Children's Fiction African American
The One and Only Question
- Publisher
- Groundwood Books Ltd
- Initial publish date
- Mar 2025
- Category
- African American, Prejudice & Racism, Bullying
- Recommended Age
- 4 to 8
- Recommended Grade
- k to 3
-
eBook
- ISBN
- 9781773069661
- Publish Date
- Mar 2025
- List Price
- $16.99
-
Hardback
- ISBN
- 9781773069654
- Publish Date
- Mar 2025
- List Price
- $21.99
Classroom Resources
Where to buy it
Description
It's Zeke's first day at his new school and his head is filled with one big question: what will he do when they call him the N-word like they did at his old school?
Zeke is expecting the worst day ever, and that's what it's turning out to be. His favorite shirt has a mustard stain on it, the bus driver is unfriendly, and his teacher covers material Zeke has heard a million times. It’s not until another student performs a small act of kindness that Zeke realizes that no one has called him the N-word all day. Not once. And tomorrow could be even better …
Ken Daley’s vibrant illustrations bring warmth and humor to the story, while showing hints of what makes this new school a safer space.
The One and Only Question will prompt young readers to ask questions of their own about how to handle bullying — while also encouraging conversations about everyone’s right to a safe learning environment.
Includes an author’s note explaining the authors’ personal connection to this story, as well as a list of suggestions about what to do about racism-based bullying to help educators, caregivers and victims.
Key Text Features
illustrations;dialogue;author's note
Correlates to the Common Core State Standards in English Language Arts:
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.2.3
Describe how characters in a story respond to major events and challenges.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.2.4
Describe how words and phrases (e.g., regular beats, alliteration, rhymes, repeated lines) supply rhythm and meaning in a story, poem, or song.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.2.7
Use information gained from the illustrations and words in a print or digital text to demonstrate understanding of its characters, setting, or plot.
Describe how words and phrases (e.g., regular beats, alliteration, rhymes, repeated lines) supply rhythm and meaning in a story, poem, or song.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.3.6
Distinguish their own point of view from that of the narrator or those of the characters.
About the authors
ANDREA CHARLES was born in Vancouver, BC. After attending York University in Toronto, where she earned a degree in political science and English, she returned to Vancouver, where she worked for the federal government. Andrea enjoys practicing yoga and spending time with her young son, Kai.
KEN DALEY est né à Cambridge, en Ontario, de parents ayant immigré de la Dominique, dans les Antilles. Ken est diplômé honoraire de la Art Centre of Central Technical School et diplômé en technologie architecturale du Humber College de Toronto. Il a exposé ses œuvres au Canada, aux États-Unis et dans les Caraïbes, et son travail figure dans de nombreuses collections privées.
KEN DALEY was born in Cambridge, Ontario to parents who emigrated from Dominica, West Indies. Ken is an honorary graduate from the Art Centre of Central Technical School as well as an architectural technology graduate from Humber College in Toronto. He has exhibited his artwork within Canada, the United States and the Caribbean, and his work can be found in numerous private collections. Ken’s previous books include Joseph’s Big Ride, Auntie Luce’s Talking Paintings and Jayden’s Impossible Garden.To learn more about Ken, visit: https://www.kendaleyart.com.
