Amazing Grace - This book was written by Mary Hoffman and illustrated by Caroline Binch. Published by Frances Lincoln Childrens Books; New Ed edition (February 1, 2000)
Author Hoffman has captured that innocence in this superb tale. Grace, like so many youngsters, spends much of her day in the pleasures of "acting out" the characters that populate the pages of the books she reads. She feels that she can do and be anything that she desires. The theme of pursuing one's dreams is the type of message to which all can relate. It is a lovely story with emotion about a little girl with big dreams that come true because she had what she needed. She had a family to support, and she had determination and confidence because of her family support! This is what all children need.
Teacher notes: The story Amazing Grace is a story that teaches many lessons, it is an easy to read book that will be an opening for many stories and for many discussions. Family history and values, ethnic lore and history, peer pressure and confidence are all discussions that this seemingly simple and short book can lead to. (Tricia Griffith)
Tar Beach by Faith Ringgold.. Publisher: Dragonfly Books, 1996. (Elementary –picture book) "Ringgold recounts the dream adventure of eight-year-old Cassie Louise Lightfoot, who flies above her apartment-building rooftop, the 'tar beach' of the title, looking down on 1939 Harlem. Part autobiographical, part fictional, this allegorical tale sparkles with symbolic and historical references central to African-American culture. The spectacular artwork resonates with color and texture. Children will delight in the universal dream of mastering one's world by flying over it. - Horn Book. This is a great book to use when working on visualizing and can also allow students to compare city life to urban life. (Kim Paulson)
The Gold Cadillac by Mildred Taylor. Illustrated by Michael Hays. Publisher: Dial Books for Young Readers, 1987. (Upper elementary-middle school)
In this story, `lois explains a child's perspective of her fears when she, her sister Wilma, and their parents drive from Ohio to visit relatives in Mississippi in 1950. When `lois' father buys a new gold Cadillac, his wife refuses to ride in it until he declares his intentions to visit his parents in the South. Then the whole family goes, caravan style, for it's a mighty dangerous thing, for a black man to drive an expensive car into the rural South.'' `lois and Wilma are disquieted by the increasing appearance of white only, colored not allowed'' signs as they drive further south. After white policemen humiliate and arrest their father, they do visit their grandparents, but the trip results in their father giving up the car when they return home, realizing that it was pulling the family apart.
Teacher note: The themes of this book are family relationships and overcoming adversity. I use this book when I am reviewing "problem and solution". I also use this book when I am teaching students how to write a summary. Students must be able to distinguish between ideas that the author deems important and those that are interesting but secondary. Students must also be able to differentiate between main ideas and details. (Gail Jung)
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NON-EXAMPLE: Your Move by Eve Bunting, Illustrated by James Ransome. Published by Harcourt Brace and Company in 1998, Target grades 1-5. The review says: “A somewhat idealized, but powerful picture book about how a good kid avoids gang involvement. James, 10, and his 6-year-old brother Isaac are alone at night while their single mother works. A neighbor keeps an ear out for James's hourly thumps on her wall assuring her that they are okay. One night James leaves their apartment with Isaac to meet up with the K-Bones crew. To prove himself, he must spray paint a freeway sign with the club's name, thus covering a rival gang's tag….” What I found (somewhat sheepishly after using this book as a foundation for bullying and peer pressure) was that this book stereotypes black youth as having a single parent household, absentee father, mother working evenings leaving the kids home alone, and gang tagging and guns as the activities the kids have to choose. This book might be better suited for middle and high school as an example of stereotyping in literature. (Lori Bieging)
