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Genre: Biography

This book is a great example of a biographical novel because the story is about a real person, Sam Houston, who was the governor of Texas right after the independence of Texas. This story tells about that particular part in Texan history where there were wars and battles going on over the land, and Sam Houston was indeed an important character in this part. This book is written in chronological order, from Sam’s childhood to his place in Texas legislature and history. It is not written from a biased standpoint, but rather it puts Sam Houston in the light of an important historical figure and makes sure to tell the whole story.

Media: Throughout the book, there are charcoal drawings and pencil drawings on several pages. These pages illustrate something that is going on in the story at that time, and it really
helps to follow along, as we are able as readers to find some way to visualize what may have actually happened. ( )

Make Way for Sam Houston
Author: Jean Fritz
Illustrator: Elise Primavera
Publisher/Date: G.P. Putnam’s Sons, New York, 1986

Summary: A brief summary of Sam Houston’s life; his accomplishments, failures, misfortunes, and failed loves. Make Way for Sam Houston is a non-fiction, telling the biography of Sam Houston.

Personal Reaction: I really enjoyed reading this book and really grasping all the many things that Sam Houston did in his lifetime. During his lifetime, Sam lived with the Cherokees, was the commander-in-chief of the Texas army, first president of the Texas Republic, and the governor of Texas. All this information tells a lot about this man and even though I am not in the informational books or American history I actually enjoyed this book.

Extension: In the classroom I would print off word search puzzles of the Alamo and then I would I would do a Sam Houston memory game and make it like a B-I-N-G-O game, so the children would get into and have fun!