Think Rather of Zebra
Dealing with Aspects of Poverty Through Story
Author: Jay Stailey
Think Rather of Zebra is a delightful collection of short stories crafted and adapted from more than forty classic and modern folktales
by Jay Stailey who reset them in an urban neighborhood. The book follows two main characters, Carlos and Pete, as they tell stories from
their neighborhood and share the lessons of poverty. The stories that these two characters tell are insightful, particularly to readers who
come from a middle-class or wealthy background.
These stories closely follow the work of Dr. Ruby Payne on understanding the culture of poverty and the strong emphasis on oral tradition. At
the end of each chapter, Dr. Payne provides a series of questions that can be used for discussion and deeper understanding. Jay and Ruby
wrote Zebra to help schools better understand and teach students from poverty. The book can be read by adults or given to children to
help educate them about the effects poverty has on individuals.
If Framework had been written as the first installment of a sequence of books, Think Rather of Zebra would certainly be the second
offering in that meaningful series.
Jay's talents are a natural fit for aha! Process, Inc. As a veteran educator, freelance storyteller, and former chair of the National
Storytelling Association board, Jay gains daily insight into the lives of today's students and is skilled at making stories relate to their lives.
Zebra stands alone as an insightful collection of classic tales and is a must for students of Dr. Payne's work.