BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ESSENTIAL
AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE
Lisa Librarian
Clarence was a smart kid - he knew it was warmer to sleep in the middle of the shared bed with his siblings, and he was strong and helpful - when he was only 6 he could already milk the cows, harness the workhorses and carry bales of hay. But on his first day of school, his teacher thought he was in the wrong grade because he was a big kid and embarrassed him by asking him to spell his name. Clarence ran out of school. Soon after that day his father was blinded in an accident and Clarence was needed to run to the farm. Clarence never returned to school or learned to read - it was a big secret he carried with him, telling only his wife, until he was in his 90s and his wife passed away. Time to let someone else know the big secret - his daughter, a teacher.
This true story is inspiring! Beautifully illustrated by Mathilde Cinq-Mars, the story's focus is on all the great things Clarence did, running a farm, binging a logger, and a father, but ultimately without someone to read for him, Clarence needed help. This touching picture book does not judge or criticize Clarence, but ends with an author's note about Clarence (and a picture of him) along with statistics of how many people in Canada and the United States are illiterate, as well as global stats about schooling. A must read in story time.
Lisa Librarian
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