Dear Mr. Rosenwald

Title: Dear Mr. Rosenwald

Author: Carole Boston Weatherford

Illustrator: R. Gregory Christie

Picture book for ages (approximately) 7 and up

Rating: 5 of 5 stars

Summary:

This book takes place in the 1920’s and 30’s and is based on the true story of the Rosenwald schools. The little girl Ovella goes to school in a one room school house with a leaky roof, creaky floor, and drafty walls. The community gets word that Julius Rosenwald, president of Sears, Roebuck and Co. is donating money to help build a new school but the community needs to make up for the remaining amount needed.

Opinion:

I love that this book is based on a true story. It makes it that much easier to believe and learn from. That there really was this poor African-American community and they really did raise enough money for a school through bake sales and small donations makes it that much more impressive and authentic. There is so much to learn from this story, quality lessons that make you think about the kind of person you want to be. There are a million questions you could ask yourself and others such as, why was it only the Black schools that were in such disarray? What is sharecropping and is it right? Why is it that people back then seemed to value education so much more than they do now? Why is it important that everyone get an education? It also brings up topics of kindness, determination, struggle, and heart.

The pictures in this book are not really my cup of tea, but that doesn’t mean they are bad. They are just a little bit more abstract than I like, but everyone needs to be exposed to many different types of art. Just because I don’t like them doesn’t mean I couldn’t have a student that really connects with them.

I would definitely use this book in my classroom, not only on my library shelf, but for all grades in genre studies and author/illustrator studies as well. This book makes you think, and we need more books like that in classrooms.