Read All About ItRead All About It

Great books and how to use Great books and how to use them in your classroomthem in your classroom

Jane Harper

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The Watsons go to Birmingham -- The Watsons go to Birmingham -- 19631963

Historical fiction by Historical fiction by Christopher Paul Christopher Paul CurtisCurtis

An ordinary family An ordinary family is caught up in the is caught up in the struggle for Civil struggle for Civil Rights in the Rights in the United States.United States.

Grades 5-8Grades 5-8

The Watsons go to Birmingham -- The Watsons go to Birmingham -- 19631963

StrengthsStrengths Engaging story Engaging story

with lots of humorwith lots of humor Accurate historical Accurate historical

detailsdetails Believable Believable

characterscharacters Irresistible first-Irresistible first-

person narratorperson narrator

Could Could improve…improve…

It is difficult to find It is difficult to find any weaknesses in any weaknesses in this multi-award-this multi-award-winning novel! winning novel!

Instructional ideasInstructional ideas

Use as a twin text with a non-fiction Use as a twin text with a non-fiction work to teach about the struggle for work to teach about the struggle for Civil Rights (Freedom Walkers: The Civil Rights (Freedom Walkers: The Story of the Montgomery Bus Boycott, Story of the Montgomery Bus Boycott, by Russell Freedman, for example.)by Russell Freedman, for example.)

Brings history alive for children, Brings history alive for children, because it is a great example of because it is a great example of ordinary people caught up in ordinary people caught up in extraordinary historic events. extraordinary historic events.

Phineas Gage: A Gruesome but True Phineas Gage: A Gruesome but True Story about Brain ScienceStory about Brain Science

Non-fiction by John Non-fiction by John FleischmanFleischman

A railroad worker A railroad worker suffers a freak suffers a freak accident when a 3-accident when a 3-ft. long tamping ft. long tamping iron pierces his iron pierces his head and exits head and exits completely.completely.

Gr. 6 & upGr. 6 & up

Phineas GagePhineas Gage

STRENGTHS: STRENGTHS: Meticulous historical research Meticulous historical research

presented in an interesting waypresented in an interesting way Excellent photographs and other Excellent photographs and other

primary sourcesprimary sources

WEAKNESSES:WEAKNESSES: Very few, but promises a little more Very few, but promises a little more

“gore” than it delivers!“gore” than it delivers!

Instructional IdeasInstructional Ideas

Perfect for studying the history of Perfect for studying the history of medicine and the brain, particularly medicine and the brain, particularly surgery.surgery.

Good topic for “history-mystery” Good topic for “history-mystery” studies.studies.

Use in science classes to show how Use in science classes to show how Gage’s accident, however tragic, Gage’s accident, however tragic, helped advance the study of science.helped advance the study of science.

Master Man: A Tall Tale of Master Man: A Tall Tale of NigeriaNigeria

A tall tale told by A tall tale told by Aaron Shepard and Aaron Shepard and illustrated by David illustrated by David WisniewskiWisniewski

Variant of a Variant of a traditional tale of traditional tale of the Huasa people the Huasa people of Nigeriaof Nigeria

Grades K-3Grades K-3

Master ManMaster Man

Exciting adventure Exciting adventure and lots of actionand lots of action

Strong, interesting Strong, interesting characterscharacters

Comic book/graphic Comic book/graphic novel style layoutnovel style layout

Source notes Source notes provided by Shepardprovided by Shepard

3-D effect paper 3-D effect paper collage illustrationscollage illustrations

Illustrations may Illustrations may be too detailed for be too detailed for effective read-effective read-aloud experiencealoud experience

Layout too busy Layout too busy and kinetic for and kinetic for some childrensome children

STRENGTHS

WEAKNESSES

Instructional IdeasInstructional Ideas

Would make a great companion to any Would make a great companion to any version of “Jack in the Beanstalk.”version of “Jack in the Beanstalk.”

Good for introducing tall tales and Good for introducing tall tales and pourquoi tales.pourquoi tales.

Social studies tie-in for African historySocial studies tie-in for African history Good interactive read-aloudGood interactive read-aloud Author provides a reader’s theater Author provides a reader’s theater

script on his Web site.script on his Web site.