My Two Blankets

My Two Blankets is written by Irena Kobald and Illustrated by Freya Blackwood. It was published in 2014 by Little Hare Books. 

Lexile level: AD330L      Ages:9-10

Summary:

     My Two Blankets is about a refugee girl who has moved country due to war, and does not understand the new language, the new ways of living, or the new ways of being. Named "Cartwheel" by her Aunt, the girl struggles to understand who she is in this new country. Cartwheel finds comfort in her blanket she had found in her previous home. She eventually met a girl the same age and they would do fun things together, like go to the park. "Cartwheel's" new friend would bring words for "Cartwheel" to say over and over again. While learning these new words she started to weave a new blanket that grew to be just as soft and comfortable as the old blanket.

Evaluation and illustrations:

     My Two Blankets is a great story for older students because it relates to current events. In the news there is always mention of refugees fleeing to other countries to gain a better life and this book is a great representation. The Author Irena Kobald mentions at the end of the book that it is based on a true story, her daughters story. The main message this book is giving the reader is the power of friendship and kindness.
     This book captures the reality of what many refugees face-- loneliness. This is shown well through the illustrations. Freya Blackwood effectively uses imagery and color to enhance the story and provide the reader with distinct differences between Cartwheel and the girl. Blackwood uses color to represent where Cartwheel is from, the land or her country (orange, red,  and brown). The girl is shown with contrasting colors (blue, green, and pale yellow) to highlight the differences between her and Cartwheel and where they live. This also reflects back to Cartwheels blanket. Cartwheels first blanket is red. orange, and brown and as she weaves her new blanket she adds blues, greens, and yellow. 

Literary Elements:

          The plot is written in first-person narration of the girl from Sudan (Cartwheel).  The reader learns of her emotions through the metaphorical descriptions: hearing the unrecognizable language all around her was “like standing under a waterfall of strange sounds … cold … alone.” The ‘blanket’ is a metaphor. Freya Blackwood uses symbols from African culture and lays Cartwheel within the design of this blanket, almost making it more of a ‘place’ of which Cartwheel is a very integral and colorful part. The blanket is a metaphor for comfort and security because Cartwheel is in this strange new country. Another literary element is symbolism, it is shown through both words and images, to give Cartwheel a soft, warm place to wrap herself in.

1. Plot: Written in first-person: Cartwheels perspective.
2. Metaphor: The blanket
3. Symbolism: Cartwheel has a comfort space that she fades away from because of kindness and empathy.

In the Classroom:

    First, I would show students the cover of the book, with title, and ask what their feelings and thoughts are about the book before reading. Then we will read the book and look for responses to the book and compare them to how students feel now, after having read the book. After a discussion, the students will work together to create a blanket that would welcome a new student to the school, which will be displayed.


Kobald, I., & Blackwood, F. (2014). My two blankets. New York: Little Hare Books.