Book Pairings: My Name is James Madison Hemings

I'd like to begin this post by stating how much I love picture books! I especially love using them for secondary English instruction. They're often short, very engaging, and can be used as a model text for many different lessons.

In an earlier post, I discussed Jefferson's Sons by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley. A great picture book you can use as either an introduction to a novel unit for the novel or a nonfiction compliment, is My Name is James Madison Hemings by Jonah Winder and Terry Widener.

After reading and discussing Jefferson's Sons with a friend who shares my love of picture books, literacy, and English curriculum, she bought this book for me! (Side note: every bookworm needs a community of bookworms to support their habit.) I also developed a slight obsession with Monticello, and I hope to visit one day.

If you'd like to know more about using picture books in the secondary English classroom, or, specifically, how to use this book to create a novel unit for Jefferson's Sons, please contact me.