How I Learned Geography

Title: How I Learned Geography

Author/Illustrator: Uri Shulevitz

Genre: Historical Fiction

Awards: Caldecott Honor

Age Group: 2nd-5th

How I Learned Geography tells the tale of a small boy who fled to Turkestan after the bombing of Warsaw during World War II. His family is poor and has little to eat. One night, the boy's father brought home a huge map instead of food. The boy was angry with his father. Then, his father hung up the huge map of the world, covered in color. This changed everything for the little boy. He was able to travel to faraway places and forget about his hunger and his hard life. He drew his own maps and imagined the places he would go. And, most importantly, he forgave his father.

I would use this book in my classroom. It takes place during World War II and offers a story that is different from the ones we usually read about. It is a sad story, but at the same time it is filled with hope because of how this boy is able to use the map as an escape.

I think this book would be best for 2nd to 5th graders, because it has a heavier topic in a sense if you use the context clues that it gives. It does have a good universal message, though, which is that you can find escapes from the difficulties of life in things that you are passionate about.

As for an activity to go along with How I Learned Geography, this could definitely be paired with a study on World War II. It could also be linked to social studies, as it deals with maps. Students could create a map of their house, town, state, country, or the world.