to raise money and communicate with the pen pal children in Uganda. By the end of book, we learn that after Ryan's dedication to help build wells in Africa, a foundation was established called "Ryan's Well Foundation." It is now a well-known foundation and Ryan was even able to appear on Oprah to discuss his mission to help build wells.

I love how the book shows actual letters of correspondence between Ryan and Jimmy, along with pictures from Ryan's trip to Africa. Several maps are also included in the illustrations to help students pinpoint Ryan's trip.

I think this story would be eye-opening for students to read about how life is much harder for people living in Uganda villages in comparison to life in North America. Readers are able to see pictures and read descriptions of Jimmy's house made of only mud and a thatched roof. His family had to collect water in plastic containers. The author also focuses on teaching readers about the culture in Uganda, such as family life, school, social events, dress, political problems, and ect.

I would highly recommend this story for use with older elementary students and even into middle school. Students can learn that one student can help improve the lives of thousands of people across the world. In 2005, Ryan's Foundation had built 194 wells in Africa which provided clean and safe drinking water to over 350,000 people!