Oscar's American Dream

Hardcover
$20.99 US
| $27.99 CAN
On sale Oct 13, 2020 | 36 Pages | 9780525707707
Age 4-8 years | Preschool - 3
Reading Level: Lexile AD960L | Fountas & Pinnell S
If you want to see 20th century American history unfold before your eyes, stand on a city street corner and watch it change! It all starts when an immigrant named Oscar opens a barber shop...

When Oscar lands on Ellis Island, he has only a suitcase and a down payment in his hands. And he has a dream-- to own his own barbershop. After it opens on the corner of Front St. and Second Ave, Oscar's barbershop becomes a beloved local fixture... until the day Oscar decides to move on and become a subway conductor. Over the years, this barbershop will change hands to become a lady's clothing store, then a soup kitchen. A coffee shop follows, then the space becomes an army recruitment center, then a candy shop. As the years pass and the world changes, the proud corner store stands tall, watching American history unfold around it. Barry Wittenstein and debut husband-and-wife illustration team Kristen and Kevin Howdeshell tell the rich, fascinating story of key moments in American history, as reflected through the eyes--and the patrons--of the corner store.
“An interesting fictional lens through which to view history.” —School Library Journal
Barry Wittenstein is the author of Waiting for Pumpsie, which received a starred review from Kirkus Reviews. His follow-up picture book, The Boo-Boos That Changed the World, also received a starred review from Kirkus and was named a Kirkus Best Book of 2018. His upcoming titles include Sonny's Bridge, illustrated by Keith Mallett and A Place to Land, illustrated by Jerry Pinkney. Barry resides in New York City. Visit him on the web at onedogwoof.com and follow him on Twitter at @bwittbooks.

Kristen and Kevin Howdeshell are a husband-and-wife-illustrator duo based in Kansas City. They have their own studio, The Brave Union, and have taken on the freelance world or illustration, working on projects for magazines, packaging, t-shirts, educational purposes, and now, children's books. Visit them on the web at thebraveunion.com and find them on Instagram @thebraveunion.

Classroom Activities for Oscar's American Dream

Classroom activities supplement discussion and traditional lessons with group projects and creative tasks. Can be used in pre-existing units and lessons, or as stand-alone.

(Please note: the guide displayed here is the most recently uploaded version; while unlikely, any page citation discrepancies between the guide and book is likely due to pagination differences between a book’s different formats.)

About

If you want to see 20th century American history unfold before your eyes, stand on a city street corner and watch it change! It all starts when an immigrant named Oscar opens a barber shop...

When Oscar lands on Ellis Island, he has only a suitcase and a down payment in his hands. And he has a dream-- to own his own barbershop. After it opens on the corner of Front St. and Second Ave, Oscar's barbershop becomes a beloved local fixture... until the day Oscar decides to move on and become a subway conductor. Over the years, this barbershop will change hands to become a lady's clothing store, then a soup kitchen. A coffee shop follows, then the space becomes an army recruitment center, then a candy shop. As the years pass and the world changes, the proud corner store stands tall, watching American history unfold around it. Barry Wittenstein and debut husband-and-wife illustration team Kristen and Kevin Howdeshell tell the rich, fascinating story of key moments in American history, as reflected through the eyes--and the patrons--of the corner store.

Reviews

“An interesting fictional lens through which to view history.” —School Library Journal

Author

Barry Wittenstein is the author of Waiting for Pumpsie, which received a starred review from Kirkus Reviews. His follow-up picture book, The Boo-Boos That Changed the World, also received a starred review from Kirkus and was named a Kirkus Best Book of 2018. His upcoming titles include Sonny's Bridge, illustrated by Keith Mallett and A Place to Land, illustrated by Jerry Pinkney. Barry resides in New York City. Visit him on the web at onedogwoof.com and follow him on Twitter at @bwittbooks.

Kristen and Kevin Howdeshell are a husband-and-wife-illustrator duo based in Kansas City. They have their own studio, The Brave Union, and have taken on the freelance world or illustration, working on projects for magazines, packaging, t-shirts, educational purposes, and now, children's books. Visit them on the web at thebraveunion.com and find them on Instagram @thebraveunion.

Guides

Classroom Activities for Oscar's American Dream

Classroom activities supplement discussion and traditional lessons with group projects and creative tasks. Can be used in pre-existing units and lessons, or as stand-alone.

(Please note: the guide displayed here is the most recently uploaded version; while unlikely, any page citation discrepancies between the guide and book is likely due to pagination differences between a book’s different formats.)