Elementary Reading Anthology

READ, BABY,

READ!

You!

Thank

Habiba Elnagdy Editor and Graphic Designer

To be of Use The people I love the best jump into work head first without dallying in the shallows and swim off with sure strokes almost out of sight.

They seem to become natives of that element, the black sleek heads of seals bouncing like half-submerged balls.

I love people who harness themselves, an ox to a heavy cart, who pull like water buffalo, with massive patience, who strain in the mud and the muck to move things forward, who do what has to be done, again and again.

I want to be with people who submerge in the task, who go into the fields to harvest and work in a row and pass the bags along, who are not parlor generals and field deserters but move in a common rhythm when the food must come in or the fire be put out.

The work of the world is common as mud.

Botched, it smears the hands, crumbles to dust.

But the thing worth doing well done has a shape that satisfies, clean and evident.

Greek amphoras for wine or oil, Hopi vases that held corn, are put in museums but you know they were made to be used.

The pitcher cries for water to carry and a person for work that is real.

BY MARGE PIERCY

Read, Baby, Read!

The Skateboard Day Frank Day at the Park Sarai Mallory's Promise Abigail Done Instant Gratification Kendrick Bruce

CONTENTS

TABLE of 5

7

8

15

21

Read, Baby, Read!

You've gotta read, baby read!

You've gotta read, baby read!

The more you read, the more you know, Knowledge is power, power is freedom And I want it!

You've gotta read, baby read!

You've gotta read, baby read!

We work hard in school, No time for nappin’ When we do good things, good things happen!

You’ve gotta read, baby read!

You’ve gotta read, baby read!

We make good choices We gotta gain knowledge We’re gonna be successful We’re gonna go to college!

You've gotta read, baby read!

You've gotta read, baby read!

5

Independent and Guided Reading KIPP Infinity Elementary School "MY FAVORITE BOOKS ARE SCIENCE BOOKS BECAUSE IT'S FUN TO LEARN NEW STUFF AND LEARN NEW THINGS."

" CAPTAIN UNDERPANTS IS MY FAVORITE BOOK!

CAPTAIN UNDERPANTS IS A SUPER HERO. HE HAS A RING AND EVERY TIME HE SNAPS HE TURNS INTO A SUPERHERO!"

"I WANT TO WORK FOR NASA OR BE A SCIENTIST ONE DAY!"

The Skateboard The Skateboard Day Day Frank Frank

by

Excerpt

Do you know how to ride a skateboard? Well I can’t ride a skateboard. My skateboard training class is big. There is a lot of things to practice. It was very cold…I was with my dad and training teacher. I was a little scared. “Do I need to do this?” I said. I tried but then I fell. “Ow” I yelled. My skateboard teacher told me to try again (...) but it didn’t work. “I didn’t want to try again” I said (...)Then I had a bad thought. I said to myself “I give up”. Last, I never gave up and I did it. I started to ride my new skateboard. I felt like a professional skateboard person. I did a trick with my skateboard and I felt so happy. I told my dad “I want to come every day”.

About the Author My name is Frank. I am 2nd grade student. I live n New York. I like to do math, reading, writing, and sports. I like being in school and I love my teachers and everyone. I like my classroom. I like everything in the world. I like doing my homework and Zearn and Lexia core five. I like when we do morning circle and closing circle. I love every subject in KIPP infinity elementary school. I like my school because it has a lot of things to do. And my school is super fun.

2nd Grade

KIPP Infinity Elementary School 7

Day at Day at the the Water Water Park Park by

Sarai Sarai

Excerpt

Have you been to a water park? Well I have one time. I was at the water park with my aunt and cousins and the place was called Splish Splash. I looked so cool. I saw a pol and lots of big slides/ I was like wonderland to me. It felt like I was dreaming because I never been to a waterpark in my life and it felt so good to finally go to a water park. (...) I believed in myself and I dash (!) from the pool to the big scary slide (...)I slided down that slide and my cousins were cheering my name and once I got to that pool I felt so proud of myself. And that’s why I loved the water park.

About the Author

Hi. My name is Sarai. Something about me is that I love writing stories. It’s so fun creating stories about myself. I’m 8 years old.

2nd Grade

KIPP Infinity Elementary School 8

Literary Parade at STAR Harlem Elementary School November 2022

9

Freedom Elementary School Kindergarten student shopping at the school's Scholastic Book Fair

Millionaires Day June 2022

11

Millionaires Day June 2022

12

Mallory's Promise Mallory's Promise

by

Abigail Done Abigail Done

I was upstairs in my room watching my favorite movie. I love the actors so much, they inspire me to be one myself. But I’ll never be as good as they are.

