Dandelions by: Eve Bunting (fiction)

Eve Bunting's picture book tells the story of a family moving from Illinois across the Nebraska Territory during the nineteenth century. The pioneer family is traveling out west to claim free land. While, the promise of opportunity awaits them, conflicting emotions are also prevalent. Papa is excited to start their new life and is eager to build their new "soddie" (house). However, Mama, who happens to be pregnant, is distraught and lonely. There seems to be this tension between intrigue for change, as well as melancholy for the life left behind.

Zoe, the daughter, brings dandelions to their new home in attempt to brighten her mother's mood. She plants them on the roof and they flourish into a bright gold. This represents the journey the family had to make from leaving behind the familiar and starting anew.

I would use this book to model how we can relate to those generations before us. I would accompany the read aloud with an accountable talk, asking questions to guide student thinking towards relating to each Papa's, Mama's, and Zoe's feelings throughout different points in the story. I would ask them to give examples of when they felt uncomfortable about starting something new and following, I would ask them to give examples of when they thought the change they experienced was a good thing. Students could write or bring in an object to symbolize their experiences (similar to the dandelions).