Wagon Wheels

by Barbara Brenner

Book Overview

Based on a true story, Wagon Wheels tells a powerful and overlooked story of the country's post-Civil War era.

Formerly enslaved Ed Muldie and his family travel to Kansas in 1878 to claim land under the Homestead Act. Mother dies on the journey from Kentucky. The family joins a free Black community in Nicodemus, Kansas. They survive a difficult winter thanks to help from the Osage Native community. But in spring Daddy must...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0064440524
• ISBN13: 9780064440523
• Release Date: May 1984
• Publisher: HarperCollins
• Length: 64 Pages
• Weight: 0.25 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.2" x 6.1" x 9.0"
• Age Range: 4 to 8 years
• Grade Range: Kindergarten to Grade 3

Customer Reviews

Adventure

This novel is about an African American family who moves from Kentucky to Nicodemus, Kansas during the time of westward expansion. The father left his sons in Nicodemus, while he went on to find a place for them to settle, the children followed. The family has a positive encounter with Native Americans, who give them food during the harsh winter. The family experiences a prairie fire, wild animals. This easy-to-read yet adventurous story about boys of various ages would work well with the informational book about Nicodemus.

Wonderful!

Another great offering from the "I Can Read Book" series. This book is also a Reading Rainbow Book, and it is a true story! My kids loved the fact this amazing little story about black pioneers in 1878 is true. Considering that I used to have qualms leaving them alone in the house while I went to our mailbox at the end of our pipestem, they find it fascinating that three boys (8, 11, and 3) were left alone while their father went further west to find a good piece of land to settle. Then he sends a letter with a map and tells them to come find him 150 miles away - which they do. Simply amazing. Straightforward writing, simple sentences, my 1st and 2nd graders loved it.

Wagon Wheels by Maria C.

I think wagon wheels by Barbara Brenners is historical fiction.Everybody who loves historical fiction this is a book for you!It is about the Muldie boys and their father. When they were going to Nicodemus, the boys' mother died. Another important thing that happened was when the Muldie boys stayed by themselves because their father went to find free land. I think it was a good book because it made me feel nervous. For example, when there was a prairie fire, I thought the Muldie boys might burn up. I learned that sometimes you don't need an adult to help you.

Wagon Wheels

In this book Johnny is telling the story of how his family moved to Kansas. He and his two younger brothers are left alone while their father finds a place to live. They must travel 150 miles to find their daddy. Along the way they face many dangers. I liked this book because the boys were on a quest to find their daddy.

Great Historical Fiction Book

There aren't many stories written about African-Americanpioneers. This story tells how the Muldie family traveled West fromKentucky to Kansas after hearing about the Homestead Act. That is what makes Wagon Wheels so special. This historical fiction story was written with the help of memoirs from the town's teacher who decided to keep a history log on the town. On the last page of the book, it explains to the reader that most of all the events really took place in the Muldie family's travels West. This is an excellent example of historical fiction that could be used in the classroom.