[playful music] - Hi, friends, how are you doing today?

My name is Anna.

- And my name is Jordan and I'm eight years old.

- And we were actually just talking about all the ways that we are special.

So we're made up of a lot of different cultures.

So I'm part Italian, so that means Jordan is part Italian.

I'm part German.

Jordan's part German.

Jordan's father is Jamaican, so she's part Jamaican.

So there's a lot of different things that make her really cool, right?

So we were actually reading a story together and we wanted to know if you wanted to hear the story with us?

Yeah, okay, so the story is called "The Yellow Handkerchief," written by Donna Barba Higuera, illustrated by Cynthia Alonso.

And in this story it follows a girl and it kinda talks about something that's special with her culture, but something that maybe she doesn't realize just how special it is, right?

Yeah, okay, so let's read through this together and then maybe we can talk a little bit about this later, yeah?

[paper rustles] Okay, "The Yellow Handkerchief: El Panuelo Amarillo."

Written by Donna Barba Higuera.

Illustrated by Cynthia Alonso.

[lively music] My Abuela wears an old yellow handkerchief that her grandmother gave to her.

[lively music] So when we hear the word Abuela, Abuela means grandmother.

So she's talking about her grandmother.

Abuela scrubs the mud off our patio on her hands and knees.

Then she sits quietly on the porch and cleans the dirt from under her nails.

I don't like the yellow handkerchief.

Abuela carries the eggs from the coop into the kitchen.

The smell of homemade chorizo and eggs drifts in the air.

My mouth waters.

Becca sniffs, "What is your grandma cooking for dinner?"

I'm ashamed to tell her.

I wish we had money to buy pizza or take out like Becca's family.

I definitely don't like the yellow handkerchief.

So how's she feeling right now about that yellow handkerchief?

- She's saying like it's not really special.

- It's not really special, no?

The oldest [speaks Spanish] no longer lays eggs.

Abuela plucks the chicken.

"Why does your grandmother have feathers in her hair?"

Becca asks, I glance at the chicken coop.

My belly will be full, but why can't we buy chicken at the store like everyone else?

I can't stand the yellow handkerchief.

[spirited music] How's she feeling now?

- She's saying like it's definitely not special.

- Definitely not special?

How do you think she's feeling about her culture right now?

'Cause she's like, it's weird and people think, people might make fun of it.

- Yeah, so she's starting to think like, oh no, like maybe it's weird, because she doesn't get to order takeout, right?

Or she's eating the chickens from her own land as opposed to going to the store, so it might seem weird to her friend, Becca.

[spirited music] Would you say maybe she feels a little embarrassed?

Yeah, should she be embarrassed though?

No, not at all.

Abuela works in the garden.

She gathers tomatillos and peppers.

She moves slowly, but the rows are straight and clear of weeds.

Abuela wipes the dirt and sweat from her face.

[spirited music] Then she waves her handkerchief to get my attention.

[Anna speaking Spanish] "What did she say?"

Becca asks.

I wish Abuela talked like Becca's grandmother.

"I have to go," I answer.

I despise the yellow handkerchief.

"Lava monster, lava monster!"

Becca yells.

[Anna speaking Spanish] I accidentally call out safe in Spanish instead of English.

I cover my mouth in embarrassment.

Becca doesn't understand and springs toward me.

I quickly dodge to one side too fast and [spirited music] Abuela slips off her yellow handkerchief and wipes my tears.

[spirited music] She kisses my cheek.

[Anna speaking Spanish] She says, telling me to be myself.

Why is it important to be yourself, Jordan?

- Because if you try to be someone else, it might be too hard to do it.

And like your life isn't the same without being yourself.

- You're right, your life isn't the same without being yourself, right?

You're supposed to be you.

Not somebody else.

That night, she sits on the edge of my bed and sings.

[Anna speaks Spanish] [lively music] When my sister, Mariana, gets a bad cold, Abuela must go live with her sister, so she doesn't get sick too.

We are all sad.

[lively music] I'm moving to Abuela's room, so Mariana doesn't make me sick either.

Without Abuela, the room feels so empty except for the handkerchief.

[lively music] In all the rush, she must have left it behind.

[lively music] The garden is overgrown.

I weed the rose.

Our new chicken squawks.

I collect her eggs.

The patio grows dusty.

I make it shine.

What do you notice that she's doing?

- She's doing all of her grandmother's chores.

- Yeah, she's doing all her grandmother's chores now, right?

[lively music] At bedtime, I sing to Mariana.

[Anna speaks Spanish] [lively music] I sit on our porch and look out at my work.

[lively music] Without Abuela, I wipe my own tears.

[lively music] I miss her and I'm tired of us being apart.

[lively music] And... [Anna speaking Spanish] [lively music] Means she loves the yellow handkerchief.

[lively music] So thinking about you, what was something that made you've been a little embarrassed or ashamed about?

- In kindergarten, I used to be like afraid and embarrassed of speaking in front of other people.

- Oh, afraid, embarrassed speaking in front of other people.

- And like people might judge my hair.

- People judging your hair.

That was a big one actually.

You're right, when you were in kindergarten, that was a big thing because I was not very good at styling your hair.

[chuckles] And it took a long time before we finally figured out different styles that worked for you, right?

That made you feel comfortable and allowed you to be yourself, right?

And now you feel extra sassy and extra confident, right?

[Anna laughing] Well, at least I've gotten better at styling your hair, yes?

- Yes.

- Yeah.

And then you like that you can wear your hair in braids sometimes and sometimes you wear it in like a poof and sometimes you wear it straightened, right?

So we've found different ways for you to feel confident and not feel ashamed in how awesome your hair is, right?

So I want you to think about, what are some things that maybe you haven't felt very confident about?

And I want you to talk about that with a trusted adult and see if they can help you figure out a way to be confident in yourself.

Because it's really important for you to be yourself because it's hard to be someone else.

[giggles] Well, until next time, friends.

Bye.