A review by annaeap
Freedom on the Menu: The Greensboro Sit-Ins by Carole Boston Weatherford
5.0
This book presents a fictionalized account of the Greensboro sit-ins from the perspective of a young African American girl. Connie witnesses segregation at her local lunch counter and asks her mother why they are unable to sit there, only purchase food and leave. One day, she and her mother see four African American students sitting in on the counter. This book will help students understand the Civil Rights Movement from the perspective of a child closer to their age; for example, Connie admits she does not understand all of Dr. King’s words when she hears him preach, but she describes how his words made her feel empowered. The illustrations are muted in dark, earthen tones, which makes the book better suited for a small group read aloud rather than as a whole class.
Using the book for teaching/learning:
-In this book, we have a fictional character, Connie, observing from a distance the real-life Greensboro sit-ins. Write about another moment in history from the perspective of an observer not immediately part of the historical moment.
-Connie, her siblings, and parents work together with the NAACP to register people to vote. Provide younger students with opportunities to cast ballots, and ask older students to explore what the voting registration process is locally.
Considerations for use with dual-language learners (DLLs): This book may be trickier for DLLs, though the narrative language with dialogue incorporated would help them make meaning and keep track of characters during an expressive read-aloud. Again, the book would be best read in a small group due to the dark illustrations, but when looked at closely, the illustrations do faithfully depict the narrative.
Using the book for teaching/learning:
-In this book, we have a fictional character, Connie, observing from a distance the real-life Greensboro sit-ins. Write about another moment in history from the perspective of an observer not immediately part of the historical moment.
-Connie, her siblings, and parents work together with the NAACP to register people to vote. Provide younger students with opportunities to cast ballots, and ask older students to explore what the voting registration process is locally.
Considerations for use with dual-language learners (DLLs): This book may be trickier for DLLs, though the narrative language with dialogue incorporated would help them make meaning and keep track of characters during an expressive read-aloud. Again, the book would be best read in a small group due to the dark illustrations, but when looked at closely, the illustrations do faithfully depict the narrative.