CLAS Book Box K-12 Guide 4: Portuguese and Brazil in PictureBooks

From Story Time With Mr. Limata YouTube channel

Otávio Júnior (author): 

Otávio Júnior is a writer, an actor, a storyteller and a theatre producer from Rio de Janeiro.

He is the founder of the project Ler é 10-Leia Favela, which opened the first permanent library in the favela Complexo do Alemão. 

Otávio is the winner of the Premio Madre Teresa de Calcutá in Argentina for his community services and he was also awarded with the Prêmio Faz Diferença by the O Globo newspaper.

Vanina Starkoff (illustrator): 

Vanina Starkoff was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina. She studied graphic design at the University of Buenos Aires and she graduated with the Colombian illustrator José Sanabria. Since completing her first picture book in 2010, she has gained international recognition for her vivid landscape illustrations. She lives in Brazil.

Other books by Vanina Starkoff include: Madre Sirena, Unfolding Journeys: Secrets of the Nile, Unfolding Journeys: Wonders of Egypt, Along the River, The Cautionary Tale of the Childe of Hale, Dancing in the Clouds

• Favela: “...a special type of district in Brazil. Favelas are not managed by the government like other areas. Instead, the people who live in favelas are in charge of them. One out of every five people in Rio de Janeiro, one of Brazil’s largest cities, lives in a favela.” - back of the book

• Maracanã Stadium: a large stadium located in Rio de Janeiro that was meant to host the 1950 world cup. After the world cup the stadium went on to host football club matches, and became a national landmark in 1998.

• Funk: also known as Brazilian funk or favela funk. A type of music that originated in favelas. 

  • hear an example below:

Check out these lesson plan resources from Globe Trotting Kids: 

https://www.globetrottinkids.com/from-my-window-a-celebration-of-community/ 

Additional Resources: 

https://kids.nationalgeographic.com/geography/countries/article/brazil

https://illinois.pbslearningmedia.org/resource/wa08.socst.world.glob.haven/jefferson-safe-haven

• Video series from PBS detailing the life of one boy and his family living in one of Brazil’s favelas, and how school plays a crucial role in his life.

Favela Painting:

An initiative that is geared towards transforming Brazilian Favelas through artwork.

https://favelapainting.com/

Summary

This book offers a first hand point of view of a child growing up in one of Brazil’s favelas (a self run, non-government affiliated district). 

"From bright days to dark nights and everything in between, this book offers a warm invitation to discover the world outside your window." (description from inside book cover) 

Age and Grade Level

• 4-8 years old

Prevalent Themes

• Community
• Imagination and Creativity
• Aspiration and dreams
• Daily life
• Telling your story

Quote from the Author: 

"From my window I can see thousands of stories and I wish to hear them, tell them, and help them be heard. I live to tell stories, mostly about the favela, which is a whole world inside a city, with its language, culture and traditions. A book saved me because I believe in the magical power of literature - and I want the favela to be immortalized in it.” - Otávio Júnior