Author: Diane

Introduction and Summary

Barack Obama: Son of Promise, Child of Hope a New York Times bestseller written by Nikki Grimes and illustrated by Bryan Collier is a glimps of the life of the 44th president of the United States.  This childrens book is based on Barack Obama’s memoir Dreams From My Father.  The story is told by a mother who is trying to explain what her young son David, is seeing on the television.  David’s mother explains the path that a young Barack Obama “Barry” took to get to where he is today. There is a strong message of how hope deep inside of Barack persevered and that is how he became president. The story does a great job of explaining the different places that he lived and the many cultures that surrounded him. It explains how he was not sure of who he was because he didn’t look like his black father or his white mother, and how this difference could be a bridge for the future. With the election of a any president history is made. With Barack Obama as president there is also a great significance because he is the first African American to become president.

Curriculum Connections

This story can be used for several different lessons. It could be used as part of the studies of the presidents and during black history month. There is a great time-line of the important dates that have shaped Barack Obama. Students can draw out this time-line or use this as a guide to draw their own time-lines.  This book could be incorporated into K.1,K.9, 1.10c, 1.12c, 3.12 SOLs

Additional Resources

• Student’s can learn more about the 44th president of the United States at Organizing for America

• Find Activities and Games for Kids about President Barack Obama

General Information

• Book: Barack Obama: Son of Promise, Child of Hope
  
• Author: Nikki Grimes
• Illustrator: Bryan Collier
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing
• Publication Date: August 2008
• Pages: 48
  
• Grade Range: K- 5
  
• ISBN: 1416971440
  

“We are the children of Korphe.

Not so long ago we had our lessons outside.

We learned to write with sticks, on the ground.

But then Dr. Greg came to our village,

and he listened to the wind…”

Listen to the Wind, by Greg Mortenson, is a beautiful true story of a man who lost his way on a climb of K2 in Pakistan, but was rescued and nurtured back to health by the people of the Korphe village.  Mortenson knew he had to give something back to the people of Korphe so he asked the village wise man what he should do, the wise man told him “Listen to the wind” and when he did Mortenson knew what he needed to do…

The story Listen to the wind is told from the children of Korphe’s point of view. It is a very inspiring story of one mans gratitude and a villages strength to work together. The illustrations in the book are by Susan L. Roth. When making her collages she uses materials just like the women of Korphe do to make their clothing. Roth’s collages alone tell such a heart warming story.

At the end of the book there is a collection of photographs of the villagers journey through this story. It allows readers to see how true the story really is and it gives readers more insight to how the people of the Korphe village look and where they live.

Children of all ages will enjoy the story of hope and courage in this book. As students get older they can read the young reader’s version Three Cups of Tea: One Man’s Journey to Change the World…One Child at a Time or the adult version Three Cups of Tea: One Man’s Mission to Promote Peace, One School at a Time.

Curriculum Connections

Listen to the Wind is a great book that can be used in multiple areas of education. There are so many lessons being taught in this story from the one that Dr. Greg learns about giving back to those that help you to the lesson of community and how working together can accomplish some wonderful things. This book is a great tool to introduce China and the mountains that separate it from Pakistan. There is a great lesson in cultural differences and in economics with showing how different cultures have different wants and needs. The book can be used in an art class to show how everyday materials can be used to make beautiful clothes just as the people of Korphe do. There is a strong message of community service and a good way to introduce different charities like Pennies for Peace. Listen to the Wind is a true story and it can be used in a language arts lesson to talk about the differences between non-fiction and fiction. The book is written from the eyes of the children of the Korphe village and this can be used to have students write their own stories.

Virginia Standards of Learning for History and Social Science:K.3,K.4,K.5, K.7,K.8,1.4, 1.6, 1.7, 1.8, 1.10, 2.4, 2.5, 2.7, 2.8. 2.9, 3.5. 3.6, WG.1, WG.3 WG.8

Additional Resources

• Pennies for Peace Here students can learn about the charity and how each penny can make a big difference in another students life.
• Greg Mortenson This is a great website to get more information about the author and his mission to build schools after his attempt to climb K2 in 1993.
• Susan L. Roth Here students can learn more about the illustrator and other books she has done.

General Information

• Book: Listen to the Wind
• Author: Greg Mortenson and Susan L. Roth
• Illustrator: Susan L. Roth
• Publisher: Dial Books For Young Readers
• Publication Date:2009
• Pages: 32
• Grade Range: K-2
• ISBN-10: 0803730586
• ISBN-13: 978-0803730588