A few minutes later, I heard my dad call my name.

“MALLORY JONES, COME DOWN HERE NOW,” he shouted.

I suspected he was mad at me. But he probably only yelled so I would hear him. He’s usually really chill and hardly ever yells. Besides, everyone thinks I’m deaf or something since I can’t hear anyone call my name from the living room. I went downstairs and saw my little brother on the couch with tears streaming down his face and my dad... well, let’s just say he wasn’t as happy and chill as usual.

“What’s wrong?” I asked him. I was really nervous about what he was going to say. I had never seen both of them like that before. My brother, Alex, is always upstairs in his room playing video games. It seems like he has no time to go outside and breathe in some fresh air. And my dad is usually watching TV while eating chips and salsa. He only works Monday through Thursday. Before my dad could say anything, I saw the clock and realized it said 5:43 PM. My mom is usually here around 5:30 PM. I looked at my dad.

“Where’s Mom?” I asked.

I was so confused why Dad and Alex were crying and why Mom wasn’t home at the time she’s supposed to be home from work.

“Mallory…” my dad said softly.

“Your mom... was in a car accident,” he continued, trying to keep his tears at bay.

“What... no, no, that’s not true,” I said.

I was so frightened. Was my mom really gone?

15

"I'm sorry... she’s gone, mi amor,” my dad said. He couldn’t keep the tears in anymore.

No, I said to myself. My mom is not gone. She’s alive. I don’t know, maybe she's running late. My dad gave me a big hug. I cried out a whole ocean full of tears. My brother joined in the hug. We were all so devastated. My beautiful mother wasn’t coming home tonight.

Hours later, I took a nice hot shower and got into some comfy pajamas. I didn’t even want to finish watching the movie. I decided it was best to go to sleep and deal with all the grief tomorrow.

I couldn’t believe it, my mom was gone. She still had a life to live. To see me graduate and be at my wedding and so much more. I started crying again.

But I had to accept it. I had to accept that... My mother... Was… Gone.

A week later, I was sitting on my bed, crying into my pillow. This is something I did every day. I had to go to the mall to find a black dress. For my mother’s funeral. I never thought this day would come until I was an adult. But I guess it was really happening.

I wiped my tears and headed downstairs. I smelled something delicious. It was arroz con pollo. My mother’s favorite food. Mine as well. Lately, my dad hadn’t gone to work. I could understand him. I hadn’t gone to school. I was way too scared to even step out of the front door to get the mail.

I had to go to school the next week. The principal let me stay because I was grieving. I looked at my dad. He looked at me. He knew that I was crying. He could tell by the look on my face.

“Where’s Alex?” I asked him.

“He went to his friend's house. He needed a break or something, I don’t know,”

“Oh, okay.” I was shocked that my brother just wanted to leave after something horrible like this happened.

“When is he coming back? We need to look for an outfit to wear to the funeral.”

“The funeral isn’t until Saturday. Today is Tuesday.

He’ll be back by tomorrow or Thursday.”

“Okay. I’ll be back. I’m gonna go upstairs real quick and I’ll come down for dinner,” I said.

“Okay, mija,” my dad said with a little smile.

I went upstairs into my bedroom. But then I thought of something. I went into my parents' bedroom. I hadn’t been there since my mother passed away. I looked into her closet. She had the best style.

I noticed a little box on the floor. It was decorated, and it looked familiar. I opened it and looked inside.

It was notes and letters. I realized that they were from me. I opened a few. They were funny jokes that I wrote to my mother when I was nine. Mother’s Day cards. And birthday cards. I chuckled. I opened one more. It was different from all the other ones.

"Hi Mom. I have something to tell you. I have always wanted to be an actress And you told me you wanted to be one. So I’m gonna make a promise to you. To become a famous actress.

Anyways love You mom. BYE! Love, Mallory (Your beautiful Daughter). <3" Oh my gosh. I must have been a really dumb nine year-old. Why did I think I could be an actress? But wait. I made a promise to my mom. I remembered. I even made her breakfast so she could have faith in me. Which now seems really stupid.

My mom might be gone. But my love for her and my promise isn’t. So, yeah. I will become an actress.

Starting, like, right now. Wait, what? What am I thinking right now? I literally have no motivation to do that. But maybe I should. Okay, okay, the decision is final. I will never break my promise to my mother. I will become an actress. I will make her proud. Well, I’ll definitely try. I guess.

When I went back to school, everyone was staring at me. They were all whispering.

“That’s the girl who lost her mother in a car 16

accident.”

