What do you think?
Rate this book
Show Way
Winner of a Newbery Honor!
Soonie's great-grandma was just seven years old when she was sold to a big plantation without her ma and pa, and with only some fabric and needles to call her own. She pieced together bright patches with names like North Star and Crossroads, patches with secret meanings made into quilts called Show Ways -- maps for slaves to follow to freedom. When she grew up and had a little girl, she passed on this knowledge. And generations later, Soonie -- who was born free -- taught her own daughter how to sew beautiful quilts to be sold at market and how to read.
From slavery to freedom, through segregation, freedom marches and the fight for literacy, the tradition they called Show Way has been passed down by the women in Jacqueline Woodson's family as a way to remember the past and celebrate the possibilities of the future. Beautifully rendered in Hudson Talbott's luminous art, this moving, lyrical account pays tribute to women whose strength and knowledge illuminate their daughters' lives.
Soonie's great-grandma was just seven years old when she was sold to a big plantation without her ma and pa, and with only some fabric and needles to call her own. She pieced together bright patches with names like North Star and Crossroads, patches with secret meanings made into quilts called Show Ways -- maps for slaves to follow to freedom. When she grew up and had a little girl, she passed on this knowledge. And generations later, Soonie -- who was born free -- taught her own daughter how to sew beautiful quilts to be sold at market and how to read.
From slavery to freedom, through segregation, freedom marches and the fight for literacy, the tradition they called Show Way has been passed down by the women in Jacqueline Woodson's family as a way to remember the past and celebrate the possibilities of the future. Beautifully rendered in Hudson Talbott's luminous art, this moving, lyrical account pays tribute to women whose strength and knowledge illuminate their daughters' lives.
48 pages, Hardcover
First published September 8, 2005
14 people are currently reading
3,507 people want to read
About the author
Jacqueline Woodson
86 books8,988 followersI used to say I’d be a teacher or a lawyer or a hairdresser when I grew up but even as I said these things, I knew what made me happiest was writing.
I wrote on everything and everywhere. I remember my uncle catching me writing my name in graffiti on the side of a building. (It was not pretty for me when my mother found out.) I wrote on paper bags and my shoes and denim binders. I chalked stories across sidewalks and penciled tiny tales in notebook margins. I loved and still love watching words flower into sentences and sentences blossom into stories.
I also told a lot of stories as a child. Not “Once upon a time” stories but basically, outright lies. I loved lying and getting away with it! There was something about telling the lie-story and seeing your friends’ eyes grow wide with wonder. Of course I got in trouble for lying but I didn’t stop until fifth grade.
That year, I wrote a story and my teacher said “This is really good.” Before that I had written a poem about Martin Luther King that was, I guess, so good no one believed I wrote it. After lots of brouhaha, it was believed finally that I had indeed penned the poem which went on to win me a Scrabble game and local acclaim. So by the time the story rolled around and the words “This is really good” came out of the otherwise down-turned lips of my fifth grade teacher, I was well on my way to understanding that a lie on the page was a whole different animal — one that won you prizes and got surly teachers to smile. A lie on the page meant lots of independent time to create your stories and the freedom to sit hunched over the pages of your notebook without people thinking you were strange.
Lots and lots of books later, I am still surprised when I walk into a bookstore and see my name on a book’s binder. Sometimes, when I’m sitting at my desk for long hours and nothing’s coming to me, I remember my fifth grade teacher, the way her eyes lit up when she said “This is really good.” The way, I — the skinny girl in the back of the classroom who was always getting into trouble for talking or missed homework assignments — sat up a little straighter, folded my hands on the desks, smiled and began to believe in me.
I wrote on everything and everywhere. I remember my uncle catching me writing my name in graffiti on the side of a building. (It was not pretty for me when my mother found out.) I wrote on paper bags and my shoes and denim binders. I chalked stories across sidewalks and penciled tiny tales in notebook margins. I loved and still love watching words flower into sentences and sentences blossom into stories.
I also told a lot of stories as a child. Not “Once upon a time” stories but basically, outright lies. I loved lying and getting away with it! There was something about telling the lie-story and seeing your friends’ eyes grow wide with wonder. Of course I got in trouble for lying but I didn’t stop until fifth grade.
