The Children of Topaz: The Story of a Japanese-American Internment Camp Based on a Classroom Diary - Softcover

Tunnell, Michael O.; Chilcoat, George W.

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1461199506 ISBN 13: 9781461199502

Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform, 2011

Synopsis

The diary of a third-grade class of Japanese-American children being held with their families in an internment camp during World War II.

About this title

About the Author:

Michael O. Tunnell is a professor of children’s literature and the author of a number of books for young readers, including Mailing May, The Joke’s on George, The Children of Topaz, Candy Bomber: The Story of the Berlin Airlift’s “Chocolate Pilot,” and Wishing Moon. He has also written several professional books in the field of education, including the college textbook Children’s Literature, Briefly (with James Jacobs). Earlier in his life, Michael Tunnell taught twelve years in the public schools, as both an elementary school teacher and as a junior high school reading teacher and media specialist. Michael Tunnell is married and has four grown children and six grandchildren. He lives in Orem, Utah. To find out more about Michael Tunnell and his books, visit his website (www.michaelotunnell. com).

From School Library Journal:

Grade 4-6?The authors have constructed their text around an actual classroom diary kept by American children of Japanese ancestry, unfairly and unconstitutionally remanded to prison camp during World War II. Selections of entries made by a third-grade class cover the period from March 8 to August 12, 1943. Under each date, the brief accounts are given, followed by extensive, well-researched commentaries explaining the children's allusions, expanding upon the diary text, and placing events in socio-historical perspective. The youngsters reveal a lively interest in the world around them and a patriotic support of the war effort. The commentary details the bleakness and cruelty of their situations and amazing loyalty in light of the injustices heaped upon their families by the U.S. government and their fellow citizens. The well-chosen illustrations consist of fine-quality period photographs, a layout of the camp, and black-and-white reproductions of the children's crayon artwork. The photos are often quite moving and bring home the experiences described in the text. Others have written first-hand accounts of the internment camps, largely reminiscences for children told from an adult perspective. Here readers are exposed to nine-year-olds writing as it happened?and are given a timely reminder for those who say, "It can't happen here." A vital purchase for all collections.?John Philbrook, San Francisco Public Library
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

About this edition

• Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform
• Publication date: 2011
• ISBN 10: 1461199506
• ISBN 13: 9781461199502
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 82