“Oh wow, I hope she’s okay, that's so sad. I can’t imagine what it must feel like to lose my mother.”

And then more and more whispering. Why are they even trying to compare themselves to me? Well, they must not know how to whisper. I can hear them, obviously.

I was walking to my locker when I saw a very interesting paper on the bulletin board. Did it just say play? A PLAY? OH MY GOSH! THIS IS GREAT! This is how I can become an actress. Wait, wait, wait, hold on. Am I sure this is something I should do? I’ve never even been in a play before. And I’m gonna have to perform in front of a lot of people. Can I really do this? Maybe I can.

I made a promise to myself and my mother. This would really help me be a successful actress in the future. Wow, I sound like a nine year-old. Ok, I’ll do it.

But I definitely have to talk to my dad about this. I don’t even think he could ever see me in a play. I’m way too shy and I used to think plays were stupid.

Until today. I can do it. Yeah, I’ll just talk to my dad after school.

I was on my way to my first class when I saw the worst person in the universe. Jenny Thompson.

We’ve hated each other since first grade. All because I accidentally took her doll because I thought it was mine. We had the same one. Sadly.

“Mallory Jones. Well, I guess you're back.”

“Yes, I am back, Jenny. Is that a problem?” I said.

“No, no. I just thought you were grieving from your mother. I’m so sorry about what happened to her.

May she rest in peace.”

What in the world was going on? Was Jenny Thompson being nice to me right now? No, that is unbelievable. But maybe she’s not that cruel.

Especially when it comes to death.

“Oh, uh, thanks, Jenny,” I said, with a warm smile.

“So, did you know that there’s going to be a play?” she asked me.

“Oh, yeah, I did know. I just saw the paper on the bulletin board. I think I’m going to audition. Maybe

for the lead role,“ I said, wondering why she was still talking to me.

“What?! Yeah, uh, no. I’m going to get the lead role,” she said, with an angry, shocked face.

“Don’t you mean audition for the lead role?” I asked.

“NO. It doesn’t matter. I’m going to get the lead role anyway. I’m such a good actor.”

“You know, you're very selfish. Just because your dad is the mayor, doesn’t mean you can just get the lead role of a school play. Other people might want to audition. See, this is exactly why we’re enemies,” I said, with an annoyed face.

“Um absolutely not. I will get the lead role. You won’t. You will never be a good actor. Why are you being so rude to me? You shouldn’t be acting like this. Is this because your mom died?” she said, probably proud of herself for talking to me like that.

“Are you kidding me? You have the audacity to bring up my mother. She passed away. You are so disrespectful and immature. I’m going to get the lead role. I will be an actress in the future. And you, Miss Jenny Thompson, will never succeed in life.

Whatever, goodbye,” I said.

I was so mad at her. How could she be so rude to me? I did nothing to her. I was only telling the truth.

And she had no right to say anything about my mom. UHHHHH! Sometimes I just wanna strangle her. It’s always the stupid, bratty, snobby, rich girls.

Always thinking that they're better than everyone else. Well, that’s it. I’m telling my dad about the play and I will be in it. I will keep my promise. And I will never break it. ....

When I got back home, I saw my dad watching a baseball game sitting on the couch, eating chips and salsa. Like I said, the usual.

“Hey, Dad,” I said, kinda nervous about telling him I wanted to audition for the play.

“Hi, mija. How was school?” he said, with a little grin.

“It was good, I guess. I ran into Jenny Thompson 17

and we had an argument.”

“Oh, sorry about that. I always hated that little witch. She is so disrespectful."

“Yeah, she is. So, um, I have a question for you. It’s really important and I really hope you support me for it.”

“Okay, I’m kinda worried now. But, of course. I would support you no matter what.”

"Okay, thanks, Dad. So when I was walking in the hallway, I saw a paper about a play on the bulletin board. And I wanna audition for the lead role,” I said, with a scared face.

“Oh, uh, really? Since when are you so interested in plays? I thought you said they were boring.”

“Yeah, I know. But, um, a couple days ago, I was looking in Mom’s closet and I saw an old letter that I wrote for her when I was nine. It was saying how I made a promise about being an actress. Now Mom is gone. And... I really don’t want to break that promise.”

“Oh, wow. I didn’t know. Well, you do whatever you want to do. I think you would be a wonderful actress.”

“Thank you so much, Dad. This means a lot to me.

So, um, I can’t believe I'm gonna have to perform in front of I-don’t-even-know-how-many people,” I said, with a little chuckle.

“Oh, don’t worry. You got this. You remind me so much of your mother,” he said with a smile.

