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Tales of Young Americans
Pappy's Handkerchief: A Tale of the Oklahoma Land Run
Young Moses and his family are barely scraping by. He helps his father in their fish stall selling each day's catch to passersby but times are hard in 1889 Baltimore. It's difficult to provide for a family of ten. But when they hear of free farmland out in Oklahoma, it sounds like the answer to their prayers. The family sells all they own and heads west to fulfill a lifelong dream. Their wagon journey, however, is plagued with troubles from ice storms and flooded rivers to diminishing supplies and sickness. Yet Moses and his family persevere. They arrive in time to take a place along the boundary line that marks the staging point for the Oklahoma Land Run. But after making it this far, will even more bad luck prevent them from realizing their dream of owning their own piece of America? Evocative paintings and spellbinding storytelling bring the Oklahoma Land Run to vivid life for young readers.
40 pages, Hardcover
First published August 22, 2007
2 people are currently reading
80 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
August 8, 2021
Wow, what a story! I would likely have missed this book had I not been making my way through the excellent Tales of Young American series by Sleeping Bear Press.
The electronic version I read did not contain an author's note, history, or jacket covers, but I certainly wish it had (once I fall down the rabbit hole investigating these kind of stories, I can be gone for days).
I knew about the Oklahoma Land Run, meaning that I had heard of it and had a vague recollection, but I still don't understand the rules or how parcels could be delineated, claimed, and differentiated. This sounded like nonfiction to me, a story about a specific family, and I would certainly like to know more. I am giving it four stars rather than five solely for this reason.
Outstanding illustrations. Power, determination, and tenacity of Black Americans in history. One of the few that I've read that take place during Reconstruction. More from this time period would be welcome as a hidden source of strength and wealth.
The electronic version I read did not contain an author's note, history, or jacket covers, but I certainly wish it had (once I fall down the rabbit hole investigating these kind of stories, I can be gone for days).
I knew about the Oklahoma Land Run, meaning that I had heard of it and had a vague recollection, but I still don't understand the rules or how parcels could be delineated, claimed, and differentiated. This sounded like nonfiction to me, a story about a specific family, and I would certainly like to know more. I am giving it four stars rather than five solely for this reason.
Outstanding illustrations. Power, determination, and tenacity of Black Americans in history. One of the few that I've read that take place during Reconstruction. More from this time period would be welcome as a hidden source of strength and wealth.
January 13, 2020
Tells the story of a Black family making the journey from Baltimore to Oklahoma to participate in the April 22 land run.
The author's note mentions but is a little dismissive of the impact of the land runs on the Native American nations in Oklahoma (those that had historically been here and those that had been forcibly relocated here). But it adds context about motivations for Black families coming to Oklahoma and the resulting record number of all-Black towns. That doesn't really come up in the main text; while the main family in the story sticks with Black families as they travel and while waiting for April 22, there's nothing about trying to stake claims near each other, say.
The author's note mentions but is a little dismissive of the impact of the land runs on the Native American nations in Oklahoma (those that had historically been here and those that had been forcibly relocated here). But it adds context about motivations for Black families coming to Oklahoma and the resulting record number of all-Black towns. That doesn't really come up in the main text; while the main family in the story sticks with Black families as they travel and while waiting for April 22, there's nothing about trying to stake claims near each other, say.
October 16, 2017
Though this was historical fiction, it was based on true facts about the Oklahoma Land Run in 1889. I find the subject always fascinating, especially since, in our family history,it is known that my relatives made the Oklahoma Run in 1889.
January 15, 2020
The Oklahoma Land Run from an African American perspective -- blacks were allowed to claim land just like anyone else, which was a huge plus for people and families still struggling after years of slavery.
August 5, 2020
A beautiful book about a black family that is newly freed from slavery and heroically makes the journey from Maryland to Oklahoma in the land run of 1889! A wonderful way to understate the history of this state with more racial awareness of the black towns that were abundant in oklahoma
October 17, 2017
Fun read!
My son, 8, enjoyed reading it for homeschool while we studied about Oklahoma. It helped him understand that part of history better.
My son, 8, enjoyed reading it for homeschool while we studied about Oklahoma. It helped him understand that part of history better.
November 4, 2021
Excellent story. We recently read The Homestead Act by Conrad Stein. This gave the family a good background to the what’s and why’s.
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April 10, 2022A bit mature for most elementary school kids; my own found it a little too sad. However, it is excellent. Lovely pictures.
August 22, 2013
"Slavery is over, and we're free now. But in America a man isn't really free until he owns the land he lives on."
Pappy's Handkerchief is the story of the American expansion West in the eyes of African Americans. Moses and his family are barely scraping by working in their fish stall near Baltimore harbor, selling the fish that they catch. Word goes around that there will be a land grab in Oklahoma, Indian Territory, and it means a new start for those that want it. After a rigorous ride, and an accident, it is up to Moses to stake his family's claim on their land. But you have to be eighteen to stake a claim, and Moses is not of age. Will he be able to secure his family's future or will they have to return to a life that is no longer there?
This is my first time hearing of the Oklahoma Land Run. Many African American families placed their claim out West to start a new life, hoping for the better. The author's note states that there were five different runs between 1889 and 1895. Although Moses and his family in Pappy's Handkerchief are a work of fiction, their struggle, hopes and prayers symbolize the same for many that actually took the journey.
This would make a great classroom addition when discussing the Indian Territory or Oklahoma before statehood. Bad News for Outlaws: The Remarkable Life of Bass Reeves, Deputy U. S. Marshal would make a great companion to this title.
Pappy's Handkerchief is the story of the American expansion West in the eyes of African Americans. Moses and his family are barely scraping by working in their fish stall near Baltimore harbor, selling the fish that they catch. Word goes around that there will be a land grab in Oklahoma, Indian Territory, and it means a new start for those that want it. After a rigorous ride, and an accident, it is up to Moses to stake his family's claim on their land. But you have to be eighteen to stake a claim, and Moses is not of age. Will he be able to secure his family's future or will they have to return to a life that is no longer there?
This is my first time hearing of the Oklahoma Land Run. Many African American families placed their claim out West to start a new life, hoping for the better. The author's note states that there were five different runs between 1889 and 1895. Although Moses and his family in Pappy's Handkerchief are a work of fiction, their struggle, hopes and prayers symbolize the same for many that actually took the journey.
This would make a great classroom addition when discussing the Indian Territory or Oklahoma before statehood. Bad News for Outlaws: The Remarkable Life of Bass Reeves, Deputy U. S. Marshal would make a great companion to this title.
June 11, 2008
This is a well-told story about a former slave family taking part in the Land Rush of Oklahoma, through the eyes of the eldest son. Fish mongering in Baltimore wasn't brining home enough money to feed the family, so the father decided to sell all they own to buy a wagon and two horses to make the long treck to Oklahoma.
It choked me up, but I'm sentimental about stuff like this.
A great read for elementary teachers and their classes.
It choked me up, but I'm sentimental about stuff like this.
A great read for elementary teachers and their classes.
March 13, 2008
This long picture book tells the story of a black family that takes a chance in the Oklahoma land runs and how a little boy saved the farm for the family. The pictures were great and fit the mood of the book well!
August 13, 2013
Some kids' picture books are really good and have some substance to their stories. This is such a book. It's the story of a family working to get a free plot of land in the late 1800's. An almost tragic story with a triumphant ending.
July 30, 2010
Picture Book/Fiction
Ages: 8-11
Ages: 8-11
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews