History & lore.These great new historical fiction and narrative nonfiction titles will encourage children to connect with the past. [GRAPHIC OMITTED] HOMESPUN SARAH Sarah or Sarai: see Sara. Sarah (flourished early 2nd millennium BC) In the Hebrew scriptures, the wife of Abraham and mother of Isaac. She was childless until age 90. (Gr. K-3) By Verla Kay, illustrated by Ted Rand. Putnam, 2003; 32 pages; $15.99. In simple but informative rhyming verses, Kay takes us through the busy day of young Sarah, a colonial farm girl in 18th-century Pennsylvania. Watercolor illustrations show an independent, close-knit family who take care of all their needs, including hand stitching a new red outfit for Sarah. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] ACTIVITY: After reading, ask your students: What chores do you do at home? How do you acquire new clothes when you outgrow outgrow verb To change the relationship with a condition or structure by dint of ↑ age or size; while children outgrow clothing, and certain behaviors, they rarely outgrow diseases–eg, asthma the old ones? How did people get new clothes in Colonial days? Have them analyze the clothes they are wearing and surmise how they were made. You might want to try bringing in fabric, yarn, sewing and knitting needles, and crochet hooks to let your students try creating an outfit for a class doll or stuffed animal
A stuffed animal is toy animal stuffed with straw, beans, cotton or other similar materials. Some stuffed animals are very old – home made cloth dolls stuffed with straw go back to at least the . THE MAN WHO WALKED BETWEEN THE TOWERS (Gr. K-8) By Mordicai Gerstein. Roaring Brook, 2003; 40 pages; $17.95. Perhaps you recall the day in August, 1974, when a young French aerialist, Philippe Petit Philippe Petit (born August 13, 1949) is a French high wire artist who gained fame for his illegal walk between the former Twin Towers in New York City on August 7 1974. He used a 450 pound cable to do so and also a custom made 26 foot long, 55 pound balancing pole. , crossed a wire between the two towers of the nearly completed World Trade Center in New York City New York City: see New York, city. New York City City (pop., 2000: 8,008,278), southeastern New York, at the mouth of the Hudson River. The largest city in the U.S. . In the middle of the night, Petit stretched a cable between the tops of the two buildings. As the sun rose, he stepped out onto the thin wire, a quarter of a mile in the air. A love story to the Twin Towers, this bittersweet bittersweet, name for two unrelated plants, belonging to different families, both fall-fruiting woody vines sometimes cultivated for their decorative scarlet berries. but life-affirming tribute will inspire gasps of disbelief from readers and listeners alike. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] ACTIVITY: Place a long rope on the floor and let children walk across, trying to keep their balance, to get an idea of how hard this is to do, even on the ground. You might also want to read this story in conjunction with Emily Arnold McCully's Mirette on the High Wire (Putnam, 1992) or Maira Kalman's picture book account of September 11, 2001, Fireboat fire·boat n. A boat equipped to fight fires along waterfronts and on ships. Noun 1. fireboat - a boat equipped to fight fires on ships or along a waterfront boat - a small vessel for travel on water : The Heroic Adventures of the John J. Harvey (Putnam, 2002). BOXES FOR KATJE (Gr. 1-3) By Candice Fleming, illustrated by Stacey Dressen-McQueen. Farrar, 2003; 32 pages; $16.00. In the aftermath of World War II, Katje, a little girl who lives in the tiny Dutch town of Olst, receives a Children's Aid Society
The Children’s Aid Society (CAS) is a private charitable organization based in New York City. box with items she hasn't seen in years: a cake of real soap, wool socks, and even a bar of chocolate. Her subsequent correspondence with her new friend, Rosie Johnson from Indiana, begets a flood of boxes from America when Rosie's neighbors organize a large food and clothing drive to help the citizens of Katje's town. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] ACTIVITY: Based on a true story--the author's mother sent that first box to Katje and her family in 1945--this heartwarming heart·warm·ing or heart-warm·ing adj. 1. Causing gladness and pleasure. 2. Eliciting sympathy and tender feelings: a heartwarming tale. Adj. 1. tale demonstrates the meaning of acts of kindness. When your school is holding a food drive, read this story to help your students realize how their caring and involvement can help others in need and make a difference in the world. THE GREAT EXPEDITION OF LEWIS AND CLARK: BY PRIVATE REUBIN FIELD Reubin Field (ca. 1771 – 1823?) was a woodsman and skilled hunter. With his brother Joseph, he was a member of the Lewis and Clark Expedition, as one of the "nine young men from Kentucky" and one of the first to be recruited in August 1803. , MEMBER OF THE CORPS OF DISCOVERY (Gr. 2-5) By Judith Edwards, illustrated by Sally Wern Comport See COM port. . Farrar, 2003; 32 pages; $17. This fictionalized picture book captures the highlights encountered by the Lewis and Clark Corps of Discovery, including fending off snakes, mosquitoes, and grizzly bears, encountering both helpful and hostile Native American tribes, hunting wild buffalo, and paddling and portaging six canoes more than 4,162 miles over two long years. