Southwest Children's Literature

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Forbidden Talent

The children were asked what they liked about the story and what they learned from it. They were also told that they could talk about their connections to the story and the main character, Ashkii. The children gave the following responses:

"Today I learned about graffiti and art." Isaiah

"I like when Ashkii drew on the sheep." Selena

"The story was about family tradition. His grandpa told Ashkii to not draw on the animals." Leslie

shows the cave painting scene and used many different designs, inspired by the Navajo patterns. She also added the horse, which Ashkii painted stars, stripes, and circles. She also included a sunset scene with a sun and different colored sky.
Bryannna

Drawing depicts the young boy, Ashkii, sitting on a rock painting his pictures. Carlos also drew Ashkiis' cat and included a mountain scene with purple clouds and blue birds.
Carlos

"I'm going to draw the cat because I'm like Ashkii
and do not do my homework sometimes."

great picture of a spider on its intricately drawn web. Ivan also incorporated a Navajo design on the belly of the spider.
Ivan

"Today I learned about graffiti;
it means like writing in the wash and art."

shows Ashkii painting the horse for the 4th of July parade. It also shows a mountain scene with a setting sun in the background.
Gabriela

"I liked when Ashkii drew on the water tank
because the design that he drew."

depicts the horse after Ashkii painted it for the 4th of July parade. There is also an orange sun, blue sky, and orange/red mountains in the background.
Amber


shows an underwater scene with a turtle, a fish, and a shell. Sea grass is also drawn with a yellow sun at the top.
S. B.

depicts the scene where Askhi painted the sheep in different designs. He also added a Navajo design on the side of the sheep and included clouds and grass in the foreground.
Cesar M.

"Today I learned about graffiti and art."


drew the dog that Ashkii painted on and also added a football. She also incorporated a drawing of a fire on the ground and a blazing, red sun in the sky.
Jackie R.

"Today I learned about graffiti and art. It was really fun."

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