A Day With Dad And Uncle Tom By Sheila Robins 11yo 121 [new]

If you’re guiding an 11-year-old through this book:

The launch was the best part. We pushed the raft into the water, and for a second, I thought it was going to sink. It wobbled and groaned, but then it leveled out. We all climbed on, and it actually held our weight. We didn't go very fast, just drifting with the slow current, but it felt like we were exploring a whole new world. Uncle Tom told stories about when he and Dad were kids and how they once tried to build a treehouse that fell down the first time a bird landed on it. A Day with Dad and Uncle Tom by Sheila Robins 11yo 121

If you are reading this for a class or a book club, here are three lenses through which to view the story: If you’re guiding an 11-year-old through this book:

In stories featuring a father and an uncle, the author usually uses these two figures to represent two different sides of adulthood or masculinity. As you read, look for these contrasts: We all climbed on, and it actually held our weight

As the sun started to set, we walked back home through the woods. My legs were tired, and my hands were a little scratched up from the wood, but I didn't care. Being with Dad and Uncle Tom is always an adventure. They are different in a lot of ways, but when they are together, everything feels fun and safe. We ended the day on the porch with cold sodas, watching the fireflies come out. It was a perfect day, and I hope we build an even bigger raft next time.