Happy Martin Luther King, Jr. Day! It’s been a super busy weekend, and so I decided this post was going to tell you about my favorite Martin Luther King Jr. activity! 
I hope however you are celebrating today that you are doing it with loved ones and remembering what this day is all about–fighting for what we believe in–fighting for equal rights for all people. (Maybe you are even watching President Barack Obama take the oath for the 2nd time!)
Here is a lesson that introduces Martin Luther King, Jr to the kids and also teaches voice, one of the six traits of writing. It also features the book written by Martin Luther King, Jr.’s sister, My Brother Martin. You can find the lesson plan at this link: http://margodill.com/blog/2010/01/13/wacky-wednesday-ideas-for-lesson-plans-for-martin-luther-king-jr-day/
If you have a great resource, link, book, or favorite lesson plan for Martin Luther King, Jr, please share it.
This week, my cyber buddy and fellow WOW! team member, Darcy Pattison, is hosting Random Acts of Publiclity 2012. The purpose is to talk about someone else’s book and be a cheerleader for a lesser known author and/or book. This year, she’d also like you to focus on conversations about a book. How do we start a conversation about a book? What do we talk about? SO, in this post, I am going to introduce you to a new and beautiful picture book from an indie press, tell you how you could use it in the classroom, and ask you a question I would love to get some answers to!
Before all of this, though, I need to announce the winner of Chynna Laird’s DARK WATER (YA novel), and it is. .. SueBe. Please email me, Sue, and let me know if you would prefer a print copy or an ecopy.
RANDOM ACTS OF PUBLICITY!
Short, short summary: The book I want to share with you from Crickhollow Books is Didn’t We Have Fun! The illustrations/paintings are by Hilda Robinson, and Hilda also narrated the text to Jeff Kunkel, who actually wrote it down. This is a BEAUTIFUL book, that children and adults will love. I think it fits maybe a first grade through third grade crowd, as some of the pages have several words. Basically, Hilda shared her childhood with Jeff who recorded it and then she illustrated it. From growing up in Philadelphia in a family with six children before the age of television to weekends and school and cuddling with their mom, this book presents a view of what it was like to grow up in a close African-American family, when children loved to play outside and families did not have a lot of money but were full of love. This is a great book for Black History Month, for studying the past, and as an example of VOICE when talking about the 6 +1 traits of writing. I think art teachers could also use this book.
The best page in this book is: “Didn’t We Have Fun!” What a beautiful poem about not having much growing up-no car, no TV, and not much money. “But we had parents who loved us, a good home, plenty to eat, and lots of books, games, and friends. Best of all, we had each other!” What a beautiful sentiment. But what is even more beautiful are the illustrations. Amazing!
Let’s talk about this book!
Since it’s Random Acts of Publicity Week, let’s discuss this book. This is not a typical picture book. I’m glad to see an indie press publish it because it is a beautiful book. But it does not tell a continual story or introduce a concept like many picture books. It also has A LOT OF WORDS–I’m not sure my 22-month-old daughter would let me read it to her, but she would love the bright and colorful paintings of the children in the book. As an adult, I love this book. It is a glimpse into the American past, to a simpler time and kids could play outside with no worries.
So, what do you think is more important for a picture book–to be a funny or short or a concept for children, so they’ll keep asking to see it over and over again?
OR
For the adults to enjoy it and want to share it with their children or students?
OR
Both?
I’m curious about this, and in the meantime, check out the beautiful Didn’t We Have Fun!
photo by Stepheye www.flickr.com
*Picture book for preschoolers through second graders
*Young (and tiny) boy as the main character
*Rating: You might be more familiar with Laurie Halse Anderson’s novels, but this picture book is funny with a terrific voice! A modern-day take on the old-David-and-Goliath theme.
Short, short summary: The Antonellis of Third Street are BIG. Their friends are BIG too. Well, everyone except Little Benny, the tiny Antonelli. The big Antonelli kids like to play WITH Benny, which means they stuff him into snowballs, tape him to toy airplanes, and let the dogs walk him. As you can imagine, Little Benny is very unhappy and tired of being tiny. The way he finds some peace and quiet is to climb up high on top of street signs, fire escapes, and telephone poles. He can climb fast and high. So, the day of the annual Third Street block party, one of the activities is to climb a greased pole and grab a big hunk of cheese. All the big Antonellis and their big “friends” try it. But who do you think can do it?
So, what do I do with this book?
1. Who hasn’t felt like little Benny sometime in their life? Some of the students in your class may be the youngest sibling. Others may be tired of being told, “You can do it when you’re older.” This book is perfect for talking with students about self-esteem and their self-image. Point out that maybe Little Benny is small, but he is the best climber. Give your students some drawing paper and ask them to illustrate a picture of themselves and one activity they are really good at. Older students can write some sentences to go with their illustrations.
2. If you are teaching the 6 plus 1 traits of writing, this is an excellent book to use for voice. The Big Cheese of Third Street has a unique voice. Read the book out loud to students a few times. Talk about Laurie Halse Anderson’s word choice, and the way she sometimes speaks to the reader. You can use this book with older grades as an example of good voice, too.
3. Can students use their prediction skills and predict what’s going to happen when they see the big greased pole in the first scene of the block party? The author tells the reader that everything changed on Third Street after the block party. What do they think is going to happen and why? What evidence is there in the book to support their opinions?