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] ACTIVITY: After reading, share the Lewis and Clark story from other points of view with your students. Laurie Myers's Lewis and Clark and Me: A Dog's Tale (Henry Holt, 2002) is a good choice. Have children read other Lewis and Clark tales on their own, such as Rhoda Blumberg's York's Adventures with Lewis and Clark (HarperCollins, 2004) and Peter and Connie Roop's Sacagawea: Girl of the Shining Mountains (Hyperion, 2003). ICE CREAM CONES FOR SALE (Gr. 2-5) By Elaine Greenstein. Scholastic, 2003; 32 pages; $15.95. Who invented the first ice cream cone at the 1904 World's Fair world's fair: see exposition. world's fair Specially constructed attraction showcasing the science, technology, and culture of participating countries and enterprises. ? Was it Arnold Fournachou, who substituted warm rolled-up waffles when he ran out of dishes at his ice cream stand? Or did the waffle-maker himself come up with the original idea? Or was it one of the five other people who also claimed credit? To unravel this surprisingly controversial issue, Greenstein combined historical fact and speculation to come up with her own tasty conclusions. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] ACTIVITY: Compile a list of all the places that students think a good researcher could look for information on this topic. The author's bibliography might help to spur the discussion. Then send kids on the hunt to discover who invented other popular items, such as the safety pin, zipper zipper Device for binding the edges of an opening, as on a garment or a bag. A zipper consists of two strips of material with metal or plastic teeth along the edges, and a sliding piece that interlocks the teeth when moved in one direction and separates them again when moved , or Velcro. The online resource www.enchantedlearning.com is a good starting place. ALMOST TO FREEDOM (Gr. 2-6) By Vaunda Micheaux Nelson, illustrated by Colin Bootman. Carolrhoda, 2003; 32 pages; $15.95. The harrowing but ultimately hopeful tale of a slave family's life and escape on the Underground Railroad Underground Railroad, in U.S. history, loosely organized system for helping fugitive slaves escape to Canada or to areas of safety in free states. It was run by local groups of Northern abolitionists, both white and free blacks. is seen and told through the eyes of a rag doll named Sally, a beloved companion of Lindy lin·dy or Lin·dy n. pl. lin·dies A lively swing dance for couples. Also called lindy hop. [From Lindynickname of Charles Augustus Lindbergh. . Sally's colloquial col·lo·qui·al adj. 1. Characteristic of or appropriate to the spoken language or to writing that seeks the effect of speech; informal. 2. Relating to conversation; conversational. narrative and the book's grave, dark-toned paintings create a matter-of-fact picture of young Lindy's life. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] ACTIVITY: This story will jolt listeners with its extraordinary details. Lindy is whipped by the overseer for asking her master's son how to spell her name. The white couple who shelters the family in their storeroom gives Lindy a pillow, something the child has heard about but never seen before. This book will certainly spark a discussion on slavery and its lasting effects on us all. See "The Path to Freedom" on page 54 for more Underground Railroad activities. HOW SWEET IT IS (AND WAS): THE HISTORY OF CANDY (Gr. 2-6) By Ruth Freeman Swain, illustrated by John O'Brien John O'Brien may refer to: In public life:
tr.v. sat·ed, sat·ing, sates 1. To satisfy (an appetite) fully. 2. To satisfy to excess. by this look at candy through the ages, which features delicious pen-and-ink and watercolor illustrations and an extensive Candy Time Line kicking off with Columbus in 1493. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] ACTIVITY: Children can work in pairs, pick a favorite candy, and research its origin. The Web site Candy USA (www.candyusa.org) has information about the history of conversation hearts, candy corn, and more. THE QUEEN'S PROGRESS: AN ELIZABETHAN ALPHABET (Gr. 2-6) By Celeste Celeste is a woman's first name. Celeste may also refer to: in Music
Bohemia [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] ACTIVITY: Before reading, invite students to discuss what they think life might be like as a queen, based on their fairy-tale and real-world knowledge. Then compare Elizabeth's intriguing story with their assumptions. To extend, encourage children to choose another historic royal and write their own alphabet book based on that monarch's life. AFTER THE LAST DOG DIED: THE TRUE-LIFE, HAIR-RAISING ADVENTURE OF DOUGLAS MAWSON “Mawson” redirects here. For other uses, see Mawson (disambiguation). Sir Douglas Mawson OBE FRS (5 May 1882 – 14 October 1958) was an Australian Antarctic explorer and geologist. AND HIS 1911-1914 ANTARCTIC EXPEDITION (Gr. 4-8) By Carmen Carmen throws over lover for another. [Fr. Lit.: Carmen; Fr. Opera: Bizet, Carmen, Westerman, 189–190] See : Faithlessness Carmen the cards repeatedly spell her death. [Fr. Bredeson. National Geographic, 2003; 63 pages; $18.95. Sir Ernest Shackleton Sir Ernest Henry Shackleton CVO, OBE (15 February 1874 – 5 January 1922) was an Irish explorer who was knighted for the success of the 1907-09 "British Antarctic Expedition" under his command. fans will appreciate the harrowing tale of Douglas Mawson, Australia's greatest polar explorer. In 1911, Mawson MAWSON Metropolitan Area Wavelength Switched Optical Network and his 30-man team set out to study the climate, geology, and biology of Antarctica. When disaster hit on a team expedition, Mawson amazingly survived a lonely trek back to base camp over treacherous ground. