The Seeing Stick
Author:
Jane Yolen
Themes: PerspectiveGenre: Fiction, Disabilities
Grade: First grade and up
Summary: Hwei
Ming is a young Chinese girl who is blind. Hwei is known throughout the story
as “The Blind Princess.” Her father, emperor of Peking, was sad that his only
daughter Hwei had been blind since birth and hoped that one day someone could help her see. In attempt to make
their family happy, Hwei’s father seeks to find someone who can solve all of
their problems. The person that does so would be rewarded with fortune in
jewels. An older man arrives at Hwei’s house one day with The Seeing Stick, a
walking stick into which the blind man has carved the saga of his travels. And
yet when he touches the child and aids her in "feeling" his story,
another way of seeing is revealed to her.
This book was neat in that as the book goes on, it starts off in black and white, but slowly starts to gain color as the main character learns how to "see" things. By the end of the book the pages are in color and the main character is able to see things in a different perspective.
This book was neat in that as the book goes on, it starts off in black and white, but slowly starts to gain color as the main character learns how to "see" things. By the end of the book the pages are in color and the main character is able to see things in a different perspective.
Pre-Reading Activity: Start off by asking the students if they know or have seen any one who was blind. How did this person get around without seeing? Have students write a short paragraph about how they think that they would have to do things differently if they themselves were blind.
Post-Reading Activity: Pair students up and give each pair a blind fold. Have one person in each pair put the blindfold on. The job of the second person is to get their partner from one end of the room to the other, without running into anything or anyone else, without touching them. After they make it to the other side of the room have the partners switch roles. Afterwards have the students write a reflection on this experience. How was each job done by them? What strategies did they use? How did they feel not being able to see?
About the Author: Jane Yolen has written over 300 books, from children's to adult
books. She has won many awards and has received six honorary doctorates
in literature. Visit her site to find a list of her many works, and
resources for teachers and students.
http://janeyolen.com/
http://janeyolen.com/
Yolen, J. (2009).The Seeing Stick. Philadelphia:Running Kids Press.Grades1+
Hey Ash, I remember you talking about this book in our book club and really liked how at each flip of the page, there is more and more color. By the end of the book, the illustrations are just incredible, especially the ones that are holographic! I really like your pre-reading activity, having the students experience the perspective of someone who is blind. Sometimes we don't know what one is experiencing until we experience it ourselves.
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