A Picnic in October

I adored this book, the main message was that there is an importance of traditions and new beginings and the two of them are normally tied together. The pictures were so colorful and bright that it instilled a sense of hope in me that I didn't even know was possible. One of my favorite pictures is when we first see the Statue of Liberty, she is drawn with such power and precision that even the drawing pulls forth a sense of belonging from the readers. Another amazing feature of the story was the point of view. The story is told from the viewpoint of a young boy, childlike wonder is throughout the story. At one point the boy focuses on nothing other than wondering if another family got onto the boat. These innocent thoughts and story show more lines made the book incredibly enjoyable. show less

At Grandma’s insistence, Tony and his family picnic every year at the Statue of Liberty on the statue’s birthday despite it being cold and October. Tony doesn’t get the importance of the Statue, but an encounter with a non-English speaking family helps him see better what the Statue means to Grandma.

Not quite as lame as the blurb makes it out to be. Theme so important it makes up for the less than stellar story-telling and the ok art.

A great example of a personal narrative (for those teaching it at the elementary or middle school level), this book shows a child's subtle attitude change when he for the first time seems to understand and appreciate the significance of his family's annual tradition of having a very cold picnic on Liberty Island to celebrate the statue's birthday.

The family's ancestry is Italian.

This book would be good to use when talking about immigration to America. I think students will like this book because it gives them a new perspective on an icon most students have known about their whole lives.

I used this book with my fifth graders that have been reading Elvira Woodruff's Orphan of Ellis Island as a lighter approach to the Statue of Liberty. I've done books on the construction of the Statue of Liberty in th past, but this time I went with a simple family story and the kids enjoyed it. It was a small respite from the more strenuous rigors of learning about the area while not completely losing focus. It's a nice story.

A boy tony and his entore family, celebrate the statue of Liberty's Birthday every year with a picnic on Ellis Island. . His grandmother immigrated from Italy, and feels so indebted to the United States for her freedom. Tony finally realizes the value of freedom and citizenship and joins in on the celebration.