Prairie School

By Avi

Book Overview

It is the 1880s. Noah Bidson works hard on the family farm on the Colorado prairie. One day his mother tells him that his aunt Dora is coming to give him some schooling. Noah is angry. What use is reading on the prairie?

Aunt Dora arrives, and all the Bidsons are surprised to find that she is confined to a wheelchair. But Aunt Dora doesn't let it stop her. When Noah refuses to learn inside the sod farmhouse, Aunt Dora finds a unique way to show him that there's a whole new world waiting for him.

Avi's compelling story is brought to life by Bill Farnsworth's luminous paintings.

• Format: Unknown Binding
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0060276657
• ISBN13: 9780060276652
• Release Date: April 2001
• Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
• Length: 48 Pages
• Weight: 0.48 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.4" x 5.9" x 8.5"
• Age Range: 4 to 8 years
• Grade Range: Grades 3 to 4

Customer Reviews

Simplistic & Realistic

Award winning author AVI lives in Denver (a fact I didn't realize until reading this little book). In Prairie School, AVI tells a story that takes place as the Colorado Prairie is being settled around 1880. Noah Bidson, a 9 year old, enjoys helping his parents with daily chores around their new home. One day, Noah's mother announces that her sister, Aunt Dora, will be coming to school Noah. Mother and son are both surprised to discover Aunt Dora uses a wheelchair. "Soon after you went West, a buggy I was driving turned over. I lost the use of my legs." Over the course of several months, Aunt Dora shows Noah not only what she is still able to do, but also the many things they both can learn about the prairie through books. "All day Noah wheeled her around. All day Aunt Dora asked questions about what she saw. Noah told her what he knew. Each time, Dora looked into her book and told him more." As nighttime came they would learn about stars. Toward the end of Aunt Dora's stay, Noah said, "I found a new constellation." "What is it?" "It's called The Wheelchair. And you're sitting in it. See, it's those stars there." The illustrations are beautifully simple and realistic - a perfect match to the story of Prairie School.

Great book

There is something very appealing about this book, and my son loved reading this book quite a few times, before it was time to return to the library. He is not quite fond of reading, but he really liked this book. We ended-up buying a copy of this book for ourselves. I recommend this book for early elementary school kids.

Great book

There is something very appealing about this book, and my son loved reading this book quite a few times, before it as time to return to the library. He is not quite fond of reading, but he really liked this book.

My reluctant reader loved this one!

My son read this in 2nd grade, and he was beginning to struggle with reading. The story is about a young boy who is "tricked" into learning by his aunt, a teacher. My son loved that the boy in the story was learning and didn't even know it. We both enjoyed this book.

if you like Little House on the Prairie try this

Prairie School is about a nine year old boy named Noah. He and his family have just moved from Maine to Colorado. He loves being there on the open prairie. He feels free. One day his mother tells his they are going to have a visitor. It's his Aunt Dora and she is coming to teach him to read. Naoh doesn't like the idea at all. Once Aunt Dora shows Noah her way of teaching he catches on and enjoys learning new things. The book is part of the I Can Read series. It's a level 4, for grade 2-4. This is a good introduction to historical fiction.I would recommed this book. It would make a great read aloud while learning about the 1880's.