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This story is told from the point of view of an enslaved child's beloved rag doll. Made for young Lindy by her mama, Miz Rachel, the hand-stitched toy is the girl's most prized possession. She tells her, "Your name be Sally. We gonna be best friends." When the child's father is sold and Lindy is beaten for asking Massa's son how to spell her name, the horrid conditions of the cotton plantation become intolerable. One night Miz Rachel wakes Lindy and they run for their lives. They are reunited with Mr. Henry and the fugitive family heads North to freedom. They are given shelter at a station on the Underground Railroad, but must flee from slave catchers in the middle of the night. In the frantic scramble, Sally is left behind. The doll is lonely for her friend and worries for the safety of Lindy and her folks. When another child and her mother are sheltered in the basement, the doll joins her new best friend on her trip to Freedom. It contains themes of hope and resilience, love and friendship. The simple language, mixed with southern dialect makes this a perfect read aloud book for any elementary classroom. It is a great introduction to the subject of slavery and the history of the Underground Railroad. I also use it as a part of our immigration unit in showing that one way people immigrated to America was through the use of force and not by choice! (Lori Bieging)
My Dream of Martin Luther King by Faith Ringgold Faith Ringgold had a dream about Martin Luther King. Simply narrated in her own voice, Ringgold--award-winning creator of Tar Beach and Aunt Harriet's Underground Railroad in the Sky paints a vivid, powerful picture of King's childhood and strong family life, along with glimpses of prejudice, segregation, and protest. Her vision blurs dreamily into King's adult life--from his family, to protests of Rosa Parks's arrest, even to his assassination: "This time we had come to mourn Martin Luther King's death by trading in bags containing our hate, ignorance, violence, and fear for the slain hero's dream. We emptied the bags onto a great pile, and as the last bag was dumped, the pile exploded into a fire so bright lit the whole world. There, emblazoned across the sky, were the words: EVERY GOOD THING STARTS WITH A DREAM." Illustrated with Ringgold's dramatic folk-modern paintings My Dream of Martin Luther King is one of the most creative, successful, accessible tributes to Martin Luther King for children that we've seen. (Ages 4 to 8) This book can be used as a read aloud to teach about Martin Luther King's powerful message. (Patti Thacker)
Dinner at Aunt Connie's House by Faith Ringgold.
Come On, Rain! by Karen Hesse. Illustrator: Jon J. Muth. Publisher: Scholastic Inc., 1999 (lower elementary) Summary of the book: Tessie, the main character in this detailed prose poem, is an African-American girl living in an urban area. The story takes place one very hot afternoon during the summer. During this day everyone is wishing for rain to cool and refresh the people and the neighborhood. When the rain comes, Tessie and her friends are outside in their swimsuits. Their mothers then join them and they all dance in the rain together. This book “portrays the tenderness of mother-daughter relations, the rhythms of urban society, and the power of nature to transform and reinvigorate all forms of life”. How to use in the classroom: I could see this book being in the classroom library and also used as a read aloud to the class. (Heidi Quimby)
Black and White by Paul Volponi. Publisher: Penguin Group., 2005 (High School) Summary of the book: Marcus and Eddie are the stars of Long Island City High School’s basketball team. Marcus is black and Eddie is white, but they got past all that “racial crap” and have been best friends for years. Both boys are looking forward to great futures in college basketball and are waiting to see where they’ll land their scholarships. Then one cold night, something goes wrong and they make a big mistake. Now they can’t turn back and one of them will have to pay. Told in their two voices, BLACK AND WHITE is the gripping story of two good boys who make a bad mistake. It’s also a heartbreaking look at the realities of the urban criminal justice system. This book deals with overcoming adversity, peer relationships and community engagement. It will challenge many stereotypes and I think will provoke good discussion in the classroom. I think this could be a book read with a small group or individually. Before this book is read there should be discussion about some of the topics that may raise an eyebrow such as, language and crime. (Cristina Benz)
I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou. Publisher: Random House, 2002 (Middle and High School).
