More Than Anything Else

by Marie Bradby, Chris K. Soentpiet (Illustrator)

"A fictionalized story about the life of young Booker T. Washington. Living in a West Virginia settlement after emancipation, nine-year-old Booker travels by lantern light to the salt works, where he labors from dawn till dusk. Although his stomach rumbles, his real hunger is his intense desire to learn to read.... [A] moving and inspirational story." - School Library Journal, starred review

Genres: Historical Fiction, Picture Books, Childrens, Cultural, African American, Realistic Fiction, Historical

32 pages, Hardcover

First published September 1, 1995

About the author

I grew up in the suburbs on the East Coast, the sixth of seven children. I attended public schools, I was a Girl Scout, played soccer, was a majorette and played the clarinet and oboe through college. After I graduated from Hampton University, I worked as a journalist for newspapers and magazines for years.

My husband and I have one child -- a teen-age son -- and I became interested in writing children's literature when he was an infant. I began seriously studying children's literature by reading, attending writing workshops, writing, and joining professional writers' organizations and a critique group. To pay for books on writing, attending workshops and organizational memberships, I worked as a free-lance writer for various magazines.

It took about eight years before my first book was published.

When I am not writing, I enjoy gardening, playing tennis, biking, yoga, and of course, reading.

Reviews

[Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Simply put a beautiful story on reading with beautiful imagery. However, “More Than Anything Else” was more than that. It had a likable character named Booker to follow throughout the story. It compared grasping or “holding” on to something, a frog, with grasping knowledge or learning to read. A simile is used when Booker learns to read that shows his excitement while reflecting the setting of the story when he states “I shout and laugh like when I was baptized in the creek.” Simile and metaphors such as these are used throughout the book contributing to its overall story. The poor status of our protagonist reflects the true state of his people at that time. His desire to read and his excitement in learning demonstrates what reading meant to his people during his time in real life, although this is a fiction story. The story overall emphasizes reading as a treasure, which our poor, African protagonist greatly valued. Even though children may not understand it fully, I believe the story can be used to encourage reading, viewing it as a privilege and a pleasure not to be taken for granted.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

1 sentence description
This was a wonderful story about nine year old Booker, who had a yearning to learn to read despite his having work from sun up to sun down everyday. He studies and studies but it is until he meets the man like him that can read who shows him the song, has he begun to unlock the magic of reading.

curriculum connection
History

personal reaction
Excellent story. It ties into history and introduces children of all ages to civil rights and a different time in history, and hopefully also exposes them to the magic of reading. I was proud of Booker all along, for wanting to learn, studying when it felt purposeless, and seeking the answers to his questions. I was very excited at the end of the story when Booker finally heard the alphabet song and saw his own name written in those black markings on paper.

assessment of visual appeal
The illustrations were very detailed and realistically painted.

Genre:
Traditional Literature, Historical.

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading this book and I would definitely use it in a future classroom. More Than Anything Else tells the story of a young, black salt worker named Booker who desperately longs to read. He believes that books hold secrets and make their readers powerful. one night he sees a black man reading a newspaper to the crowd and becomes so excited he tells his mom, "Mama, I have to learn to read!" She finds him a book containing the alphabet and his dreams take off. He finally locates the man who can read and he teaches Booker to sing the alphabet and to spell his name.
This book touches on a wide range of topics and social issues that would inspire a great class discussion. The first thing children will notice is every character in this book is an African American, much different from the typical picturebook. They will be able to explore the conditions that affected many African Americans after slavery ended and who Booker T. Washington, the main character, really was. Overall, the book was well written, interesting, and the pictures are beautifully done. Children will love the main character and admire him for his determination to read.

[Katherine · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a book about a poor in a poor family and town working with his father and brother to provide for their family. This little boy wants more than anything in the world to be able to read. He thinks about reading all day long, and wishes he knew how. He sees a man reading the newspaper to a crowd and strives to be that man. He tells his mother he wants to learn to read, and she gives him what he needs to do so.


I love the author's use of metaphors to explain how much the child wants to learn. Particularly, the frog metaphor. Bradley compares the boy holding a frog squirming in his hands to his want for learning how to read. The author also uses other metaphors in this book to help explain what they mean. I think that this book is a great way to show children how much others want to read, and might inspire them to want to read as well.

