"Every Hero Has A Story." My Blogging From A to Z theme bridges the summer library reading programs throughout the U.S. with storytelling opportunities, ideas, and activities.
Howdy folks. This here Texas tall tale stands up to the best of them, like Pecos Bill, Paul Bunyan, Mike Fink, and Davy Crockett. I figure fourth graders on up to eighth graders will certainly enjoy this picture book. Thunder Rose is filled with exaggerations and live action, bigger than life situations that gotta be solved, and our heroine comes out smellin' like a rose. I also tip my Stetson cowboy hat to illustrator, Kadir Nelson - her pictures are amazing.
Summary: A feisty baby girl was born on a dark and thunder storm night and with her adoring parents looking on, she grabbed the lightning and thunder above her and with her first breath declared that she was partial to the name Rose, so Thunder Rose stuck. Rose grew up not knowing failure. Why, on day two, she lifted a cow to drink its milk dry, two years, she played with scrap iron, and at the ripe old age of twelve, wrestled a stampeding herd of wild longhorn steer and tamed the monster steer with a song-a song her parents' love had graced her with. She conquered all who stood in her way which included a gang of desperadoes she tied up in iron and dropped in jail. Thunder Rose tackled a cloud with her lasso, squeezing it for water to halt the drought (which must have been perty fierce 'cause even the rocks were crying out in thirst. Problem was her efforts resulted in two tornadoes comin' at her. Full of determination, bravery, and confidence, Rose knew she needed a plan first so she sat back and thought it out. Thunder Rose used her talent of singin' and calmed those tornadoes. As Rose journeyed back to Abilene, TX, she realized the gentle power of music in her heart. Rose was a hero that changed her world through kindness, determined focus, thoughtfulness, and song. Thunder Rose's stories of her amazing, almost impossible feats spread all over the West and now you're hearing about them too!
I'm hoping to adapt Jerdine Nolan's original tall tale of Thunder Rose to storytell in the schools and libraries but I'll need to ask for permission from her first. Emailing begins tomorrow!
Resources
Hobby Horse, cowboy hat, some boots, and chaps: all you need to role play this tall tale!
Text of Thunder Rose
Below is a wonderful guide with writing and reading activities suited more for a classroom:
Text of Thunder Rose
Below is a wonderful guide with writing and reading activities suited more for a classroom:
| thunder_rose_guide.pdf |
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