Pistes d'exploration

Discuss the significance of a riot. Why might it happen? What is mob mentality?

Research the Los Angeles riots and share the information with the class (perhaps prior to reading the book).

Respond to the text (in writing): What is the author trying to tell the reader? How do the illustrations contribute to your understanding of the text? How would you feel if you were the child in the story? Can you connect this to anything that is happening in our world today?

Discuss the concept of rioting. What is it? Why might it happen?

Discuss what happens to the people who get stuck in the middle of a riot.

Discuss the kinds of plans people make to be prepared in case of disaster. Research emergency preparedness lists. Use a graphic organizer to make a plan for your family.

In the text, firefighters put out the fires caused by the rioters. Make a web of the types of workers who would be involved during and after a riot.

Research riots that have taken place in Montréal in recent history. Discuss what precipitated them. What was the damage? What happened in the end?

Based on the text on each left-hand page, write a short caption for the illustration on the right.

Rewrite the story in your own words. Summarize each page with one or two sentences and draw or make a collage to illustrate your text.

In the Tree House, The Dark

Mots-clés

Picture book , acceptance , community , fear , hope , respect , riots , tolerance , violence

Commentaire descriptif

When the Los Angeles riots break out in their neighbourhood, Daniel and his mother are forced to leave their apartment for the safety of a shelter. In the process, they learn the value of getting along with others regardless of background or ethnicity. Never preachy or overly sentimental, the book ends on a hopeful note with a pair of neighbourhood cats bringing together two families, including the narrator's, from diverse cultural backgrounds. The rich, colourful artwork includes a thickly textured combination of acrylic and found object collage in a style evocative of some of Picasso's paintings. Told from the point of view of a young African American boy, this thought-provoking book for older children is an excellent starting point for discussion about racial issues and violence. Its effective use of language also makes it a powerful resource for teaching simile (looters “toss out shoes like they’re throwing footballs”), personification “Flames pounce up the side of our building”, symbolism (the two cats belonging to different owners of different races “hold paws”), conflict, foreshadowing and tone.