A wonderful picture book story of Charles Dickens' childhood, working hard all day in a shoe polish factory while his father (and with him, Dickens' mother and siblings) stayed in debtor's prison, and how that in particular and his poverty in general shaped what he wrote as an adult. And why he championed the poor. Fictionalized, with dialogue (amusing scene in factory where he's asked to tell a story to a coworker kid, and then yelled at by the foreman). It gives an excellent introduction to 19th century London and its conditions for the poor, in a picture book format, in simple text for children of today. Nice pen and ink and acrylic illustrations, kind of cartoony but also reminiscent of 19th century illustrations--a mix of caricature and realism that just works well, lots of blacks and grays and warm tones. No sources or references, not a full biography, but a well-written story that draws readers in, in oral storytelling style, using phrases like "Come along, now" and "That mystery must wait for morning" etc. Really cool book. Audience: This book would be good for boys since the main character is a boy. It would be good for third or fourth graders because it has a more complex story with more mature issues. Appeal: This book is inspiring for kids and can help them to look into how children in other areas can have very different lives. Application: I would use this book to get the students to think about people who are less fortunate and how other countries have different issues than we do. We could have a discussion about things we take for granted and what we should be thankful for.
What do You think about Boy Called Dickens (2012)?
A fictionalized account of Charles Dickens' childhood challenges.
—Hett
A spirited fictional account of the writer's childhood.
—HaniaAamir