[Jeff Fortney · Rating 4 out of 5]

More Than Anything Else is the story of Booker T. Washington and his overwhelming desire to learn to read. In an era shortly after slavery has ended ("people are free now to do what they want and go where they want"), Booker and his family struggle at the salt mines. They don't have much to eat, they listen to stories from the people where they live and Booker feels the burning to learn what those black marks on paper mean. He knows if given a chance, he can do it and this will take him where he wants to go. He then comes across a man - a black man - reading the newspaper to the townsfolk and feels hope burst inside him.
After getting an alphabet book from his mother, Booker struggles with trying to figure out the "song" of the letters. Finally, he finds the man who can read and asks him to help him uncover the secret. He happily agrees and even teaches the young boy what his name looks like. Booker is on his way.
The very graphic, life-like illustrations help this powerful book come fully to life. The watercolors use great light effects to brighten the scenes around Booker as he follows his dream to literacy. Lanterns, fireplaces, bonfires and other light sources are used to shine brightly around Booker, especially his smile as he takes in his name, written in dirt for the first time.

[Kelli · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interest Level: PreK-3
Reading Level: 3rd

More Than Anything Else tells the story of Booker T. Washington's journey into reading. Young readers may be surprised to learn that most children had to work alongside their parents, such as Booker did in the salt mines. This didn’t leave a lot of time for learning, especially if you were an African-American. Booker loves oral storytelling, but wants to learn how to read books. He believes this will let him become an even better storyteller as he’ll learn the stories hidden in writing. His mother gives him the alphabet, but it’s not until Booker meets a man who helps him that Booker is able to begin unlocking those secrets.
More Than Anything Else serves as a great connection between children today and the history of this era. Many students today learn their letters by practicing in salt or dirt, just like Booker does. Classroom discussion on reading mentors, what reading can allow us to experience, and how stories are told are all possible connections to this story relating to literacy. Life in post-slavery America, child labor, and Booker T. Washington’s eventual contributions could also be explored further after reading this. The richly detailed illustrations add the icing on the cake to make this a great read-aloud or classroom library addition.

[Olivia Lavelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

More Than Anything Else by Marie Bradby, really caught my attention. It was a book about a young boy named Booker who did not know how to read. He wanted to learn how to read more than anything else. This is all he thought about during his days and nights. He runs into this man who is making an announcement to the people that he can and will teach children of all ages how to read. Booker is aroused by the mans ability to read that he goes home and tells his mother that he wants to read. She gives him a book that has all the alphabets in it and he immediately goes to the corner and starts to learn the song of the alphabet and how these letters are pronounced. He could not do it on his own , so he goes and finds the man who was preaching from earlier, and he teaches him the song and how to spell his name. This book was very touching, because I got to learn about the characters troubles and aspirations. The reader was also able to see Booker accomplish his goal and see him express his happiness through the pictures by Chris K. Soentpiet. After reading this book, it allowed me to open my eyes and notice that I take knowing how to read for granted.

[Shoaa Aljohani · Rating 5 out of 5]

The cover of this story sports the picture of a puzzled hero who is clearly wondering about something. This is designed to attract the reader's attention. The theme is very purposefully revealed. The author uses multiple captions for each picture beacuse it illustrates more than one of event. The author does not greatly vary narrative and dialogue. He depends heavily on narrative. From my point of view, a greater use of dialogue would have made the story more enjoyable. The language of the story is smooth and easy, since he did not use complex words. The contents and events are interrelated and the author relied on a gradient effect. The primary benefit of this story for children is the encouragement and inspiration it provides for personal growth and character development.

[Luz Herrera · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this book was very interesting and it kept me engaged. As I read through the book I really enjoyed the drawings and just the story itself.When I began I already liked how booker was so intrigued with wanting to read.He knew it was hard and gave up hope sometime but he kept strong.He saw the black man reading a book and that encouraged him even more to succeed. He also had the support from his mother which was a plus. I believe this book is great for kids! Booker teaches them to keep strong in their dreams and even to show the importance of reading!

[Dawn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I met this author at the National Family Literacy Conference in Louisville. I had to buy the book after hearing her read it. It's realistic historical fiction based on the life of Booker T. Washington. Marie Bradby has avidly studied Washington's life and wanted to write a book because she was concerned about the lack of books about African-American children after her son was born. This is going to be a definite addition to my read-aloud library.

[Judy · Rating 5 out of 5]

There's a lot to like in this picture book -- it introduces Booker T. Washington, gives a peek into the life of a black family in the mid 1800s, says a little about mining salt, and focuses on how deprived people can feel when they don't know how to read.

