Good books on Unions/Union Organizing/Historical Union Figures for children?

[pampered_mom]

The title says it all.  I've found a couple of books at the local library, but the selection's been somewhat limited.  I found a great graphic biography on Mother Jones and I'm wondering what else might be out there that I may have missed.

[kangamitroo]

Is there a certain era in which you are most interested?

picture books or chapter books?

recently i read a wonderful picture book about Cesar Chavez that includes some endnotes and resources: A Picture Book of Cesar Chavez by David and Michael Adler.  gives great context for his work, mentions other teachers of nonviolence, makes clear the need for unions.

[pampered_mom]

Thanks for the suggestion on the book.  Our library has it - I can't wait to pick it up!

Picture books would probably be the best, although a chapter book would work if it was engaging enough that we could use it as a read aloud.  We're going to a rally this week in support of collective bargaining rights in our state and I'd like to follow up with a mini-unit on unions.  My first instinct is to go with books on notable people in the union/union organizing movement given how powerful stories are, but really, I'm open to suggestions.

[hildare]

another good cesar chavez picture book is harvesting hope.  i like that one.

and si, se puede

now, the book uprising knocked my socks off, but it's pretty much for older and mature kids (or mama) - it's about the triangle shirtwaist fire.  i loved it though.

OH!!! and... the voices of history of the united states!  howard zinn made a young people's version of it-- and there's a teaching guide that you can get and there's an audio version of the adult version, very powerful to listen to... 

another thought... you could do some online virtual museum/library tours.  there are a bunch of labor libraries such as the southern labor archives -- there's an oral history project there..

and the labadie collection..  you could use the collection's documents and images to show your kids.  it's really interesting to see the pictures of children involved in the labor movement. 

way to go for sharing this with your children, mama.

solidarity!

p.s. kangamitro.. that rutgers site where you linked the book looks really cool

[philomom]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matewan_Massacre

The miners wore red scarves around their necks.. hence the term "rednecks". The miners who were slaughtered were trying to form a union to provide safer working conditions in the mines.

[petey44]

A recent issue of American Educator (I think that's the title)- it's one of the publications sent out by my union, AFT, had a whole article on books to share with children on the role of unions in US history. Sorry, my issue went to recycling already, but maybe they'll have a digital version of the article on their website, aft.org

[pampered_mom]

Thank you for the most recent suggestions!  Hildare -  Love the suggestions!

Petey44 - I found it in the Feb 2011 "American Teacher."  The article, plus the other suggestions they gave for classroom resources will work perfectly for us.  

We live in WI so we've spent a lot of time talking about collective bargaining and attending rallies.  I thought a little bit of historical context might be helpful.

[spedteacher30]

http://rethinkingschools.org/news/WIProtestTeachingResources.shtml

[pampered_mom]

spedteacher30 - Oh wow!  It's perfect.  Thank you so much!