The Family Under the Bridge by Natalie Savage Carlson. Illustrated by Garth Williams. Publisher: Scholastic Inc., 1986. (Upper Elementary) Armand is a hobo who lives in Paris, under a bridge. He begs and does odd jobs for money to take care of himself and buy food. One day he finds a mother and her three children in his "home" under the bridge. At first, he is gruff and unhappy about sharing the bridge, but in time he begins to like and help care for this poor homeless family. As Christmas nears, the children ask for nothing except a home of their own and Armand comes up with a plan to make their wish come true.
Teacher Note: The theme of this book is family relationships. This book would be a good read aloud for a class, followed by a class discussion on homelessness. I have also used this book for a literature circle. One of the roles/jobs that I have students do as part of the literature circle is "Investigator". The Investigator investigates (researches) a real topic from the book, such as homelessness. The Investigator shares his/her findings during our literature circle. (Gail Jung)
A Chair For My Mother by Vera B. Williams. Published by Greenwillow Books; Rei Rep edition (August 1, 1984)
A young girl tells how she, her mother, and her grandmother save up all of their spare coins in a big glass jar toward the day when they will buy a much-needed easy chair. (Their old furniture and their possessions were destroyed in a fire.) If the plot is scant-after the jar fills up, mother, daughter, and grandmother buy the chair and bring it home-the atmosphere of anticipation and family warmth is strong. Williams' illustrations are energetic watercolor paintings brimming with color and a cozy, indulgent expressionism.
Teacher Note: It serves as a great lesson in empathy, tolerance, goal-setting, and gratitude. Too often, so many kids today seem to walk through life with a feeling of grand entitlement. It also serves as a great lesson in character traits, story elements, questioning, and making inferences. (Tricia Griffith)
I also have A Chair for My Mother. I use this book all year long in my classroom for many different reasons. I start off our personal narrative writing unit with this story as it clearly displays all story elements. Because we get so familiar with this book, I use it to model all comprehension strategies throughout the year each time reading for a different purpose. (Meghan Smith)
Something Beautiful by Sharon Dennis Wyeth. Published by Random House Children's Books ( January 2002)
Everyday a young girl is disheartened by the things in her neighborhood: the trash on the streets, the graffiti on the walls, and the homeless woman that sleeps in a box. When she learns the word "beautiful" at school, she sets out to find "something beautiful" in her surroundings. In her search, this little girl learns to see beyond the barren ugliness of her environment to find beauty in her friendships, her family, and herself.
Teacher's Note: This could be used to teach theme or author's purpose. ( Kim Paulson)
Product Details
DeShawn Days by Tony Medina, Illustrated by R. Gregory Christie. Published by Lee and Low Books, 2001, for grades 2-5. Told in verse and segmented into descriptive passages each illustrated on double-page spreads, Medina's story introduces readers to the world of an African-American boy who lives in the projects. Though many of the verses deal with the harsh reality of living in a turbulent environment, the optimism of this child is evident and convincing. The child describes his world from a universal perspective-- he sees and experiences love, friendship, play, and family bond like any other kid would, except his experiences are juxtaposed against what can sometimes be a harsh and unforgiving landscape. I would use this book as a read aloud to help students delve into the concepts of family life, commonalities among all children and optimism and its role in being proud of who you are. (Lori Bieging)
On Mother's Lap by Ann Herbert Scott. Illustrated by Glo Coalson. McGraw-Hill, 1972; Clarion, 1992 (0-395-62976-4) $6.95 pb
As Michael happily rocks with his mother, he brings his doll, his toy boat and even their puppy to join them. But when his little sister wakes up and starts to cry, Michael doesn't want to share anymore. "There isn't room," he says. But somehow his mother squeezes them all in, because "It's a funny thing... but there is always room on Mother's lap."
