Book Title: Caddie Woodlawn
Author(s) and Artist(s)--if applicable: Carol Ryrie Brink
Publisher: Aladdin
Copyright Date: 1935
Selection Choice: Newbery Award Winner (1922-1970)
Brief Annotation: This book follows the adventures of an 11-year-old pioneer girl, Caddie Woodlawn, and her family, through the changing seasons. Caddie was an actual person: the grandmother of the author, Carol Ryrie Brink. The Woodlawns lived on a farm in western Wisconsin, just south of what today is Menomonie, during the last half of the 19th century. They had traveled to Wisconsin from Boston, with Caddie's father originally being from England. Caddie's adventures include run-ins with her Native American friend "Big John", rafting down the Menomonie River, and getting sleigh rides to the prarie school-house on cold winter days, amongst many others. At one point, she actually stops a possible war from breaking out between the pioneer men and the Native Americans. Caddies' tomboyish ways disturb her mother, but make her the apple of her father's eye. Her honest and virtuous character is shown well in many of her adventures.
Your Rating: 5/5
Readers who will like this book: Anyone who enjoys reading about different periods of time throughout history, or enjoys imagining what it may have been like to live long ago will appreciate this book. Girls who enjoy playing a little rougher than girls "ought to", or who may be considered a bit tomboyish, will enjoy this book. Caddie Woodlawn is a great role model for any girl, or really, any child. This book is aimed at children between the ages of 9-12. Most children enjoy exploring and going on adventures, so really, any child will like this book.
Question to ask about this book before reading: What are some ways in which your life may have been different 150 years ago? Who were the pioneers?
Question to ask about this book during reading: Why did Caddie feel so strongly about warning Big John and the other Native Americans? Do you think you would have made the same decision?
Question to ask about this book after reading: If you were a Woodlawn, would you have voted to stay in America or go back to England? Why? Why not? Why do you think they chose to stay in America?
Optional, but noted as extra effort:
1. Interest Level (age): 9-12
2. Grade Level Equivalent (grade): Grades 3-5
Use book wizard to help with the previous 2 areas
3. List awards: John Newbery Medal, 1936; Lewis Carroll Shelf Award, 1959.
Oh, I just love the cover of the book on your image. I think it might be the same version I read as a kid. And reading your summary makes me want to read Caddie Woodlawn aloud to my daughter--and even my son. I was a big historical fiction kid when I was little. I know we talked about the similarities between this book and the Little House on the Prairie books. I'm now remembering another potential "textset" title called The Courage of Sarah Noble. Have you read that one? Very good--and not too long.
ReplyDeleteYou are skilled at writing questions that invited engagement before, during and after reading. There's a lot of potential to do some drama activities with this book, recreating certain scenes, building miniature versions of the dwellings that settlers and native americans lived in--another passion of mine, as a teacher, was integrating social studies and language arts, so I'm all worked up here about this book. I have a video of Caddie Woodlawn somewhere. I used to show it to my class when we studied the Westward Movement.
Anyway, thanks for your detailed post. I wonder what you're reading next?