That year, I wrote a story and my teacher said “This is really good.” Before that I had written a poem about Martin Luther King that was, I guess, so good no one believed I wrote it. After lots of brouhaha, it was believed finally that I had indeed penned the poem which went on to win me a Scrabble game and local acclaim. So by the time the story rolled around and the words “This is really good” came out of the otherwise down-turned lips of my fifth grade teacher, I was well on my way to understanding that a lie on the page was a whole different animal — one that won you prizes and got surly teachers to smile. A lie on the page meant lots of independent time to create your stories and the freedom to sit hunched over the pages of your notebook without people thinking you were strange.
Lots and lots of books later, I am still surprised when I walk into a bookstore and see my name on a book’s binder. Sometimes, when I’m sitting at my desk for long hours and nothing’s coming to me, I remember my fifth grade teacher, the way her eyes lit up when she said “This is really good.” The way, I — the skinny girl in the back of the classroom who was always getting into trouble for talking or missed homework assignments — sat up a little straighter, folded my hands on the desks, smiled and began to believe in me.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 520 reviews
February 19, 2022
And Mama loved this baby us. Yes, she loved this baby up.
A tribute to the generations that have gone before showing so many the way to freedom. Woodson begins six generations back with Soonie's Great-Grandma who was sold at the age of seven. She had to leave her ma and pa behind, but took a scrap of muslin with her as well as needles and thread dyed bright red with berries from the chokecherry tree. Sewing skills are passed down as each mama loves her baby up. A quilt sewn with stars and moons and roads provide a map for those escaping their chains. Filled with history and hope, this is a wonderful book to share in February and all year long.
A tribute to the generations that have gone before showing so many the way to freedom. Woodson begins six generations back with Soonie's Great-Grandma who was sold at the age of seven. She had to leave her ma and pa behind, but took a scrap of muslin with her as well as needles and thread dyed bright red with berries from the chokecherry tree. Sewing skills are passed down as each mama loves her baby up. A quilt sewn with stars and moons and roads provide a map for those escaping their chains. Filled with history and hope, this is a wonderful book to share in February and all year long.
October 30, 2023
Beautiful book that looks at the quilt that makes up family - all the good and bad that we must remember and pass on to future generations. Really made me think about my connection to my own family; sometimes we all get so busy we forget and do not make the time to connect. A book that will give you much to think on.
September 8, 2017
Love this author, so when I saw this book in our school's library I had to read it to them!
She does a great job telling a story through history from slavery all the way to today.
She does a great job telling a story through history from slavery all the way to today.
February 5, 2018
My second book this month about African American quiltmaking and oral tradition. With stunning illustrations by Hudson Talbott, the story tells how certain quilt patterns may have guided runaway slaves along the Underground Railroad. I truly enjoyed meeting the remarkable women in Woodson's past.
February 4, 2017
I am crying. I need a shelf for perfect books.
December 16, 2021
I loved this story up. Yes, I loved this story up.
I am feeling a bit of GR Reading Challenge anxiety. I am determined to meet my goal of 100 books and NOT lower it (though we'll see how successful I am at this soon), which means that I need to finish 23 more by the end of the next two weeks... And so to that end, I scoped out my library's shortest available offerings and downloaded some of them that looked good. This was one of them. You can't get much shorter than 12 minutes long! (It's not cheating if there's a book record. I asked the GR Reading Challenge gods, and they confirmed.)
I will admit that I had, before reading this, no idea who Jacqueline Woodson was. I would have thought a romance writer, or contemporary fiction, maybe? Not that there's anything wrong with that, it's just not really my cuppa most of the time. But after reading this, I will definitely by scoping out more of her work.
This was SUCH a short story, but it was evocative and poetic (meant in a good way this time!) and sweet, while at the same time being about a subject that is so cruel and sad. This story is about Soonie, who is passed down the generational knowledge of how to sew quilts, and not just how to quilt, but how to sew hidden markers into her work to help runaway slaves know the way to safety and freedom. That's the Show Way.
Hiding messages or code or directions in textiles has a long history in itself, and I love the concept so much. That could be a story in itself, the making of a Show Way quilt, but this super short story manages to also encompass a lovely (if cruelly necessary) heritage passed down, and a strong family bond, even when members of that family are sold away and never seen again, as well as how oral knowledge is passed on and down, since many couldn't read. This was portrayed so simply here, in a story for kids, but conveyed so much and so powerfully the ache of having that as part of your familial history. It hurts my heart that it is part of our nation's history.
