“The most terrible thing that could happen to a person is what happened to the four little girls in that church.”
Watsons Go to Birmingham - 1963 | 
“The most terrible thing that could happen to a person is what happened to the four little girls in that church.”
You could use this book in a classroom setting to introduce the history of segregation and racism as well as sharing the story of the bombing of the 16th street baptist church
pickI thought this book was a great book to introduce segregation and racism while including humor!
Great story about the battle for civil rights in the country following a very likable family
“I can‘t tell you how surprised I was. I mean, you always hear about the good ol‘ days and how things used to be better and all, but I‘ll yell you what: they weren‘t.”
pickThis book follows the Watson family as they travel from Michigan to Birmingham during the civil rights movement. The family witnesses terrible tragedies along the way in their fight for freedom.
“You have to be brave, but you have to be smart,too.”
I would use this book if it aligned with our curriculum and our topic for the week
so-soI liked how this was told from the young sons POV. It was an interesting read and had important themes
pickA great book. I read this to/with my students every year and they can‘t get enough. I really get into too acting out all the parts because I feel like that‘s the only way to do it right. An entertaining look at a family living in our nation during a very difficult time in our nation‘s history. Everyone should read this.
pickA book every teen should read! Relatable characters, humour mixed with big issues, historical references. Loved it.
“It‘s not wonder the neighbors called us the weird Watsons behind our backs”
pickOne of my all time favorite books. So good at teaching children about this time period and does so in a very kid friendly way. Definitely would recommend for middle childhood.
I don't think they're sick at all, I think they just let hate eat them up and turn them into monsters.
Byron getting his tongue stuck to the van is absolutely hilarious.
pickA powerful book about events that took place in the civil rights movement and the hate the African American community faced during this time. The story adds in laughs and fun moments, but the story shows the true nature of the hate and violence that was going on. Such a powerful book.
A story about a family that travels from flint to Birmingham, Alabama to visit their grandmother. When they arrive to Birmingham they are faced with the reality of the civil rights movement in 1963.
Back to work this week and my final year of my masters starts next week. 😥 I love teaching, but not much beats summer break with plenty of reading time.
#teachersoflitsy
pickPerfect balance of laughter and tears, superb.
On today‘s episode of my podcast, Renée Hicks of the Book Girl Magic community makes her second appearance, this time for a conversation about The Watsons Go to Birmingham - 1963. We discuss the way this award-winning book portrays race, family, bullying, class, and so much more. ? Link to listen in my bio!
Should be in every class library.
I am currently reading I am Nujood, Age 10 and Divorced. I will tag when I am finished. I think this would fit the prompt perfectly for outside the US.
#IntegrateYourShelf @ChasingOm @Emilymdxn
1. I have so many, but I'm going to choose Watsons Go to Birmingham.
2. Yes Louise Erdrich's The Round House (adult - 5 stars) and The Birchbark House (children - 4 stars) come to mind.
#Two4Tuesday @TheSpineView Beautiful graphic.
@Mogoeg @Lynnsoprano do you want to play?
Classic story of a family heading to Birmingham to visit Grandma with unexpected consequences
#vacation
#boundtogetherjune
@Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks @OriginalCyn620
pickThis novel takes place in 1963, AKA a turning point in American history. The civil rights movement was sweeping the nation, especially in the south. This book follows The Watson‘s on their road trip to the south to visit their grandmother. The family encounters exactly what you might expect, but what the lesson they leave with is more powerful. #UCFLAE3414SP20
This Newberry HF novel is a must-read! The author does such a wonderful job capturing African-American life in the 60s. It feels like a roller coaster, but reading this is worth it, IR. One UDL & El strategy is highlight patterns, critical features, big ideas, and relationships (3.2) & 42. have students use timelines to arrange and sequence important facts and information. Extension activities: https://nobodybutcurtis.com/resources #UCFLAE3414SP20
pickIt was the summer of 1963, when the Watsons took a road trip from Michigan to visit Grandma Sands in Alabama. But Birmingham, Alabama was very different from where they came..and the bombing incident of the 16th Street Baptist church that summer offered them a glimpse of the difficult race relations during the Civil Rights era. A very good read, it‘s also about the coming-of-age of the two Watson brothers. My final book read for #MiddleGradeMarch.
“I don't think i'll ever know what to do when I'm grown up.“
This is a good book to read to your classroom over time as in a couple of chapters a day. It greatly shows what life was like for African Americans back in the 1960s which is great to discuss with your class when talking about Civil Rights and Slavery.
pickThis historical fiction book is about a black family living during the civil rights time period. They live in Michigan but travel to Alabama to visit their grandmother. It is a great book showing what life looks like for an African-American family in the 1960's. The narrator is telling stories that relate to the present. This story accurately shows what life was like for them back then. It's blended well with fiction and nonfiction to tell a story
pickThis book made me laugh & cry. The Watson family is fictional, w/ the characters based on the author's family. 2 passages struck me hard, the one above from the epilogue, & while encouraging his little brother after the bombing in Birmingham to "keep on stepping", Byron explains that although the world is not perfect, he has to keep moving on. The effect of the bombing on Kenny I know I've felt w/ what's going on in the world. #bfcr2 #justbookit
As I'm reading this, it struck me that a lot of socially motivated books were sold as children's books. Uncle Tom's Cabin, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Oliver Twist, Little Women. What are some of your favorites that have more meaning as an adult?
“There's one good thing about getting in trouble: It seems like you do it in steps. It seems like you don't just end up in trouble but that you kind of ease yourself into it. It also seems like the worse the trouble is that you get into, the more steps it takes to get there. Sort of like you're getting a bunch of little warnings on the way; sort of like if you really wanted to you could turn around.”
Historical fiction. This is a wonderful book for older children and definitely a book I‘d like to finish as it is considered such a classic.
pickThe Watsons Go to Birmingham— 1963 by Christopher Paul Curtis, 1995. This is a wonderful and loving storing about an African American family living in 1963. The story is funny and yet moving all at the same time.
pickI listened to the audiobook and it was well worth the library hold wait. Levar Burton can do NO wrong! And it's an extra bonus whenever he reads an amazing story. In it, you learn about the black migration from the south to the north as well as some historical events in the American Civil Rights movement. An informative and fun read.
pickNewbery award winner, The Watsons Go to Birmingham (HF) is great for (LC) upper elementary students or early middle school students. The novel tells the story of an African American family who visits their grandma in Birmingham, Alabama. Follow along with this story, but be prepared to grab some tissues! #LAE3414SP19
