Author: - Linda Sue ParkTitle: - The Firekeeper's Son
Illustrator: - Julie Downing
Publisher: - Clarion Books
Year: - 2004
Format: - Hardcover
Genre: - Picture Storybook
Reading Level: - Assisted
Interest Level: - Early Elementary
Topics: - Korea, family traditions, methods of communication, cultural diversity, fulfilling responsibility
Summary: - Sang-hee is a young boy who lives in a small village in Korea. His father--and grandfather and great-grandfather before him--is the village's firekeeper. The fires are used to send signals to villages across Korea to let the king know that all is well in all of the villages. If a fire is not lit, it is a signal that there is danger in the village, and the king will send his soldiers to help. One night, Sang-hee notices that his father has not lit the fire even though there is no danger. Sang-hee must run to start the fire to let the king know that all is well; he struggles between his desire to not light the fire and get to meet soldiers and his knowledge that his family and village are counting on him. Sang-hee decides his responsibility is more important, and he lights the fire. He becomes the next firekeeper in his village.
Illustrator: - Julie Downing
Publisher: - Clarion Books
Year: - 2004
Format: - Hardcover
Genre: - Picture Storybook
Reading Level: - Assisted
Interest Level: - Early Elementary
Topics: - Korea, family traditions, methods of communication, cultural diversity, fulfilling responsibility
Summary: - Sang-hee is a young boy who lives in a small village in Korea. His father--and grandfather and great-grandfather before him--is the village's firekeeper. The fires are used to send signals to villages across Korea to let the king know that all is well in all of the villages. If a fire is not lit, it is a signal that there is danger in the village, and the king will send his soldiers to help. One night, Sang-hee notices that his father has not lit the fire even though there is no danger. Sang-hee must run to start the fire to let the king know that all is well; he struggles between his desire to not light the fire and get to meet soldiers and his knowledge that his family and village are counting on him. Sang-hee decides his responsibility is more important, and he lights the fire. He becomes the next firekeeper in his village.
Extension Activities: -
--Students share one of their family traditions. Older students can make presentations for the class about their tradition; for example, where or why it started, why it is important to them, and if there are any cultural roots to the tradition. Younger students can share in groups or with the class in a "show-and-tell" format.
--Students in groups develop a new method of communication that can be used to send information across the classroom or the school like the fires in the story were used to send information across Korea. Students make a language or code translation chart in such a way that someone new to the group can understand. When the communication methods are finished, the groups present their inventions to the class. The classroom then tries out a different communication method each day (or week). Afterward, students can discuss what types of things worked and what things didn't.
--Students share one of their family traditions. Older students can make presentations for the class about their tradition; for example, where or why it started, why it is important to them, and if there are any cultural roots to the tradition. Younger students can share in groups or with the class in a "show-and-tell" format.
--Students in groups develop a new method of communication that can be used to send information across the classroom or the school like the fires in the story were used to send information across Korea. Students make a language or code translation chart in such a way that someone new to the group can understand. When the communication methods are finished, the groups present their inventions to the class. The classroom then tries out a different communication method each day (or week). Afterward, students can discuss what types of things worked and what things didn't.