Anyway... if you have 12 minutes free, give this a listen. It's worth it. :)
I am feeling a bit of GR Reading Challenge anxiety. I am determined to meet my goal of 100 books and NOT lower it (though we'll see how successful I am at this soon), which means that I need to finish 23 more by the end of the next two weeks... And so to that end, I scoped out my library's shortest available offerings and downloaded some of them that looked good. This was one of them. You can't get much shorter than 12 minutes long! (It's not cheating if there's a book record. I asked the GR Reading Challenge gods, and they confirmed.)
I will admit that I had, before reading this, no idea who Jacqueline Woodson was. I would have thought a romance writer, or contemporary fiction, maybe? Not that there's anything wrong with that, it's just not really my cuppa most of the time. But after reading this, I will definitely by scoping out more of her work.
This was SUCH a short story, but it was evocative and poetic (meant in a good way this time!) and sweet, while at the same time being about a subject that is so cruel and sad. This story is about Soonie, who is passed down the generational knowledge of how to sew quilts, and not just how to quilt, but how to sew hidden markers into her work to help runaway slaves know the way to safety and freedom. That's the Show Way.
Hiding messages or code or directions in textiles has a long history in itself, and I love the concept so much. That could be a story in itself, the making of a Show Way quilt, but this super short story manages to also encompass a lovely (if cruelly necessary) heritage passed down, and a strong family bond, even when members of that family are sold away and never seen again, as well as how oral knowledge is passed on and down, since many couldn't read. This was portrayed so simply here, in a story for kids, but conveyed so much and so powerfully the ache of having that as part of your familial history. It hurts my heart that it is part of our nation's history.
Anyway... if you have 12 minutes free, give this a listen. It's worth it. :)
Read
February 22, 2022And Mama loved this baby us. Yes, she loved this baby up.
A tribute to the generations that have gone before showing so many the way to freedom. Woodson begins six generations back with Soonie's Great-Grandma who was sold at the age of seven. She had to leave her ma and pa behind, but took a scrap of muslin with her as well as needles and thread dyed bright red with berries from the chokecherry tree. Sewing skills are passed down as each mama loves her baby up. A quilt sewn with stars and moons and roads provide a map for those escaping their chains. Filled with history and hope, this is a wonderful book to share in February and all year long. *Reviewed by Darla from Red Bridge*
A tribute to the generations that have gone before showing so many the way to freedom. Woodson begins six generations back with Soonie's Great-Grandma who was sold at the age of seven. She had to leave her ma and pa behind, but took a scrap of muslin with her as well as needles and thread dyed bright red with berries from the chokecherry tree. Sewing skills are passed down as each mama loves her baby up. A quilt sewn with stars and moons and roads provide a map for those escaping their chains. Filled with history and hope, this is a wonderful book to share in February and all year long. *Reviewed by Darla from Red Bridge*
June 26, 2015
I just read and used in class Brown Girl Dreaming and one reader said this children's illustrated book would pair nicely with it, and she was right. Both are about legacy, family, history, civil rights, lovingly illustrated by Hudson Talbott, quilting, stitching her history and the history of civil rights. Show Way is the path, the road to the past and the future, guided by family and your people, documented in art and literature.
January 7, 2020
A wonderfully written story of Woodson's family and the impact of slavery that resulted in strength and power.
Written in dialect, the author's framework is rhythmically unique. At the age of seven, great grandmother is sold in auction. Framing quilts that showed the way in prints and paths, this is a history of freedom.
The words and the illustrations together create a powerful and wonderful story of resiliency.
Five Stars. Highly recommended.
Written in dialect, the author's framework is rhythmically unique. At the age of seven, great grandmother is sold in auction. Framing quilts that showed the way in prints and paths, this is a history of freedom.
The words and the illustrations together create a powerful and wonderful story of resiliency.
Five Stars. Highly recommended.
August 3, 2024
Visiting our daughter for her 24th birthday, my wife and I give her a picture book read aloud marathon (Book 8 of 11).
