Illus. in full color. "Winter's story begins with a peg-leg sailor who aids slaves on their escape on the Underground Railroad. While working ...
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Jan 19, 2012
Barbara
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In simple words, Winter tells the story of a sailor named Peg Leg Joe and his involvement in the Underground Railroad. Apparently, this man traveled from plantation to plantation spreading the word about how to escape by following the Big Dipper North. He did so by teaching the slaves a song about the path to freedom. When one family is about to be broken apart by the sale of James to another plantation, they remember the song and escape. The narrative follows them as they hide in the trees, cro
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Oct 25, 2011
Katie
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Follow the Drinking Gourd is a story that tells about a group of slaves that escaped to freedom using the underground railroad. This story tells about an old sailor named Peg Leg Joe who helped slaved to freedom. He worked for different plantation owners where he would become friends with the slaves. Then he would teach them a song that secretly told them the way to freedom. When the slaves knew the song he would move on to the next plantation. He would also wait in a boat to take slaves ac
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Nov 04, 2011
Megan
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Follow the Drinking Gourd is a work of historical fiction and is intended for primary readers. It is about the journey slaves had to take to reach freedom. A man named Peg Leg Joe wanted to help free the slaves so he devised a plan. He taught the slaves a song that secretly told the way of freedom. The slaves eventually reached the shores of Lake Erie where they could finally be free.
I gave this book four stars for many reasons, the first reason being that the illustrations were beau More...
I gave this book four stars for many reasons, the first reason being that the illustrations were beau More...
Nov 01, 2011
Angela
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Follow The Drinking Gourd is historical fiction for primary to intermediate readers. Follow The Drinking Gourd is about a group of slaves who escape to freedom with the help of Peg Leg Joe. Peg Leg Joe also worked for the masters, but he was white. He taught the slaves a song that led them to freedom. I gave this book four stars because it gives the reader a great lesson on slavery. The story is rhythmic and flows easily. I also enjoyed the characters and their desire to keep their family toget
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Nov 06, 2010
Theresa
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Follow the Drinking Gourd-picture book historical fiction
Winter, Jeanette Alfred A. Knopf c1988 ISBN 0-394-99694-1
This is a wonderful history of the events of the Underground Railroad told in picture book format. The story starts out with a peg-leg sailor who assists slaves on their escape on the Underground Railroad. He teaches the slaves a song about the drinking gourd or the Big Dipper. Several slaves decide to escape by following the song’s directions. This book would make a n More...
Winter, Jeanette Alfred A. Knopf c1988 ISBN 0-394-99694-1
This is a wonderful history of the events of the Underground Railroad told in picture book format. The story starts out with a peg-leg sailor who assists slaves on their escape on the Underground Railroad. He teaches the slaves a song about the drinking gourd or the Big Dipper. Several slaves decide to escape by following the song’s directions. This book would make a n More...
Jun 26, 2011
Before the Civil War, an old sailor named Peg Leg Joe made his way from plantation to plantation, working odd jobs and teaching the slaves a simple folk song. Little did the slave owners know that “Follow the Drinking Gourd” actually contained directions for following the Underground Railroad to freedom. The runaway slaves must face many dangers on their journey, but they also meet with the kindness of strangers as they make their way to Canada and freedom. Winter uses rhythmic verses blended wi
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Oct 26, 2011
Natalie
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Follow the Drinking Gourd is a heartwarming tale about the risky lives of slaves seeking out freedom through the use of Peg Leg Joe's secret song. The slaves sing the song, which gives the clues to freedom in another place up North. The slaves follow the directions and the moonlit sky where the Big Dipper leads the way from harm to sefety. Peg Leg Joe escorts these brave slaves to helpful strangers who can lead them to their goal...and freedom in Canada. As they step foot on their new land, this
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Nov 06, 2011
Katie
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The story is about a one-legged sailor, Peg Leg Joe, who went from plantation to plantation teaching slaves a simple song while they worked. The words to the song he taught secretively contained directions for following the Underground Railroad. “Follow the Drinking Gourd” was a simple song slaves could use to remember how to finally meet up with Peg Leg Joe in the end to boat over to freedom. The runaway slaves never knew what to expect: they faced many unknown and dangerous events along wit
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Feb 17, 2008
J-Lynn
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This book was highly recommended by Dr. Beverly Tatum in her book about racial identity development, Why Are All The Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria? And Other Conversations About Race. Tatum argues that in learning about horrible instances of oppression in American history (like slavery), children need to see that Blacks fought against oppression and that some Whites tried to help end the oppression.
Through telling the story of the Underground Railroad, Jeanette Wint More...
Through telling the story of the Underground Railroad, Jeanette Wint More...
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May 02, 2011
Carman
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This is a great picture book that tells the story of how slaves relayed information through song. As slaves traveled on the Underground Railroad they looked for the North Star. This book will help students connect the Big Dipper with its nickname "drinking gourd" and show them how slaves always knew what direction to travel. Include in slavery/abolition units.