I smiled back at him. Well, that’s it. I’m going to audition for my first play. I can’t wait. This will help my dream come true.

The next day, I went to school to see the drama teacher. I talked to her about wanting the audition for the play. Thankfully, she gave me the script so I could practice my lines. The play was about Romeo and Juliet. The best love story in the entire universe. I always thought it was lame. Until then. I was so excited. My dad and Alex were helping me practice my lines. Most of the time we were laughing because they thought it was corny and cheesy. But they were telling me how good I am at acting. Which

was my goal. I was glad to have a family that supports me. I’m gonna kill this audition. ....

A couple days later, it was time for the audition. I was nervous but excited at the same time. I was the last person to go up on the stage. And... I did it. I auditioned. I acted out most of Juliet’s lines and I was confident. Now all I had to do was wait.

I was in the hallway talking with a new friend I made. Her name is Kaylie. She really understands me and knows how much I want to be in this play. I saw the drama teacher walking with a piece of paper in her hand. This is it. This is when I find out if I get the lead role. Everyone who auditioned was walking towards Ms. Nickson. People who auditioned for whatever part they wanted to have were all excited. Some who didn’t get a part were sad and devastated. Seeing them like that made me so nervous. I saw Jenny looking at the paper. I was already sweating. I stood still. It was like I saw a tiger eat one of my friends. Or they jumped off of a cliff. Jenny turned around with a smile on her face.

Then the smile slowly went away.

“UHH. SERIOUSLY? I DESERVE THAT PART!” she said. She looked like she wanted to kill someone.

“Hey, uh, Jenny, who got the leading role?” I said, scared about what she was going to say.

“You got it, idiot. I don’t understand why. You’re probably not even that good at acting,” she said, upset and annoyed.

“Wait, what? I got the role. Oh my gosh. I GOT THE ROLE! EEEEEEEK,” I said, jumping up and down.

I was so excited. People were looking at me jealous, but since I got the role and my dream was going to come true, I didn’t pay any mind to them.

Kaylie ran to me giving a big hug. She was so happy for me, and I was so happy for myself.

After the play, everyone was congratulating me.

They all complimented me on my great acting, which I was grateful for, but also surprised. Then I saw my dad and Alex.

“Wow, sis, you did such a great job. I expected you to humiliate yourself up there on the stage,” my brother said with a nasty smile.

18

I rolled my eyes annoyed, but still glad that he was proud of me.

“Yeah, you did such a great job. You’re such an amazing actress. I really do hope you become successful in the future,” my dad said, giving me a big hug. And my brother joined in.

I just knew that my mother was watching me from heaven crying, happy for me, and knowing I made sure to keep my promise.

A couple months later, I became really popular in school. Even Jenny became my friend. Which I never thought would happen. But I’m grateful that people actually liked me and didn’t just pretend to like me because my mother died. People can be so fake sometimes. It’s annoying.

I needed to think of a college to go to. It was almost the end of the year and I hadn’t applied for anything, except for two colleges. I wanted to go to a cool acting school. Obviously. I went home and my dad and brother welcomed me with a huge smile. I was confused about why they both seemed really excited.

“We have a fun surprise for you!” my brother said, He looked so excited. Like the time he got his first phone.

“Well, what is it? It better be good. And please hurry up. I have to go apply for some more colleges. I ain’t got all day,” I said, excited but annoyed.

“Here, look at this. It came in the mail. For you,” my dad said, looking very proud of me for some reason.

I took the envelope, and I opened it. It was from...

JULLIARD ACTING SCHOOL. OH MY GOSH. Wait, wait, hold on. I don’t even know if I got accepted or not.

“Okay, okay... here we go,” I said with a smile but a worried face.

I started reading the letter.

I wasn’t paying attention to the rest of the letter.

“AHHHHHHHHHHHHH, I GOT ACCEPTED!” I said, screaming from the top of my lungs.

“YAYYY! I’m so proud of you, sis,” Alex said, jumping into my arms.

“Good job mija, I’m so happy for you. So is your mother,” my dad said, with a warm smile and hugging me so tight.

Well, I did it. I’m finally going to be an actress. I actually did it. I kept my promise. I know my mother is so proud of me. And I know that she’s watching me with lots and lots of love in her heart. I can’t wait to be successful in the future. I will be the greatest actress the world has ever seen. And I don’t care about who judges me. I know that I’m special. And I have my family and friends to thank for helping me be successful. Well, that’s it. My Journey starts now...