Jacqueline Woodson traces the line of women in her family tree from slavery in South Carolina to her own daughter today.
It's all very personal and very nice, but the poetic writing and frequent use of collage style in the art just didn't engage me.
Jacqueline Woodson traces the line of women in her family tree from slavery in South Carolina to her own daughter today.
It's all very personal and very nice, but the poetic writing and frequent use of collage style in the art just didn't engage me.
January 31, 2018
Fascinating and beautiful. Woodson once again tells a tale that kindergartners can access and adults will appreciate. I read this book to 7th and 8th graders, and none of them felt that it was out of their age range.
Woodson's story describes heritage that is passed down through the women of her family from the earliest slave days through the present, and the role that women have played in making a "Show Way," which is to say a way of communicating truth and freedom. Reading this book enriches your understanding of Woodson's middle-grade works, particularly Brown Girl Dreaming and Hush.
Newbery Comment
This is a good example of a book that needs a new category. It is not quite an early reader, so it doesn't merit a Giesel award, and it doesn't stand entirely on either its art (Caldecott) or its writing (Newbery). It's an excellent book that combines words and pictures for an audience of grades K-8, and we don't have an award for that at the present.
Woodson's story describes heritage that is passed down through the women of her family from the earliest slave days through the present, and the role that women have played in making a "Show Way," which is to say a way of communicating truth and freedom. Reading this book enriches your understanding of Woodson's middle-grade works, particularly Brown Girl Dreaming and Hush.
Newbery Comment
This is a good example of a book that needs a new category. It is not quite an early reader, so it doesn't merit a Giesel award, and it doesn't stand entirely on either its art (Caldecott) or its writing (Newbery). It's an excellent book that combines words and pictures for an audience of grades K-8, and we don't have an award for that at the present.
July 5, 2024
I want more, especially just how the quilts were used, because the implication is that they're maps. But not even in back matter does it say, because this is just an unpaged picture-book, narrative, no back matter. That being said, the pathos of family connections, preserved in stories (apparently) despite the slave owners' practice of breaking up families (which I suspect was intentional, not simply callous) is clear & moving, and the artwork appealing & powerful.
Amended - I missed a spread! Beverly alerted me, then I found the author reading the book on YouTube and see enough about how to read the quilt to raise my rating a star: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1r8Rt...
Amended - I missed a spread! Beverly alerted me, then I found the author reading the book on YouTube and see enough about how to read the quilt to raise my rating a star: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1r8Rt...
January 11, 2020
When I heard Jacqueline Woodson via the podcast Rewrite Radio read the words of this book in her Festival of Faith and Writing address, I knew I had to read this book. Woodson threads the story of her ancestry, telling about all the people who were enslaved and who sewed to show other people freedom. The art is truly phenomenal, but what I really loved was how this story shows that heritage is passed down to us both in what we do and who we are. Woodson shows how she learned strength and courage from her family, specifically the woman (yeahhhhh) dating six generations back; I believe it can show other people how they also come from strength and courage. Poignant and accessible.
May 30, 2021
Love love love this book, story and illustrations and history and everything about it.
December 9, 2018
Oh, Jacqueline Woodson. You have such a way with stories. This book is pretty close to perfect, tracing the lineage of an African-American family through the female line, all the way to slavery. The illustrations are beautiful and perfectly compliment the text. Love this book.
June 1, 2017
Matriarchal line as only Jacqueline Woodson would trace it. ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
December 28, 2017
A beautiful Caldecott Honor by the always talented Jacqueline Woodson. This one is the story of her family tree. I loved it!
March 6, 2019
A family history of a deep rooted and meaningful family tradition.
March 7, 2021
Beautiful writing and beautiful art. I was blown away by the combination.
March 23, 2020
This is beautiful. It weaves together the story of a family, through the maternal line, by tracing the show way quilt with routes to escape slavery, all the way to modern day. It is illustrated perfectly, and Woodson has gorgeous phrasing here, repeating how each mama "loved that baby up". It is starts with a piece of muslin, and ends with a piece of paper. Just perfect.
