Book Detail

Cloudmakers, The

Publication Information
Author:  Rumford, James Illustrator:  Rumford, James
Title:  Cloudmakers, The Date:  1996
Publisher:  Houghton Mifflin City:  Boston
ISBN, paperback:  0-395-76505-6 ISBN, hardback:  

Recommended audience:
ABE/ABLE:   Yes ESOL:  
Family:   Yes Young Adult:  
Picture:   Yes

General Information:
Book Type(s):    historical fiction, legends, tales and myths

HSE Descriptor(s):    social studies

Summary:
In A.D. 751 during a time of war, a Chinese grandfather and grandson have 7 days to prove that they can "make clouds" or risk being sold into slavery. The result is Chinese paper, which earns them their freedom and marks a turning point in human history.

Teaching Ideas:
This book belongs in text sets about legends, ancient history, or bookmaking (with Krensky's Breaking into Print and Fisher's Gutenburg, for example). Learners may want to explore the boundary between history and tales-- how real events become magnified and magical over time (like the tales of Hercules). The book would be great to use with a hands-on paper-making activity, including a discussion of chemical reactions. Learners may want to consult maps, one from the time of the book and another from the present. A focus on Chinese contributions to modern society might be interesting as well. Both the end note and the author's biography are worth reading. www.chinavista.com/discover.html

Keywords: select any link below for a list of resources which also have that keyword
bullet Emotions-Personal Issues > personal issues > individual > life choices > problem solving
bullet Family > grandparents > grandparent-child relationships
bullet History > region > world history
bullet Literature and Language > figurative language
bullet Literature and Language > storytelling
bullet Science > scientists/inventors
bullet Geography > locations > continents/regions > Asia


Ohio Aspire

Contact us

Ohio Aspire
p: 800.765.2897 option 2
p: 330.672.2007 option 2
f: 330.672.4841
ohiopdn@literacy.kent.edu

Explore more resources at:

Ohio Aspire
PDN Library