Author: Christopher Paul Curtis
Title: The Watsons Go to Birmingham-1963 Publisher: Bantam Doubleday Dell Publishing Group, Inc., 1995
Grade Level: 5th & up
Summary: Follows the story of the Watson family as they struggle not only as a family, but to understand race relations of the South in the 1960s.
Strengths: The Watsons are a great family! They are loud, funny, and work through conflict together. I think most people can relate to the Watsons, either in a specific relationship or conflict that they must solve. The message about family is strong throughout the book, as well as the need to persevere, which is such an encouraging message to children. The Epilogue which focuses on the historical background of the book is chock full of useful information that helps place this book in context as well as may spark an interest for further research. The short chapters are also a plus, making this book reachable for a wide range of readers.
Concerns: Considering the historical context certain references and language choice may be controversial for some children and some families. The use of “crackers” or “Nazi dinosaurs” may be offensive. Particularly sensitive children may find the chapter on attempting to burn Byron for disobeying the rule about matches or the church bombing in Alabama may be too upsetting for younger children or sensitive children. An overall awareness of the material is necessary.
Classroom Use: This book would be a great addition to any classroom library. It would also be a great read aloud during a study of the Civil Rights Movement. This book may even encourage children to further study racial discrimination in the South during the 1960s.
*1996 Newberry Honor Book
* 1996 Coretta Scott King Honor Book
**many other literary awards
(image from Amazon.com)
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