Patricia Polacco's current book, January's Sparrow, is a painful reminder of an ugly chapter in America's history. Ms. Polacco's illustrations beautifully and horrifically portray the story of the Crosswhite family and their quest for freedom. The story begins in Kentucky in the 1840's. The Crosswhite family is potentially going to be broken up by a slave trade. They decide to leave for Canada but settle in Marshall, Michigan. After leaving, Sadie realizes she has left her wooden sparrow, a gift from her beloved January Dunn. When the sparrow mysteriously appears at her house, concern grows that slave trackers have found them. The Crosswhite's and Marshall come together to face this threat.
I must confess that Patricia Polacco is my favorite children's atuhor. Her gift for words and pictures is unparalleled. I would recommend this book for children in third grade and up. The pictures and story offer a graphic depiction of the despicable actions of this era. However, it also shows the passion behind the Underground Railroad.
Educators could use this book as a support element during Black History Month (February). Other ways to integrate would be through research of the Underground Railroad, a timeline of the Civil War, methods of transportation duing the 1800s and geography. Finally, this book is told from a dialect appropriate from slave narratives, another option for study.
Check it out at your public library today!
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