Ken Rush

What about Emma? tells the story of Sue, a young girl, and her life on her family's dairy farm. Because the family is struggling financially, their parents take up different work and sell all of the cows except Emma, who is Sue's favorite and is expecting a calf. Sue takes care of Emma and saves her from a snowstorm. The calf is born, and Sue falls asleep dreaming of how they might keep Emma and Snowy.

This book is an excellent example of contemporary realistic fiction because it has elements students can relate to such as family dynamics, or perhaps even owning animals or living on a farm if read in a rural school district. However, at the same time, it can help students from cities gain perspective of rural life.

GENRE: Contemporary Realistic Fiction

USE:
- present in city or suburban schools to teach about rural life
- have discussion about family background and careers… (més)

Every few years, the NY Times writes an article about the decline of the seltzer men, who delivered seltzer (better than that stuff you buy in bottles at the supermarket) to homes throughout the NYC area. Times have changed, though, and there's very few of them left. (Of course, this book is 16 years old, so we can assume that either Eli wasn't the very last of the Seltzer men, or that he's still hard at work.)

This is a good book for Brooklynites and nostalgics of all stripes. It's a great way to share with your kids the realities of life "way back when" as well as how some things haven't changed from then to now. Plus, there are several wonderful scenes from all over Brooklyn.… (més)