Freddy’s Favorites compile TextProject’s recommendations for read-aloud books for struggling and beginning readers. The Common Core State Standards bring increased focus to what it is that students are learning in schools and what they need to know. Through read-alouds, students can be introduced to topics and genres that they might otherwise not be able to read independently. Our list of Read-Aloud Favorites can be searched by grade level, genre, format and subject.
To read more about the importance of reading aloud in a classroom, please read this blog entry in Frankly Freddy.
Dolley Madison Saves George Washington
Dolley Madison played a role in the important history of the White House. Before she was a First Lady, Dolley was the hostess to many official White House functions while Thomas Jefferson was in office. (It should be noted that while Dolley lived there, the White House was called the President’s Mansion.) Dolley continued the role of hostess when her husband, James Madison, was elected to become the nation’s 4th president. Over the years Dolley became well known for making everyone feel welcomed at the White House. In an effort to make the White House more hospitable, Dolley also renovated the interior of the White House.
One of the items she used in the renovation was a full-length portrait of George Washington, also known as the Lansdowne portrait. The portrait was painted by Gilbert Stuart, as a gift from Senator and Mrs. William Bingham of Pennsylvania to the Marquis of Lansdowne, a well-known supporter of the American Revolution. When the War of 1812 brought British soldiers to the steps of the White House, Dolley had the portrait cut from the frame and removed for safekeeping. As was customary at the time, Stuart made copies of the Lansdowne portrait, where they were hung in official US government buildings. During the War of 1812, the original Lansdowne portrait was still in England. The portrait that Dolley Madison saved was one of those copies Stuart made. The original has since returned to the United States, and it is currently hanging in the National Portrait Gallery, at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C.
Capital
Land for United States government was set aside by the US Constitution (Section 8, Clause 17). The main purpose for Washington, D.C. was for it to be the location of the US government. Now Washington, D.C. serves a mixture of purposes. There are monuments to important figures and events in American history. There are also many museums holding millions of artifacts that have significance to the United States. The original purpose of Washington, D.C. has not been lost. It is still the location from which the people, to whom we have charged to do so, govern the nation.
Capital by Lynn Curlee gives the history of the construction of 5 important buildings; the Capitol building, the White House, the Washington monument, the Lincoln Memorial, and the Jefferson memorial. Of these 5 buildings, more concentration is focused on the Capitol building. This is a fabulous book that compliments Top 10 Washington, D.C. There are fascinating stories of each building, such as what the White House looked like when Presidents John Adams, and Thomas Jefferson lived there. There are also great tidbits of facts, such as before the Eiffle Tower was built, the Washington Monument was the tallest man-made object in the world.
Lucy Maud Montgomery, A Writer’s Life
Lucy Maud Montgomery began her career as a writer when she was a child living with her grandparents. Her mother died when Montgomery was 2 years old and her father left her in the care of her mother’s elderly and strict parents. She was a lonely child who amused herself by making up stories of things she saw or experienced. Sound familiar? Many aspects of Montgomery’s life can be found in her world famous book, Anne of Green Gables. As a Canadian, I grew up with Anne of Green Gables. It is still one of my favorite books. But I have also become fascinated with Montgomery’s life. Though the story of Montgomery career is interesting, what fascinated me the most was her personal life. Her attitude was very much “…tomorrow is a new day with no mistakes in it…” even when her husband was showing signs of severe mental illness, and Montgomery had to hide it from the world. The courage it must have taken to keep things together and continue writing the books she did must been astounding.
This book is riddled with pictures and memorabilia from Montgomery’s life. There are snippets of information that further ties Montgomery’s real life to Anne of Green Gables. As 2008 is the 100 anniversary of the publication of Montgomery’s first novel, Anne of Green Gables, this book is a great way to introduce the Montgomery, and to connect her life to her books.
Four Pictures By Emily Carr
Emily Carr was a Canadian artist and writer. Everything she did or wanted to do was in conflict with the world she lived in. Carr was an artist when there were very few female artists in the world. She enjoyed painting the native people of Vancouver Island when there was still great prejudice against them. Later in life Carr stopped painting because she wasn’t accepted and was heavily criticized for her artwork. It was many years later, when she met the Group of Seven, that she resumed painting.
The format of this book is in a graphic novel format, and beautifully compliments Carr’s artwork, and life. The purpose of this book is not to tell Carr’s entire life story, but rather to give the background story to four of her artworks. The book begins with Ada and Louisa Outside Cedar Canim’s House, Ucluelet and ends with Scorched as Timber, Beloved of the Sky.