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A Picnic in October
Tony thinks it's dumb to go all the way to Liberty Island for a birthday picnic. But that's before he understands what the Statue of Liberty means to Grandma.
Paperback, 32 pages
Published
September 1st 2004
by Sandpiper
(first published 1999)
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This is a wonderful book for teachers to incorporate into their 4th or 5th grade Social Studies lessons. When learning about immigration and Ellis Island, lot of the artifacts and resources are often set in the past. They recount tales of what it was like to come to America; the struggles, the successes, the hardships.
This book is unique because it is told from the point of view of a young child in the present day. Teachers can this book to spark student's thoughts of their own experience with...more
This book is unique because it is told from the point of view of a young child in the present day. Teachers can this book to spark student's thoughts of their own experience with...more
I used this book in one of my 5th grade lessons and my kids did not enjoy it. They were able to understand the concept of immigration, but they were not engaged and they made a point to tell me that this book was boring. I personally liked it because of the pictures and because it was a nice short story that was about immigration from a different point of view. I also liked how it compared the view point of the child and the grandmother, I thought that was a different standpoint. However, as a t...more
This stroy is the tale of a boy and his family that are secodn generation immigrants. It provides good insight to how it is for people coming to america as immigrants. It expresses the love and respect that freedom bring as the grandmother takes her family to the statue of liberty. The little boy at first thinks they trip nonsense, but in the end he learns the value of the freedom and what the Statue stands for. Great lesson of patriotism, for inferring, or predicting. 1st-4rth grade. Hard to re...more
Cute story about a family whose grandma and grandpa immigrated to the US. Grandma shares with grandson how she felt when she saw the Statue of Liberty and the meaning of the quotation "Give me your poor, your..." The whole family celebrates a birthday picnic with cake to commemorate the creation (I think) of the Statue of Liberty.
This story may open the eyes of some readers as to the feeling of opportunity experienced by new immigrants to our country. And the feeling of being welcomed by Lady Li...more
This story may open the eyes of some readers as to the feeling of opportunity experienced by new immigrants to our country. And the feeling of being welcomed by Lady Li...more
Apr 25, 2009
Julie Suzanne
rated it
3 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
Teachers or parents: personal narrative writing and/or immigration
Shelves:
picture-books,
immigration
A great example of a personal narrative (for those teaching it at the elementary or middle school level), this book shows a child's subtle attitude change when he for the first time seems to understand and appreciate the significance of his family's annual tradition of having a very cold picnic on Liberty Island to celebrate the statue's birthday.
The family's ancestry is Italian.
The family's ancestry is Italian.
Great story that tells some American history is a fun engaging way. May students may be able to relate to this story because they may have visited a historical site that they may not have seen the importance of it right away. The history of Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty is briefly told. This students would find this book enjoyable and it easily integrate into a social studies lesson or unit.
Eve Bunting's story about Lady Liberty has many uses. I first thought just an immigration book, however there are many opportunities to tie in literary elements. Pointing out the changes in the characters is key as well as predicting who is celebrating their birthday! It includes a very poignant illustration of the World Trade Center two years before the tragic event.
This book would be great in teaching a unit on immigration or if you are talking about important landmarks in the US this would be a great book to read to teach about the Statue of Liberty. This is a sweet book with lessons learned and I think students will appreciate the importance of the Statue of Liberty to America and especially those who immigrated to the US.
This is a great book to show the effects immigration had on a family. This family visits the Statue of Liberty each year to celebrate what freedom means to them. This can open up a dialogue of critical thinking on the topic of freedom and how it has impacted the child's life in your classroom. The kids can reflect what freedom means you them and their families.
I thought this book was great. The irony that the little boy meets an immigrant family much like his own grandparents and finds appreciation for what his grandparents went through and why they pay respect to Lady Liberty at Ellis Island each year. It was a great book, a good way to maybe introduce your students to the issues the immigrants faced.
This book is about a boy and his family who go to the Statue of Liberty every year and celebrate the birthday of the statue because his grandparents are immigrants to America and their freedom means a lot to them. This book has great illustrations and a good story line that follows the young boy as his opinion of the meaning of the Statue of Liberty grow.
