Joining up with Deanna again a couple of days late to talk about our current read-aloud: The Trumpet of the Swan by E.B. White, who also wrote Charlotte’s Web, which we read last year and my middle littles read on their own now.
I have to admit I don’t think I’ve ever read The Trumpet of the Swan before, though I assigned it to Mo a couple of years ago. He loved it and has been known to read it as of late (though he might not admit it publicly). It is a great book, especially for learning how we can have differences and yet are still worthwhile and as worthy of love as the next person (or swan in this case).
Louis the Swan was born with no voice. The book never really explores the why behind this, other than his father and mother having a couple of exchanges about him being “deaf and mute” (which he later proves he isn’t) and calling him “defective.”
I was taken aback at first until I thought through the time the book was written, 1970, and how every decade has led to more understanding and also more appropriate terminology regarding birth defects. Since all three of my littles were born with birth defects, some on the inside with their hearts/ears and some on the outside with skin tags and cleft lip and palate, this book has proven to be a great discussion starter.
We’ve talked about how Louis felt when he realized he couldn’t “talk” or trumpet like the other swans, especially his brothers and sisters born the same time as him. We’ve also talked about how the words used in the book didn’t sound so nice and we’re glad people aren’t called “defective” anymore.
I highly recommend this book for a read-aloud in any class IF the teacher is able to explore the discussions suggested above as well as use it to spark thoughts on how best to treat others with perceived and obvious differences, which in reality should be just like everyone else as much as possible!
If you have reluctant listeners or if you just want to add some more learning and creativity to your read-aloud time, encourage your children to grab a blank sketch pad and colored pencils/markers/crayons and work away while you read! Li’l Miss worked on her picture (above) through several days or reading about Louis. If you have access to a real trumpet, it adds some great fun to the book as well! I still have mine from marching band days YEARS ago and my littles love to toot on that horn! In the book, Louis’ father buys him a trumpet which helps him find his voice! I want say more so as not to spoil the book, but Louis also goes to school and learns to read and write!
Louis is very inspiring and quite a funny swan too! He goes on many travels, and we are not quite finished with the book, so I guess I should have waited to share, but Mo filled me in on the ending and it will not disappoint! We are about 4 chapters from the end, and my three littles—ages 9, 8 and 4—are still enthralled and want to read a chapter each morning and night!
I’m linking up with Mrs. Jumps Class for Book Talk Tuesday (on Thursday LOL)!