Summary: I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings is Maya Angelou's autobiography, detailing scenes from the first half of her life. She is moved across the country to live with her grandmother, is raped at a young age and then becomes unable to speak for years, later becomes a teen mother and ultimately raises her son on her own by singing, dancing, working with MLK, Jr. and the Civil Rights Movement, and writing. Angelou is known for her poetry, and this book is poetic. The way she plays with words is just beautiful. The themes in the book are many: racism, abuse, family, independence, courage. Short passages of the book could be used in high school classes, but in general, I would not use this as a whole-class book. It is frequently on the 100 most-banned books lists because of its frank portrayals of rape and teen motherhood, among other things. However, as we know, kids all over live that stuff, every day. This book can be powerful, especially for girls. (Amy Korba)
Goin' Someplace Special By: Patricia C. Mckissack Illustrated by: Jerry Pinkney Publisher: Antheneum Books 2001. (Upper Elementary)
Summary: This book takes place in the 1950's in Nashville and focuses on a young girl's journey to somewhere special. It tells of the obstacles she has to overcome to get to one of the very few integrated places in the city: the public library. This story leaves the reader guessing where/what this special place is until the very last page. It would be very powerful to use for any lesson dealing with community, empathy, determination, overcoming adversity etc...(Meghan Smith)
"The Woman in the Snow" by Patricia McKissack
This short story can be found in the book: The Dark-Thirty: Southern Tales of the Supernatural. In this short story Patricia McKissack weaves the history of the bus boycott into a chilling ghost story. McKissack's tale does not shy away from racism or the negative effects that it brings. This story draws the reader in each time and allows a wonderful opportunity to discuss the real story of the Montgomery bus boycotts and Rosa Parks. This can also allow an opportunity to talk about whose story is being told and how the author or narrator gives a different view of history and lead to critical reading .(This is how I use the story in my classroom) This story could be used with middle school or high school students. The themes presented in this story can fall into the categories of overcoming adversity and community engagement. (Kari Beaudry)
Some additional books from Chuck Mann
Henry’s Freedom Box: a True Story of the Underground Railroad by Ellen Levine. Illustrated by Kadir Nelson. Publisher: Scholastic, 2007. (elementary) A Caldecott Honor Book. Interesting for all ages.
My Brother Martin by Christine King Farris. Illustrated by Chris Soentpiet. Publisher: Aladdin Paperbacks, 2003. (elementary) NAACP Image Award Winner; A Child Magazine Best Book of the Year. A sister remembers growing up with the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. This book gives younger children the opportunity to relate to Martin Luther King, Jr. as a kid like them growing up in an interesting family.
Minty: A Story of Young Harriet Tubman by Allan Schroeder. Illustrated by Jerry Pinkney. Publisher: Dial Books for Young Readers, 1996. (elementary) The book is a mixture of “fact and fiction” which makes for very interesting reading. Both author and illustrator are award winners in their field.
Flower Girl Butterflies by Elizabeth Fitzgerald Howard. Illustrated by Christiane Kromer. Publisher: Scholastic, 2004. (elementary)
Sister Anne’s Hands by Marybeth Lorbiecki. Illustrated by K. Wendy Popp. Publisher: Dial Books for Young Readers, 1998. (elementary) This book has a very strong message about prejudice and tolerance. The setting is the 1960’s but the message is timeless.
The Story of Ruby Bridges by Robert Coles. Illustrated by George Ford. Publisher: Scholastic, 1995. (elementary) Robert Coles was a child psychiatrist who counseled Ruby during her first year in the integrated school and later wrote this book to share her story with other children. From Wikipedia: “She is now chair of the Ruby Bridges Foundation, which she formed in 1999 to promote "the values of tolerance, respect, and appreciation of all differences". Describing the mission of the group, she says, "racism is a grown-up disease and we must stop using our children to spread it." “
Brothers of the Knight by Debbie Allen. Illustrated by Kadir Nelson. Publisher: Scholastic, 1999. (elementary) A joyful story about music and dancing in Harlem.
Blood is Thicker by Paul Langan and D. M. Blackwell. Publisher: Scholastic, 2004. (book #8 in the Bluford High series.) (Middle/High School)
Teammates by Peter Golenbock (story about Jackie Robinson)
Uncle Jed's Barbershop by Margaree King Mitchell. Illustrated by James Ransome. Publisher: Scholastic, 1993. The story of an itinerant African American barber and his extended family who live in the South during the Great Depression. Uncle Jed wants to save enough money to open a barber shop of his own. However, things keep happening so that he must postpone his dream. This is a good book to teach kids about goal setting and the determination to follow through to eventually arrive at their goal.
Christmas in the BigHouse, Christmas in the Quarters by Patricia C. McKissack and Fredrick L. McKissack. Illustrated by John Thompson. Publisher: Scholastic, 1994. Describes the customs, recipes, poems and songs used to celebrate Christmas in the big plantation houses and in the slave quarters just before the Civil War.
Chicken Sunday by Patricia Polacco. Publisher: Scholastic, 1992. (Elementary).
This wonderful story is the story of a young Ukrainian girl who spends Sundays with two neighbor boys and their gramma Eula May. The very close friendship is described through this story of time spent together on Sundays and how the children used the skills of Ukrainian egg decorating to buy a very special Easter hat for Miss Eula May.
