Tradebook

Children's Trade Book Review Melissa Rubeo Dr. Han Liu S.S. in the Elem. School 2/25/09   Trade Book Review __Goin’ Someplace Special__ is written by Patricia C. McKissack and illustrated by Jerry Pinkney. The book was published by Antheneum Books for Young Readers in New York in the year 2001. This book takes place during segregation and is about a young African-American girl named ‘Tricia Ann. ‘Tricia Ann has a special place where she loves to go and this book takes us on her journey to that place. However, she runs into many setbacks. At one point, she tries to sit on a bench, but reads a sign on it that says only whites are allowed to sit there. Luckily for her, she is surrounded by good people in her life who encourage her to keep her head high and not to let the segregation get her down. After many setbacks, she finally arrives at her special place, the library, where all are welcome! The subject areas this book incorporates are segregation and discrimination. The NCSS themes that it covers are culture, due to the beliefs that are held regarding segregation, and history, due to the history of segregation and discrimination. The story covers standard 8.3.3.C stating that students must be able to identify important changes in United States history. __Goin’ Someplace Special__ is great to use in grades two through four. In my classroom, I would read the story aloud to the whole class and then have the students discuss ways that the people in the story were segregated. The students feelings would be discussed along with how they would react. After the discussion, students will write a letter to a friend explaining their feelings on it and how they would have reacted if they were in ‘Tricia Ann’s shoes. (Website: http://www.jimcrowhistory.org)

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