Historical Fiction: That Book Women
Author: Heather Henson
Illustrator: David Small
Illustrator: David Small
Genre: Historical Fiction
Major Awards: Winner of a 2009 Christopher Award, Winner of the Great Lakes Book Award for Best Picture Book, Selection for the 2010-11 Texas Bluebonnet Award master list, Junior Library Guild Selection
Age Group: 5-10 years old
That Book Woman by Heather Henson is a beautiful story about a boy finding his love of reading. The protagonist Cal and his family live on a hill far away from the rest of the people that live in the town, and they seldom get any visitors. The only person that comes to visit the family is That Book Woman as Cal refers to her. That Book Woman comes by the house every week on horseback to deliver books to the family. Cal's sister Lark loves the books and loves to read, but Cal thinks its just a bunch of "chicken scratch" The Book Woman would come every week without fail no matter rain, sun, wind, or shine. One time she even delivered books during the coldest day of the winter. When Cal saw That Book Woman risked getting sick or worse to deliver them books he was curious to know what made them so special. So he picked a book and asked his sister to read with him, and once he started he couldn't stop. The next week That Book Women came and Cal's mom baked her a pie and thanked her for creating two readers in her home, and when Cal went outside and said he wished he could gift her something too; she asked Cal to read to her and said that was gift enough.
That Book Woman is a beautifully written, beautifully illustrated story about a young boy finding his love for reading. I believe that this is one of those stories that is so relatable and honest as to how if people are willing to give them chance books can be an incredible thing. I was amazed to learn that the concept of That Book Women was based on real women called " the Pack Librarians" who delivered books to children in remote regions of the Appalachian mountains that did not have access to literature. From reading this story, I learned a piece of history that I never knew before. I think this book would make an excellent addition to any Kindergarten- 5th-grade classroom. Not only would the students be reading an excellent book, but they would be learning about an interesting aspect of history. The book could be read in a history class and spark a lesson about the evolution of literature in the US, and how its access and availability has changed over the year. Likewise, I also think that it would be really special if like that book women, every Friday the teacher allowed the students to take one book from the library home to return it the following Friday to get another one. Not only would it be connecting the story to real life, but perhaps like that book women it will inspire the students, and they'll develop and lifelong love for reading.
Age Group: 5-10 years old
That Book Woman by Heather Henson is a beautiful story about a boy finding his love of reading. The protagonist Cal and his family live on a hill far away from the rest of the people that live in the town, and they seldom get any visitors. The only person that comes to visit the family is That Book Woman as Cal refers to her. That Book Woman comes by the house every week on horseback to deliver books to the family. Cal's sister Lark loves the books and loves to read, but Cal thinks its just a bunch of "chicken scratch" The Book Woman would come every week without fail no matter rain, sun, wind, or shine. One time she even delivered books during the coldest day of the winter. When Cal saw That Book Woman risked getting sick or worse to deliver them books he was curious to know what made them so special. So he picked a book and asked his sister to read with him, and once he started he couldn't stop. The next week That Book Women came and Cal's mom baked her a pie and thanked her for creating two readers in her home, and when Cal went outside and said he wished he could gift her something too; she asked Cal to read to her and said that was gift enough.
That Book Woman is a beautifully written, beautifully illustrated story about a young boy finding his love for reading. I believe that this is one of those stories that is so relatable and honest as to how if people are willing to give them chance books can be an incredible thing. I was amazed to learn that the concept of That Book Women was based on real women called " the Pack Librarians" who delivered books to children in remote regions of the Appalachian mountains that did not have access to literature. From reading this story, I learned a piece of history that I never knew before. I think this book would make an excellent addition to any Kindergarten- 5th-grade classroom. Not only would the students be reading an excellent book, but they would be learning about an interesting aspect of history. The book could be read in a history class and spark a lesson about the evolution of literature in the US, and how its access and availability has changed over the year. Likewise, I also think that it would be really special if like that book women, every Friday the teacher allowed the students to take one book from the library home to return it the following Friday to get another one. Not only would it be connecting the story to real life, but perhaps like that book women it will inspire the students, and they'll develop and lifelong love for reading.
Interesting idea to connect the story by having students take one book home on Friday and then wait until the next Friday to return it.
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