A Window into History: Family Memory in Children's Literature

(Paperback)

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Description

This is an excellent resource for objectives-based education. Because the foundation of the social studies curriculum is the family, A Window into History gives teachers an engaging method for introducing students to books that are structured as personal narratives of family histories. These books, both fiction and nonfiction, combined with highly appropriate activities and projects, build themes around community, history, and cultural or social differences. In addition, the variety of cultural backgrounds in the titles makes A Window into History especially valuable in programs that emphasize multicultural issues. Recommended teacher resource for grades 3-8.

Reviews

.,."valuable for helping develop collections and build theme units on a variety of historical topics....titles are historically accurate....Annontations are lengthy, well-written, and informative, addressing both content and style....well-done volume."-School Library Journal
...valuable for helping develop collections and build theme units on a variety of historical topics....titles are historically accurate....Annontations are lengthy, well-written, and informative, addressing both content and style....well-done volume.-School Library Journal
As a guide to more than 200 titles connecting young people with memories in a variety of locations in the world and a range of time periods, this work is a useful addition to the collection.-Emergency Librarian
Equipped with an excellent index, the book is aimed at teachers and librarians involved in local/family history work in primary or secondary schools.-School Library Association
MacDonald presents a two-pronged method of having children learn about history. She offers an annotated bibliography of children's literature built around themes and then suggests activities and special projects to complement them. ...The books, for the most part, are well chosen, and the activities themselves are appealing if not always terribly imaginative. They range from making corn dolls to interviewing older people about what life was like when they were children. A convenient volume to have on hand and one that teachers will find many uses for.-Booklist
..."valuable for helping develop collections and build theme units on a variety of historical topics....titles are historically accurate....Annontations are lengthy, well-written, and informative, addressing both content and style....well-done volume."-School Library Journal
"As a guide to more than 200 titles connecting young people with memories in a variety of locations in the world and a range of time periods, this work is a useful addition to the collection."-Emergency Librarian
"Equipped with an excellent index, the book is aimed at teachers and librarians involved in local/family history work in primary or secondary schools."-School Library Association
"MacDonald presents a two-pronged method of having children learn about history. She offers an annotated bibliography of children's literature built around themes and then suggests activities and special projects to complement them. ...The books, for the most part, are well chosen, and the activities themselves are appealing if not always terribly imaginative. They range from making corn dolls to interviewing older people about what life was like when they were children. A convenient volume to have on hand and one that teachers will find many uses for."-Booklist

Author Bio

ELEANOR KAY MACDONALD is the children's librarian at the Beverly Hills Public Library in Beverly Hills, California. She has a Master's of Library Science degree from UCLA and has been a children's librarian for 15 years. MacDonald is a reviewer for School Library Journal and has authored several articles for the publication. She is a member of the American Library Association, Southern California Council on Literature for Children and Young People, and Friends of Children and Literature and has served on the FOCAL and Judy Lopez Award Committees.