I really
loved this book! It’s a great story to share when talking about perseverance or even just to read when you need a bit of inspiration.
Summary from the publisher:
Dashrath
Manjhi used a hammer and chisel, grit, determination, and twenty years to carve
a path through the mountain separating his poor village from the nearby village
with schools, markets, and a hospital. Manjhi Moves a Mountain shows how
everyone can make a difference if their heart is big enough.
Manjhi Moves a Mountain was written by Nancy Churnin and
illustrated by Danny Popovici. It was published by Creston Books in 2017.
Opening:
Deep in the heart of India, a mighty
mountain separated two villages.
My Thoughts as a Writer:
The carefully
chosen details in this story made it come alive for me. I could easily imagine “their
pockets jangled with money” and “Powdered rock and tiny chips sprayed.” Another
excellent model for writers who are interested in telling narrative non-fiction.
The
illustrations are perfect for this story. I love the warm browns and especially the
beautiful night sky on the page where Manjhi worked into the night.
My Thoughts as an Educator:
This story
made me marvel over what a single person can accomplish.
There’s a thought-provoking question in the text: Why should some people have
so much and others so little? This book would be excellent to discuss with both
primary and junior level students. I think children will be amazed and
impressed by Manjhi’s hard work and what he accomplished. A great choice for a
school library.
Ages: 4 - 10
Grades: K – 5
Themes: determination, perseverance, goals
Activities:
Retell:
Build a mountain of blocks or rocks and use puppets or pictures to retell
Manjhi’s story.
Imagine:
Imagine you are one of the villagers. How will an opening through the mountain
change your life? Draw a picture or write a paragraph to explain. Will you
welcome the change? Talk with a classmate who has a different point of view.
Think: Is
there something you can do to make things better for your family or community?
How could you do it?