The next time I see my 3-year-old nephew, we're going to read this together. He's starting to see how the ABCs connect to reading.

The art brings the story to life. Why didn't Soentpiet win a Caldecott for his work on this book?!

[Jenny · Rating 4 out of 5]

A beautiful story of young Booker who works in the salt mines but dreams on one thing more than anything else. When he finds someone who can teach him, hope and joy blossom within him. Gorgeous illustrations. Could be used to talk about the importance of reading, having determination to reach goals, as well as discussing the historical aspects and the contributions of Booker Washington.

[Sarah Threlkeld · Rating 4 out of 5]

An engaging story of a young boy living in poverty who desperately wants to learn how to read because he knows it will lead to a better life. This would make a great read aloud for any grade and could spark some interesting discussions about literacy.

[Madeline Clements · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is about a little boy who wants to learn how to read. This is shown through his determination to learn. He has a lot of struggles but more than anything he wants to learn. In the end he learns to read.

[Jenny · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful historical fiction about Booker T. Washington and how he longed to learn to read. Inspiring to all learners!

[Carmen Orsi · Rating 4 out of 5]

More Than Anything Else tells the story of 9 year old Booker T. Washington who wants more than anything else, even more than food, to learn how to read. The story begins with Booker, his father and his brother traveling on foot before sunrise to their job as salt miners. After a long day of work, they head back into town. The townspeople gather around a fire and begin telling stories orally. Booker notices a man reading a newspaper out loud. This sparks a fire in Booker and gives him hope that one day he will be like the man and use his reading abilities to teach others to read. He returns home and expresses his desire to read to his mother, who in return gives him a little blue alphabet book. After copying the letters and attempting to assign them sounds, he begins a quest to find the man with the newspaper. He finds the man who then teaches Booker the alphabet song. Booker doesn't want to end his learning there, so he asks the man to teach him more. The book ends with the newspaper man showing Booker how to spell his own name.

This book could be used in an elementary history lesson to teach the history of slavery. It could also be read in class during Black History Month to introduce children to Booker T. Washington. For kindergarteners you could read the book and then have the kids make their own little blue alphabet book as an art project. More Than Anything Else can be used to inspire students to have a love for reading and show them what a gift education and being able to reading truly is. The book also shows children that we are never finished learning.

[Monique Gil · Rating 4 out of 5]

Booker is a 9 year old boy living in Malden, West Virginia in 1865 with his father, mother, older brother John, and sister. The men of the house work in the saltworks of West Virginia. Booker has a hunger, but it is not for food. He hungers for the ability to learn to read. One day a brown face of hope appears, who might make his dream come true.
I absolutely enjoyed reading this book, the pictures were beautiful, the dialogue was natural, and the many messages about the importance of reading was strong through the main characters want and need to learn to read. Booker compares learning to read as magic, he even goes as far as saying it is more important than eating, he even compares it to the feeling of being baptised for the first time. I loved how Booker believes that within the books there holds special secrets, it is true, at least to me.
The way I would incorporate this book in the classroom would be during any type of history lesson that takes place in the same time period. Also it is just a great book to explore the importance of reading.

[Kennedy Meredith · Rating 3 out of 5]

Booker, a young boy, lives in a small town with his family. Every day he and his brother and father go to work shoveling salt. Although the work they do is hard and painful, that pain is nothing compared to the pain Booker feels emotionally. All Booker wants to do is read, but he doesn't know how and no one around him does either. One day, on Booker's way home from work, he spots a man who is reading a newspaper aloud. Booker wants to be like him so bad that he goes home and tells his mother that he must learn to read. After practicing on his own with no success, he eventually finds the newspaperman again and he can teach Booker how to read.

As a classroom connection, this book would be a great way to explain to the students that not everyone knows how to read. Also, Booker worked very hard and asked people for help when he didn't understand, so that is another lesson students could be taught. This book could also lead to a study on the history of literature and defining the difference between literature and reading. I would suggest using this book with 2nd-5th graders when talking about ELA.

[Danielle Flowers · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is based on the true story of a young boy in West Virginia named Booker T. Washington. He is only nine years old and works from dusk till dawn in the salt mines with his family, doing manual labor. His young body is sore, and his stomach is hungey. Yet Booker yearns for one thing, and that is to learn how to read. He finds a man who helps him understand the alphabet book given to him by his mother as a gift. This story is inspiring. It does a great job of illustrating the joy Booker gets from seeing his name written and learning what some of the letters mean.
I would use this book in my classroom for many reasons. We often take reading for granted, yet there are many children out there who want the same thing as Booker. I would also use it to show the struggle of the time in our country's life where there were no regulations placed on children working. Another way to incoroprate this book into a classroom would be showing that reading is a gift, not just a privilage.

