Who Was Sacagawea?: By Dennis Brindell Fradin & Judith Bloom Fradin

      No study of Lewis and Clark and the idea of Westward Expansion in the United States would be complete without knowing: who was Sacagawea? The children's biography by Dennis Brindell Fradlin and his wife, Judith Bloom Fradlin seeks to tell you just what the title suggest, Who Was Sacagawea? In this biography children will lean about Native American, Sacagawea, who was only sixteen-years-old when she made one of the most impressive journeys in American history, traveling 4,500 miles across the US. Without her contributions, Lewis and Clark's westward expedition might have been impossible. While reading this book, students will learn about how and why Sacagawea helped Lewis and Clark, and understand the reasons that we still remember her and celebrate her today.
      What makes this biography successful as a book for children is the way the Fradlins use simple language and basic vocabulary that conveys the factual information in an accessible and engaging way. The book is almost a narrative told in a linear format, following the timeline of Sacagawea's life. It is the simple language elements and linear flow that help to make this book an engaging work of nonfiction that children will actually enjoy reading, and not a textbook-information-packed-snoozefest.
       This book is made further kid-friendly through the use of black and white, sketch style illustrations by Val Paul Taylor. The simple sketches that occur on just about every page help to give the content visual appeal, and to allow young readers to get a sense of what they are reading, through having it shown to them in a physical scene. While the sketches are fairly minimalistic, they provide enough detail to enhance the meaning of the text and help show the setting and characters more fully.
      The combination of narrative, nonfiction language and simple illustration brings to Sacagawea to life for the reader. Teaching us details about her as a person and about her extensive contributions to American history and Westward Expansion. This biography would be a great addition to a study of important Native Americans in history, a study of the biographic form/genre, or to a study of Lewis and Clark and the idea of Westward Expansion. This nonfiction, biographical, chapter book is geared towards students in grades 3-5.

Extension for the classroom:
Teachers could have students draw their own pictures in the unique cover art style of this book. Then ask students to write a brief autobiography about their own lives, using a narrative style to give information.

Picture Source: http://www.amazon.com/Who-Sacagawea-Judith-Bloom-Fradin/dp/0448424851

Meet Addy-An American Girl: By Connie Porter

        On a summer night in 1964, nine-year-old Addy Walker awakes in the night to over hear her parents whispering about a secret plan they have been developing for some time--escaping slavery. Addy and her family, Momma, Daddy, big brother Sam, and baby sister Esther live on a plantation owned by Master Stevens, where they work in the fields and serve their master in the house. Momma and Daddy have planned for the family to run away along the rail tracks to a known safe house, where they will be helped to Philadelphia, to freedom.  However, before Addy's family can make their escape, something terrible happens. Daddy and Sam are sold to another master, at another plantation and the family is split up. This leaves Addy and her mother forced to take the terrifying risk of escaping by themselves to Philadelphia, in hopes the family will be reunited eventually. Addy and Momma over come great challenges such as crossing a raging river and dodging Confederate soldiers, before they finally reach the safe house.
         This historical fiction book tells the story of a slave family's struggle to escape to freedom during the Civil War. Connie Porter's portrayal of the era is very authentic, describing the plantation setting, the camaraderie amongst the slaves, and the hatred shown by the "overseers" at the plantation. The writing style used during the dialogue between the African American characters helps to make the text further believable through the use of the deep Southern accents we expect of these characters. Based off the "A Peek Into The Past"section, the historical content of the story was very well researched to ensure accuracy of information. The characterization of the Walker family is perfectly depicted for the time period, allowing readers to see the strength of family ties between slaves in the South.
         I would recommend this book for students in grades 3-6, with the consideration that there are a few vivid descriptions of the poor treatment of slaves by their masters that may need to be discussed further. This book would be a powerful addition to a study of slavery and the Civil War in that it describes slavery and escape to freedom from the perspective of a nine-year-old girl. Young readers will be able to relate to Addy's love for her family and desire to just be a kid, while gaining a greater understanding about the challenges African Americans faced in becoming free people.



Picture Source: http://www.scholastic.com/teachers/book/meet-add