Raising Readers - "Sarah, Plain and Tall"

Parents who encourage and successfully develop children who read see greater school success and satisfaction.  This series reviews various examples of children’s literature and provides insights for parents to discuss with their children.   Reading and sharing the wonderful stories available to children sends a message that reading is important, creates positive “shared experiences” for families, and helps parents exert a subtle influence on their children’s development.

“Don’t judge a book…” is a very familiar saying.  Cliché or not, it certainly fits in this case.  At first glance, this slim (approx. 54 pages) story probably doesn’t seem as weighty as others, but what it lacks in length, it more than makes up in substance.

Anna, Caleb and their father live on the prairie in 1910 Kansas.  Their mother died a few hours after Caleb was born, and the family still aches from her loss.  Caleb constantly asks Anna questions about their mother and about his birth.  They are painful memories for Anna because she didn’t like Caleb when he was first born, and angrily went to bed without saying good night to her mother.  It was the last time Anna saw her.

Their father, too, is grieving and lonely, while doing his best to raise his two children alone.  He contacts an agency to help him find a woman who might be interested in moving to Kansas to be his wife.  Sarah answers his inquiry and says she will come to Kansas for 30 days to see if she likes it.

When Sarah arrives, it seems that everyone likes everyone, but Sarah is far away from the only home she has ever known, and Kansas is very different from Maine.  She misses her family, and misses the ocean and the sights, smells and sounds to which she had grown accustomed.  Caleb and Anna watch and listen closely, hoping to see indications that Sarah might stay.  Caleb in particular is worried that Sarah will view him as a pest and an ill-mannered boy and decide to leave because of him alone.

This story describes all of the different characters coming to grips, in their own ways, with new and ongoing challenges in their lives.  It also offers a glimpse of some of the every day events on the prairie in turn of the century America.  Depending on reading level, this story is for ages 10 and up.

Raising Readers is written by Steve Arnold of Club Z! In-Home Tutoring Services.  He can be reached at 610.831.5101 or ChesMontClubZ@gmail.com.  Find out more about Club Z! In-Home Tutoring at www.clubztutoring.com/ChesMont.