Whether you include social jusÂtice, comÂmuÂniÂty serÂvice, activism, or social action in your curÂricuÂlum or at your library, this is the ideÂal book for you. A biogÂraÂphy of Pete Seeger, recipÂiÂent of our NationÂal Medal for the Arts, and chamÂpiÂon of the peoÂple for his 94 years, our BookÂstorm this month, Let Your Voice Be Heard: The Life and Times of Pete Seeger, celÂeÂbrates his life while it inspires each readÂer to carÂry on his work. At once inforÂmaÂtive and enterÂtainÂing, AniÂta SilÂvey has writÂten a book that looks at Seeger’s childÂhood, his evoÂluÂtion from singer to worldÂwide change leader to deeply admired man. EmiÂnentÂly readÂable, this would be a good book to share with stuÂdents as you lead into deepÂer disÂcusÂsions about involveÂment and serÂvice in your own community.
The book is writÂten at a levÂel for 4th to 6th grade readÂers, so you can use this with these stuÂdents, but we also encourÂage you to use the book in midÂdle school, high school, and with adult groups. It’s an excelÂlent choice for a book club discussion.
In each BookÂstormâ„¢, we offer a bibÂliÂogÂraÂphy of books that have close ties to the the feaÂtured book. You’ll find books, artiÂcles, webÂsites, and videos for a variÂety of tastes and interÂests. This month, we’re focusÂing on books about the ways in which Pete Seeger influÂenced our world.
Downloadables
You’ll find more inforÂmaÂtion about AniÂta SilÂvey on her webÂsite.
BOOKSTORM TOPICS
About Pete Seeger. To supÂpleÂment the inforÂmaÂtion AniÂta SilÂvey has includÂed in her biogÂraÂphy, we’ve sugÂgestÂed a few othÂer books that offer anothÂer perspective.
WritÂten by Pete Seeger. He was remarkÂably proÂlifÂic in writÂing books, or introÂducÂtions, or colÂlabÂoÂratÂing on quite a few books. You’ll cerÂtainÂly recÂogÂnize AbiyÂoyo but there are more books for study, enjoyÂment, and for singing!
Pete Seeger’s Music. He’s so well-known for his music and he recordÂed a great numÂber of folk songs for chilÂdren and all ages. We’ve pointÂed you in the direcÂtion of some of the best that you can share in your classÂroom or library.
CivÂil Rights. Well-known for his efforts on behalf of the CivÂil Rights MoveÂment, for over 70 years, we offer recÂomÂmenÂdaÂtions so you can gathÂer a shelf full of paired books includÂing ficÂtion, true stoÂries, and poetry.
Labor MoveÂment. SepÂtemÂber is the month when we honÂor the hard work of those who have fought for workÂers’ rights, outÂlawÂing child labor, ensurÂing health and vacaÂtion and sick leave benÂeÂfits. Pete Seeger was a tireÂless proÂpoÂnent of this work. You’ll find a numÂber of recÂomÂmenÂdaÂtions to supÂport this aspect of his biogÂraÂphy, cerÂtainÂly engenÂderÂing disÂcusÂsion. We’ve includÂed recÂomÂmenÂdaÂtions for songs to accomÂpaÂny this study.
Folk Music, ColÂlectÂing, PlayÂing, Singing. Do you know the work of Alan and John Lomax, Woody Guthrie, Charles and Ruth Seeger, SmithÂsonÂian FolkÂways, and othÂer musiÂcolÂoÂgists? This is a fasÂciÂnatÂing aspect of Pete Seeger’s life that can lead to disÂcusÂsions of preÂservÂing culÂture, the intrinÂsic place of music withÂin a culÂture … and more singing! SugÂgesÂtions are made for furÂther study of many indiÂvidÂuÂals imporÂtant to the preserÂvaÂtion of folk music.
PolÂiÂtics: Under SusÂpiÂcion and BlackÂlistÂed (CenÂsorÂship). DurÂing those times of the year when your classÂroom or library is focusÂing on cenÂsorÂship, AniÂta SilÂvey focusÂes on the House Un-AmerÂiÂcan ActivÂiÂties ComÂmitÂtee of the 1950s, ComÂmuÂnism, and blackÂlistÂing. All of these can be comÂpared to the politÂiÂcal cliÂmate in conÂtemÂpoÂrary AmerÂiÂca. We have includÂed a variÂety of ficÂtion and nonÂficÂtion recommendations.
ProtestÂing War (VietÂnam). The protests of the 1960s and 1970s in AmerÂiÂca left an indeliÂble change on the counÂtry that a numÂber of anthroÂpolÂoÂgists argue conÂtinÂues to affect AmerÂiÂca today. Pete Seeger was active in this protest moveÂment. Books on the war, its afterÂmath, and songs of protest are a part of this Bookstorm.
Think GlobÂalÂly, Act LocalÂly. Pete Seeger’s social action with The ClearÂwaÂter Project, gathÂerÂing comÂmuÂniÂties to clean up The HudÂson RivÂer in New York, was accomÂplished through song, comÂmuÂniÂty gathÂerÂings, fundraisÂing, and hard work. We proÂvide quotes, videos, webÂsites, and a lot of books for stuÂdents to use for learnÂing more and makÂing their own plans for involvement.
Let us know how you are makÂing use of this BookÂstormâ„¢. Share your ideas and any othÂer books you’d add to this Bookstormâ„¢.