Reading Level: 2nd grade,
Teacher's Notes: Realistic Fiction genre. This story depicts friendship across ethnic boundaries, religious boundaries and generational boundaries. I have used this book in the beginning of the school year as we are developing friendships with new classmates and establishing the sense of community in the classroom with appreciation for the gifts and skills of one another. (Joan Sax)
Pink and Say by Patricia Polacco
John Henry: An American Legend Story and Pictures by Ezra Jack Keats. Publisher: Dragonfly Books. 1965. (Elementary and Middle School)
"The heroic figure of John Henry is captured in a simple rhythmic picture book. Dramatic pictures with large bold figures express the feeling of this tall tale."--(starred) School Library Journal. Reading Level: 5th grade
Teacher Note: Legend. When I taught Myths and Legends with my fourth graders this is one of the books we used. The students chose one American legend and read at least three books about that person. This was he book about John Henry which the students liked the best. The rhythm of the writing made is easier to read and the pictures added the engagement of the students. This book is historical fiction- legend. This was also incorporated in the social studies as the fifth graders were discussing westward expansion. (Joan Sax)
Monster by: Walter Dean Meyers. Publisher: HarperCollins. 1999. (Middle School and High School) Steve Harmon, 16, is accused of serving as a lookout for a robbery of a Harlem drugstore. The owner was shot and killed, and now Steve is in prison awaiting trial for murder. From there, he tells about his case and his incarceration. Many elements of this story are familiar, but Myers keeps it fresh and alive by telling it from an unusual perspective. Steve, an amateur filmmaker, recounts his experiences in the form of a movie screenplay. His striking scene-by-scene narrative of how his life has dramatically changed is riveting. Interspersed within the script are diary entries in which the teen vividly describes the nightmarish conditions of his confinement. The themes for this book are family relationships and peer relationships. (Michelle Anderson)
Amazing Grace - This book was written by Mary Hoffman and illustrated by Caroline Binch. Published by Frances Lincoln Childrens Books; New Ed edition (February 1, 2000)
Author Hoffman has captured that innocence in this superb tale. Grace, like so many youngsters, spends much of her day in the pleasures of "acting out" the characters that populate the pages of the books she reads. She feels that she can do and be anything that she desires. The theme of pursuing one's dreams is the type of message to which all can relate. It is a lovely story with emotion about a little girl with big dreams that come true because she had what she needed. She had a family to support, and she had determination and confidence because of her family support! This is what all children need.
Teacher notes: The story Amazing Grace is a story that teaches many lessons, it is an easy to read book that will be an opening for many stories and for many discussions. Family history and values, ethnic lore and history, peer pressure and confidence are all discussions that this seemingly simple and short book can lead to. (Tricia Griffith)
In this story, `lois explains a child's perspective of her fears when she, her sister Wilma, and their parents drive from Ohio to visit relatives in Mississippi in 1950. When `lois' father buys a new gold Cadillac, his wife refuses to ride in it until he declares his intentions to visit his parents in the South. Then the whole family goes, caravan style, for it's a mighty dangerous thing, for a black man to drive an expensive car into the rural South.'' `lois and Wilma are disquieted by the increasing appearance of white only, colored not allowed'' signs as they drive further south. After white policemen humiliate and arrest their father, they do visit their grandparents, but the trip results in their father giving up the car when they return home, realizing that it was pulling the family apart.
Teacher note: The themes of this book are family relationships and overcoming adversity. I use this book when I am reviewing "problem and solution". I also use this book when I am teaching students how to write a summary. Students must be able to distinguish between ideas that the author deems important and those that are interesting but secondary. Students must also be able to differentiate between main ideas and details. (Gail Jung)
NON-EXAMPLE: Your Move by Eve Bunting, Illustrated by James Ransome. Published by Harcourt Brace and Company in 1998, Target grades 1-5.
The review says: “A somewhat idealized, but powerful picture book about how a good kid avoids gang involvement. James, 10, and his 6-year-old brother Isaac are alone at night while their single mother works. A neighbor keeps an ear out for James's hourly thumps on her wall assuring her that they are okay. One night James leaves their apartment with Isaac to meet up with the K-Bones crew. To prove himself, he must spray paint a freeway sign with the club's name, thus covering a rival gang's tag….”