A tender message of family love is depicted here through an Inuit family, and the poverty clearly evident in their surroundings only deepens the impression of warmth and caring. There are two versions of this book, both with the same text and illustrator; they are very similar, but the more current version has more attractive and expressive drawings. (2-5) Patti Thacker
The Boxcar Children by Gertrude Chandler Warner. Illustrator: L. Kate Deal. Publisher: Albert Whitman & Company 1989 (originally published in 1924 by Rand McNally and reissued in 1942) (ages 9-12) Summary of the book: it is the story of four orphaned children, Henry, Jessie, Violet, and Benny. They had been staying at a bakery but ran away when they heard the baker's wife say she will take all of them in except Benny because he is too young. They create a home for themselves in an abandoned boxcar in the forest. They fear their legal guardian, their grandfather, believing him to be cruel. They enjoy their freedom, but find that their lifestyle has many problems and is not a long-term solution. They eventually meet their grandfather, James Alden, who is a kind and wealthy man. The children agree to live with him. James moves the beloved boxcar to his backyard so the children can use it as a playhouse. In the subsequent books, the children encounter many adventures and mysteries in their neighborhood or at the locations they visit with their grandfather. The theme of the book: overcoming adversity. How to use in the classroom: I could see this book being in the classroom library, for silent reading in reading groups, and also used as a read aloud to the class. (Heidi Quimby)
Children of the Dust Bowl: The True Story of the School at Weedpatch Camp
Children of the Dust Bowl: The True Story of the School at Weedpatch Camp by Jerry Stanley. Published by Crown Publishers. 1992. This book tells the story of the man who fought the community and the powers that be in order to start a school for these kids to make sure they got a decent education. It is set in California in the 1930's. Weedpatch Camp is a camp created by the federal government. The school the man created at this camp was a well deserved success. Many of the students went on to greater things, something that would have been hard to imagine before. The theme of this book is community engagement. Great book for comparing/contrasting hardships and history of children from then to now. (Michelle Anderson)
Monster, The Autobiography of an L.A. Gang Member by Sanyika Shakur (aka Monster Kody Scott). CAUTION!!!! Use this book as a recommendation on a case by case basis! Contains strong language and violence. High school and above ONLY. Monster is an autobiography by Sanyika Shakur. It graphically depicts how he became part of the Crips at age 11 and goes on to chronicle a very dark side of urban life and gangs. An insiders look at gang life and violence( especially at a very tense time) provides for a gripping window into a world most of us would never care to venture. Because of the content this recommended to be used as a read alone, only on a case by case basis. The theme would lean towards community engagement, and open a discussion about the reality for some students of gang life, and other options and opportunities for positive community involvement. (Kari Beaudry)
Product Details
Sold by Patricia McCormick
Published by Hyperion,2008. This book is about a young girl named Lakshmi who lives in a very poor village in Nepal. Although her family lives in extreme poverty, Lakshmi finds happiness in the small things in life such as playing with her friends. When her village is hit by major monsoons and the family crops are swept away, her step-father sends her away with a beautiful woman to India to work. This woman unfortunately takes her to a brothel to live and Lakshmi is forced into child prostitution. This book is deep and takes an intense look at topic that is not discussed much. "Sold" would be an appropriate book for high school stuents. Prior to reading this book, I would visit the website called "The Sold Project" that takes a look at child prostitution and how this non-profit organization is trying to stop it. The website also offers definitions and statistics. This could be a social justice project for students.
At The Crossroads by Rachel Isadora. Scholastic Inc. 1991
This book tells the universal story of anticipation felt by children who are waiting and waiting for their parents to come home from work. Although the setting is rural Africa, the story itself is one which any rural or urban child can relate to the experience of waiting for parents to appear because the parent's work takes them on long commutes or months away from home at a time. The celebration day begins with the normal daily schedule which becomes more special because their fathers are coming home that evening. The entire town gathers with them but disperse as night grows near. The boys wait and wait with other fathers returning home and not theirs. As they wait through the night, the boys never lose hope and exalt when at last their fathers climb from the truck at the crossroads.
Theme: Family
Level: K-2 and 3-5th grade.
Teacher's Notes: This book can be used in the primary grades as the topic of family similarities and differences are explored. This can also be used with intermediate grades to illustrate the concept of plot, problem and resolution.
(Joan Sax)
At Night by Jonathan Bean. Farrar, Straus and Giroux. 2007
The setting is the inner city with a young girl who can't get to sleep. As she lays on her bed she hears the quiet sleeping of her family. She feels the breeze from the window and ends up on the rooftop laying in the cool breeze and finally falls asleep.
Theme: Nature
Level: Primary (Kindergarten or 1st grade)
Teacher's Note: Once again a universal experience that is not dependent on where you live, but rather the enjoyment of the simple things in life- nature.
(Joan Sax)
Tar Beach by Faith Ringgold. Scholastic Inc. 1991.
A young girl's imagination flies high as she lays on the rooftop in the city. She imagines the wonderful things she could buy for her father and her family.
Theme: Family
Level: Elementary
Teacher's Note: I have used this book to map a story as I taught organization and use of fantasy and reality intertwined in a story.
(Joan Sax)
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith (First Harper Perennial Modern Classics, 2005). Middle-High School. The story is about Francie Nolan and her younger brother, Neeley, growing up in the slums of Brooklyn from 1909-1919. The children have a loving but alcoholic father, and a mother who is doing her best with the little she has. The story is Francie's, and the beauty is in the characters. In my social studies classroom, I would use this book as an illustration of slums and tenements. Smith's details are much more descriptive than a text, or even pictures. The story explores the themes of family life and community, among others. (Amy Korba)
Teacher Note: The theme of this book is family relationships. This book would be a good read aloud for a class, followed by a class discussion on homelessness. I have also used this book for a literature circle. One of the roles/jobs that I have students do as part of the literature circle is "Investigator". The Investigator investigates (researches) a real topic from the book, such as homelessness. The Investigator shares his/her findings during our literature circle. (Gail Jung)
A Chair For My Mother by Vera B. Williams. Published by Greenwillow Books; Rei Rep edition (August 1, 1984)
A young girl tells how she, her mother, and her grandmother save up all of their spare coins in a big glass jar toward the day when they will buy a much-needed easy chair. (Their old furniture and their possessions were destroyed in a fire.) If the plot is scant-after the jar fills up, mother, daughter, and grandmother buy the chair and bring it home-the atmosphere of anticipation and family warmth is strong. Williams' illustrations are energetic watercolor paintings brimming with color and a cozy, indulgent expressionism.
