Bull Run by Paul Fleischman

I'm in the process of finishing Bull Run by Paul Fleischman with my oldest son and we both really enjoyed it. The book covers the first major battle of the U.S. Civil War (and leading up to it) from sixteen different voices. Northern and Southern, male and female, black and white, young and old characters are included. I thought Fleischman did a great job of including many different topics that we were able to delve into on our own, such as

• causes of the war,
• 1861 timeline,
• uses of propaganda,
• different battle naming conventions,
• perspective/points of view,
• reading a battle map (included in the book),
• historical fiction,
• the description of a scene from Gulliver's Travels, its relevance and its irony,
• how the Confiscation Acts could change some characters' intentions (the battle occurs before the 1861 Act),
• the varied roles of non-participants,
• comparison in attitudes toward war between characters who have experienced it before versus those that hadn't,
• the change in attitude toward the war before and after Bull Run for some of the characters,
• primary versus secondary sources, and
• music originating in the Civil War.

There's more we'll cover, but this gives you an idea of the rich topics covered or touched on in the book. To help keep the many characters straight, we colored in a map of the U.S. for the Union and Confederate states (noting the Border States differently) and writing in each character's name in the state they were from with a one- or two-word description of them ("slave," "horse lover," "photographer," "cab driver," etc.). This probably helped me more than my son, who had no problem keeping up with the characters.

I don't see an age recommendation for the book but this was included in a curriculum that is geared for 10 to 12 year-old students, which seems about right. Obviously some of the topics are going to be sensitive and need to be addressed according to age, but this was an excellent introduction to the war in general and to the battle in detail. Having just read an account of the battle in a different source (a review forthcoming soon, I hope), I was impressed with how much Fleischman included in this slim novel.

Curriculum update: Moving Beyond the Page (early review)

I've gotten a few questions via email over the years on the curricula we use in homeschooling our two boys. I'm always a little hesitant to answer because we have been trying different approaches to see what is a good fit for the boys and what isn't. The latter group doesn't necessarily mean it's a bad approach…instead it may just mean it didn't click with them and their learning style.

One curriculum that is definitely clicking this year is the Language Arts subject from Moving Beyond the Page. I'm using the Ages 10-12 package for the fifth grader and the Ages 8-10 package for the third grader and they seem to be a perfect fit. Based on an n of 1 for each package I can say I'm enjoying them as much as the boys.

The younger boy just finished reading Little House in the Big Woods by Laura Ingalls Wilder. The lessons often focus on the concept of interdependence…how the family was dependent on and impacted the environment around them. The lessons provide for plenty of topics to cover, weaving in grammar lessons along the way. I estimate we did about 75% of the activities in the lessons, substituting other activities to explore in areas he expressed interest. I liked the mix of activities, and even the ones we didn't use gave us ideas for things we did want to do. As a side-benefit, it's a book I enjoyed reading, too.

The older boy finished reading The Wanderer by Sharon Creech, a story about 13-year-old Sophie, her cousins, and her uncles sailing across the Atlantic Ocean. Told through journal entries of Sophie and her cousin Cody, we saw the challenges they faced and their development from the experiences. One thing I liked in both workbooks was the book-long recording of a particular topic. For The Wanderer the focus was on Sophie's and Cody's character development during their journey. There were also a lot of other fun lessons focusing on storytelling, grammar, and writing. Then there were the subtle mysteries just below the surface, resolving nicely at the end of the story. I'd say this was appropriate for the fifth-grade level.

The variety of the lessons in the accompanying workbooks was the high point for us. Since I'm not using the other subjects I can't comment on how well the other curricula offered tie in with this subject, but it's apparent from the way they approach Language Arts (and the books selected) that there is a perfect opportunity to tie other subjects in with these books. A caveat: because I felt Language Arts was the area I didn't cover best with the boys last year I really wanted to focus on it this school year. While the Language Arts package appears to cover areas of the topic well (including grammar, spelling, etc.), I'm going to supplement the curriculum with another one. It has nothing to do with any perceived shortfall on MBtP but reflects the additional emphasis I'm placing on this subject this year. The cost of the packages can be pricey, but it's nice that there are several options based on whether you can provide the books yourself as well as choosing e-copies vs. physical workbooks. Also to keep in mind is that the pricing is for the full year. We've been very happy campers so far, admittedly early on, and plan to update and post on the books as we go along…especially since I'm looking forward to all the books we'll be reading together!

My Side of the Mountain

Pardon the interruption…my wife's book proposal was close to the deadline so that has been about our only focus for the past week. I have had to continually deal with my arch-nemisis 'that/which' too many times for me to care right now. Anyway, back to reading books.

