In our experience, elementary-age kids love hearing that a story they have read is true. They are also usually good for a bit of righteous indignation. This book offers both, combined with the quality we expect from Sleeping Bear. Chris Ellison's illustrations are warmth and expression, and Margot Theis Raven is great at telling a story simply, while at the same time making it exciting and packing it full of history. One of my favorite lines:
"Boys wanted to be Jackie Robinson playing for the Brooklyn Dodgers, and mothers like Flossie Bailey on Strawberry Lane wanted to find their missing mop handles."
To win a copy of this book, generously donated by Sleeping Bear Press, simply leave a comment under today's post telling about a book for any age level that you would recommend for celebrating/learning about Black History Month. See how broad we left that, to make it as simple as possible? Unfortunately, as turtles make very little money, we have to limit this to people with US addresses. At the end of the month, we will randomly pick one post and mail the book off to the happy winner! Good luck!
I have always loved Mufaro's Beautiful Daughters...as an African Folktale integration of Black History Month for Elementary age.
ReplyDeleteJeannette Winter's "Follow the Drinking Gourd" is great for the 6-9 year old crowd. I first encountered it on Reading Rainbow and have remembered it ever since.
ReplyDeleteurchiken at gmail dot com
The Story of Ruby Bridges
ReplyDeletemj.coward[at]gmail.com I read it to my kinder kids but probably more for 7,8,9 year olds.
mj.coward[at]gmail.com
I know why the caged bird sings is great for older children
ReplyDeleteykatrina at hotmail dot com
I recommend "We are the ship" by Kadir Nelson. Beautiful book with pull-put 'ticket'. Also, I recommend "Wind Flyers".
ReplyDeleteclariline98 at yahoo dot com
I reviewed BIRMINGHAM SUNDAY, by Larry Dane Brimner, on my blog. I think it's a great book for learning about black history.
ReplyDeleteIf you want to see more about it, you can check out my review.
We won a copy of Testing the Ice by Sharon Robinson that my daughter enjoys. To be honest, I haven't specifically focused on black history, though I love the I Have a Dream speech - and we lived in Africa for most of my daughter's life.
ReplyDeletejanemaritz at yahoo dot com
We posted aabout this giveaway at Winning Readings: http://winningreadings.blogspot.com/2010/02/let-them-play.html
I reviewed Bad News for Outlaws, which is the story of Bass Reeves who was a deputy in the Old West:
ReplyDeletehttp://ncteacherstuff.blogspot.com/2010/01/bad-news-for-outlaws.html
Even if I don't win, I'll check this book out. I work with a lot of students who like baseball.
Harriett Tubman has always fascinated me.
ReplyDeleteThanks
ABreading4fun [at] gmail [dot] com
I love "Let It Shine: Stories of Black Women Freedom Fighters," by Andrea Davis Pinkney. For 9-12 year olds.
ReplyDeletejune_spirit2628 at hotmail dot com
I would recommend 'Testing the Ice by Sharon Robinson', my kiddos love it!
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