FROM THE AUTHOR The hardest thing about developing the story was trying to find out the reason why Mallory decided to keep the promise that she gave her mother. I tried hard to find the perfect way to explain why she wanted to keep the promise her motivation. I wanted to find a way for her to be happy about her career. It was hard for me to choose, because I don’t have that experience of choosing a college, a career, so I didn’t really know.

7th Grade

KIPP STAR Middle School

19

Instant Gratification Instant Gratification by

Kendrick Bruce Kendrick Bruce

Insanely anxious, I look at Ms. Alston, one of the ELA teachers, passing out papers for the first ELA test. October 29th, Day Two. It is a normal and beautiful day outside, but inside this room, it feels like a jail bound to be full of failure, but all that failure would be caused by me.

The clock is ticking, my pencil rolling, tears dripping from my face like a rainy day. I know I’m going to fail the test and disappoint my parents. Ms. Stern, another ELA teacher, notices I'm crying and takes me outside the classroom.

She shows me my excellence in school. I look at the floor and not at her, thoughts of failure running through my mind.

“You’re super smart, Kendrick, and I think you’re going to pass this test," she says. But that doesn't increase my confidence at all. I don't care if I'm smart, I care about making my parents proud.

As we walk back to the classroom, I notice Mr. Glover, my advisory teacher, is walking back to his office. He sees me crying, Ms. Stern tells him about my test, and he says, “Kendrick, believe in yourself. I’m going to get you a donut in advisory as an early celebration that you’re going to pass.”

Tilting my head, I think, what does he mean by an early celebration? I think he is just being generous. I walk back to the classroom, wipe my tears, and gain my confidence back.

Twenty, thirty minutes in? I don’t look at the time and instead concentrate on my test. Okay, last question. I look through the window escaping reality... I can’t keep daydreaming like this! I regain my focus and frown faster than I can blink as I read 21

the devastating question.

“How does the author communicate?"

What does that even mean?!

I put my head down and let the water flow from my swimming pool of tears.

My classmate, Caliyah, says to me, “Are you alright?”

“No, I’m not. Can’t you see?”

I don’t say that. I just don’t answer. I don’t want to be rude. Caliyah is a kind friend and I won’t say such rude things to my friends.

I lift my head, show Caliyah the question, and she helps me.

“Thank you,” I say, stuttering. I still don't understand something about the question, though. Luckily, Ms. Stern is near me so I ask her for a bit of help.

“Oh, I get it now, thank you.” I quickly write down my answer as I look at the remaining time I have.

1 minute left? I hurry as I finish my last sentences.

Barely making the time limit, I turn in my test. Phew, I sigh in relief. At advisory, I notice the donut that Mr. Glover promised me he would get. I stare at the board reading “5th Grade Monthly Awards.” What’s that? I sit down, raising my eyebrow.

“Okay, listen, everybody. We have a thing called 5th Grade Monthly Awards and it consists of two winners for each class,” Mr. Glover states in a loud, clear voice. “We do have a winner here in our advisory, so let’s get started!”

I shake my head in disbelief, thinking I am the winner in my advisory. Each class has a “Most Improved” and an “All Star.” Mr. Glover showed the 501 winners and the 502 winners, and nobody from my advisory was there.

503's "Most Improved" is “Armani Martinez.” I congratulate my friend, even though he isn’t in this advisory. My eyes lit up and my heart is racing. I want to jump up and down till I can't anymore as it shows my name, “Kendrick Bruce” as 503's All Star for October.

It all adds up now! The “early celebration.” The donuts! Everything makes sense now. I shriek quietly and smile widely under my mask as my advisory classmates congratulate me, and Mr. Glover gives me my donut.

“Congratulations!”

That’s when I realize, maybe, just maybe, I could have actually passed my test.

All I had to do was to believe in myself. Whenever I think I can’t do something, I remind myself that I’m an All Star.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

6th Grade KIPP ALL Middle School

How did you come up with the idea for the story?

I wanted to do something like the time I almost drowned, but then I wasn’t sure about that. I remembered the test I took a few weeks ago, and how I got the All Star award, and so I decided to write about that instead.

What are you proudest of?

I’m proudest that it is going to get published. I liked writing about being nervous for my story. I got all my ideas on paper. It was a major event for me in the school.

What did you find hardest about developing the story?

It wasn’t really hard, but if I had to choose, it would be transitioning to different parts of the story.

Do you like writing?

Not really. It's not really my thing. I like to play video games, like Roblox or Fortnite.

What inspired you to write this story?

What inspired me to write the story was Ms. Stern.

Every time I get upset or frustrated, she always calms me down and she helps me with my work.

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