[Esperanza · Rating 4 out of 5]

More Than Anything Else is a fictional story of the historical figure Booker T. Washington and his desire to read, which is greater than any other desire. The book follows him in his daily life where he works hard in the salt mines with his father bother. Then, one day he sees a man reading in public. He tells his mom how he has a deep desire to learn to read, she gives him an alphabet book,which he cherishes and hopes to one day learn. shortly after he seeks the man he saw reading and asks him to teach him to read.

I believe this book would be great to pair with a history lesson on America, post slavery. And, how slaves were not allowed to read therefore a lot of their stories were told orally. This book would also be great to introduce Booker T. Washington as a historical figure during black history month. How despite the odds, his desire and hard work, lead him to read and achieve greatness in history.

[Sydnee Lim · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book reveals the life of a young boy who spends most of his day packing salt with his papa and brother. He aches from working long days and imagines a life where he is privileged to read. He strives to learn to read, it is one of his greatest desires. He compares the hunger in his belly to his yearning to read. This book explores the struggles of race and the lack of opportunity during this time period. I love the use of imagery and expression through the mind of a bright and determined nine-year-old child as he ventures to learn how to read. We as teachers can often forget that reading is a gift that not all people have the opportunity to discover as shared through this story.

I believe this would be a great book to introduce race to elementary school children in a social studies or history class. This book gives insight into the mindset of a black child who is determined to learn how to read, even though very few people of color knew how. This would be a great point of view to show children during a slavery and discrimination unit.

[Rachel Boruff · Rating 4 out of 5]

“More Than Anything Else” is a book about a boy that longs to learn how to read. He works long days digging salt, and does not have much to eat, but he is driven toward his goal. Even though he is not entirely restricted with slavery, reading is still not a common practice. A man reading the newspaper ends up helping him with a book that he receives from his mother. This book is great for a classroom because it emphasizes the importance as well as how much of a privilege it is to read. It is a chance to inspire young readers and give them the feeling that they can accomplish whatever they put their mind to. Along with generating excitement, this book could be an introduction to a unit on the history that took place in this time during freedom from slavery. Overall, a great book, and one that I look forward to sharing with future students!

[Sierra · Rating 4 out of 5]

"More Than Anything Else" is about the story of nine-year-old Booker and his journey to learning how to read, despite the fact that he works from sunrise to sunset every day. In the book he compares his desire to know how to read to hunger, constantly growling in his mind. In the end he is given an alphabet book from his mother and eventually gains the assistance of a mysterious man who knows how to read. This book definitely held my attention and I appreciated how Bradby captured Booker's strong desire to read through her descriptions. His excitement on finally learning how to read is contagious to the reader. The word imagery was compelling and powerful and did a good job making Booker's feelings relatable to the reader. The illustrations were fitting, as well.

In a classroom setting, this book might be useful during a history unit on slavery or the Civil War.

[Alli Davis · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was a beautiful and inspiring story. It was a story about a young African-American boy who works all day shoveling salt with his father and brother. He talks about being hungry but he does not mean the typical hunger for food, he hungers to learn to read. One day on his way home from work he sees a man who looks like him reading a newspaper, a “brown face of hope”. He receives a book from his mother and finds the man who was reading the newspaper. The man teaches him the alphabet and how to spell his name.
This would be a great book to use in a classroom. In younger elementary grades the book can be used to teach students the alphabet or how to write their name. In older grades it can be used to start talking about race and differences between people. I think in all grades the book has a great, everlasting message: the importance of reading and the joy it can bring.

[Taylor Stevens · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was about Booker T. Washington and his life after emancipation. He works with his papa shoveling salt all day long. It is hard work and they do not get that much food to nourish them. Even though he is hungry, he is more hungry for knowledge and to learn how to read. Book is finally free and able to read, but he has to labor all day and does not have the opportunity to read. He believes that books carry a secret with them and a sort of escape.

This book would be good to use during a history lesson of slavery and emancipation. The book describes the lifestyle of people after they were liberated. This book would be a good introduction to slavery and could be used to see what people already know about the topic.

