Student Reading
Cleary, Beverly,
Ramona Quimby, Age 8
Dell Publishing, New York, 1981. (paperback)
This is my favorite, but Beverly Cleary has written many books about Ramona and her family and friends.
Fox, Paula,
The Slave Dancer
. Dell Publishing, New York, 1973.
This is a Newbery Award book and really excellent. She has also written How Many Miles to Babylon? and The Stone-Faced Boy.
MacLachlan, Patricia,
Sarah, Plain and Tall.
Harper & Row, Publishers, New York, 1985.
This is also a Newbery Award book and a wonderful warm gentle story.
Rodgers, Mary,
Freaky Friday
. Harper & Row, Publishers, New York, 1972.
A funny book that kids love, yet deals with real issues and problems.
Wilder, Laura Ingalls,
On the Banks of Plum Creek
. Scholastic Inc, New York, 1937.
A classic. Any of the books in the series could be used, of course, but I like this one in particular.
Teacher Reading
Calkins, Lucy,
The Art of Teaching Writing.
Heinemann, Portsmouth, New Hampshire, 1986.
One of two “bibles” about concretely teaching writing to children.
Gilford, Henry,
Genealogy—How to Find Your Roots
. Franklin Watts, New York, 1978.
A useful and interesting book about ways of tracing source material, and collecting data.
Graves, Donald H.
Writing; Teachers and Children at Work.
Heinemann, Portsmouth, New Hampshire, 1983.
Another really wonderful process book about writing with young people. This book gives lots of ideas.
Hilton, Suzanne,
Who Do You Think You Are?
The Westminster Press, Philadelphia, 1977.
More concrete ways of learning about who you are for the young person. Includes pictures and ways of creating pictures.
Weitzman, David,
My Backyard History Book
. Little, Brown and Company, Boston, 1975.
This book is really fun. All kinds of ways to learn about your family, with practical suggestions that children can do easily.
MAGAZINES I would also suggest issues of “Writing!” Many have interesting ideas and articles. I would particularly recommend:
September, 1988, Vol 11, No 1
November 1989, Vol 12, No 3
Materials on Laura Ingalls Wilder
A number of materials have been published about the Ingalls and the Wilder families.
Anderson, William,
The Story of the Ingalls
, booklet, 1971.
Anderson, William,
The Ingalls Family Album
, Laura Ingalls Wilder Memorial Society, Inc., 1973. Lots of wonderful pictures.
Lichty, Irene,
The Ingalls Family from Plum Creek to Walnut Grove,
booklet, 1970. Details the life of the family in the book.
Mooney-Getoff, Mary J.,
Laura Ingalls Wilder: A Bibliography
, Wise Owl Press, Southold, New York, 1971. A valuable selected annotated listing of writings about Laura and her family, including audio-visual resources the names and addresses of the seven memorial sites organized around her homesites.
Thurman, Evelyn,
The Ingalls-Wilder Homesites: A Diary of Visits 1972-81,
Bowman Kelley Press, Bowling Green, KY. A 64 page illustrated guide to homesites and museums of Laura, Almanzo and their relatives.
Memorial Societies at the Ingalls-Wilder homesites
These are for the most part volunteer groups, organized around the homesites. They welcome letters, especially from students, and writing letters is a wonderful activity for young enthusiasts.
The Franklin County Historical Society and Museum
51 Milwaukee Street
Malone, New York 12953
Laura Ingalls Wilder Memorial Society, Inc.
Pepin, Wisconsin, 54759
Little House on the Prairie, Inc.
Box 110
Independence, Kansas 67301
Laura Ingalls Wilder Memorial Society, Inc.
Box 344
DeSmet, South Dakota 57231
Laura Ingalls Wilder-Rose Wilder Lane Home and Museum
Mansfield, Missouri 65704
Laura Ingalls Wilder Museum and Tourist Center
Walnut Grove, Minnesota 56180
Laura Ingalls Wilder Park and Museum
Box 43
Burr Oak, Iowa 52131