Module 10: Dandelions by Eve Bunting

Picture taken from

http://www.amazon.com/Dandelions-Eve-Bunting/dp/0152024077/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1319999977&sr=1-1

Summary:

This pioneer tale is told from the point of view of Zoe, a young girl, who’s father, pregnant mother, and sister, move to the Nebraska wilderness to make a life of their own. Their new home has few trees, so they must make their home out of sod. The nearest neighbor is a three hour ride and the nearest town is a day’s ride away. The family goes to visit their neighbor and learn that the barren Nebraska wilderness lacks reminders of home like flowers and songbirds.

As supplies begin to run out, Zoe and her father must visit the town and pick up needed materials. Zoe states that the town is full of wonderful reminders of her grandparent’s home where she once lived. On their way back from the town Zoe finds some dandelions growing near the road. She gathers them up and hopes she can grow them to add some color to her new home. When she gets home she plants them on top of their sod house. Her mother, who is homesick, very pregnant, and unhappy, sees the dandelions and is given a little bit of comfort in the harsh Nebraska wilderness. 

Citation:

Bunting, E. (1995). Dandelions. Orlando, Florida: Harcourt Brace & Company.

Impression:

As far as Historical Fictions go for young readers, this book does an exceptional job of telling the story of the American pioneer without talking down to the reader. It doesn’t seem like the author is softening the hardship of the pioneers for the sake of the reader. It is important that young readers understand the reality of the history in the story. 

The artwork in this book is beautiful. Illustrator Greg Shed does a good job of recapturing the essence of pioneer life. The paintings included in the book are brightly colored with a gritty undertone that does an interesting job of portraying the character’s feelings of hope of a bright future and the hard labor that went along with it. 

Reviews:

Kindergarten-Grade 3  Looking for a better life, a pioneer father moves his pregnant wife and daughters west. Both Zoe and Rebecca recognize their mother's isolation and depression as they arrive at their claim stake in the middle of the prairie, and try to work extra hard to please her. Zoe's first-person account describes a visit to neighbors (only three hours away) and a trip to town for supplies, where she finds something that she hopes will help cheer her mother: a clump of dandelions, which she and her father speculate came west as a seed on a wagon. They plant it on the roof of their sod home, and the story ends with the clump looking dry and lifeless. However, the closing words indicate that the family feels more hopeful about their prairie life to come; the last picture shows a panoramic view of their farm of the future, with the dandelions covering the roof and the fields plowed and fertile. The gouache on canvas paintings are grand and sweeping; they emphasize the vast expanse of open land that dwarfs and seems to swallow up everything that comes in contact with it. The characters are frequently shown in deep shadow underneath sun hats, as the sun blazes down on them. When their faces are shown, there is a hazy lack of focus in an almost impressionistic style that heightens the centrality of place and climate, rather than individual character. Yet these people make their mark and find their place; modern readers will identify with this family's experiences and concerns, and will admire their adventurous spirits. Bunting tells a poignant story, which is made even more affecting by its lovely illustrations. Ruth K. MacDonald.

Citation:

McDonald, R.K., [Dandelions] [book review]. School Library Journal. Retrieved from www.amazon.com
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Gr. 2-4, younger for reading aloud. Zoe and her family have traveled by covered wagon from Illinois to the Nebraska Territory. As they build a sod house and meet new neighbors, Papa can barely contain his enthusiasm. Mama, on the other hand, remains quiet, thinking of the family and memories left behind. On a trip to town with her father for supplies, Zoe spots a mass of dandelions and realizes that the flowers are much like her family--they may be out of their element on the prairie, but they will survive and bloom in their new land. The gouache paintings capture the lonely panorama of the landscape, and the classically painted, sometimes faceless figures give the book a sense of universality. A solid choice for read-alouds, this may also be used with older, reluctant readers or students learning about the westward movement. Kay Weisman


Citation:

Weisman K., [Dandelions] [book review]. Booklist. Retrieved from www.amazon.com

Uses:

• Have a pioneer day when patrons dress in pioneer clothes and sing folk songs and hear folk stories around a bon fire. Invite local historians to help with the event.
• Host a homesteader’s tour. In South Dakota there are plenty of places where some of the homestead foundations still exist. Have member of the local historian society help out with the event.