Sunday, June 2, 2013

Mentor Text: Red Kite, Blue Kite


Description from Amazon: When Tai Shan and his father, Baba, fly kites from their roof and look down at the crowded city streets below, they feel free, like the kites. Baba loves telling Tai Shan stories while the kites--one red, and one blue--rise, dip, and soar together. Then, a bad time comes. People wearing red armbands shut down the schools, smash store signs, and search houses. Baba is sent away, and Tai Shan goes to live with Granny Wang. Though father and son are far apart, they have a secret way of staying close. Every day they greet each other by flying their kites—one red, and one blue—until Baba can be free again, like the kites.

Inspired by the dark time of the Cultural Revolution in China, this is a soaring tale of hope that will resonate with anyone who has ever had to love from a distance.

 
This historical fiction picture book tells the tender story a young boy and his father. They communicate with their kites when his father is taken away. My students found this story very touching. They made strong connections with Gleam and Glow. I used this book with my Reading Response Menus, but our primary focus was theme and symbolism. Here's a sample from a previous post:
 
 

Go check out the cutie pies at Collaboration Cuties and see their great linky for mentor texts!


4 comments:

  1. Love! Yet another book I need to order!

    Thanks friend... and check out my newest post I put one picture up just for you!

    Christy
    Teaching Tales Along the Yellow Brick Road

    ReplyDelete
  2. I love a good symbolism book. Kids need lots of practice with this or they miss it. I am adding it to my list. :)
    Brandee @ Creating Lifelong Learners

    ReplyDelete
  3. I love Gleam and Glow! This would be a great book to add to my collection! You always know great books! This linky is getting very expensive!!

    Thanks for linking up dear friend...you're almost done with school, right?
    Amanda
    Collaboration Cuties

    ReplyDelete
  4. Great suggestion- the family relationship in the story makes this book look very engaging for students. I'll have to check it out.
    Thanks!
    Karli
    Creating a Thoughtful Classroom

    ReplyDelete

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...