Sarah, Plain and Tall

Title: Sarah, Plain And Tall

Author: Patricia MacLachlan

Illustrator: Patricia MacLachlan

Publisher: Harper Collins Books

Year Published: 1985










Format: Paperback

Genre: Children's novel

Reading Level: Independent Reader

Reading Interest Level: Upper Elementary, Middle School

Topics: Newbery Award, Family, Relationships, happiness.

Summary: Sarah, Plain and Tall consists of family living in a small Midwestern farm. The family is very happy until one day Anna and Caleb's father explains to them his longing for a wife. Although he was very nervous about the discussion, Caleb and Anna enthusiastically agree because they too had been wishing for a mother figure in their life. The family puts up an advertisement and they get a response. Sarah is from Maine and after a couple of letters back and fourth she is ready to come to the farm. Everyone is excited but is also nervous because Sarah loves her house in Maine and the sea, but when they meet her they instantly fall in love with her. Although they remain scared in the end that they will get left because Sarah is homesick, in the end, they find out what a true family is.

Extension Activity:
-Make a character analysis chart. Have the kids write down character descriptions, qualities, and make decisive inferences of every main character.
-Ask children what they thought the differences were from back then to now-a-days. How was the farm life in the Midwest different then yours? And explain if you think the families priorities were different than yours, or not?
-Draw a picture of what you think the family looked like based on the descriptions in the book.

Sarah, Plain and Tall

Author- Patricia MacLACHLAN

Title- Sarah, Plain and Tall

Illustrater- None
Year- 1985

Genre- Chapter Book

Format- Soft cover
Publisher- HarperCollins Publishers Inc.

Reading Level- Middle/Late Elementary
Interest Level-Elementary

Topics- Older times, western

Summary- This book is about a family whose mother dies. The children Caleb and Anna miss their mother and always talk ahout her singing. One day, their father asks how they would feel if they found a new mother. He puts and ad in the paper looking for someone who would be fit for their family. Sarah is the women who replies to the ad. She comes and stays with them for the summer and begins to do things on the farm. The kids love her and she ends up deciding to stay with them. Papa and Sarah get married.

Extension Activity- Since this book is primarily for older students you could have them write their own stories about their family. They could draw illustrations to go along with their book. You could then hang them up around the Classroom.