ABSTRACT
Milton Meltzer writes nonfiction narrative history with a passion that captures readers’ attention. He supports his narratives with personal accounts, as when he describes the work of children at Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello nail factory. The historical realism of the type that garnered Catherine, Called Birdy a Newbery Honor award is a relative newcomer to children’s literature. biography of Andrew Jackson, for instance, may barely mention the forced evacuation of the Cherokee, while books on Columbus often ignore the impact of exploration on the inhabitants of the “New World.” Extensive and intensive use of fiction and nonfiction builds a “web of meaning” in the classroom.“Finding out” is a valued activity in inquiry-oriented classrooms. Students adjusted their ideas not just in response to the text or teacher comment, but on the basis of interactions with their peers. In addition, Abby encouraged reference to other sources of information.
