Bud, Not Buddy

Bud, Not Buddy. ISBN: 0-440-41328-1. Christopher Paul Curtis. (1999). Newbery Medal Winner, Coretta Scott King Award, ALA notable Children's Book and more. Historical Fiction. Ages 9-12. African American, single mothers, orphans/homeless.

This book is about a ten year old little boy named Bud who lived in Flint, Michigan during the Great Depression. His mama died when he was six years old and he had lived in an orphanage and foster care ever since. All he owned was a suitcase with some things his mother had left him that he thought were clues to who his father may be and where he may find him. Bud escaped from a foster home, where he was being abused, and set out on a mission to go to Grand Rapids, Michigan to find the musician that he believed to be his father.

Bud comes in contact with some wonderful people who help him along his journey. He finally finds the man that he thinks is his father, Herman E. Calloway, who is a very successful man, but has a very cold soul. The band members take Bud into their home with grace (ironically that is the singers name..."Grace"). When he is with the group, he feels more at home than he has since his mother died. One night when following Herman Calloway out of a gig, he sees that Herman has a collection of rocks just like the ones in his suitcase. When all of the pieces are put together, he finds out that Herman Calloway is not his father, but his grandfather. He has made it home.

Classroom activities could include research on current groups who help feed and clothe the homeless, as well as statistics of homeless families. This would be a wonderful book to open up discussion of different types of music popular during different time periods and discuss why that particular type of music may have been popular.

You could talk to children about their own family history. Encourage them (by reading the "afterward" chapter) to talk to their family members to see if there is anything significant in their past. If this is not feasible, have the child write a possible make believe story about their family history.

Bud was very determined and had hope because of what his mom told him, that "when one door closes, another one opens." Students could list some situations in the book where a door was closed and another opened in the story, and then give some personal examples of this happening in their own lives. Remind them that there is always hope if you stay positive.