I’ve Seen the Promised Land: The Life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. by Walter Dean Myers

Recommended Grades: 3-5

Set against key moments of the civil rights movement, Walter Dean Myers eloquently shares the story of the powerful spiritual leader and his belief that nonviolence could be used to overcome racial discrimination.

Lesson Idea:  

Mentor Text, Biography, Civil Rights, and Writer’s Workshop: Read aloud I’ve Seen the Promised Land: The Life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and discuss how the author used key moments in the civil rights movement to write the biography.  Consider pairing this book with Martin’s Big Words by Doreen Rappaport, in which the author used key quotes from Dr. King as a backdrop to write his biography. Compare the author’s craft in both books and have students choose one type of craft to write a biography.

©2013 by Dawn Little for Picture This! Teaching with Picture Books. All Amazon links are affiliate links and may result in my receiving a small commission. This is at no additional cost to you.

Nelson Mandela by Kadir Nelson

Publisher: Harper Collins

Date: January 2, 2013

Recommended Grades: 5-8

Beautifully painted.  Inspirational.  This is the story of Nelson Mandela, a global icon.  In Nelson’s typical poetic verse and gorgeous illustrations, he shares the story of a young Mandela’s determination to change South Africa.   

Lesson Idea:  

Mentor Text, Civil Rights and Biography:  Read aloud Nelson Mandela as part of a unit on civil rights. Nelson makes the concept of apartheid accessible to young readers in this picture book biography.  This book would pair nicely with Martin’s Big Words by Doreen Rappaport. Consider comparing civil rights in America with the civil rights of citizens in other countries, such as South Africa.    

Disclosure: I received a copy of this book for review by the publisher.

©2013 by Dawn Little for Picture This! Teaching with Picture Books. All Amazon links are affiliate links and may result in my receiving a small commission. This is at no additional cost to you.

Ruth and the Green Book by Calvin Alexander Ramsey

Recommended Grades: 6-8

In the 1950′s Ruth and her family took a road trip from Chicago to Alabama to visit her grandmother.  Along the way, they met with resistance from business owners who did not want to serve African Americans.  When Ruth learns about The Negro Motorist Green Book, a book created to inform African Americans of African-American friendly establishments, her family uses it to meet new friends on their way.       

Lesson Idea:  

Civil Rights/Primary Sources:  Read aloud Ruth and the Green Book during a unit on civil rights.  After reading aloud, share this NPR interview with Civil Rights Leader Julian Bond, who remembers personally using the Green Book when he was a child.  For additional information, share this New York Times article, The Open Road Wasn’t Quite Open to All.  Use the Negro Motorist Green Book as a primary source in an inquiry into Civil Rights.   

 

©2012 by Dawn Little for Picture This! Teaching with Picture Books. All Amazon links are affiliate links and may result in my receiving a small commission. This is at no additional cost to you.

Dear Benjamin Banneker by Andrea Davis Pinkney

Recommended Grades: 3-5

A picture book biography of Benjamin Banneker, who was born free when most blacks were still enslaved.  An accomplished astronomer and mathematician, author of the first published almanac by a black man, Banneker decided to take a stand against slavery.  This is a story of his correspondence with Secretary of State Thomas Jefferson. 

Lesson Idea:  

Biography Mentor Text: Read aloud Dear Benjamin Banneker and discuss the components of the biography.  Biographies can take many shapes and this one is written in part through actual letters.  Connect this book with Molly Bannaky.  Use this book as a model during a study of biographies or during a study of history.

©2012 by Dawn Little for Picture This! Teaching with Picture Books. All Amazon links are affiliate links and may result in my receiving a small commission. This is at no additional cost to you.

Sit -In: How Four Friends Stood Up By Sitting Down by Andrea Davis Pinkney

Recommended Grades: 4-6

It was February 1, 1960.  They didn’t need menus.  Their order was simple.  A doughnut and coffee, with cream on the side.  The story of the sit-in at Woolworth’s during the WHITES ONLY edict of the era is poignantly told through this picture book. 

Note: This month, I will share several Black Eyed Susan nominees. Sit-In: How Four Friends Stood Up by Sitting Down (Jane Addams Honor Book (Awards)) is a 2011-2012 nominee.

Lesson Idea:

History Connection: I love to read picture books with historical significance.  This is one such story.  Read aloud Sit-In: How Four Friends Stood Up by Sitting Down (Jane Addams Honor Book (Awards)) and discuss the historical significance during a unit on civil rights. Pairing Sit-In: How Four Friends Stood Up by Sitting Down (Jane Addams Honor Book (Awards)) with If A Bus Could Talk: The Story of Rosa Parks by Faith Ringgold or Rosa (Caldecott Honor Book) by Nikki Giovanni would make a great picture book unit on civil rights and perhaps make the concept easier for students to understand.

Writer’s Workshop: Use Sit-In: How Four Friends Stood Up by Sitting Down (Jane Addams Honor Book (Awards)) as a mentor text for history based picture books.  Provide other models of history based picture books.  Then have students pick a specific historical event and write their own picture book.

©2011 by Dawn Little for Picture This! Teaching with Picture Books. All Amazon links are affiliate links and may result in my receiving a small commission. This is at no additional cost to you.