What I found (somewhat sheepishly after using this book as a foundation for bullying and peer pressure) was that this book stereotypes black youth as having a single parent household, absentee father, mother working evenings leaving the kids home alone, and gang tagging and guns as the activities the kids have to choose. This book might be better suited for middle and high school as an example of stereotyping in literature. (Lori Bieging)
This story is told from the point of view of an enslaved child's beloved rag doll. Made for young Lindy by her mama, Miz Rachel, the hand-stitched toy is the girl's most prized possession. She tells her, "Your name be Sally. We gonna be best friends." When the child's father is sold and Lindy is beaten for asking Massa's son how to spell her name, the horrid conditions of the cotton plantation become intolerable. One night Miz Rachel wakes Lindy and they run for their lives. They are reunited with Mr. Henry and the fugitive family heads North to freedom. They are given shelter at a station on the Underground Railroad, but must flee from slave catchers in the middle of the night. In the frantic scramble, Sally is left behind. The doll is lonely for her friend and worries for the safety of Lindy and her folks. When another child and her mother are sheltered in the basement, the doll joins her new best friend on her trip to Freedom. It contains themes of hope and resilience, love and friendship.
The simple language, mixed with southern dialect makes this a perfect read aloud book for any elementary classroom. It is a great introduction to the subject of slavery and the history of the Underground Railroad. I also use it as a part of our immigration unit in showing that one way people immigrated to America was through the use of force and not by choice! (Lori Bieging)
My Dream of Martin Luther King by Faith Ringgold
Dinner at Aunt Connie's House by Faith Ringgold.
Black and White by Paul Volponi.
Summary of the book: Marcus and Eddie are the stars of Long Island City High School’s basketball team. Marcus is black and Eddie is white, but they got past all that “racial crap” and have been best friends for years. Both boys are looking forward to great futures in college basketball and are waiting to see where they’ll land their scholarships. Then one cold night, something goes wrong and they make a big mistake. Now they can’t turn back and one of them will have to pay. Told in their two voices, BLACK AND WHITE is the gripping story of two good boys who make a bad mistake. It’s also a heartbreaking look at the realities of the urban criminal justice system. This book deals with overcoming adversity, peer relationships and community engagement. It will challenge many stereotypes and I think will provoke good discussion in the classroom. I think this could be a book read with a small group or individually. Before this book is read there should be discussion about some of the topics that may raise an eyebrow such as, language and crime. (Cristina Benz)
I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou. Publisher: Random House, 2002 (Middle and High School).
Summary: I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings is Maya Angelou's autobiography, detailing scenes from the first half of her life. She is moved across the country to live with her grandmother, is raped at a young age and then becomes unable to speak for years, later becomes a teen mother and ultimately raises her son on her own by singing, dancing, working with MLK, Jr. and the Civil Rights Movement, and writing. Angelou is known for her poetry, and this book is poetic. The way she plays with words is just beautiful. The themes in the book are many: racism, abuse, family, independence, courage. Short passages of the book could be used in high school classes, but in general, I would not use this as a whole-class book. It is frequently on the 100 most-banned books lists because of its frank portrayals of rape and teen motherhood, among other things. However, as we know, kids all over live that stuff, every day. This book can be powerful, especially for girls. (Amy Korba)
Goin' Someplace Special By: Patricia C. Mckissack Illustrated by: Jerry Pinkney Publisher: Antheneum Books 2001. (Upper Elementary)
Summary: This book takes place in the 1950's in Nashville and focuses on a young girl's journey to somewhere special. It tells of the obstacles she has to overcome to get to one of the very few integrated places in the city: the public library. This story leaves the reader guessing where/what this special place is until the very last page. It would be very powerful to use for any lesson dealing with community, empathy, determination, overcoming adversity etc...(Meghan Smith)
This short story can be found in the book: The Dark-Thirty: Southern Tales of the Supernatural. In this short story Patricia McKissack weaves the history of the bus boycott into a chilling ghost story. McKissack's tale does not shy away from racism or the negative effects that it brings. This story draws the reader in each time and allows a wonderful opportunity to discuss the real story of the Montgomery bus boycotts and Rosa Parks. This can also allow an opportunity to talk about whose story is being told and how the author or narrator gives a different view of history and lead to critical reading .(This is how I use the story in my classroom) This story could be used with middle school or high school students. The themes presented in this story can fall into the categories of overcoming adversity and community engagement. (Kari Beaudry)
Some additional books from Chuck Mann
Henry’s Freedom Box: a True Story of the Underground Railroad by Ellen Levine. Illustrated by Kadir Nelson. Publisher: Scholastic, 2007. (elementary) A Caldecott Honor Book. Interesting for all ages.
