picture 23

Title:The Wall
Author: Peter Sis
Illustrator: Peter Sis
Readability Score:4.5
Genre: Diversity
Sub Genre: Non-Fiction
Awards: 2008 Caldecott and Robert Sibert
Theme: Living through troubling times.
Main Characters: Peter
Secondary Characters:
ISBN: 0-374-34701-8
Publisher:South China Printing Co. Ltd.
Publication Date:2007
Summary:This story is a real story about a boy who grew up right when the Soviets took control of Czechoslovakia. He recalls communist symbols and red flags everywhere. He recalls being asked to report about his own family and friends. Then he saw it- the Berlin Wall. This wall he recalls dividing the East from the West- the Iron Curtain was drawn. The were wars and talks of nuclear war. Secret police watching EVERYWHERE. Throughout the whole book- he continues to draw- he draws the things he is seeing, being influenced by. Some of his drawings could not be seen in public- he had to hide them. He recalls a time when things got better and he joined a band and things seemed better. Just when things were getting better- he saws Russian Tanks and their red- was everywhere. Everything went away- even the bands. Until the Beach Boys arrived! He begin to paint "dreams and nightmares." With the good- was also bad- but he dreamed of freedom- crazy dreams.The community got worse and his dreams got crazier. He wanted over that wall.
How would use: This would be used to teach students about the fear of war and how it affects others. We would talk about the Cold War, WWII and just how oppressed the people were in these days. This story if factual about a boy who was born during this time. The kids could also draw a picture of their own freedom and what it means to them.