All My Stripes

Author: Shaina Rudolph and Daniel Royer

Illustrator: Jennifer Zivoin

Grade Level: K-3rd Grade

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All My Stripes Classroom Activities

Summary:

All My Stripes is a story about a zebra named Zane who has autism and is upset after coming home from school and doing things differently from his classmates. Instead of painting with his hooves in art class he uses a brush. During a fire drill he hid under his desk screaming while his classmates lined up quietly. He cries to his mother that all his classmates ever see are his autism stripes. However, his mom reminds him that without one of his stripes then he wouldn't be the same. She explains to him all of his stripes that make him who he is like his pilot stripe that guides them home, his caring stripe that makes him kind, his honesty stripe that makes him an honest child, and his curiosity stripe that makes him want to learn more in school. The more stripes that his mom explains, the more Zane felt better about who he was and all of his stripes. Zane realizes that even though he may have an autism stripe, he is more than just that one stripe. He falls in love with who he is again and falls in love with all of his stripes because without one of them, he wouldn't be Zane!

Element 1: Self-Love

All My Stripes explores identity and having a sense of pride through Zane's stripes. This book represents disability to be an identity marker someone should feel pride in and not ashamed of. Zane was upset that he had the autism stripe but realizes he wouldn't be himself without it. This book also deconstructs ableist priviledge thinking that people with autism are different and might wish they were neurotypical. Zane does not conform to how the other children are learning but, he is still learning in his own way. He does not wish to change anything about himself at the end which shows students to take pride in all the characteristics that define their identity. Even the ones considered "bad" by society. 

In a classroom setting I would make a lesson in which students will be given a blank zebra outline. They will draw and color stripes onto the zebra that represent characteristics of themselves. Through this artwork they will define their identity by explaining what each stripe means. This would make it a fun activity that brings joy into defining oneself whether it is good or bad characteristics. A discussion following the completed artwork about how there may be similarities between our zebras can create self- love and acceptance in the classroom community.