Bud, Not Buddy

Curtis, Christopher Paul. Bud, not Buddy. 

New York: Delacorte Press, 1999.

By Christopher Paul Curtis

Copyright: 1999

Publisher:  Delacorte Press

Reading Level:

• Lexile:  950L

• Grade level:  5

Genre:  Historical fiction

Description:  Adoption and Foster care, Runaways, Adventure, Music, Parents

Suggested Delivery:  Independent reading/ Small groups

Summary:  Bud is a 10-year-old orphan who is on the run to discover something that is weighing very hard on his heart - who his father is.  His mother left him with important clues that he believes will lead him to his father.  Bud is a determined, fearless young boy who will let nothing stop him on this incredible journey.  Bud finally ends up at the Calloway Station, where he is convinced his father is with the rest of his band, the "Dusky Devastators of the Depression."  Herman E. Calloway is hesitant to believe that Bud is his son, and they are both shocked to soon discover that Bud is not, in fact, his son but rather his grandson.

Electronic resources:

• Author's website:  provides background information about Christopher Paul Curtis who is a well-known, award-winning children's book author; includes an extensive list of books he has written, as well as teacher guides.

• The Great Depression:  this website gives great insight on this period in history and clearly explains all of the different events that occurred during the 1930s.

• WatchKnowLearn website:  provides a list of educational films for students to watch on The Great Depression and thousands of other topics.
  

Key Vocabulary:   Amoses, cellar, doggone, flimsy, sully, festering, nominate, sputtered

Teaching suggestions:

• Use to teach about African American culture.
• Use to educate about what life was like during the time of The Great Depression.

Comprehension Strategies:

• Before Reading:  
• Describe the setting of the book to the students, that being The Great Depression.  Briefly describe the hardships that people faced during this time period.  The students will view a film that discusses The Great Depression, with specific focus on the challenges that African Americans faced in the 1930s.

• During Reading:  
• Students will discover that Bud faces countless challenges when he embarks on his journey.  Provide them with a graphic organizer that allows them to outline the different problems and solutions they come across as they read.

• After Reading:  
• Have the students create a Venn Diagram to compare and contrast their life to Bud's, including aspects such as family, home/ surroundings, personality traits, experiences, etc).

Writing Activity:

Students will take their Venn Diagram assignments a step further by comparing and contrasting the present day with the period of the 1930s that this book is based on.   They may use some components of their previous assignment, but will have to use other resources (books, online sources) for additional information that will help them see the differences between now and back then during the time of The Great Depression.  Before beginning this writing assignment, generate a list of topics on the board with the students for them to research about, such as education, family life, entertainment, transportation, technology, etc.  Students will share some ideas from their written pieces in small groups upon completion of the assignment.