Nettie's Trip South

Nettie's Trip South

Written by: Ann Turner

Upper Elementary and Junior High Grades

"As Nettie writes to her friend Addie about her trip from Albany, New York, to Richmond, Virginia, she remembers all the things she saw and heard in that pre-Civil War South. She remembers the sweet cedar smell in the air -- but she also remembers Tabitha, the black slave in her hotel who has no last name. She remembers seeing the slave quarters at a nearby plantation, with the heaps of rags in the corners for beds. But most of all she remembers the slave auction, where a woman is sold "like a sack of flour"; and she thinks about what their lives would be like, if she and Addie were slaves...

Based on the real diary of the author's great-grandmother, this is a powerful and deeply moving account of one girl's reaction to slavery in the South. Once read and seen through the eyes of master illustrator Ronald Himler, it is not soon forgotten."

Publishers Description

Online Resources:
http://www2.scholastic.com/browse/collateral.jsp?id=814

Follow the Drinking Gourd

Follow the Drinking Gourd
Written and Illustrated by: Jeanette Winter

Upper Elementary and Junior High Grades

"Winter's story begins with a peg-leg sailor who aids slaves on their escape on the Underground Railroad. While working for plantation owners, Peg Leg Joe teaches the slaves a song about the drinking gourd (the Big Dipper). A couple, their son, and two others make their escape by following the song's directions. Rich paintings interpret the strong story in a clean, primitive style enhanced by bold colors. The rhythmic compositions have an energetic presence that's compelling. A fine rendering of history in picture book format."

Booklist Review

Online Resources:
http://www.followthedrinkinggourd.org/

The Legend of the Indian Paintbrush

The Legend of the Indian Paintbrush

Written and Illustrated by: Tomie DePaola

Elementary Grades

"This tale from the Great Plains explains how the Indian Paintbrush came to cover the region in the spring. After reading this tale, students could search for other stories that are associated with plants of a region. Also available in Spanish."

Publishers Description

Online Resources:
http://web.bsu.edu/00smtancock/CyberLessons/paintbrush/Indian%20paintbrush.html
http://www2.scholastic.com/browse/collateral.jsp?id=1018

The Lotus Seed

The Lotus Seed

Written by: Sherry Garland
Illustrated by: Tatsuro Kiuchi

Upper Elementary and Junior High Grades

"A Vietnamese girl saves a lotus seed to remind her of a tragic event. When she leaves Vietnam, she brings the seed to the United States. Through the seed, readers discover the importance of family heritage and history."

Publishers Description

Multicultural Connections: After reading this story, students could interview members of their own families to discover symbols that might be important for their own family heritage and history.

Online Resources:
http://sherrygarland.swiftsite.com/lotus_seed.htm
http://www.sdcoe.k12.ca.us/score/lotus/lotustg.htm

The Keeping Quilt

The Keeping Quilt

Written and Illustrated by: Patricia Polacco

Elementary Grades

The text develops a strong feeling for family and Jewish traditions as a great-grandmother comes to the United States from Russia. She brings with her a blue dress and a red babushka. These items eventually become part of a quilt that reveals the memories and history of the family.

Multicultural Connections: After reading the book, students could create their own keeping quilt as part of an art project.

Online Resources:
http://www.lessonplanspage.com/LAArtCIMathSSMDPatriciaPolaccoACraftyAuthorIntegratedUnit3.htm
http://www.carolhurst.com/titles/keepingquilt.html

When Zaydeh Danced on Eldridge Street

When Zaydeh Danced on Eldridge Street

Written by: Elsa Olson Rael
Illustrated by: Marjorie Priceman

Elementary Grades

"This radiant story about the power of the Torah is illustrated by Marjorie Priceman, a Caldecott Honor-winning artist. The atmospheric art brings this celebration of Jewish immigrant life in the 1930s America to exuberant life. With a thorough glossary, a generous author's note, and two delightful recipes, the book is complete in all its exquisite detail."

Publishers Description

Online Resources:
http://www.jewishamericanheritagemonth.us/program_activity.aspx

Dumpling Soup

Dumpling Soup

Written by: Jama Kim Rattigan
Illustrated by: Lillian Hsu-Flanders

Elementary Grades

The author uses her childhood memories to write about New Year’s celebrations in Hawaii. The book develops a sense of family warmth associated with the holiday. Because the book
is based on a personal memoir, it can be used to motivate children to write about their own memories about various family holidays.

Online Resources:
http://www.jamakimrattigan.com/

Pass it On: African American Poetry for Children

Pass it On: African American Poetry for Children

Written by: Wade Hudson
Illustrated by: Floyd Cooper

Upper Elementary and Junior High Grades

"A collection of poetry by fourteen distinguished African-American poets features the work of Langston Hughes, Paul Laurence Dunbar, Gwendolyn Brooks, and Eloise Greenfield, among others."

Publishers Description

Online Resources:
http://frank.mtsu.edu/~vvesper/afampoet.htm
http://www.cedu.niu.edu/~carger/culture/female.html