October 26, 2011
Show Way by Jacqueline Woodson is an absolutely stunning book. It tells the story of many generations of African-American woman from slavery to freedom to the civil right movement to present day. It begins with Soonie's great grandmother being taken away from her family when she is 7 to go to another planation. All she is given is a piece of muslin and some thread. She learns to sew from Big Mama who teahes her to quilt show ways. A show way is a quilt that helps slaves find their way to freedom. The book continues with each generation making these Show Ways even though many of them grow up in a time where slavery is not longer an issue. The book ends with the author telling her daughter the story and teaching her how to make a show way.
I found this book to be both moving an beautiful. Hudson Talbott uses a combination of chalk, muslin, and watercolors to create the beautiful images that are in this book. They flow so wonderfully with the words of the story that you almost have to pay just as much attention to the pictures as you do the words. For example, on the 9th opening of the book, Woodson talks about how Mathis May's husband gets shoot and killed for trying to run to freedom. The picture show the eat coast of the United states with a big red slash through it. In the red slash you see a man with a gun and two dogs chasing a man. The man that they are chasing looks like he just got shot.
The cut out cover was also very striking. You can see quilted images all around a diamond shape cut out but the cut out is in a bright and vibrant with a little African-American girl holding a candle in an orange background. The contrast of the vibrant on dark is very striking and really pulls you in.
Overall I enjoyed this book a great deal. The only problem that I found with it was that it was very long and took a very long time to read. Other than that, I found that it was a very moving and interesting book.
I found this book to be both moving an beautiful. Hudson Talbott uses a combination of chalk, muslin, and watercolors to create the beautiful images that are in this book. They flow so wonderfully with the words of the story that you almost have to pay just as much attention to the pictures as you do the words. For example, on the 9th opening of the book, Woodson talks about how Mathis May's husband gets shoot and killed for trying to run to freedom. The picture show the eat coast of the United states with a big red slash through it. In the red slash you see a man with a gun and two dogs chasing a man. The man that they are chasing looks like he just got shot.
The cut out cover was also very striking. You can see quilted images all around a diamond shape cut out but the cut out is in a bright and vibrant with a little African-American girl holding a candle in an orange background. The contrast of the vibrant on dark is very striking and really pulls you in.
Overall I enjoyed this book a great deal. The only problem that I found with it was that it was very long and took a very long time to read. Other than that, I found that it was a very moving and interesting book.
October 31, 2009
Summary-
This picture book is written for elementary school students. It tells stories of Jacqueline Woodson's family history. Starting many years before her time her family began using quilts to tell stories and pass along messages. These quilts have connected her family for generations. Her great-great-great-great grandmother began sewing quilts while she was a slave in South Carolina. Her quilts helped send messages to other slaves through symbols and pictures. Later, her family used these quilt squares as inspiration to move forward and cross boundaries to become something extraordinary. Woodson's grandmother was an educated and free woman. She was a teacher and had twins. Her daughters (Woodson's aunt and mother) followed in their grandmother's footsteps by trying to bring change for African American women and the quilt squares continued to give them inspiration. Now Jaqueline Woodson writes stories that have been inspired by those who came before her and she continues to sew story quilts today.
Review-
This story reminds all of us that we are where we came from. Woodson's family stories/quilts have helped her become who she is today, a remarkable woman who uses her words to inspire others. The illustrations in this story look almost like a collage along with quilt-like patterns throughout continuing the "quilt" theme. This is a wonderful picture book to help us discuss family history. One of my favorite things about the book is the cover :). It has a cut-out that gives a glimpse of a little girl lighting the way for others to follow, a wonderful symbol of hope that reflects many women in Woodson's family.
This picture book is written for elementary school students. It tells stories of Jacqueline Woodson's family history. Starting many years before her time her family began using quilts to tell stories and pass along messages. These quilts have connected her family for generations. Her great-great-great-great grandmother began sewing quilts while she was a slave in South Carolina. Her quilts helped send messages to other slaves through symbols and pictures. Later, her family used these quilt squares as inspiration to move forward and cross boundaries to become something extraordinary. Woodson's grandmother was an educated and free woman. She was a teacher and had twins. Her daughters (Woodson's aunt and mother) followed in their grandmother's footsteps by trying to bring change for African American women and the quilt squares continued to give them inspiration. Now Jaqueline Woodson writes stories that have been inspired by those who came before her and she continues to sew story quilts today.
