Happy Feet
Publication Information
Author:  Richard Michelson	Illustrator:  E.B. Lewis
Title:  Happy Feet	Date:  2005
Publisher:  Gulliver Books	City:  New York
ISBN, paperback:  0-15-205057-4	ISBN, hardback:
Recommended audience:
ABE/ABLE:   Yes	ESOL:   Yes
Family:   Yes	Young Adult:   Yes
Picture:
General Information:
Book Type(s):    historical fiction, easy reading
HSE Descriptor(s):    language arts - reading| social studies
Summary:
This very easy, lyrical text with gorgeous illustrations tells the story of the opening of the Savoy in Harlem, which is of special interest to the narrator "Happy Feet" because he was born on that night. The book not only educates the reader about the Savoy and its importance during the Harlem Renaissance, but also shows us that story telling can keep a memory alive and inspire future generations. The author uses lingo from the era as well as names of key players from the era to move the story along.
Teaching Ideas:
1) Ask students educate one another about the Harlem Renaissance by having them do further reading about one of the dancers mentioned in the text, or on a various topics related to that time in history using the database search on this site. 2) Ask students to think about and describe situations/places where people from diverse backgrounds or of various ethnicities come together in modern times to interact -- explore common ground.
Teaching Strategies:
Discussion Webs    http://literacy.kent.edu/eureka/strategies/discussion_webs.pdf
Reader's Theater    http://literacy.kent.edu/eureka/strategies/readers_theater.pdf
Keywords: select any link below for a list of resources which also have that keyword
Celebration Ethnic Groups > African-American > well-known people Emotions-Personal Issues > emotions > joy Family > oral history Geography > locations > U.S. states/regions > New York > Harlem History > region > U.S. history > Harlem Renaissance Music Family Art and Photography > art > dance

We welcome your comments