Grandfather's Dream

Title: Grandfather's Dream
Author: Holly Keller
Publisher: Greenwillow Books Publishing
http://www.harpercollins.com/imprints/index.aspx?imprintid=517996
Publication Date: 1994
Genre: Picture Book, Realistic Fiction
Audience: K - 4th grade
Overview: After the Vietnam War, the cranes that inhabited Nam's village have disappeared. It is Nam's Grandfather's dream that the cranes will come back. The only way the cranes would come back now is if the dikes that are built in the river work, the rains come and flood the banks, and vegetation will grow. After several months, everyone is growing impatient and some think that the lands should be used for growing more rice than for inhabiting cranes. Nam and his grandfather never lose hope, and they awake one morning to hundreds of cranes flying over their village.
Activity: This story is about never giving up on a community and it's future. This book could be used to help children think of ways in which they can preserve the nature in their communities and set up habitats for the animals living in their area. This book also contains a lot of Vietnam culture. For younger students researching different countries, this book could provide a different insight.
Reviewer's Name: Rachel Bartee