I like how the author of this book thinks that the Statue of Lliberty is important. She means alot to many immigrants and people in the United States and i think this book does a good job of portraying those sentiments of people. At the end of the book you can see the twin towers from Ellis Island.
I have just begun another year of teaching my little ones preschool, so I will be reading lots and lots and lots of picture books. I will be posting and reviewing only our most favorite ones.
I really enjoyed this story about revering the Statue of Liberty and all that she stands for.
I really enjoyed this story about revering the Statue of Liberty and all that she stands for.
I think this would be a good book to have in the classroom to explore immigration, heritage, community, assimilation. However, I was not particularly moved or grabbed, and I really like Eve Bunting. I liked the illustrations more than the writing.
This is a really cute book about a family tradidtion of going to the Statue of Liberty on her birthday. It shows the transformation of a boy's understanding of what the Statue of Liberty stands for. It also show what the Statue of Libery means to immigrants.
Mar 24, 2012
Victoria Dimmitt
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Shelves:
children,
family,
fiction,
informational,
library,
picture-book,
new-york,
statue-of-liberty
This story is about a family who goes to the Statue of Liberty on her birthday. This would be a good book to read to children when discussing the Statue of Liberty and what she stands for.
This is a fabulous book about a family who always goes and haves picnics in NY by Ellis Island. It is a great way to show the past and present and how the past affects the future. It is a good way to show your students that they could go home and ask their grandparents what they went through during this time in history, and ask what they were thinking.
Story about a boy Tony and he doesn't understand the reason for having a picnic in October. His grandparents are immigrants and wanted to celebrate their freedom on Ellis Island.
This book is good for social studies. The only negative thing about this book is that is, in my opinion, dependent on the teacher providing supplemental lessons.
In S.S immigration is big part and Ellis Island is a big part of it. This book does a good job of explaining the history of Ellis islad and can help younger kids understand its importance. This story was very colorful and a easy read for younger students.
Another immigration book told through a children's book, which makes it easier for teacher to read to younger children when talking about immigrants and immigration.
This book shows the 'true' reason why immigrants honor America's Statue of Liberty. A good book to read when teaching young students about immigration to America.
You can't go wrong with Even Bunting! Touching picture book that highlights the topic of immigration through a yearly family celebration at the Statue of Liberty.
A boy finally comes to understand why his grandmother insists that the family come to Ellis Island each year to celebrate Lady Liberty's birthday. www.hcpl.net
excellent book to use when talking about immigration. In a diverse classroom children would be able to make many connections with this book.
This is a wonderful book that is told from a child's percpective. It is great for teaching about the value of freedom that many people cherish.
I really like this picture book. It is a good book the read to kids to help them understand how important it is to be free.
CIP summary "A boy finally comes to understand why his grandmother insists that the family come to Ellis Island each year to celebrate Lady Liberty's birthday."
A realistic look at a family gathering at the Statue of Liberty. It describes how they take the ferry to the statue and spend the day having a picnic. At first the boy in the story seems very annoyed and then seems to realize why this family celebration is significant. I like the illustration of the family sitting below the Statue of Libe...more
A realistic look at a family gathering at the Statue of Liberty. It describes how they take the ferry to the statue and spend the day having a picnic. At first the boy in the story seems very annoyed and then seems to realize why this family celebration is significant. I like the illustration of the family sitting below the Statue of Libe...more
A good book for teaching American symbols (specifically the Statue of Liberty) and immigration to primary grades.
Ferry to Liberty Island, Verrazano Bridge, Brooklyn, and Ellis Island. Ponder what it means to be an American.
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Eve Bunting is an author with more than 250 books. Her books are diverse in age groups, from picture books to chapter books, and topic, ranging from Thanksgiving to riots in Los Angeles. Eve Bunting has won several awards for her works.
Bunting went to school in Ireland and grew up with storytelling. In Ireland, “There used to be Shanachies… the shanachie was a storyteller who went from house to ho...more
More about Eve Bunting...
Bunting went to school in Ireland and grew up with storytelling. In Ireland, “There used to be Shanachies… the shanachie was a storyteller who went from house to ho...more
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