|
|
Read
Aloud Recommendations
Thy
Friend, Obadiah
Written and illustrated by Brinton Turkle; published
in 1969 by The Viking Press (New York, NY).
. . . . "He was on the
cobblestone street by the blacksmith's shop when he discovered that the
sea gull was hopping along behind him. Obadiah stopped. The bird
stopped. The fishhook bobbed in the wind. 'If thee is quiet, I'll try
to get that off thy beak.' The sea gull didn't move."
Summary: In Thy Friend,
Obadiah, Brinton Turkle tells the story of young Quaker boy
living on Nantucket Island in Colonial times who, much to his dismay,
is being followed around town by a sea gull. The bird follows him to
the candle maker's place and the fish market, and even sits outside his
bedroom window; Obadiah's brothers and sisters tease him mercilessly
about his new "friend". Obadiah does whatever he can to rid himself of
the sea gull, but when it disappears unexpectedly for a few days and
then turns up with a fish hook stuck to its beak, Obadiah has a change
of heart and realizes he actually cares about the bird.
Parents: Thy
Friend, Obadiah is a touching story that explores the meaning of
friendship and companionship. Even though the story is set in early
America when everyday life was very different, kids can still relate to
Obadiah, who does the same kinds of things little boys and girls do
today (throwing pebbles at birds, making duck tracks in the snow, etc.)
Most little children like animals and will especially like the sea
gull; children will also be interested in the words thee and thy and will wonder why the
characters don't just say "you" and "your".
Teachers: This book
could of course be connected to lessons about Colonial New England or
about the Quaker community in early America, but it could also be used
in lessons early in the school year about what it means to be a friend
to others in the class. There is a lot to be learned from the book in
terms of friendship, including that: teasing is hurtful; companionship
is important in life; friends help one another; and sometimes our friends choose us
instead of the other way around. Thy
Friend, Obadiah could also be used in a study of how we interact
with our environment, particularly with animals.
Personal Note: My
parents got me this book when I was six years old, as a gift upon
entering kindergarten. They read it to me often and it has remained a
favorite throughout the years. Now the book is on my own kids'
bookshelf, looking a little worse for wear--the dust jacket disappeared
years ago and the corners are threadbare--but still requested and read
aloud often.
To Be A Drum
Written by Evelyn Coleman, with art by Aminah Brenda
Lynn Robinson; published in 1998 by Albert Whitman & Company
(Morton Grove, IL).
. . . . "But cruelty cannot stop the earth's
heart from beating. The earth's spirit moved through us still and
pushed--not only out our fingers, but out our entire bodies. And we
became the drums. Living drums--beating for the whole world to hear and
see. We were alive! We would be free."
Summary: To
Be A Drum
grew out of Evelyn Coleman's own childhood experiences and her
belief that "all people are connected by the earth's heartbeat". The book uses words and powerful
artwork to explore the history of the African American people, using
the metaphor of a drum beat to portray the spirit that has sustained
and connected the black community through difficult and
challenging times over the last several hundred years. The author
highlights the accomplishments of African Americans and touches on
themes of freedom, courage, perseverance, family, community,
individuality, and creativity.
Parents: Children
will enjoy the incredibly rich mixed-media illustrations in this book
and will have fun trying to locate and identify the various materials
used in the artwork, including yarn, buttons, raffia, sticks, pebbles,
mud, basket fragments, raw cotton, and many, many different kinds of
fabric. Parts of the story may be difficult for young children to
understand (why would people chain other people up and put them on a
ship?), but the writing is appropriate for small children and the
story, while sad at times, is ultimately uplifting and is a good way to
introduce a complex subject.
Teachers: There are
many ways in which this book could be used in the classroom. The
obvious connection is to American history, particularly the history of
slavery and oppression of blacks in the United States. An art lesson
might use the book as a jumping off point for exploration of the
mixed-media art form; students could make their own mixed-media artwork
using Robinson's work as an example and inspiration. A music lesson
might have students using actual drums to compose different drumbeats that
complement the book or that represent students' interpretations of
their own personal life rhythms.
Personal Note: I
bought this book at The Art Institute of Chicago after viewing an
exhibition of Aminah Brenda Lynn Robinson's work at the museum,
including some of the artwork for To
Be A Drum. Her creations were so amazing to see in person--so
intricate and colorful and powerful--that I wanted to be able to share
them in some way with my family when I got home. I thought my kids
would really enjoy the story and the illustrations, which they do!
|
|
