Coming on Home Soon
Coming on Home Soon by Jacqueline Woodson; illustrated by E.B. Lewis.
This story takes place during WWII. Ada Ruth and her grandmother are left behind when Ada Ruth’s mother takes a job up north. They miss her terribly and each day that they don’t hear from her makes them miss her more. They adopt a cat, who helps ease the pain a little bit, but everyday they wait for the letter that will tell them when she’s coming on home. E.B. Lewis’ illustrations are beautiful and enhance the emotions of the story. Coming on Home Soon is a 2005 Caldecott Honor Book and a 2005 ALA Notable Book.
Suggestions for the classroom and for the home (these ideas are from Deanna McMillion, Graduate Student at School of Library and Information Science, LSU (Professor: Dr. Margie Thomas); Dorothy L. Grimsley, Instructor and Mallory Curley, Student at University of Louisiana at Lafayette) :
Classroom Connections Language Arts:
Letter-Writing • Have students pretend that they are Ada Ruth’s mother and have them write a letter to Ada Ruth, describing what it is like working far from home and family.
Art: Card • Have students design “Missing You” cards that Ada Ruth could send to her mother.
Social Studies • Students can compare/contrast life in Ada Ruth’s small community to life in the city of Chicago. • Have students locate Chicago on a map. Students can find pictures and information about Chicago and develop a bulletin board.
History • Read aloud When Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit by Judith Kerr and discuss ways that World War II affected American citizens. • Invite a World War II veteran as a guest speaker. • Have students research life in America during World War II. Discuss hardships of families on the “homefront” and the role of women during the war.
Illustrator visit-E.B. Lewis
E.B. Lewis will be visiting DFES on Wednesday, Feb. 7. He is the illustrator of a number of excellent books including a current South Carolina Children’s Book Award nominee (Circle Unbroken). Also, 4th grade is studying E.B. Lewis for our school-wide author study.
As his visit gets closer, I will be posting book reviews about his books, along with lesson plan ideas for our teachers and talking points for parents when reading these books at home.
Here are some resources to check out if you want to learn more about the illustrator:
Center for Children’s Books Featured Illustrator (1997)
Artwork of EB Lewis at the R. Michealson Gallery
Please feel free to comment!
Love,
Mrs. Byrd Fort
