A. LaFayeBesprekingen

This story follows a young POC girl who has big dreams of being a ballerina. She shows explores all ways of pursuing ballet by reading books, trying on her mothers ballet shoes, and teaching her friends ballet moves. She shows great amounts of perseverance as runs into difficulty is pursuing dance. The illustrations that go along with this book I love as they follow this young girls love for dance and show diversity with friends and classmates. I really enjoy this book and think it would be a great book to have in my primary classroom library to show themes of perseverance and to follow dreams.

Fabulous watercolor illustrations. Just gorgeous.

poor - Aunt Naomi

Growing up in the 1950s, Sylvia Townsend loved every kind of music and every kind of dance. When she saw a performance of Swan Lake on television, she decided that she needed to learn ballet, but her parents couldn't afford lessons. Aided by the librarian staffing the bookmobile which would visit her neighborhood, Sylvia began to teach herself about ballet, eventually going on to show some of her friends the steps. When a teacher stepped in with an offer to pay for lessons, it seemed that Sylvia's dream had come true, until a painful reality intruded: the local ballet schools did not want to take an African-American pupil. Ballet was for white girls. Refusing to give up, Sylvia continued to dance, eventually winning the opportunity to try out with Madame Sawicka, a Russian emigre ballet instructor who agreed to take her on as a pupil. Eventually, Sylvia Townsend would indeed become a ballet dancer, and would open her own dance school in the San Francisco Bay area...

I have read and enjoyed a number of picture-books illustrated by Lea Lyon - Peggy Moss' Say Something, Genevieve Petrillo's Keep Your Ear on the Ball, and others - but Ready to Fly: How Sylvia Townsend Became the Bookmobile Ballerina is her debut as an author, and I was interested in it for that reason. It is one of a number of inspiring picture-book biographies of ballet dancers that I have read in the last few years, and it tells an engrossing tale of a young girl who never gave up on her dream, no matter the challenge. Whether it was poverty, the lack of proper instruction, the racism that kept her out for a time - Sylvia Townsend met every obstacle with determination, working hard and persisting. I appreciated the brief foreword from Townsend herself, in which she communicates the message that children have their own talents, and have the potential in them to make their dreams a reality. I also appreciated the back matter, which gives more information about Townsend and about bookmobiles, which have had such a positive impact on people of all walks of life, all over the country. The accompanying artwork here from illustrator Jessica Gibson is colorful and cute, in a digital, cartoon-style way, but I found myself wishing that another artist had been chosen. There's nothing wrong with the visuals, but I think a different style of art might have been more appealing, in conjunction with the story. Tastes vary of course, so take that as you will. This would pair nicely with a picture-book biography of another ballet dancer - Misty Copeland's Firebird, Maria Tallchief's Tallchief: America's Prima Ballerina, Krystyna Poray Goddu's An Unlikely Ballerina - and it would also work very well with other titles about bookmobiles and traveling libraries - Gloria Houston's Miss Dorothy and Her Bookmobile, Jeanette Winter's Biblioburro: A True Story from Colombia, Margriet Ruurs' My Librarian Is a Camel: How Books Are Brought to Children Around the World. Recommended to young ballet enthusiasts, and to picture-book readers looking for biographies of dancers and/or people overcoming great challenges to succeed.½

This book is the story of Dede and her family, poor African American sharecroppers working for a Caucasian landlord. The family dreams of owning their own land, but it’s hard to save up the money. Dede works hard shining shoes, her family sells cotton, her mother sells dresses, and her father sells furniture. Dede does a kind deed for a stranger, and their fortunes change, allowing them to pay off their debts and finally buy their own farm in Kansas.

The story was very realistic, but it didn’t seem as cultural as I expected. The story is one I’ve heard many times, usually about poor white farmers who want to have their own land. This book paints a very pretty picture of a time when things were very hard, and an African American family would not have been treated as kindly as this one was, and though I know we want to look toward the ideal, it’s also important to have historical accuracy. I guess my main issue was that the book could have been about anyone. The author could have put any race or ethnicity into the book and it wouldn’t have changed the story at all.

Home. A place a slave probably never truly felt a sense of. When they were free, they could leave, but freedom without momma and being a young boy has Gabe bound with fear. Not free. I imagine myself looking for my Rosie Lee, I'd feel hopeless, distraught, lost, and wondering. Not at home. Not free.
The only way for little Gabe to be welcomed home and discover the freedom that came with the Freedman's Bureau will be when he find his Rosie Lee. Little glimpses of hope may come here and there, but he won't stop looking for the momma that's looking for him.½

Sylvia wants to be a ballerina but financial and cultural circumstances prevent her from realizing her dreams. That is, until one day when she gets the idea to check out books from the book mobile and teach herself “how to fly”.
This book is recommended as a read aloud both in preschool storytimes and K-2 outreach. The multicultural story presents both the dreams and struggles of a young ballerina. Children will enjoy the story and the beautiful color illustrations. The content inspires talk about inequality in a very basic form.

