One of my new favourtest picture books is “Mixed” by Arree Chung. I love that it tackles the very complex topics of community and diversity, using the simplicity of colours.  I recently whipped up a super quick provocation, using a clear jar filled with markers of three colours that are the focus of the storyline.  I also added one green marker in the middle to hint at the resolution of the story.  Using my favourite thinking routine, “I Notice, I Wonder”  we explored the jar of provocations. Once we had sufficiently explored the provocation we leaped into the reading of the picture book, pausing to turn and talk, and add things to our notice/wonder chart. When we had finished reading the entire book, we refocused our attention back to the jar of markers to reflect on how it might connect to the major themes and ideas of the story. Students can’t help but make parallels to the topics of community and diversity as featured in the book.