Review-
This story reminds all of us that we are where we came from. Woodson's family stories/quilts have helped her become who she is today, a remarkable woman who uses her words to inspire others. The illustrations in this story look almost like a collage along with quilt-like patterns throughout continuing the "quilt" theme. This is a wonderful picture book to help us discuss family history. One of my favorite things about the book is the cover :). It has a cut-out that gives a glimpse of a little girl lighting the way for others to follow, a wonderful symbol of hope that reflects many women in Woodson's family.
July 6, 2016
This story is an account of the author’s lineage back through time over the course of 8 generations. It begins with a devastating image of the first girl in the lineage being sold into slavery at 7 years old as she leaves with only thread and muslin. She learns to quilt as a way to pass messages long., hence the title ‘Show Way’. Her daughter follows in her footsteps by learning to quilt, to share messages, but also by being sold into slavery at 7 years old. The story continues on through the generations showing how times change as future generations are born free, becoming teachers, marching for freedom, and ultimately culminating in the author laughing with her own daughter. The illustrations add depth by using quilt designs to reinforce the subtle, yet powerful text. Following the story through the generations may cause confusion for some readers, but the story gracefully tells the story of African Americans fight for freedom and equality. Good to use with grades 3-5 to analyze the struggles faced by African Americans, but also the idea that they held on to hope as the courageously persevered through unfair times.
March 10, 2017
The beautifully and colorful illustrations helped tell the story of generations of slave girls being sold from their masters plantations away from their families before the age of eight and their accomplishments. Fast forward ahead to Soonie born generations later and the hardships she and her family endured after the abolishment of slavery and how Soonie’s children, through her great-great-great grandchildren was able to experience freedom in the way she, Soonie, and the women before her could never imagine.
Show Way was a story told very well.
Show Way was a story told very well.
November 18, 2008
This book is absolutely beautiful. The illustrations are some of the prettiest. The colors, the designs... I think the illustrator used photo-realism because a lot of the paintings are a mix of photos and paint.
The story itself is beautiful, too. Woodson manages to say and show so much with so little words. It's no wonder this is a Newbery Honor book.
The story itself is beautiful, too. Woodson manages to say and show so much with so little words. It's no wonder this is a Newbery Honor book.
February 21, 2025
Show Way is a testament to the generations of Black families and cultures as they resisted and lived through the turbulent times of American history. It shows readers today that Black people can make a way out of no way. Using quilts to communicate during enslavement and to help those enslaved escape without speaking is indicative of a mighty proud people. Jacqueline Woodson writes an interesting story, which appears autobiographical, about how a family never forgets where they come from and how strong they can be in times of need and strife. Even in separation and in death, the legacy of the enslaved continues onward and upward. These stories are paramount to understanding who we are and that we are enough just by existing. Woodson's picture book is illustrated in the best of ways because it shows the raw pain, the beautiful relationships, and the immense joy of generations. This is a wonderful book to teach during the year with your students and to share in your own family.
December 15, 2024
A beautiful story of history and hope, family love and keeping memories alive.
October 27, 2009
Tracing back to her great-grandmother’s great-grandmother, Jacqueline Woodson (the author) explains to her daughter the significance of the art of quilt making in their family. Based on the real history of her family, the author weaves together a story of the fortitude of the women that came before her. By including her daughter to this line of females, she shows that the strength of such women will continue on to future generations. The author’s poetic phrases echo the story-telling traditions of slave songs and lullabies, carrying on the details of how each woman endured hardships, even after each woman has passed from this world. The illustrator’s multimedia art works well with the author’s words to convey the histories of these women. All together the poetry and art make for a very pleasurable and satisfying piece of historical fiction.
This book could be used in conjunction with various units of study. One way would be to have students study the history of quilts and their significance. Each set of students could take a different group of people who has lived in the United States, for example: Quakers, Amish, African-Americans, Jews of Eastern European decent, communities in the Appalachian Mountains, Pioneers, Mexican-Americans, or any other groups that would be interesting and relevant. Students could find out what materials were used, whether or not these traditions were passed on from cultures in other countries, what patterns were used, the significance of these patterns, and weather or not their quilt-making art is still around today. Students could look at the social, economic, and historical significances to each cultural group. Then presentations can be made allowing students to finally discuss and write about how similarities and differences among the cultures in their making and using quilts.
