Module 3: Picture Book 8

A.   Author	Karen Ackerman
B.    Title	Song and Dance Man
C.    Illustrator	Stephen Gammell
D.   Readability Score	Lexile 760L,  DRA 38,  Grade Equivalent: 4.5
E.    Genre	Fiction
F.    Subgenre	Realism
G.   Theme	American History
H.   Primary and Secondary Characters	Primary: Grandpa, grandchildren Secondary: Grandma
I.      Awards/Date of Publication	Awards: Caldecott Award Winner Published: January 14, 2003
J.     Publishing Company	Knopf Books for Young Readers
K.   ISBN Number	0394893301
L.    Summary	Grandpa was once a great dancer on the vaudeville stage.  He relives his past with his grandchildren in the attic of his home when they come over to visit.  In the attic he opens an old trunk full of his old tap shoes and supplies.  He puts on a marvelous show for his grandchildren.  They believe it to be a better show than any they have seen on television.  The children love his songs and dancing.  After the show they return downstairs, and grandpa looks back remembering the good old days on the vaudeville stage.
M.  Picture of Book Cover
N.   Usage with students	This book would be great in social studies when discussing family and memories.  The students could write about what they do when they go to grandma or grandpa’s house.  It is difficult for students to understand time and how things have changed.  Students could create memory boxes with past experiences.