More Than Anything Else is a fictionalized story using Booker T. Washington as the main character.  He is a young boy living in a West Virginia settlement after emancipation.  Little Booker T. labors from dusk until dawn and uses a lantern to find his way back home.  One day, when he was walking home, he head a man reading from the newspaper.  He envisions himself having this magical ability and is determined to learn how to read.  When he arrives home, his mother gives him an alphabet book.  He studies the shapes of the letters and turns them into a song because he does not know what sounds they make.  Booker T. practices writing in the sand until he masters each letter. He begins to feel discouraged and then he finds the newspaper man, yet again.  The newspaper man shares with him the sounds of each letter and Booker T. throws his hands in the air with excitement.  Little Booker T. then goes on to learning how to write his own name.  "That is something that will always stay with me."

Marie Bradby takes a historical topic and turns it into a book about achievement.  I think this is a great way to students a struggle and how to overcome them.  Learning new things is very difficult at times.  More Than Anything Else shares that with students.  I would love to have a discussion about the importance of reading and why Booker felt that is was important he learn how to do so.  There is also and opportunity for students to learn old fashioned vocabulary.  This book is such a great story for 3rd- 5th grade!

Clover's momma always tells her that it is not safe to cross the fence and go the "other" side where Anna lives.  Clover comes from a family of African- American descent and lives in a segregated world.  Anna always sits on the top of the fence and Clover curiously wonders about this little girl.  Clover asks her momma why she cannot cross the fence and her momma simply replies with, "that's the way it has always been."  Clover is determined to make a change.  Her and Anna finally meet at the fence and realize that their colors mean nothing.  A friendship quickly develops and the two young girls hope that one day the fence will no longer exist.

This book was absolutely wonderful on so many levels.  Not only does it teach students about segregation and the past, but it also teaches them that friends are friends no matter the gender, color, or race.  Jacqueline Woodson writes several other stories with a very similar storyline to teach children the importance of friendships. 

 

In Daddy's Arms I am Tall is a poetry book containing 12 outstanding poems coming to life about the relationship of children and their fathers.  Each poem is written by and African American writer sharing the various experiences they have shared with their dads.  Fatherhood is celebrated through humor, memories, honor, and grace as Javaka Steptoe paints the images that comes to life on each page.  The poems show how strong a fathers bond is with his son or daughter and just how much children appreciate that relationship.  Although, this poetry book does not have a specific storyline, children will read, in a new and different way, about other people's experiences with their fathers.

While this is a great book to celebrate fathers, we also live in a time where single parenting is quite common.  When reading these poems in class, I would ensure to point out that for some students it may be a grandfather, uncle, brother, or another family member who takes this role.  I would also pair it up with a story about mothers for those students whose mother plays both the mom and dad role in the house.

Goin' Someplace Special is a great book to teach students about the southern 1950's.  Tricia Ann wants to go someplace special.  Someplace that everyone is welcome, no matter the skin color.  She knows exactly how to get there and she wants to try it out all on her own.  As Tricia Ann makes her way around town, she experiences Jim Crow laws that force her to sit in the back of the bus.  Tricia becomes slightly discouraged, but this does not stop her.  She continues to make her way to this special place.  After she gets kicked out of an all white hotel, she ends up in a garden and a friend reminds her that she is not alone.  Her grandmother's words play through her head, "You are somebody, a human being -- no better, no worse than anybody else in this world." When Tricia Ann finally makes it to her someplace special, the sign reads "Public Library: Everyone is Welcome" 

I think we live in a world where segregation is not talked about very often.  This book is a great way to teach this to children of all ages.  Not only does it preach perseverance, but it show Tricia Ann's determination no matter what.