This was a great story about Gabe searching for his mother after the Civil War. Many black families were separated during this period, yet Gabe was determined to find her. He remembered exactly how his mother looked and smelled and asked all around for her. After reading the story, I was able to also feel that same happiness and relief that Gabe felt once he was back with his mother.This is a great story that can teach students about determination and relationships with their family.

This book is primarily about a family dealing with traumas and the demons of their past. The main character, Nathaniel James Peal's family (the Peals) had his leg completely shattered and broken by a wagon wheel in the middle of a thunderstorm, and his leg would forever be damaged and he forever crippled. Their youngest and only daughter, Missy, chocked on a piece of bread while being watched over by a woman unrelated to the family. They had moved all around starting in the prairies of the west, then moving to Chicago, and ending up in Nebraska. Missy had passed when they were in their apartment in Chicago. While in Nebraska, the Peals has loaned money from the bank, started another farm, and 'adopted' a child named worth. He was brought home from the station by Mr. Peal, and was

This story was set right after the Civil War ended. It's a story of a young boy's journey to find his mom after the slaves were all freed. It takes him a long time to find her but he never gives up hope or the thought of enjoying freedom with his mom. I like this story because it shows kids that everythinng wasn't magically better once the war ended and the slaves were freed. Many families were seperated and didn't have anything but the clothes on their back. It's nice because this story is about a serious time in history that had a lot of heartbreak but the author chose to tell a story of a happy ending.

This is about a boy named Gabe looking for his mother, Rosie Lee, after the Civil War. Gabe goes on an adventure to find her and meets many people on the way that influence him. I think the illustrations are beautiful and they remind me of paintings. I'm really happy he found his mother. I'm sure there were so many people who couldn't find their loved ones during that time and it's luck and determination that helped Gabe. He didn't give up in the end and that's inspiring.

I thought this book was okay. I don’t think I would read it often but I do think it’s a great tool to use in a classroom when talking about some of the difficulties the Reconstruction Era posed on African Americans, particularly children. I think it’s a good introductory book on Reconstruction.

The Civil War has ended, but Gabe's journey has not. He is looking for his mother who was sold into slavery. He walks through every month, determined to find her, and finally, he does.

This funny story features a black kid. Buy it now! Ok, a little more information.

Have you ever met one of those kids that just pushes all the boundaries... but they're such cute little stinkers you can't help but laugh even when they're driving you crazy? That's Bartholomew Botts and he LOVES pets. Naturally, he wants to share this love with his classmates so he brings along his newest pet, Ferdinand the frog. This does not go over well, especially in art class, and especially with the teacher, Mr. Patanoose. "No frogs in school!" So the next day Bartholomew brings a salamander - after all, it's not a frog... "Keep your amphibians at home!" So Bartholomew brings Horace the hamster. He's not an amphibian...

Bartholomew works his way through the animal kingdom and Mr. Patanoose works his way through an ever-diminishing supply of patience until Bartholomew finds his way around the last blanket prohibition, "no more of YOUR pets" and all ends happily for teacher, classmates, and animals.

Cheery cartoons show a lanky, white male teacher with absurdly large red glasses, a diverse (albeit unrealistically small) classroom of 8 children, and a fun assortment of cheeky animals.

Verdict: This is a top pick for a silly storytime - and to teach kids a few animal classes like rodents, amphibians, and reptiles. Recommended.

ISBN: 9781454926986; Published August 2018 by Sterling; Borrowed from another library in my consortium

This story is about a young boy named Gabe who is looking for his mama after the end of the Civil War. His mother's name is Rosie Lee and he travel across many states in search of her. Along the way he meets many other people who all have their own goals and dreams in mind. As Gabe meets other people on his journey, the story does a good job of showing how many people were separated from their families and searching for their loved ones during this time. The illustrations were really beautiful. Each picture reminded me of a painting. The colors and textures had paint strokes in it that gave it a wonderful style. Sometimes I felt that the illustration didn't match the action that was being described in the writing. This wasn't always the case though, and I didn't mind it so much. I was so happy to see Gabe reunite with his mother after showing so much hope, dedication, and strength. I also loved how the writing was completely from Gabe's point of view. This helped me feel closer to Gabe and his journey. This was a beautiful story that gives the reader a chance to take a closer look into moments of history.½

The book, "Walking Home Rosie Lee" by A. LaFaye, tells a story about a young boy named Gabe, who is searching for his mother after the end of the war. Some say she is free now, but it is all he can think about. He soon finds her in a hotel working. This book is amazing because it shows the bond that a mother and child can have. This book has colorful illustrations that do a great job of depicting the words in the book. For example, when Gabe is peering at his mother from the tree. He is crying and looking at his mother and crying. Reading this page, I could see he felt relief and happiness at finding his mother. I would read this book to my class because it can teach them about history and slavery, while showing family relationships.

Tons of excitement, giggles and surprises await in this hilarious book...which hopefully, doesn't spark too many ideas.