Teacher Note: It serves as a great lesson in empathy, tolerance, goal-setting, and gratitude. Too often, so many kids today seem to walk through life with a feeling of grand entitlement. It also serves as a great lesson in character traits, story elements, questioning, and making inferences. (Tricia Griffith)
I also have A Chair for My Mother. I use this book all year long in my classroom for many different reasons. I start off our personal narrative writing unit with this story as it clearly displays all story elements. Because we get so familiar with this book, I use it to model all comprehension strategies throughout the year each time reading for a different purpose. (Meghan Smith)
Everyday a young girl is disheartened by the things in her neighborhood: the trash on the streets, the graffiti on the walls, and the homeless woman that sleeps in a box. When she learns the word "beautiful" at school, she sets out to find "something beautiful" in her surroundings. In her search, this little girl learns to see beyond the barren ugliness of her environment to find beauty in her friendships, her family, and herself.
Teacher's Note: This could be used to teach theme or author's purpose. ( Kim Paulson)
DeShawn Days by Tony Medina, Illustrated by R. Gregory Christie. Published by Lee and Low Books, 2001, for grades 2-5. Told in verse and segmented into descriptive passages each illustrated on double-page spreads, Medina's story introduces readers to the world of an African-American boy who lives in the projects. Though many of the verses deal with the harsh reality of living in a turbulent environment, the optimism of this child is evident and convincing. The child describes his world from a universal perspective-- he sees and experiences love, friendship, play, and family bond like any other kid would, except his experiences are juxtaposed against what can sometimes be a harsh and unforgiving landscape. I would use this book as a read aloud to help students delve into the concepts of family life, commonalities among all children and optimism and its role in being proud of who you are. (Lori Bieging)
As Michael happily rocks with his mother, he brings his doll, his toy boat and even their puppy to join them. But when his little sister wakes up and starts to cry, Michael doesn't want to share anymore. "There isn't room," he says. But somehow his mother squeezes them all in, because "It's a funny thing... but there is always room on Mother's lap."
A tender message of family love is depicted here through an Inuit family, and the poverty clearly evident in their surroundings only deepens the impression of warmth and caring. There are two versions of this book, both with the same text and illustrator; they are very similar, but the more current version has more attractive and expressive drawings. (2-5) Patti Thacker
Published by Hyperion,2008. This book is about a young girl named Lakshmi who lives in a very poor village in Nepal. Although her family lives in extreme poverty, Lakshmi finds happiness in the small things in life such as playing with her friends. When her village is hit by major monsoons and the family crops are swept away, her step-father sends her away with a beautiful woman to India to work. This woman unfortunately takes her to a brothel to live and Lakshmi is forced into child prostitution. This book is deep and takes an intense look at topic that is not discussed much. "Sold" would be an appropriate book for high school stuents. Prior to reading this book, I would visit the website called "The Sold Project" that takes a look at child prostitution and how this non-profit organization is trying to stop it. The website also offers definitions and statistics. This could be a social justice project for students.
This book tells the universal story of anticipation felt by children who are waiting and waiting for their parents to come home from work. Although the setting is rural Africa, the story itself is one which any rural or urban child can relate to the experience of waiting for parents to appear because the parent's work takes them on long commutes or months away from home at a time. The celebration day begins with the normal daily schedule which becomes more special because their fathers are coming home that evening. The entire town gathers with them but disperse as night grows near. The boys wait and wait with other fathers returning home and not theirs. As they wait through the night, the boys never lose hope and exalt when at last their fathers climb from the truck at the crossroads.
Theme: Family
Level: K-2 and 3-5th grade.
Teacher's Notes: This book can be used in the primary grades as the topic of family similarities and differences are explored. This can also be used with intermediate grades to illustrate the concept of plot, problem and resolution.
(Joan Sax)
The setting is the inner city with a young girl who can't get to sleep. As she lays on her bed she hears the quiet sleeping of her family. She feels the breeze from the window and ends up on the rooftop laying in the cool breeze and finally falls asleep.
Theme: Nature
Level: Primary (Kindergarten or 1st grade)
Teacher's Note: Once again a universal experience that is not dependent on where you live, but rather the enjoyment of the simple things in life- nature.
(Joan Sax)
A young girl's imagination flies high as she lays on the rooftop in the city. She imagines the wonderful things she could buy for her father and her family.
Theme: Family
Level: Elementary
Teacher's Note: I have used this book to map a story as I taught organization and use of fantasy and reality intertwined in a story.
(Joan Sax)
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith (First Harper Perennial Modern Classics, 2005). Middle-High School. The story is about Francie Nolan and her younger brother, Neeley, growing up in the slums of Brooklyn from 1909-1919. The children have a loving but alcoholic father, and a mother who is doing her best with the little she has. The story is Francie's, and the beauty is in the characters. In my social studies classroom, I would use this book as an illustration of slums and tenements. Smith's details are much more descriptive than a text, or even pictures. The story explores the themes of family life and community, among others. (Amy Korba)