Jul 15, 2009
Jim
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i may come back to this later and make it a six star book. based on a real hero. a man gets himself hired on to plantations w/slaves induring the fall and winter. he sneaks into the slave quarters and teaches them a folk song thatdoesn't have any meaning. unless you are slave looking to escape, then its directions out of the south. amazing sory, book and art.
Mar 05, 2011
Tricia
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An absolute children's classic and must-read for preschool/early elementary on the topic of the Underground Railroad. Partners well with newer title "Underground". Both titles tell the stories of a family's difficult journeys from slavery to freedom and will nicely complement each other with vastly different styles of illustrations and text.
Apr 26, 2008
Amy
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My son and I first heard of this book when LaVar Burton was reading it on Reading Rainbow on PBS. It is about a song that the slaves sang that told them the secret way to get to the Underground Railroad -- by following the drinking gourd, or the big dipper, since the north star would guide them to the land of freedom to the north.
It's beautifully written and illustrated, and my son asks us to read it again and again. It offers a great opportunity for educating kids about history, ra More...
It's beautifully written and illustrated, and my son asks us to read it again and again. It offers a great opportunity for educating kids about history, ra More...
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May 08, 2009
Amber
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I was very impressed with this story. I really learned something from this one that they didn't teach when I went to school back in the day. I was glad that my son was able to see some of the things that the slaves had to do to be free. It is a gentle look at a not gentle time period.
Jul 09, 2010
MaryKay
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I loved the book and loved the illustrations! I've heard that Peg Leg Joe the age of song is probably more myth than historical, but the song recalls the brave journeys that many people took seeking freedom.
I enjoyed the chat about this book at: http://www.justonemorebook.com/2007/05/0...
I enjoyed the chat about this book at: http://www.justonemorebook.com/2007/05/0...
Oct 26, 2011
DeNae
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Beautifully written and simply illustrated story about slavery and the Underground Railroad. Simple enough and sanitized enough for my youngest, but complex enough to bring up some interesting and deep questions from my other two.
Sep 06, 2010
Kathryn
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This awesome book about the Underground Railroad was wonderful for visualizing what it was like to be an on-the-run slave. Our class learned that there were a lot of people who wanted to help the slaves escape, and one of the secret ways they did that was to sing songs with secret codes in them. An excellent picture book on the Underground Railroad.
Nov 13, 2010
Historical Fiction
Ways to use in the Classroom-This book is a great introduction to the Underground Railroad in elementary classrooms. It can also tie to music curriculum and the students could learn the song themselves.
Ways to use in the Classroom-This book is a great introduction to the Underground Railroad in elementary classrooms. It can also tie to music curriculum and the students could learn the song themselves.
Apr 01, 2009
Dolly
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Beautifully illustrated book with easily understood text that covers a tough, but important subject. The lyrics woven into the narrative help tell the tale and it's nice that the entire song is included at the end.
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Dec 17, 2011
Kayla
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This a good pick for Black History Month. It tells the story of how slaves escaped. It contains wonderful illustrations as well. I remembered reading this in elementary school. I love really like this book.
Dec 04, 2008
Michelle G.
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Inspired by a folk song that had a hidden message: the route of the Underground Railroad. The last page of the book has the sheet music so we can sing the song, too.
Dec 17, 2009
JustOneMoreBook.com
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Saturated with colour and emotion, this beautifully illustrated book — like the song that inspired it — opens young eyes to the value of freedom and the price some pay to achieve it. Fact or fiction, it’s an inspiring read.
Listen to our chat about this book on our JustOneMoreBook.com Children's Book Podcast:
http://www.justonemorebook.com/2007/05/0...
“Follow the Drinking Gourd” performed by The Brookfield High School World Voices Choir and Maria Hawkins used with perm More...
Listen to our chat about this book on our JustOneMoreBook.com Children's Book Podcast:
http://www.justonemorebook.com/2007/05/0...
“Follow the Drinking Gourd” performed by The Brookfield High School World Voices Choir and Maria Hawkins used with perm More...
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Jan 25, 2011
Julie
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A good one for February to tie into African-American History month. An Underground Railroad story based upon Peg Leg Joe and the folk song "Follow the Drinking Gourd".
Nov 28, 2010
Margaret
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We read this one after Quinn sang the song for choir.. We ended up buying a CD of African Slave Songs which we played until it got too scratched up...
Jan 27, 2011
Sha-Quita
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This is great book to read for Black History month. I would read it to first-third grade. Great informative book from beginning to end.
Feb 10, 2011
Nanee
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The story of the underground railroad to freedom. Good read and is for children from grades pre-k to 2nd.
Jan 20, 2010
Katelynn
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It is so amzing the frist time I read it was in frist grade in music.
