It's the 1880s. Noah works hard on the family farm and roams free on the Colorado prairie. One day his Aunt Dora arrives to give him some schooling. Noah doesn't think he needs it. What use is reading on the prairie? But what Noah discovers will change his life forever.

It's the 1880s, Noah works hard on the family farm and roams free on the Colorado prairie. One day his Aunt Dora arrives to give him some schooling. Noah doesn't think he needs it. What use is reading on the prairie? But what Noah discovers will change his life forever.

Provides opportunity to discuss how life has changed and remained the same on the plains of Colorado in last 100 years.

This is a simple, straight-forward book about what life may have been like on the prairie in the late 1800s. I used this book to introduce students to historical fiction, clothing styles, speech, culture, geography, and to increase their vocabulary. This book is about a young boy living in the 1880's Colorado prairie and having to learn to read, which he is not happy about. My students had many questions about why his parents could not read or write and why it was such a bit deal "back then" to be able to sign your name or read a document. Great introduction to the genre! ( )

Noah, who is nine and lives in the Colorado, his aunt Dora comes to teach him how to read, but he wants nothing to do with it. So she finds a clever way to trick him into learning how to read. Noah begins showing her the country and Dora begins teaching him how to read. He finally realizes that she is trying to help him out and Noah learns how to read and write. This is a great family book. I would have this in my classroom for pleasure reading and probably work it into a lesson. I also love the pictures the in the book so the children can get a full understanding of what is going on in the story. ( )