The Wheel on the School facts for kids
First edition
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| Author | Meindert DeJong |
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| Illustrator | Maurice Sendak |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Genre | Children's novel |
| Publisher | Harper & Brothers |
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Publication date
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1954 |
| Media type | Print (Hardback and paperback) |
| Pages | 298 pp |
| ISBN | 0064400212 |
| OCLC | 174138 |
The Wheel on the School is a novel written by Meindert DeJong. He was an American author born in the Netherlands. This book won the 1955 Newbery Medal for children's literature. It also received the 1957 Deutscher Jugendliteraturpreis in Germany. The famous author and illustrator Maurice Sendak created the pictures for the book.
What is the book about?
The story takes place in a small fishing village called Shora. Six children attend the village school. One day, a girl named Lina writes an essay. She asks why there are no storks in their village. This question makes all the other children wonder too.
Their teacher encourages them to find the answer. The children decide to work together. They want to bring the storks back to Shora. This task is not easy, and they face many challenges.
The big idea
The children soon discover a problem. The roofs in Shora are very steep. Storks cannot find a flat spot to build their nests. The children realize that a wagon wheel could help. If they put a wagon wheel on each roof, storks would have a perfect place to nest.
Finding enough wagon wheels in their tiny village is hard. During their search, the children meet many interesting people. The story shows that if people ask "why" and work together, amazing things can happen. Dreams can come true when you try to make them happen.
Who are the characters?
The story features six main schoolchildren. They are:
- Lina: She is the only girl in their small school.
- Jella: He is the biggest of all the children.
- Auka: An average boy who helps with the search.
- Eelka: He is a bit clumsy but helpful.
- Pier and Dirk: These two are inseparable twins.
These six children get help from several adults. Their teacher guides them. They also meet Grandmother Sibble III, Janus (who has no legs), and old Douwa. Another character is known as the "tin man."
Other people in the village include the children's fathers, who are all fishermen. Lina's aunt lives in a nearby place called Nes. Evert is a man who lives across from Lina's aunt. Lina and Auka also have younger siblings, Linda and Jan. Jana is Janus's wife. The children's mothers are also part of the story.
Why is this book special?
The Wheel on the School is a beloved children's book. It teaches important lessons about curiosity and teamwork. It shows how a simple question can lead to a big adventure. The book encourages readers to think and wonder about the world around them. It also highlights the power of community.
The book is dedicated "To my nieces, Shirley and Beverly, and their flying fingers."