My oldest son went to a LitWits Workshop on Jean Craighead George's My Side of the Mountain last week and had a blast. Both boys enjoyed the story of Sam Gribley running away to live off the land. I had mixed thoughts on it, but since it has a good message I was happy the boys enjoyed it. There was part of one paragraph we talked about, wondering if it was as true today as it was over 50 years ago. The English professor (Bando) who stumbled across Sam's home in a tree explains to Sam (who he calls Thoreau) why people are so interested in the boy's story:

"Let's face it, Thoreau; you can't live in America today and be quietly different. If you are going to be different, you are going to stand out, and people are going to hear about you; and in your case, if they hear about you, they will remove you to the city or move to you and you won't be different anymore."

With so many people striving to be different, how far out there do you have to be in order to truly be different? Or maybe not standing out is the new different? In any case, we had fun reading it together.

Scout Field Book (1944)
One of the books the fictional Sam Gribley would have used to live off the land

Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O'Dell

I've posted before on the LitWits Workshops my oldest son has attended and it looks like I'll do so again. We read Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O'Dell and he attended the workshop on it. For anyone not familiar with the story it's a Robinson Crusoe-like tale based on the Lone Woman of San Nicolas Island. Both boys enjoyed the story. The oldest son enjoyed the activities they did and got even more out of the book. He has asked to go to more workshops, which we have signed up for!

Whether you homeschool or not, I'll also recommend Teacher Created Resources literature guides, all titled A Guide for Using (Book Title) in the Classroom. We have used a couple of these to help round out the books we read together and they do a good job of providing plenty of activities for the student.

That's it for today since we need to start school…

Photo courtesy of LitWits Workshops

Carry On, Mr. Bowditch

I have been reading Carry On, Mr. Bowditch by Jean Lee Latham with the boys and they are really enjoying it. OK, I have been, too. It's the story of Nathaniel Bowditch and his contributions to ocean navigation. It's also a great story for kids since Bowditch had to overcome so much in his life. He overcame obstacles "sailing by an ash breeze," a term referring to the use of oars when a ship was becalmed.

The book's readability level is listed as 5th grade, but my 2nd and 4th grader understand things just fine with some extra help on terms and meaning. There's a helpful study guide available online, too. There are many tangents we have explored as well, such as geography, nautical terms, and American history. Highly recommended.

From the back cover:

In her Newbery Media-winning book, Jean Lee Latham chronicles Nathaniel Bowditch's journey, from his modest beginnings, to his first sea voyage, to his rigorous self-education, to the triumphs of his fine-tuned mastery of navigation and eventual publication of his famous work, The American Practical Navigator (also known as the "Sailor's Bible"). Nat's amazing discoveries and accomplishments are brought to life for generations of readers in this engrossing maritime biography.

The Fate of Achilles by Bimba Landmann

When I read the review of this book in David Meadow's post at rogueclassicism I thought it would be a great way to get my boys interested in a version of The Iliad. Unfortunately neither of them was inclined to pick up the book on their own but they have responded well to my reading of it to them.

The review is pretty much spot on. The first half of the book tells how the arranged marriage between King Peleus and Thetis happened and Achilles' education under Chiron. The second half covers the storyline of The Iliad. The book combines the different sources for the material into a coherent whole. The style mimics Homer, addressing the characters and raising questions that are fun to cover with the kids, such as choosing between Achilles' destinies or how Zeus will intervene to fulfill Achilles' wishes.

Regarding what level of reader for which the book is best, the story is a little much for the 6 year old but he gets most of it. The 9 year old understands it easily but has trouble with a few of the words and many of the names--he latches on quickly, though. The recommendation from the Getty Publications site (see below) is ages 9 to 12, which I think is about right for the age to read it. As I mentioned, younger kids should enjoy it if it is being read to them.

From the description on the Getty Publications page:

When Achilles was born, the Fates―the three female deities who shaped people's lives―announced that his destiny would be tied to that of Troy. Son of the nymph Thetis and Peleus, king of the Myrmidons, the fiercest warriors in all of Greece, Achilles was raised by the centaur Chiron, who taught the boy fighting skills and imbued him with a strong sense of honor.

When asked to help avenge the Greeks against the Trojans, who had kidnapped the Greek princess Helen, Achilles answers the call, even though his mother warns him that battling the Trojans will bring him eternal glory but will cost him his life. Fighting alongside the troops of King Agamemnon, Achilles's sense of honor and capacity for empathy are both tested. Achilles goes on to meet his fate against the Trojans but, in the end, who really decided his fate? Was it the gods, or was it Achilles himself? This epic tale is enlivened by bold and beautiful illustrations reminiscent of ancient Greek art.

