Show Way
Illustrated by Hudson Talbott
Grades 2-6
5 Stars
This story traces the author’s family back to times of slavery. It shows each generation passing down the art of creating show quilts, and each person remaining strong, loving, and creative despite the difficulties of slavery, working hard to earn a living, and fighting for civil rights. The story ends with the author telling her own daughter the history of her family.
This book was definitely a window book for me. My family story is very different than the family story presented in this book. My family’s past is very privileged, especially when compared with Woodson’s ancestors who were forced to live as slaves and to watch as their children were sold off. I was also a little envious of the way that the author’s family has passed down the ability to make the beautiful show quilts. This book allowed me to experience a very different family story than my own.
I would also say that this book was an example of a culturally conscious book. The characters in this book were depicted as strong and empowered. Even as the women in the story are forced to watch as their daughters are sold away from them, the emphasis is on how the mothers love their children. The daughters are taught to make the show quilts, which help other slaves to escape slavery.
I would use this book to talk about slavery, folk art, quilting, fabrics, and family history.
WhiteWash
Illustrated by Michael Spoon
Grades 3-6
4 Stars
An African American girl and her brother are attacked by a group of white thugs on their way home from school. The white kids paint the little girl’s face white. She is too afraid to leave the house until friends from her school of all races tell her that if they stick together no one will be able to hurt them.
This was a socially conscious book. The main character of the story wasn’t necessarily empowered. She has to depend on her older brother and her school friends in order to feel safe and protected. The idea that coming together to support your friends in the face of bullies and harassment was an uplifting enough message and probably a realistic solution to the problem. Her friend tells her, “If we all stick together, no one will bother you or anybody else, right?”
I would use this book to talk about bullying.
Owl Moon
Written by Jane Yolen
Illustrated by John Schoenherr
K-5
5 Stars
This book was a mirror book for me. Although I have never gone out on a winter night to go owling, I have frequently gone out on winter nights to hike or sled and have heard and seen owls at night. I grew up hiking and camping with my family and was taught to watch and listen for wildlife. I remember the few times I went somewhere with my dad without my mom or siblings and how rare and special this felt. This book reminded me of many memories from my childhood.
This Caldecott medal winning book has beautiful pictures. The artwork is realistic and the illustrator has hidden little details and animals that made me want to look at each picture for several minutes. The story is engaging and is written in the voice of child going on his or her first owling adventure with their father. The author adds sensory details to her writing that shows us the quiet, cold adventure just as well as the illustrations.
This book could be used in talking about birds of prey, nocturnal animals, how animals survive in the winter, and habitats. The pictures really help to show these topics more than the words in the story. There are animals hiding in the illustrations that are not central to the story, but that could start a discussion on many of these topics.
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