Background Information
Though she was born in Jackson, Misssissippi in 1943, Mildred Taylor was raised in Toledo, Ohio where her father believed the family could live a better life. As she grew up, she gained her knowledge of the South through frequent visits and the stories told by her family, especially her father. In the dedication Taylor includes in Roll of Thunder Hear My Cry, you can sense the influence he had upon her life and writing.
Taylor attended the University of Toledo, joined the Peace Corps, and eventually earned an M.A. from the University of Colorado. Her writings for young adults have earned her numerous awards.
Appropriate Texts and Related Activities
Since I have already discussed Taylor and the works I will use, this section will be brief. Portions of Roll of Thunder along with The Friendship, The Well, Song of the Trees, and Mississippi Bridge will be read to the class and discussed together. Unlike Roll of Thunder, the last four are relatively short stories involving many of the same characters found in the novel.
Though Taylor's works are geared for slightly older children, I have found that, with strong teacher guidance, they are successful with third graders. Discussion will stress family relationships, the importance of church and community, relationships with the white community, and the historical setting in which events take place.