If a Bus Could Talk: The Story of Rosa Parks

If a Bus Could Talk: The Story of Rosa Parks 

by Faith Ringgold , Faith Ringgold (Illustrator)
Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing, 2002

Summary:  This delightful book tells the story of Rosa Parks from the bus's point of view.  Unlike other Civil Rights books that speak from erudite perspective, this is a friendly voice that children used to Thomas the Tank Engine, et al, will feel quickly warm up to.  A great way to couch an important event in the visuals and language of a younger audience.  

Lesson:  The Kindergarten and 1st grade teachers were looking for a book on Civil Rights.  Most books are written in textual format, with a few photographs interspersed.  This book was appropriate to engage their interests and to bring abstract concepts down to their level.  

Level:  Kinder-3rd 

The Extraordinary Mark Twain (According to Susy)

The Extraordinary Mark Twain (According to Susy)

by Barbara Kerley , Edwin Fotheringham (Illustrator)

Scholastic, 2010

Summary:  Using excepts from his daughter's biography of him, Barbara Kerley creates a biography of Mark Twain's home life and habits.  The final pages provide information on how to research and write a biography.

Lesson:  Used as a resource for teachers who were creating a unit on biographical reports. 

Level:  1st-6th