BASIC DOCUMENTATION
Book Title: Baseball Saved Us
Author(s): Ken Mochizuki
Illustrator/Photographer/Artist: Dom Lee
Publisher: Lee & Low Books Inc.
Copyright Date: 1993
Genre: Historical Fiction
Brief Annotation:
The story is based on the internment camps Japanese Americans were forced to live in during WWII and the racial prejudices that existed after the bombing of Pearl Harbor. The author presents the housing; eating and social situations surrounding the camps and how the American Citizens handled their captivity (both physically and mentally) while being detained by the U.S. Governement.
Your Rating (1-5) and why: 5
The story presents the American internment camp in a realistic fashion. The author illustrates the different effects (physical and emotional) captivity had on the people. The author also included the effects the bombing of Pearl Harbor had on the country and the peoples’ response toward other American Citizens. The ending was a perfect portrayal of the Japanese Americans making them become recognized as good citizens without violence. It also provides students a view of Japanese people of WWII as a group of people that weren’t just killers and helps prevent the stereotypes that existed during the war.
Readers who will like this book:
Those interested in sports history; baseball enthusiasts; students interested in WWII; Students interested in Japanese American history
Teaching Strategy from Yopp and Yopp:
Anticipation Guides p. 18-20
Anticipation guides are questions used the beginning of a unit and given again at the end of a unit to access student knowledge and views by comparing the answers from before and after.
I like the idea of using this strategy because teachers can assess the knowledge students have on WWII and the effects of Pearl Harbor on the American people. (this can naturally lead into a discussion/comparision on the effects of the bombing of the trade center towers and the reaction to Middle East American Citizens.
Question to ask about this book before a read aloud:
By looking at the cover:
Can you find anything in the picture that might give a clue to the setting of the story?
Where are the boys? What country?
(after mentioning jail because of the barbed wire)...predict their crime.
Optional, but noted as extra effort:
1. Interest Level (age): 8-10
2. Grade Level Equivalent (grade): 4.1
3. List awards"Choices"
Cooperative Children's Book Center (CCBC)
"Editor's Choice"
San Francisco Chronicle
Not Just For Children Anymore Selection
Children's Book Center (CBC)
50 Multicultural Books Every Child Should Know 2001
Cooperative Children's Book Center (CCBC)
Best Multicultural Title
Cuffies Award
Publisher's Weekly
Best Children's Books of the Year for 1998
Bank Street College of Education
Books to Read with Children of All Ages
Bank Street College of Education
"Pick of the Lists"
American Bookseller
40 Books about Sports for 2003
Cooperative Children's Book Center (CCBC)
Parents' Choice Gold Award
"Pick of the Lists"
American Bookseller
Recommended Title
New York is Book Country/ New York Public Library
You make a great case for using anticipation guides with this book. They are especially appropriate for beginning a content area study (as you pointed out) to assess what kids already know and what they're interested in learning more about.
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