Wednesday, June 17, 2009

Our Gracie Aunt

Author/authors: Jacqueline Woodson (Jon J. Muth)

Type of emotional/crisis issues addressed: Neglect

Year of publication: 2002

Publisher: Hyperion Books

ISBN#: 978-0786806201

Age level: Lower Elementary

# of pages: 32

Quality of illustrations: Excellent

Brief summary: Beebee and her little brother Johnson are abandoned by their mother, sometimes for days at a time. A social worker comes to their house to check up on them and takes them to live with their aunt Gracie. Aunt Gracie is very welcoming and Beebee and Johnson come to love her.  They later visit their mother in the hospital, who says Gracie will care for them until she can.

Activity: Have students draw pictures of Beebee and Johnson’s life home alone and then with their aunt.  Compare the two pictures and talk with students about what was hard for the children and what good came from living with their aunt.

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