Book Detail

Wild Boy, The

Publication Information
Author:  Gerstein, Mordicai Illustrator:  Gerstein, Mordicai
Title:  Wild Boy, The Date:  1998
Publisher:  Garrar, Straus and Giroux City:  New York
ISBN, paperback:  0-374-38431-2 ISBN, hardback:  

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

General Information:
Book Type(s):    true story, biography and autobiography

HSE Descriptor(s):   

Summary:
The author tells a very sympathetic account of the wild child of Aveyron, France, who was captured and studied in the early 1800's. Dr. Itard and his housekeeper become the family of this boy who never acquired all the traits of a "civilized" person.

Teaching Ideas:
Victor, the wild child of Aveyron, never learned to speak. Student might imagine that they are Victor and tell or write their life story. The Author's Note reports that Dr. Itard's teaching methods are used today in special education and Montessori schools. What did they learn from Dr. Itard? The topic of what constitutes civilized behavior is an interesting subject for discussion and writing. The book would provide an easier reading text to pair with the fictional account of the wild child raised by dolphins, captured and studied in contemporary America.

Keywords: select any link below for a list of resources which also have that keyword
bullet Education > research
bullet Emotions-Personal Issues > personal issues > individual > isolation
bullet Emotions-Personal Issues > emotions > kindness
bullet Emotions-Personal Issues > emotions > loss
bullet Emotions-Personal Issues > emotions > relocation, personal
bullet History > time period > 19th Century
bullet Family > family life
bullet Social Studies > anthropology > cultures > cultural customs


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