Hiawatha

Title:  Hiawatha 

Author/Illustrator: Henry Wadsworth Longfellow/Susan Jeffers 

APA Citation: Longfellow, H. W. (1983). Hiawatha. New York, NY: Dial Books for Young Readers. 

Lexile Score: NP- Recommended adult read to child (Ages 3-5) 

Target Audience: After reading this story, I felt as though younger children might not be able to appreciate the use of imagery and metaphors found with in this free verse poem.  If I were to use it in a classroom, I would choose to use it with older students to teach literary aspects of the poem. 

Side note:  The illustrations in this book were impeccably done.  Susan Jeffers put in the time to study and learn the culture before drawing stereotypical versions of Native Americans. 

Summary: This poem discussed the life of a young boy growing up in a Native American tribe.  Throughout his journey from baby to adolescent, the values of the tribe were engrained within him, and he grew to appreciate nature and the world around him. 

Evaluation: 

	4	3	2	1
Theme/Moral	The theme/moral of the story was worthwhile and provided a non-biased message for the reader.	Theme of the story was worthwhile but portrayed a somewhat biased message for the reader.	Theme of the story was somewhat worthwhile, but portrayed a biased message for the reader.	Theme/moral of the story was not worthwhile and portrayed a biased message for the reader.
Characterization	Characters in the story were relatable and did not portray typical stereotypes.	Characters in the story were relatable but some characteristics portrayed typical stereotypes.	Characters in the story were somewhat relatable, however portrayed characteristics  typical of stereotypes.	Characters in the story were relatable and portrayed characteristics  typical of stereotypes.
Illustrations	Illustrations in the story were relatable and did not portray typical stereotypes.	Illustrations in the story were relatable but some characteristics portrayed typical stereotypes.	Illustrations in the story were somewhat relatable, however portrayed characteristics  typical of stereotypes.	Illustrations in the story were not relatable and portrayed characteristics  typical of stereotypes.
Multicultural Aspects	Story provided accurate representations of  several cultures.	Story provided accurate representations of more than one culture.	Story provided accurate representation of only one culture.	Story did not provide accurate representations of  the culture discussed.
Historical Value	The story's historical references were accurate and did not convey a biased opinion of the event depicted.	The story's historical references were accurate, did convey some biased opinion of the event depicted.	The story's historical references were somewhat accurate, and did convey a biased opinion of the event depicted.	The story's historical references were not accurate, and conveyed a biased opinion of the event depicted.
Self and Social Identities	This book positively counteracts stereotypical messages based on gender, color, economic status, family structure, and/or abilities.	This book attempts to counteracts stereotypical messages based on gender, color, economic status, family structure, and/or abilities.	This book does not reinforce stereotypical messages based on gender, color, economic status, family structure, and/or abilities.	This book reinforces stereotypical messages based on gender, color, economic status, family structure, and/or abilities.
Language	This book did not contain any "loaded" words, and used alternatives to generic terms.	This book did not contain any "loaded" words, but did use some generic terms.	This book did not contain "loaded" words, however, consistently used generic terms.	This book did contain "loaded words, and consistently used generic terms.
Overall Rating	I would use this book in my future classroom and recommend it to other teachers.	I would try to use this book in my future classroom and might recommend it to other teachers.	If the occasion arose, I might read this book, but probably would not recommend it.	I would not use or recommend this book.

Overall Score: 23/32 

Literary Elements: Repetition, personification, imagery, metaphor, free verse poetry 

Social Justice Elements:  Strong family bond, respecting nature 

Sample Lesson:  If I were to do a lesson on this book, I would compare it with other various forms of poetry and have the students create a poem of their own.  This book provides a great example that not every poem has to rhyme or follow a familiar rhythm.