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Library | Call Number | Status |
|---|---|---|
Searching... R.H. Stafford Library (Woodbury) | J 970.5 LIT | Searching... Unknown |
Searching... Stillwater Public Library | J 970.5 LIT | Searching... Unknown |
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Summary
Summary
Picture the American Past uses short, simple text linked to large historical photographs to bring to life the unique ways in which children lived and worked in an earlier era. Supports the national curriculum standards Culture; Time, Continuity, and Change; Individual Development and Identity; and Individuals, Groups, and Institutions as outlined by the National Council for the Social Studies. The entire Picture the American Past series is available on Accelerated Reader.
Reviews (3)
School Library Journal Review
Gr 2-4-In 1879, the United States government began to take Indian children from their reservations and place them in boarding schools where they would learn English and Christianity. In many cases, the parents of these children had no choice but to comply with the government officials. Littlefield's text is factual and spare. She lets the incredible photographs and other illustrative materials tell the story. Readers are sure to be moved or angered by some of the pictures, which clearly depict the stripping of a culture. One particularly poignant photo shows three young men in their native dress; on the same page, viewers see the same three with haircuts, attired in suits and ties, looking uncomfortable and unhappy. The author's research is evident in her resource list. However, one of the most valuable sections in the book is the chapter entitled "Understanding Historical Photographs." In it, Littlefield gives methods for studying photographs so that students can evaluate the realities shown. For teachers and librarians, this part of the book could be fodder for hours of discussion.-Barbara Buckley, Rockville Centre Public Library, NY (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Horn Book Review
This series examines important events in American history and how they affected children. Illustrated with numerous tinted photos from the past, each volume contains a clear overview of relevant issues. Related activities ("Understanding Historical Photographs," "A Recipe for Make-Do Cake," etc.) are included at the back of each well-designed volume. Bib., glos., ind. (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Booklist Review
Gr. 3^-6. Historical photographs are the focus in this very moving Picture the American Past series. There's a sepia print on every page, and Littlefield fills in the history and the personal stories with informative text and captions that will encourage readers to look closely at the photos to see what they show and what they leave out. The stories are heartrending. Many Indian children were torn from their homes and sent away to be taught European culture in boarding school; they sit stiffly for group portraits in European clothes, their hair cut short, their names changed. Children sent west on orphan trains line up for inspection, hoping they look strong enough for work so that a stranger will offer them a home. Both books make it clear that some children ran away, some died, and some did well. Littlefield ends with excellent suggestions for further reading and classroom projects. --Hazel Rochman
Table of Contents
| School away from home |
| Learning white ways |
| After the boarding schools |