Bartholomew loves his pets and decides to give, at least, his frog the chance to visit school. But the frog doesn't stay in his pocket and soon, all sorts of chaos breaks out. The teacher has no choice but to state a new rule—no frogs in school. Bartholomew, however has many other pets which aren't frogs, who would love to see school too.

This is simply a delightful read. Bartholomew is so pure in his intentions that he never falls into a naughty boy role, although his actions are clearly not what the teacher meant. He's sweet and as adorable as his pets, even the more scaly ones.

This is one of those books where illustrations and text flow harmoniously together, the one supporting the other to jointly build a fun story. While giggles and chokes are sure to come with Bartholomew's logic, even more ensue when the animals hit the classroom. The kids' reactions and silliness is contagious. And all the while, the illustrations also offer a type of search. After all, these animals are quick and everywhere. The ending rounds everything off nicely and concludes with an idea which leaves everyone satisfied.

Summed up, this is a super cute picture book with a laughter inducing tale, which kids will easily fall into and enjoy reading again and again.

I received a complimentary copy and found this books so cute and humorous that I wanted to leave my honest thoughts.

I don't know how anyone could not give this five stars. Between the dialogue, the beautiful pictures, and the story line, this book is an incredibly good read. It begins in Alabama, goes to Tennessee, and finally Ohio over several months. The little boy, Gabe, is on the search for his mom, Rosie Lee, after the Civil War. Many black families were separated as they were being sold to different plantations. Gabe encounters several women who, from a distance, look like his mom. Through word of mouth and relentless determination, Gabe finally finds his mom exactly how he described her in the beginning--a scarf, gray eyes, baking a pie, and smelling like jasmine. The author said she found stories like this in every genre except children's books and mentioned the importance of highlighting stories like this. This is such a sweet story, and I'm glad the author decided to put these kinds of stories in the context of a children's book where experiences like Gabe's can never be forgotten.

A. LaFaye's book "Walking Home to Rosie Lee" was a very sad book with a happy ending, overall a beautiful book. This gives children the very sad insight to what it was like after the Civil War but mostly focusing on a little boy trying to find his mom. The same time the book is giving the students history on the war that changed America, it also has a hidden story about not giving up and how important family is. I probably would not read this story to my students, because it did make me really sad and touched me in a way that was the truth but not a good feeling. As a teacher, I do not know what students go home to or what their situation is with their parents, so this book can be very upsetting to children.

“Walking Home to Rosie Lee” explores the hardships of a young boy named Gabe who is trying to find his mother after he is freed from slavery. The Civil War has ended and all slaves are free, but Gabe’s mother had been sold to another family. He has no idea where she is. He walks for months to try to find Rosie Lee. Disappointed multiple times, he is almost ready to give up. Finally, he finds his mom and they are reunited!
I think this book showcases slavery in a different light. Many people believe that things got infinitely better when slavery ended; the reality of the situation is that African Americans still faced incredible hardships. I think this would be a good book to teach students about slavery because it lets them see the evils of slavery through a child’s eyes. I know how much it would hurt me to lose my mom, so this book really tapped into my emotions. I kept turning the pages, hoping that Gabe would be reunited with his mother.½

"Walking Home to Rosie Lee" shows what it was like for African-American children during the Civil War era. It focuses on the boy who has just got his freedom and is in search for his mother. The tale ends happily when he finally finds his long lost mother. I connected to the character when the author compares the boy's feelings to the mom he met.They were both longing for their loved ones. The plot develops in an almost cinematic way how it builds anticipation. The historical setting seemed accurate the way the illustrator drew their clothes and houses. Even the way the author wrote the story in the voice of an uneducated child. This story shines a light on the feelings of African-American children during the Civil War period.

The Civil War ends and a young boy, Gabe, sets out to find his mother Rosie Lee who was sold as a slave.
He walks for months with no sign of his mother. He meets many people and they try to help him find his mother. He hears about many Rosie's but they never end up being his mom. He hears about one last Rosie and sets out to see if it's his mom. He almost doesn't want to try because he's been disappointed so many times before. He debates outside the house by a tree to see if he should go to her. He sees a woman making pies and immediately knows he has found his mother. This is a beautiful story that shows one boy's dedication to finding his mother.

After the Civil War is over, Gabe starts his mission to find Rosie Lee, his mother. Gabe walks for days, weeks, months and still has no idea where to go. Through his journey Gabe meets many different people who all try and help him locate his mother. He is able to get small pieces of information about where different Rosie's have been seen or talked about all over. He continues to travel, place to place to try and find his mother. After many months Gabe hears about one more final Rosie, he is to the point where he does not even want to try because he has been let down too many times. He sits in a tree near the location of the potential Rosie and contemplates what he is going to do. He sees a lady making pies and he knows, he has found his Rosie. At last, mother and son are back together. This book is great! The story is so eye opening about the struggle families had to go through to reunite with their love ones. I think that the illustrations also really help with the story line, they let us see the insight to Gabe and his journey.

Interesting book a good fast read.