The subject of quilts can also be extended to math. In a geometry unit, the idea of tessellations—shapes and how they can fit together to form pictures and patterns—can be taught in a relevant, interesting manner. Students can learn/review geometric shapes, looking specifically at the shapes of quilt pieces. Students can study what shapes made up certain pattern. Often many smaller pieces made up a larger shape or picture. Sometimes a quilt block simply involved cutting a piece of fabric into a certain unique form such as a boy, girl, house, or other significant shape and using a sewing style known as appliqué. The teacher can teach how quilt-makers need to be able to measure, estimate, multiply and divide, and use fractions in order to figure out how much fabric and thread would be needed. The importance of uniformity among quilt pieces and blocks, as well as with stitching, would be stressed. Depending on the level of the students, angle measurement could also be taught in conjunction with the unit. As a final project, Students could make their own quilt. This could be done in groups, encouraging them to work together—just as quilt-makers often have done in the past—to make a quilt using everything that they have learned. This may not be a full-size quilt, but it should give the students a chance to practice and demonstrate knowledge of the use of math in making a quilt. The students can either sew the quilt or make a paper or mixed media version of a quilt, as long as it involves the steps of designing it, cutting out pieces, and physically applying them to a flat surface. This unit would give students a tangible way to learn about a significant, historic way people used geometry and tessellations to make functional art.
This book could be used in conjunction with various units of study. One way would be to have students study the history of quilts and their significance. Each set of students could take a different group of people who has lived in the United States, for example: Quakers, Amish, African-Americans, Jews of Eastern European decent, communities in the Appalachian Mountains, Pioneers, Mexican-Americans, or any other groups that would be interesting and relevant. Students could find out what materials were used, whether or not these traditions were passed on from cultures in other countries, what patterns were used, the significance of these patterns, and weather or not their quilt-making art is still around today. Students could look at the social, economic, and historical significances to each cultural group. Then presentations can be made allowing students to finally discuss and write about how similarities and differences among the cultures in their making and using quilts.
The subject of quilts can also be extended to math. In a geometry unit, the idea of tessellations—shapes and how they can fit together to form pictures and patterns—can be taught in a relevant, interesting manner. Students can learn/review geometric shapes, looking specifically at the shapes of quilt pieces. Students can study what shapes made up certain pattern. Often many smaller pieces made up a larger shape or picture. Sometimes a quilt block simply involved cutting a piece of fabric into a certain unique form such as a boy, girl, house, or other significant shape and using a sewing style known as appliqué. The teacher can teach how quilt-makers need to be able to measure, estimate, multiply and divide, and use fractions in order to figure out how much fabric and thread would be needed. The importance of uniformity among quilt pieces and blocks, as well as with stitching, would be stressed. Depending on the level of the students, angle measurement could also be taught in conjunction with the unit. As a final project, Students could make their own quilt. This could be done in groups, encouraging them to work together—just as quilt-makers often have done in the past—to make a quilt using everything that they have learned. This may not be a full-size quilt, but it should give the students a chance to practice and demonstrate knowledge of the use of math in making a quilt. The students can either sew the quilt or make a paper or mixed media version of a quilt, as long as it involves the steps of designing it, cutting out pieces, and physically applying them to a flat surface. This unit would give students a tangible way to learn about a significant, historic way people used geometry and tessellations to make functional art.
January 25, 2013
Show way is a story about nine generation of African American women who throughout the years has inspires each other with their courage, strength, family traditions and their dreams of freedom. The theme for “Show Way” comes from the lives of the author Jacqueline Woodson female ancestors on her mother side who were quilters and artists and freedom fighters. The illustrations in the book are vibrant colors and designed look like quilted pieces. These illustrations brought the text on the pages to life. The recommended age(s) for this book would be Primary (K-3rd grade),
Intermediate (4th – 6th)
Show Way won the following awards: Newbery Honor 2006, ALA Notable Book 2006 , NCSS Notable Book 2006 NCTE Notable Book 2006. The criteria for the Newbery Honor is that the book must have been published in English in the United States the previous year, that author must be a citizen or resident of the United States. The book must be considered for its theme, presentation (clarity, accuracy and organization), plot, characters, setting, and style, relate to a child audience, contribute to literature and must stand alone and not as a part of a multimedia presentation. Based on these criteria I can see how Show Way received the Newbery Honor Book award.
