An orphaned Bud (not Buddy) has had enough of the foster care system. Among the things that he carries around from his dead mother is several paper flyers  announcing performances of a musical band. Bud decides that the significance of these flyers is important - one of these bands' members must be his father! He heads out on an independent adventure to test his theory.

Great read about an orphaned African American boy who seeks to find his father. He's got a lot of rules to live by and is very resourceful. He encounters many trials on the way in soup lines, shanty towns, and foster parents. He ends up being wrong about some things, but ultimately he uncovers a new world for himself and finds what he's looking for. I loved this book and the places it took me. ( )

Bud, Not Buddy is a book about a young orphange boy in search of his father. Bud's mother soon died from her being sick and that is when Bud wanted to search for his father. Along this search Bud carries nothing but an old beat up suitcase, that he guards with his life. In the suitcase he has, a picture of his mother, a blanket, and a flyer of his father. With this flyer he believes he would find his father. Bud joins a band and meets many people along the way of his journey.

This book was very well written, it is also very descriptive as if one were there. I really enjoyed that the book was set in the 1930s. Children could distinguish how life was in those days from the front cover of the book to the words.

In a classroom, we could read this book aloud as a class, a couple chapters a day to build the suspense in the children. Also, we could divide children into groups and let each person in the group take turns reading aloud to their peers.

This book is a story that is told by and orphan. He is a ten year old African American boy that is growing up during the depression. His name is Bud. His mother dies and he is put in an orphanage. He does not have good experiences in foster homes so he decides to run away. He sets out to find his father. After walking through many towns he finds his self being picked up by an African American man. The man take him to the place where he belieives his father will be and finds himself taken in by some band members. Bud finally finds a "family".

I liked this story. I like most stories with happy ending. Even if it is not the way you want it to end, as long as the main character is happy.

I could use this book to talk about the Great Depression and what life was like for everyone during that time period.

When we meet Bud Caldwell, he is living in an orphanage in Flint, Michigan. Soon, though, we find him “on the lam” and in search of his father whom he has never met. He always carries his few belongings in a suitcase, and in the suitcase are clues his dead mother left behind about his father. This hope of escaping the abuses of foster care and orphan life propels him onward as he searches for his long lost, unknown father. The story is set during the Great Depression, at a time when little black boys are not permitted where "white folks" are permitted. The story bridges the gaps in cultural differences by using the authentic voice of a typical young boy who is struggling to be grown but is still a frightened young man. In the story he has gone through so much and yet keeps his cynical sense of humor about him.

I think this book is an excellent multicultural read for persons of all ages. The ISSUES are not overstated and do not take from the story. Many young readers will feel smarter than Bud as they may be older and more experienced about life than Bud is presented in the story. This book is excellent for its historical value for children as there are hints throughout that paint a picture of what life was like in the time that Bud was traveling... This book is entertaining and fairly easy to read but it does not skimp on the wealth of information it contains.

Extension Activity

All That Jazz Poster Activity
Lesson Title: All That Jazz Activity
Bud, Not Buddy

Students will research 1930s jazz greats and create a flyer advertising a fictional jazz band of their design.

Objectives:
• Research a topic.Build on the students’ knowledge of black Jazz musicians in the 1930s. Generate a creative flyer from information.

Materials:
• Computers, Word processing program

Resources:
• Internet sites

Procedures:
Students will research jazz greats from the 1930s by visiting these websites:

Bessie Smith www.sbgmusic.com/html/teacher/reference/historical/1930s.html

Louis Armstrong afroamhistory.about.com/gi/dynamic/offsite.htm?site=http%3A%2 %2Fwww.pbs.org%2Fjazz%2Fbiography%2Fartist_id_armstrong_louis.htm

Duke Ellington
www.btinternet.com/~dreklind/Soundone.htm.

Students will then create a poster advertising a fictional jazz band of their design. Posters could be made on paper, pencils, and colors or with as a word document.

Modifications:
• If the internet and computers are not available, then library resources and encyclopedias could be used for research.
Technology Infusion:
• Internet for research.
• Word processing program or Print Shop type program.
Cultural Connections:
Understanding of the culture of black Jazz greats during the depression ( )