Lowji Discovers America
Lowji Discovers America. Candace Fleming; Atheneum Books for Simon & Schuster, 2005
Grade Level: 3 – 5
ISBN & Cost: 0-689-86299-7; $15.95
Synopsis: For nearly nine year old Lowji the move from big, busy Bombay, India to Hamlet, Illinois in America is beginning to seem like a “bummer” until he finds the “silver” (silver linings). What Lowji discovers first is that “No! No you can’t have a pet,” works no matter where he lives until he finds the “silver.”
General Review: Lowji Sanjana is not happy to leave family and friends in Bombay until he realizes that he might be able to have a pet in America. Landlady Crisp has other ideas but outgoing. Lowji finds his silver linings in ways, to use an expression, “could only happen in America.” The story moves quickly as Lowji acquaints himself with Hamlet, Illinois. Candace Fleming has created an ebullient character in Lowji while giving insight into the culture of India.
Themes: Awareness of surroundings and situations; Persistence in seeking information and answers; Culture of India; Learning to compromise or as Lowji might eventually say, “If life gives you lemons, make lemonade.”
Author Information: Candace Fleming’s web site www.candacefleming.com
Meet Authors and Illustrators www.childrenslit.com
Discussion Questions : Standard 3, Benchmark 3
1. In what ways did the glossary help you?
2. Using clues from the story, describe Jamshed.
3. What reasons can you give for the ways that the “All Mart boys” acted toward Lowji?
4. Explain to adults like Lowji’s parents why it was important for him to respond as he did to “Baseball Cap” and the “All Mart boys” in the bowling alley.
5. Predict and discuss what will happen during Lowji’s first weeks at Hamlet Elementary School.
Activities:
1. Lowji Discovers America tells of many adventures. Make a time line to show the problems or events that Lowji encounters and his solutions to them.
(Standard 3, Benchmark 1)
- Lowji is unsure about moving to America. His Bape tells him to look for the silver linings.
A. Explain what Bape means by silver linings.
B. When you understand the meaning of silver linings, thing of some examples
from your own life.
- Using a Venn diagram or other graphic organizer, compare Lowji’s “silvers” with your own.
(Standard 6, Benchmark 1; Standard 9, Benchmark 1)
3. The author has created a lively and interesting character in Lowji. Using traditional web mapping or designing a more text-related web, show the special characteristics of Lowji . For example, what characteristics does Lowji display in the chapter, “Ironman” when he saves the pig? (Standard 2, Benchmark 2)
4. Lowji folded paper and created a “wish bird.” His paper folding is known as origami. Look for books on origami in your school library or public library. From books on origami and web sites you can learn to make your own “wish bird” and other creatures. Copier paper cut into squares works well when learning origami. (Standard 1, Benchmark 1)
Suggested web sites: www.dltk-kids.com and www.tammyyee.com
5. Lowji and his parents are newcomers to America. If they plan to stay here for the rest of their lives, they could also be called immigrants.
When we hear the word, “Immigrant” in the news of 2007, we may be reading someone’s opinion about problems with the immigration of people into America. The treatment of people emigrating from India to America in the late 19 th and the early 20 th century was similar to the experiences that immigrating Hispanics are experiencing in the early years of the 21 st century. In 1890 a congressman wanted to stop admitting people from India into America because, “They wore turbans, ate rice and were not Christians.” At that time people from India were usually called “Hindus.” That word refers to just one of the many religions of India.
What do you know about immigrants? To find out more, get information from InfoTrac and SIRS Discoverer databases. Another good source for learning more about immigration is Appreciating America’s Heritage from the American Immigration Law Foundation. www.ailf.org/teach from the same source is The Passage from India. 2002. Basically, Appreciating America’s Heritage is a curriculum guide for K-12. It provides activities and resources within a few pages.
(Standards 1.1; 7.1; 8.1)
There are several books on India and its culture and geography. A recent publication with a theme similar to that of Lowji Discoverer America is Kashmira Sheth’s Blue Jasmine 2004. Hyperion Books for Children. ISBN-13: 9780768618556. $15.99 hardback.