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] ACTIVITY: Students will want to search out the other excellent National Geographic photobiographies about explorers and adventurers, including Shackleton, dinosaur hunter Roy Chapman Andrews Noun 1. Roy Chapman Andrews - United States naturalist who contributed to paleontology and geology (1884-1960) Andrews , Everest conqueror Sir Edmund Hillary, and aviator Amelia Earhart. THE RAVENMASTER'S SECRET (Gr. 5-8) By Elvira Woodruff. Scholastic, 2003; 225 pages; $15.95. The Tower of London Tower of London, ancient fortress in London, England, just east of the City and on the north bank of the Thames, covering about 13 acres (5.3 hectares). Now used mainly as a museum, it was a royal residence in the Middle Ages. in England in 1735 is a fearsome place. The 11-year-old hero of this historical novel, Forrest Harper, is the son of a tower guard who has grown up within the walls surrounding the prison grounds. When Maddy, the daughter of a Scottish rebel, is brought to the Tower and condemned to death, Forrest enlists the aid of a young ratcatcher and a pet raven to help her escape. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] ACTIVITY: Have students investigate the two-sided image of the raven in legend and literature. In this story, for example, the raven is a helpful and cunning creature, but in Edgar Allan Poe's poem "The Raven," the bird is a bad omen. Students can debate what reputation they think best fits the raven and then write their own raven tale. SEE AUTHOR TALK RODZINA (Gr. 5-8) By Karen Cushman Karen Cushman (born October 4, 1941 in Chicago, Illinois) is an American writer of historical fiction. Her 1995 novel The Midwife's Apprentice won the Newbery Medal for children's literature, and her 1994 novel Catherine, Called Birdy won a Newbery Honor. . Clarion, 2003; 215 pages; $16. Shipped out by the Little Wanderers' Refuge in Chicago on a westbound train, 12-year-old orphan Rodzina Brodski is expected to care for eight younger orphans also making the trip. As they travel further west, the orphans are taken in one by one by farm families in Nebraska and the Wyoming Territory, but Rodzina would rather die than live with strangers who don't really want her. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] ACTIVITY: Before reading, share nonfiction about the orphan trains, including Verla Kay's picture book, Orphan Train (Putnam, 2003) and the more detailed Orphan Train Rider: One Boy's True Story (Houghton Mifflin, 1996) by Andrea Warren. With this background knowledge, students will be able to write an informed review of Cushman's novel. To extend, have students make their own lists of best resources for studying orphan trains. A KILLING IN PLYMOUTH COLONY (Gr. 5-8) By Carol Otis Hurst and Rebecca Otis. Houghton, 2003; 147 pages; $15. This absorbing and believable historical novel is loosely based on a real murder committed in Plymouth Colony in 1630. Eleven-year-old John wants nothing more than the approval of his strict, austere father. But when villager John Newcomen is discovered dead in the woods, young John is sure the culprit isn't John Billington, the man his father believes is the murderer. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] ACTIVITY: Explain that writing historical fiction requires both intensive research and imagination. Have small groups of students look at one chapter of the novel and make a two-column list of fictional and factual events, sharing their findings with the whole class. To extend, have each group research another Colonial event and write a collaborative short story about it. Compile the stories to create your own volume of historical fiction to share with all. RELATED ARTICLE: AUTHOR Talk Karen Cushman, author of Rodzina, writes about young people living in different historical periods because she was "tired of hearing about kings, princesses, generals, (and) presidents. I wanted to know what life was like for ordinary young people in other times." [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] How She Writes History: Karen, who won a Newberry Award for The Midwife's Apprentice (Clarion, 1995), writes her historical novels using "as many primary sources as I can find ... I read books about the manners, clothing, agriculture, foods, and even recipes of the period." What Got Her Started: At 13, Karen composed "an epic poem cycle based on the life of Elvis." She encourages other young writers to "think of an idea that is so strong within you that it's going to come out passionately. Because that's what shines." Find out more about Karen at www.karencushman.com JUDY FREEMAN, children's literature consultant and workshop presenter (www.JudyReadsBooks.com), is the author of More Books Kids Will Sit Still For. |
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