President Lincoln, Willie Kettles, and the Telegraph Machine

From the Series History Speaks: Picture Books Plus Reader's Theater

  • Interest Level: Grade 2 - Grade 4
  • Reading Level: Grade 3

In March 1865, the Civil War between the North and South and had been going on for four years. The armies of the North were fighting their way to Richmond, Virginia, the capital of the Confederate states. Many people thought that if the northern troops captured Richmond, the war would be over.

Fifteen-year-old Willie Kettles worked as a telegraph operator in the War Department building in Washington. President Abraham Lincoln stopped by the telegraph office daily to get the latest reports from the battlefields. Would good news from Richmond ever arrive? Will Willie be ready to take the message?

In the back of this book, you’ll find a script and instructions for putting on a reader’s theater performance of this adventure. Download additional copies of the script plus sound effects, background images, and more ideas that will help make your reader’s theater performance a success through Lerner eSource.

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978-0-7613-6342-2
$31.99
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Interest Level Grade 2 - Grade 4
Reading Level Grade 3
Genre Picture Books, Social Studies
Copyright 2011
Publisher Lerner Publishing Group
Imprint Millbrook Press ™
Language English
Number of Pages 48
Publication Date 2010-08-01
Reading Counts! Level 3.3
Text Type Fiction—Historical
BISACS JUV016200, JUV030060
Dewey 973.7092
Graphics Full-color illustrations
Dimensions 7.75 x 10.25
Lexile 590
Guided Reading Level S
ATOS Reading Level 4.7
Accelerated Reader® Quiz 138683
Accelerated Reader® Points 1.0
Features Author/Illustrator note, Bibliography/further reading, Glossary, Original artwork, Pronunciation guide, Table of contents, Teaching Guides, and eSource

Author: Marty Rhodes Figley

Marty Rhodes Figley is the author of sixteen books, mostly about her favorite subject—remarkable people from our country's past. She earned her B.A. in American Studies from Mount Holyoke College. Marty, whose two children are grown, lives in Northern Virginia with her husband, Paul, and their Airedale terrier, Scarlett.

Illustrator: David Riley

David Riley lives in Grand Junction, Colorado, with his wife, Nealy. He currently exhibits his artwork in Prescott and Flagstaff, Arizona. David is often driven to paint by the desire to capture human emotion and the power of telling stories.

Lerner eSource™ offers free digital teaching and learning resources, including Common Core State Standards (CCSS) teaching guides. These guides, created by classroom teachers, offer short lessons and writing exercises that give students specific instruction and practice using Common Core skills and strategies. Lerner eSource also provides additional resources including online activities, downloadable/printable graphic organizers, and additional educational materials that would also support Common Core instruction. Download, share, pin, print, and save as many of these free resources as you like!

History Speaks: Picture Books Plus Reader's Theater

Bring to life important stories from U.S. history with the History Speaks: Picture Books Plus Reader’s Theater. These books bring together illustrated picture books with reader’s theater scripts for students to practice fluency. In the back of each book, you’ll… View available downloads →