JUV035000
JUVENILE FICTION / School & Education

The book commemorates the 400th anniversary of Jamestown, America's first permanent English settlement. It tells the story of a small dog who gets lost in Virginia's Historic Triangle – a region that encompasses Jamestown, Williamsburg, and Yorktown; historic sites connected by the Colonial Parkway and made famous by their role in American history.

The clearly written text accommodates a variety of reading levels as it subtly imparts a history lesson while entertaining readers. An underlying story of friendship knits the historic information together in a meaningful way while appealing professional photo illustrations, geared toward children's interests, help bring history alive.

At the above site you will find maps, history notes, a history quiz, puzzles, research links, tips about traveling with dogs, downloadable coloring plates, even a section on how the book was made. The site also hosts Willi's BLOG. Plus you can see how several hundred students at the Rawls Byrd School in Williamsburg reacted to their meeting with little Willi. Needless to say, she was a hit! All for free.

Under each historically significant photo plate there is an ID number in red which directs the reader to explanatory history and natural history notes on the above web site. These notes, included in the book, give the older child an opportunity to research information independently, and it puts explanatory information at teachers' or parents' fingertips.