I enjoyed reading this book; it was easy to follow the story line from one generation to another and provided a clear picture how the journey of one ancestor help paved the way for the next generations. I would use the book Show Way in my classroom to have discussion and activities on family history, slavery and the Civil War. This book would this book with 11 years old for independent reading and with 6 years old student for read aloud. This book can be used with activities in language arts, science, math, art, and social studies.
I was able to find this book as a audiovisual which was ready by Ms. Diahann Carrol. I really enjoyed listening to the book and how it really came to life. By listening to the book I was able to close my eyes and bring it to life.
Here is the http address: vimeo.com
Intermediate (4th – 6th)
Show Way won the following awards: Newbery Honor 2006, ALA Notable Book 2006 , NCSS Notable Book 2006 NCTE Notable Book 2006. The criteria for the Newbery Honor is that the book must have been published in English in the United States the previous year, that author must be a citizen or resident of the United States. The book must be considered for its theme, presentation (clarity, accuracy and organization), plot, characters, setting, and style, relate to a child audience, contribute to literature and must stand alone and not as a part of a multimedia presentation. Based on these criteria I can see how Show Way received the Newbery Honor Book award.
I enjoyed reading this book; it was easy to follow the story line from one generation to another and provided a clear picture how the journey of one ancestor help paved the way for the next generations. I would use the book Show Way in my classroom to have discussion and activities on family history, slavery and the Civil War. This book would this book with 11 years old for independent reading and with 6 years old student for read aloud. This book can be used with activities in language arts, science, math, art, and social studies.
I was able to find this book as a audiovisual which was ready by Ms. Diahann Carrol. I really enjoyed listening to the book and how it really came to life. By listening to the book I was able to close my eyes and bring it to life.
Here is the http address: vimeo.com
February 27, 2013
Although the exact date of this historical fiction book is not specifically stated, it starts out during times of slavery and as the story is told we move through each generation of this family. The story is about a girl named Soonie and how her family came to be. Soonie's family has made "Show Way" quilts for many generations. The quilts contain messages that help slaves to find freedom. As each new generation is born they take something with them from the past. They are constantly trying to find a better life than the generations before them had.
In this story we see themes of bravery, family, love, literacy, and civil rights. It is a beautiful story featuring a strong family that did everything in their power to help those around them. The story is written in a semi-predictable format as each child of the new generation is born. The illustrations in this book, done by Hudson Talbott, are absolutely gorgeous and intricate. They are made done with mixed media. Each page is filled with emotional and vivid illustrations that allow the reader to understand the time period and connect with the characters as we follow through the story of Soonie's family. Some pages are filled with images of the quilt that connects so many generations of this family together. We get to hear and see a little piece of all these different lives from cover to cover.
I really enjoyed this unique story. It is different from many of the civil rights historical fiction books I have read in the past. I think it would be perfect for grades 3-8. Depending on what the teacher's purpose for using the book, it could easily be adapted for many age groups. Young students would need some background knowledge to fully grasp this story, but older students could read it on their own while learning about this time period. The story features strong women in this family and how they pass on their strength to each newborn daughter. I think that it is a powerful book to have in the classroom.
In this story we see themes of bravery, family, love, literacy, and civil rights. It is a beautiful story featuring a strong family that did everything in their power to help those around them. The story is written in a semi-predictable format as each child of the new generation is born. The illustrations in this book, done by Hudson Talbott, are absolutely gorgeous and intricate. They are made done with mixed media. Each page is filled with emotional and vivid illustrations that allow the reader to understand the time period and connect with the characters as we follow through the story of Soonie's family. Some pages are filled with images of the quilt that connects so many generations of this family together. We get to hear and see a little piece of all these different lives from cover to cover.
I really enjoyed this unique story. It is different from many of the civil rights historical fiction books I have read in the past. I think it would be perfect for grades 3-8. Depending on what the teacher's purpose for using the book, it could easily be adapted for many age groups. Young students would need some background knowledge to fully grasp this story, but older students could read it on their own while learning about this time period. The story features strong women in this family and how they pass on their strength to each newborn daughter. I think that it is a powerful book to have in the classroom.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 520 reviews