[Kaiti Pannell · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was very easy to follow as a reader. The pictures and how the words use imagery make it easy to picture yourself as the character for more of an interaction. More than Anything else is about a young boy named Booker who is a black salt worker that is fascinated with reading. He believes that books are ways to escape the world and be who you want to be. One day he sees a black man reading the newspaper to a crowd. He later goes back to that man who helps him spell out his name by using the sounds of the letters. He starts his dream of reading when his mom gives him a book. Two ways to use this book in the future as a teacher are during Black history month and in the beginning of the school year. I hope to teach the younger grades so using this book in the beginning of the school year shows the children how book can be used to help with writing. Like how the book references sounds of letters. This book can also be used for Black history month because the main charter is African American.

[Megan · Rating 3 out of 5]

More Than Anything Else by: Marie Bradby is story about an African American boy who works shoveling salt. His name is Booker and he does not get a lot of food and is often hungry. He is also hungry to read a book. Along with his family, he does not know how to read or even know what the different letters sounds are. His mother gets him a book and the newspaper man helps him learn how to read by teaching him the alphabet song. This is great book to use in the classroom. I would use this book to show my students that many African American people did not know how to read during slavery even though they would love too. We are very lucky that we are allowed to read and people do not prevent us from reading.

[Chrisanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lovely. I wanted it to go on and wasn't a fan of the stopping point. But that's a personal preference.

[Jordan Ziemba · Rating 3 out of 5]

More Than Anything Else, is based around the power and effect that reading can have on young children. This book is a great example to never give up on your dreams, nine-year-old Booker worked all day at the saltworks, packing salt into barrels with his father and brother. But more than anything else he wanted the opportunity to read, and learn what those black markings on the pages really meant. Seeing the man reading the newspaper aloud to the town inspired Booker, giving him hope that one day that could be him. He went home that night, telling his mom that he has to learn to read. Booker's mom gives him a small blue book with the alphabet written on the inside, and that was just the start to him feeling saved by the letters written on those pages.

[Gabby Ebel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Synopsis:
More Than Anything Else by Marie Bradby and illustrated by Chris K. Soentpiet, is a beautifully written story about young Booker T. Washington and his desire to learn how to read. Booker and his family live and work by the Kanawha River. Booker, nine years old, works with his family to load salt into barrels every day. They are given very little to eat, but Booker doesn't mind... what he really wants is to learn how to read. He dreams of a place where he and his family are free and given an education. One night, he notices a black man, like him, reading a newspaper aloud to his people. Booker knows there is hope and is determined to teach himself how to read. His mother gives him his first small book. He begins to draw out the letters he sees in the book into the sandy floor. He finds the brown man who can read. The man reads the book aloud to him and Booker begins to "shout and laugh like when [he] was baptized in the creek." He was so happy to put sounds to letters. The man shows Booker how to write and sound out his name.

Teaching connection:
I love this read aloud for grades 2nd-3rd. The content is a little more advanced for an independent read, but the illustrations are very connected to the text and helpful for context clues. A very important stopping point would be at the beginning of the book- have students think of why Booker can't learn how to read? Why doesn't he go to school? Is he not allowed to? Make predictions and inferences about his life and the future of the story. Another good stopping point would be when Booker first sees the brown man that can read- What does this imply for Booker? What does this symbolize for his future? Is there hope? (happy dance!) I just love that the story brings in this character for Booker and shows him that he can be able to read one day.
Definitely a great book to use for Black History Month/ or a unit over African American history. Booker T. Washington is a great figure for students to research and learn more about his life. Research the discrimination of certain people and education, who and why weren't they allowed to go to school or learn how to read? what was the meaning behind that?

Why this book is a WOW book:
I think this book is great for students to hear because it emphasizes how important our education is, and to see someone get so happy over learning how to spell/read their own name is so inspirational and moving. Maybe students will grow a deeper appreciation for school after hearing this story. Also, the pictures in this book are captivating and lively. Very real and true. A great story for all young readers! Also credible with many awards such as: IRA Children's Book Award, ALA Notable Book, Black History Top 25 Pick for Youth, IRA Teacher's Choice 1996, etc....

I observed my CT do a read aloud of this story and our 2nd graders loved it! They were engaged and had so many feelings/wonderings about Booker's life. They shared out about their own experiences of learning how to read and thought about trying harder in school. Inspirational!

More advanced informational video on Booker T. Washington: http://www.history.com/topics/black-h...