Synopses & Reviews
A wonderful middle-grade novel narrated by Kenny, 9, about his middle-class black family, the Weird Watsons of Flint, Michigan. When Kenny's 13-year-old brother, Byron, gets to be too much trouble, they head South to Birmingham to visit Grandma, the one person who can shape him up. And they happen to be in Birmingham when Grandma's church is blown up.
Synopsis
The Newbery and Coretta Scott King Honoree about the Weird Watsons of Flint, Michigan from Christopher Paul Curtis, author ofBud, Not Buddy, a Newbery Medal and Coretta Scott Award Winner.
Enter the hilarious world of ten-year-old Kenny and his family, the Weird Watsons of Flint, Michigan. There's Momma, Dad, little sister Joetta, and brother Byron, who's thirteen and an "official juvenile delinquent."
When Byron gets to be too much trouble, they head South to Birmingham to visit Grandma, the one person who can shape him up. And they happen to be in Birmingham when Grandma's church is blown up.
AN ALA TOP TEN BEST BOOK
AN ALA NOTABLE CHILDREN'S BOOK
AN IRA YOUNG ADULT'S CHOICE
A NEW YORK TIMES BOOK REVIEW BEST BOOK
NAMED TO MULTIPLE STATE AWARD LISTS
"Every so often a book becomes a modern classic almost as soon as it arrives on bookshelves. That happened in the mid-'90s when Christopher Paul Curtis released his first book, The Watsons Go to Birmingham 1963." NPR"
Synopsis
Celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Newbery and Coretta Scott King Honoree about an unforgettable family on a road-trip at one of the most important times in America's history. This special edition makes a perfect gift and includes bonus content.
When the Watson family--ten-year-old Kenny, Momma, Dad, little sister Joetta, and brother Byron--sets out on a trip south to visit Grandma in Birmingham, Alabama, they don't realize that they're heading toward one of the darkest moments in America's history. The Watsons' journey reminds us that even in the hardest times, laughter and family can help us get through anything.
"A modern classic." --NPR
"Marvelous . . . both comic and deeply moving." --The New York Times
"One of the best novels EVER." --Jacqueline Woodson, Newbery Honor and National Book Award-winning author of Brown Girl Dreaming
Bonus Content
- New foreword and afterword from the author
- Map of the Watsons' journey
- Original manuscript pages and letter from the Newbery committee
- Personal essays celebrating the book's legacy by award-winning authors Jacqueline Woodson, Varian Johnson, and Kate DiCamillo
Synopsis
Celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Newbery and Coretta Scott King Honoree about an unforgettable family on a road-trip during one of the most important times in the civil rights movement. When the Watson family--ten-year-old Kenny, Momma, Dad, little sister Joetta, and brother Byron--sets out on a trip south to visit Grandma in Birmingham, Alabama, they don't realize that they're heading toward one of the darkest moments in America's history. The Watsons' journey reminds us that even in the hardest times, laughter and family can help us get through anything.
"A modern classic." --NPR
"Marvelous . . . both comic and deeply moving." --The New York Times
"One of the best novels EVER." --Jacqueline Woodson, Newbery Honor and National Book Award-winning author of Brown Girl Dreaming
Synopsis
During one of the most important times in the civil rights movement, one unforgettable family goes on a road trip in this Newbery and Coretta Scott King Honoree, from author Christopher Paul Curtis, recipient of the Coretta Scott King-Virginia Hamilton Award for Lifetime Achievement. When the Watson family--ten-year-old Kenny, Momma, Dad, little sister Joetta, and brother Byron--sets out on a trip south to visit Grandma in Birmingham, Alabama, they don't realize that they're heading toward one of the darkest moments in America's history. The Watsons' journey reminds us that even in the hardest times, laughter and family can help us get through anything.
"A modern classic." --NPR
"Marvelous . . . both comic and deeply moving." --The New York Times
"One of the best novels EVER." --Jacqueline Woodson, Newbery Honor and National Book Award-winning author of Brown Girl Dreaming
About the Author
Christopher Paul Curtis was born in Flint, Michigan, and grew up there. Bud, Not Buddy, his second novel, winner of the 2000 Newbery Medal and the Coretta Scott King Author Award, is available in a Delacorte hardcover edition.
Teacher Guide
NOTE TO TEACHERS
A message from the Author
The Watsons Go to Birmingham--1963 is the story of an ordinary family, but a family caught in an important moment in American history. By telling the story through the eyes of ten-year-old Kenny, I hope the book can be a tool for teachers to help students understand that history does not happen to strangers but to people just like them.
What a thrill the publication of The Watson's Go to Birmingham--1963 has been for me! I've been asked many times what the highlight of this experience has been and I don't have to think at all before answering. It occurred on February 15, 1996 at a reception given by the Flint Public Library when, to my complete surprise and delight, I was introduced by my third-grade teacher, Ms. Suzanne Henry. It wasn't the fact that in her introduction she gave me a gold star and told everyone that I was Room C's "Good Citizen of the Day" that affected me so--it was the surprise I felt on realizing that she had always been such an important and powerful part of my life. I hadn't seen Ms. Henry for more than 35 years, and I had spent only nine months of my life with her when I was 7 or 8--yet as she told everyone gathered in the library how proud of me she was, I found myself near tears.
What is it about some teachers that leaves such an impression? Why have I carried Ms. Henry and Mr. Alums and Mr. Nash and Ms. Davidson around with me for all of these years? I think children have a sixth sense about unconditional love and understanding and subconsciously store that feeling and thrive on it. With the sometime exception of family, that feeling of being deeply cared about comes earliest and most indelibly from teachers.
I'm thrilled that this book can be used in the classroom as teachers have always been such an important and powerful part of my life. I am honored and proud if I have in some way made the profession of teaching easier. Your gold star will be worn proudly on my forehead next to Ms. Henry's.
Thank you,
Christopher Paul Curtis
ABOUT THIS BOOK
A wonderful middle-grade novel narrated by Kenny, 9, about his middle-class black family, the Weird Watsons of Flint, Michigan. When Kenny's 13-year-old brother, Byron, gets to be too much trouble, they head South to Birmingham to visit Grandma, the one person who can shape him up. And they happen to be in Birmingham when Grandma's church is blown up.
TEACHING IDEAS
In the Classroom
Using The Watsons Go to Birmingham--1963 in the Classroom
The Watsons Go to Birmingham--1963 easily lends itself to various teaching styles and strategies. This guide suggests interdisciplinary connections to science, history, and geography, and provides instructional strategies (via reading and writing activities) that will allow you and your students to explore the basic elements of the novel: character, setting, plot, and theme. Students will identify naturally with the Watson children as they get to know them and will reflect on their own peer interactions. We hope you will find this guide useful in introducing your class to Christopher Paul Curtis' The Watsons Go to Birmingham--1963.
Suggested Classroom Activities
Pre-Reading Activity
Recreate the period of the novel, having students list what they know about the early 1960s (how people dressed, the mood of the country, people who were in the news, music that was popular, etc.). Then have them create a time line of events that took place from 1960-1970 so a historical connection can be made to the time during which this novel takes place. Ask who has records or tapes of 1960s music (especially African American music) that can be shared with the class. Later compare the music that has been brought in to music mentioned in the novel.
Thematic Connections
Humor--Humor is woven throughout the book. Examples include Byron's lips getting stuck to the side mirror of the car (pages 12-14), Daniel mimicking Moses Henderson (pages 4-5), and Byron's frozen people story (pages 51-54). Have students reread what they feel is the funniest passage. Then have them write a funny passage they would like to add to this novel. Artwork can be added and pages laminated and bound into a book.
Friendship -- Kenny becomes a real friend of Rufus, but realizes that he has damaged their relationship the moment he joins in laughing at Rufus on the bus (pages 43-46). Have students write about a situation in which they slighted someone without just cause, how they felt afterward, and what they did about it. How does Kenny's acknowledgment of his injustice help to correct it (page 45)?
Family and Relationships (Siblings) -- Have students compare and contrast the three Watson children by using a Venn Diagram or a web. What are the class's impressions of the three? How would you describe Kenny and Byron's relationship? How do Kenny and Byron change in the course of the novel (especially after the church bombing)? Have students write about their own sibling relationships and compare them to the ones depicted in the novel.
(Parental) Byron's mother threatens to set him on fire if he continues to play with matches (pages 66-74). This is an unbelievable punishment that she almost carries out. Was Byron's mother correct to choose such a harmful punishment? Was she bluffing to frighten Byron? How would it be viewed today? What should she have done?
Getting along with others -- Have students examine Kenny's passage about bullying (pages 58-63) and discuss alternatives to bullying. When should mediation intervene? How do you avoid such situations? See if the class can brainstorm to develop solutions.
Interdisciplinary Connections
History (Civil Rights) -- Life in 1963 was quite different for African Americans than it is today, especially in the South. The '60s were turbulent times in America. After reading the novel, have students find inferences that blacks and whites were treated differently (pages 5-6). Check reference books in the school media center for historical details of the Birmingham church bombing and look for the names of the young girls listed on the
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
http://www.city.net/countries/united_states/alabama/birmingham/
http://www.execpc.com/~mbr/bookwatch/cbw
http://www.ucalgary.ca/~dkbrown/ala96.html