My Brother Martin by Christine King Farris. Illustrated by Chris Soentpiet. Publisher: Aladdin Paperbacks, 2003. (elementary) NAACP Image Award Winner; A Child Magazine Best Book of the Year. A sister remembers growing up with the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. This book gives younger children the opportunity to relate to Martin Luther King, Jr. as a kid like them growing up in an interesting family.
Minty: A Story of Young Harriet Tubman by Allan Schroeder. Illustrated by Jerry Pinkney. Publisher: Dial Books for Young Readers, 1996. (elementary) The book is a mixture of “fact and fiction” which makes for very interesting reading. Both author and illustrator are award winners in their field.
Flower Girl Butterflies by Elizabeth Fitzgerald Howard. Illustrated by Christiane Kromer. Publisher: Scholastic, 2004. (elementary)
Sister Anne’s Hands by Marybeth Lorbiecki. Illustrated by K. Wendy Popp. Publisher: Dial Books for Young Readers, 1998. (elementary) This book has a very strong message about prejudice and tolerance. The setting is the 1960’s but the message is timeless.
The Story of Ruby Bridges by Robert Coles. Illustrated by George Ford. Publisher: Scholastic, 1995. (elementary) Robert Coles was a child psychiatrist who counseled Ruby during her first year in the integrated school and later wrote this book to share her story with other children. From Wikipedia: “She is now chair of the Ruby Bridges Foundation, which she formed in 1999 to promote "the values of tolerance, respect, and appreciation of all differences". Describing the mission of the group, she says, "racism is a grown-up disease and we must stop using our children to spread it." “
Brothers of the Knight by Debbie Allen. Illustrated by Kadir Nelson. Publisher: Scholastic, 1999. (elementary) A joyful story about music and dancing in Harlem.
Blood is Thicker by Paul Langan and D. M. Blackwell. Publisher: Scholastic, 2004. (book #8 in the Bluford High series.) (Middle/High School)
Teammates by Peter Golenbock (story about Jackie Robinson)
Uncle Jed's Barbershop by Margaree King Mitchell. Illustrated by James Ransome. Publisher: Scholastic, 1993. The story of an itinerant African American barber and his extended family who live in the South during the Great Depression. Uncle Jed wants to save enough money to open a barber shop of his own. However, things keep happening so that he must postpone his dream. This is a good book to teach kids about goal setting and the determination to follow through to eventually arrive at their goal.
Christmas in the Big House, Christmas in the Quarters by Patricia C. McKissack and Fredrick L. McKissack. Illustrated by John Thompson. Publisher: Scholastic, 1994. Describes the customs, recipes, poems and songs used to celebrate Christmas in the big plantation houses and in the slave quarters just before the Civil War.
This wonderful story is the story of a young Ukrainian girl who spends Sundays with two neighbor boys and their gramma Eula May. The very close friendship is described through this story of time spent together on Sundays and how the children used the skills of Ukrainian egg decorating to buy a very special Easter hat for Miss Eula May.
Reading Level: 2nd grade,
Teacher's Notes: Realistic Fiction genre. This story depicts friendship across ethnic boundaries, religious boundaries and generational boundaries. I have used this book in the beginning of the school year as we are developing friendships with new classmates and establishing the sense of community in the classroom with appreciation for the gifts and skills of one another. (Joan Sax)
Pink and Say by Patricia Polacco
"The heroic figure of John Henry is captured in a simple rhythmic picture book. Dramatic pictures with large bold figures express the feeling of this tall tale."--(starred) School Library Journal.
Reading Level: 5th grade
Teacher Note: Legend. When I taught Myths and Legends with my fourth graders this is one of the books we used. The students chose one American legend and read at least three books about that person. This was he book about John Henry which the students liked the best. The rhythm of the writing made is easier to read and the pictures added the engagement of the students. This book is historical fiction- legend. This was also incorporated in the social studies as the fifth graders were discussing westward expansion. (Joan Sax)