Bud is a young boy orphaned during the Great Depression. He has never met his father. The only clues he has about his identity is from his mother are a poster advertising a band and some rocks with words on them. After being mistreated by a foster family for the last time, he decides to go look for his real dad. Along the way, he encounters many new friends and learns what it means to have a family.
This book has a large focus on what it means to be a family. When Bud meets the band, Bud gets accepted right away. They take care of him and treat him like a son. It also spends a lot of time exploring the historical context of the time. Although it doesn't go into specific details, it gives many real people and the desperate feel that this time period had.
I think you could definitely teach this book, but I would teach it in a 6th or 7th grade classroom. As the book is narrated by Bud, a 6 year old, it is fairly easy to understand. Those of a higher grade might find it too easy. I would teach this book in literature circles. It has very vivid scenes the illustrator would have much to do with and the connector could explore a lot the historical context. I think it would be interesting to use this text in conjunction with a history class studying this time period. That way, they can better understand ideas presented in the text, like Hoovervilles and soup kitchens.
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