Summary
Lil Alan and his family go on a road trip to visit his Granny and extended family. He worries what he will share at the reunion as they take a tractor ride, eat together, and go to church. He decides to honor his grandparents who raised their family there and the generations before him who have been there since slavery. They celebrate their strength amidst so much hardship before hugging, saying goodbye, and returning home.
Theme(s):
Family, History, Generations
Personal Response
I think this book is a kid-appropriate, powerful way to explore how America’s history with slavery and discrimination has impacted families and should be remembered to honor the people who have persevered through so much injustice and hardship. The joy of family and visiting relatives is relatable even if families do not have a similar background. This book reminded me of The Relatives Came with similar themes, but this story added depth.
Teaching Ideas
This book could be used at the beginning of the year to help students learn more about their identities – their families, their history, and how history has impacted their families. It could also be used in social studies to discuss how historical events like slavery, Reconstruction, and Jim Crow laws are related and have impacted life today. Lastly, students can compare and contrast their family experiences to those in the book.
Recommended Reading Level
Grade 02, Grade 03, Grade 04
