Customer Reviews

Dinner at Aunt Connie's House

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

What a wonderful book to have on hand during Black History month! It contains bright and bold colors in paintings of twelve beautiful African American women who tell us briefly about their lives and become the basis for longer collaborative work and projects by students. Add Faith Ringgold (Getting to Know the World's Greatest Artists) and there is the basis for another African American woman in the mix.

Depending on the age group and your collaboration with your school media specialist/librarian, these are the things you can incorporate into a wonderful Black History project:

1. "Dinner at Aunt Connie's House"--read aloud parts of book for introduction to historical figures.

2. Go through "Faith Ringgold (Getting to Know the World's Greatest Artists)" to identify the artist and some of her other books.

3. Assign one figure to a team of two (depending on class size). Make adjustments that suit your students.

4. Explain the assignment (as you determine best for your class). I would have mine do a powerpoint presentation using this book, one encyclopedia (if applicable), one book or magazine, or one internet article. Or posters. Or shoebox presentation. Or items pulled from a paper sack. Or whatever idea you create.

5. Require a written report (but it is not to be read to the class)

6. Have fun grading these projects! Display them.

As for Faith Ringgold's book, it is a celebration of women of color and the variety of things they have done in art, acting, writing, civil rights, education, public speaking, singing, leading, and cosmetics.

Melody and her newly adopted cousin, Lonnie, visit and talk with the women in the paintings. (You have to be there.) They have gone to their Aunt Connie's house for a big annual dinner and the display of her new art. Family comraderie is also a part of the story. By the end Melody has decided to grow up to become President of the United States and Lonnie will be a great opera singer! Well, why not?

My name is also Connie so I found this book quite interesting and so did my neice and nephew! The story was a great way to introduce several different African-Americans and their accomplishments in a very novel way. I found it to be quite an inspiring story. I am also a teacher. My class really enjoyed the book. The suspense built by the author kept my students actively engaged. They enjoyed painting their own portraits after hearing the story!

It was very difficult for my students to sit through this book. It was PACKED full of useful information on many different women, but didn't have much of an overall story to keep the listeners interested. It went from woman to woman to woman, teling about each life story and accomplishment. It caused the children to think divergently. The storyline was touched upon briefly, mostly at the beginning and at the end. Personally, I liked this book because I enjoy black history. However, I do not advise reading this book to a large group of small children.

Dinner at Aunt Connie's House tells of a african-american family gathering where paintings of *great women* come to life. This is a wonderful book that encourages young children that all dreams are possible, no matter what the obsticles. The only draw back is that the flow of the book is sometimes hard to follow. I would strongly encourage this book for any child, expecially girls, to let them know that anything is possible as long as they have a dream.

I purchased this book for my 2 girls hoping that it would be a great resource of info on African American women. However, after reading the story myself, I had to return the book. The author had the young girl falling in love with her adopted cousin - stating on the last page how they were going to marry and have children. Both of my children are adopted and I can't imagine the confusion and questions they would have about this. I am saddened that the author has chosen to portray adoption so poorly.