Booking Across the USA is a collaborative blogging project created by Jodie from Growing Book By Book. Each of the participating bloggers are showcasing a book and activity related to their state: all 50 states are represented!!! Children’s literature is a fun way to bring history, culture, and geography alive and to learn about the US through “armchair travel.” The book I’ve chosen to represent Texas is Tomie dePaola’s “The Legend of the Bluebonnet.”
If you cannot find the book at your local bookstore or library, listen to this book here. The Legend of the Bluebonnets tells a story of the Comanche American Indians, who lived in the land that is now Texas. A young girl named “She-Who-Is-Alone” is listening to her people decide how to please the Great Spirits, who have caused a great drought and famine. They know they must give up something that is very valuable, but no one has the courage to offer their special possession. In the end, this little girl makes a dear sacrifice to help save her people, and thus the beautiful bluebonnet flowers cover the Texas hills.
Discussion Questions:
1) How did She-Who-Is-Alone feel during the drought and famine?
2) Why did she decide to make the sacrifice?
3) What are some characteristics of She-Who-Is-Alone?
4) Why is the ending bittersweet?
5) What is something that is very valuable that you would sacrifice?
6) “She-Who-Is-Alone” has her name change at the end to “One-Who-Dearly-Loved-Her-People.” Can you think of a name for yourself that describes either your personality or a specific circumstance?
Extension Resources
Comanche Indian Fact Sheet for Kids
Texas Map, Facts, and State Symbols
Free SMART Board Lesson Plan on the book
Meet the author: Tomie dePaola
Pretty Pictures of Bluebonnets
Bluebonnet Craft:
Use your fingerprints to make your own bluebonnets!
Once you’ve learn about Texas, visit the other participating sites to work your way across the United States, book by book! Learning about the US through children’s books brings culture, geography, and history alive. Here are 50+ books and activities- one from every state in the United States!
Learning about the US through Children’s Books & Activities
Alaska Blog Post by Little Wonders’ Days Blog
Arizona Blog Post by Simply Kinder
California Blog Post by Juggling with Kids
Delaware Blog Post by Mama Miss
Illinois State Post by Growing Book by Book
Iowa Blog Post by Surviving a Teacher Salary 
North Dakota Post by ND Health Works
This is a beautiful legend retold by a wonderful talent. I enjoyed reading your discussion questions. It’s nice to see how others approach discussions with their children.
I love how you always provide so many resources – the discussion questions and the links and the crafts. I’m pinning this so I remember to get the book!
This is such an awesome idea and collaborative effort! Cheers to everyone involved.
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This is a really lovely book! One of my favorites! And I like your discussion and art project! Great post!
We have this book, thank you for the ideas on how to make a great lesson with it. Love the pictures your students made!
Yay, thank you! Actually 4 of them are my kids:), and the little girl on the way left is my daughter’s best friend:).
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Great post! Looking forward to all of these. The Outlaw Mom link on California doesn’t work though.
Eeek, thank you!!!!
PS: And the one for Massachusets links to the main blog, not the individual post…I found it here: http://mamasmiles.com/massachusetts-make-way-for-ducklings/
Thank you so much! I am fixing right now….
Are bluebonnets the same as lupin, I wonder? Thanks for sharing at the Children’s Bookshelf.
Yes, I think they are a type!!!! I heard they changed the Texas State Flower from just Bluebonnets, to now include all lupin!
Love the Bluebonnets and love Tomie DePaola. I was hoping you might pick that book. Thank you so much for participating in the Booking Across the USA project. Your blog is amazing and such a perfect fit with this project.
Thank you Jodie! I actually had not read this book until I was researching children’s fiction about Texas! We read 4-5 books, and this one just seemed perfect:). I am embarrassed that I just discovered it- though my kids all said that they had read it in school!!! It’s such a great project- teachers at my school love the idea!! Thanks for organizing!
This is just fantastic!! Thanks for the info!