You're showing your age

Bird Life in Wington: Practical Parables for Young People
by John Calvin Reid, illustrated by Reynold H. Weidenaar

From the preface:

In seeking to stimulate the interest of children and young people in the worship services of the church, through the years I have used a number of ideas for Sermonettes. Just one has succeeded beyond all expectations—“Bird Life in Wington.”

Picture on a stand beside the pulpit a little white cardboard church with steeple and miniature bells—the First Birderian Church of Wington. … Parents seem to enjoy the Wington stories as much as, if not more than their children—often observing slyly that I am aiming over the heads of the children for the grown-ups. But far from objecting, they have not only called for more (which has caused me to prolong the series far beyond my original intention), but have urged that I publish the Wington stories. This little volume is my response to their request.

And now, a cultural artifact, originally published in 1928...

Ol’ Man Adam an’ His Chillun: Being the Tales They Tell about the Time When the Lord Walked the Earth Like a Natural Man
by Roark Bradford, with drawings by A. B. Walker

From an article on "The Green Pastures":

Roark Bradford (1896-1948) grew up on a plantation in Tennessee, where he, a white child, heard many African-American folk stories from the black workers. In 1920, he began working as a reporter, and, according to Encyclopaedia Britannica, “met the colorful characters of various southern cities, including the musicians, preachers, and storytellers on the riverfront of New Orleans.” Based on these experiences, Bradford wrote down a series of African-American folk stories, which were published in the New York World. His first book, a collection of the retelling of biblical stories from among his published works, Ol’ Man Adam an’ His Chillun, was published in 1928. Bradford’s work, however, cannot be considered an accurate or authentic representation of African-American folk culture. As is noted in the Encyclopaedia Britannica, “A major weakness of Bradford’s work is his reliance on stereotypes of his black subjects. Yet his writing accurately reflects their dialect, and his approach is gentle and humorous.”

Lyle the Crocodile

I have mentioned that my parents saved most of the books I had while growing up. A couple of this week's favorites with the boys revolve around Lyle the Crocodile. My favorite part is in Lyle and the Birthday Party, where I read Lyle's doctor with a German accent (think of "Hogan's Heroes" with a southern accent and you're pretty close).

Here's the end of The House on East 88th Street:

So now if you should happen to be
walking past the house on
East 88th Street
and if you should happen to hear
sounds that go:
SWISH, SWASH, SPLASH, SWOOSH!
don't be surprised.
It's only Lyle.
Lyle the crocodile.

Other books I've been reading

The most popular books this week with the above audience:

Doctor Dolittle's Circus--we should finish this book tonight and start on the next in the series this weekend
Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs
Thomas and the Big, Big Bridge
Olive the Other Reindeer--I think they are hoping to get a jump on Christmas

The Story of Doctor Dolittle

(Click to enlarge)

My parents kept all my books from when I was a kid, including this copy of Doctor Dolittle that one of my brothers gave me over 40 years ago. My wife and I have been reading it to the boys, and I should finish the last two chapters tonight. To say that it underwhelms me, as compared to when it was first read to me, would be an understatement. The boys love it, however, and it delights me that the book would make the perpetually enraged PC nannies even more upset. I wouldn't be surprised to hear that someone has tried to ban it.

The boys love hearing about Jip and Polynesia and Chee-Chee and Gub-Gub and the pushmi-pullyu et al., so I'm not going to worry about my feelings toward it. Every night it has been "We'll read from Doctor Dolittle, right?" Good thing I have a box set of more Doctor Dolittle books. An excerpt:

So that was the way the Doctor came to know that animals had a language of their own and could talk to one another. And all that afternoon, while it was raining, Polynesia sat on the kitchen table giving him bird words to put down in the book.

At tea-time, when the dog, Jip, came in, the parrot said to the Docto, "See, he's talking to you."

"Looks to me as though he were scratching his ear," said the Doctor.

"But animals don't always speak with their mouths," said the parrot in a high voice, raising her eyebrows. "They talk with their ears, with their feet, with their tails--with everything. Sometimes they don't want to make a noise. Do you see now the way he's twitching up one side of his nose?"

"What's that mean?" asked the Doctor.

"That means, 'Can't you see that it has stopped raining?'" Polynesia answered. "He is asking you a question. Dogs nearly always use their noses for asking questions."

(Click to enlarge)