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!