DeJong Meindert. The Wheel on the School. New York: Harper, 1954. Print.
Summary
For years, migrating storks have avoided the roofs of the small Dutch fishing village of Shora, and Lina, the town's only school-girl wonders why. Inspired by her teacher's encouragement and a town elder's stories, Lina and her schoolmates Jella, Auka, Pier, Dirk, and Eelka, begin search for wagon wheel to place on every roof in town for the storks to nest. In the process, they get to know other figures around the town.
My Impressions
The first three or so chapters of this fairly obscure Newbery winner really drew me in. I wasn't really familiar with life in Holland beyond the old legend of the Dutch boy with his finger in the dike, and the book did a really good job of painting a mental picture for me. (Maurice Sendak's brilliant-as-usual illustrations might have also played a role in that.) The story meandered near the end, but still it would make a great pick for young readers because it shows children being resourceful while also learning that there's often more to the adults in their lives than they think.
What Other Reviewers Said
"This is so much more than the story of a group of school children trying to bring storks to their Dutch fishing village on the North Sea. It is a story of people - people everywhere. It is a story of how important people are, irregardless of their age, physical condition, or how they make a living. It encourages us to go beyond what we see on the surface. It shows us that when we help others and care about others, good things will come to us. The children originally wanted to lure storks to their little village because the storks were said to bring good luck. Little did they know that storks would send good fortune ahead in the form of new-found friendships, help for others, and a community that came closer together than it had been before. Miendert DeJong does a masterful job of telling the story and providing strategically planted links as the events take place and unfold. I am an elementary teacher in Cabarrus County, NC. I have read this book to my children each year for many years. When I ask my new class if anyone has heard of the book, no one raises a hand. By the time we finish, the children feel like they have been right there with Lina and the boys. They have also grown to realize that Janus was far from being the mean old man that they met at the beginning. They realize that he just needed to be needed. Each time I read the book, I see more and I learn more. Don't read this story just once. You will be walking over a hidden treasure." (1)
"Frankly, the book didn't sound very interesting when I finally managed to get the title right. When I picked it up, though, I was pleasantly surprised to find that it was illustrated by Maurice Sendak, and that the wheel in the book goes on top of the school to attract storks. Storks are definitely more interesting (to me, anyway) than schoolbuses - which are no where to be found in this book, my mind just sticks wheels and buses together because of the preschool song - the wheels on the bus go round and round, round and round, ad nauseum. Anyway, I found The Wheel on the School a gentle and interesting if not overly exciting read. It reminded me a bit of Roller Skates in this respect - and like Roller Skates, DeJong's story does an excellent job of portraying a community of interesting characters and a time and place that is unfamiliar to most of us.... For kids (and adults) that have the patience for this story - it is a bit long, especially compared to some of the other winners - there is a lot to enjoy. DeJong shows a fine understanding of environmental relationships (and how cool would it be to have storks on your roof?), community and family interactions, and how kids think. I'm glad I read The Wheel on the School, and I wouldn't mind reading some of DeJong's other books - a couple of the others won Newbery Honors, and several more are also illustrated by Sendak." (2)
Suggested Activities
Have children work together in groups of four to six to identify a problem in their own community, then have them do a creative project (like a picture or a diorama) to illustrate what their solution to the problem would be. It can be a real problem with realistic solutions, or totally silly, just as long as they are showing creative and critical thinking.
Other Citations
(1) "Each Time I Read This Book, I Love It More." Rev. of The Wheel on the School. Amazon.com. 7 Sept. 1999. Web. 26 Sept. 2010. <http://www.amazon.com/Wheel-School-Meindert-Dejong/dp/0064400212>.
(2) D., Sandy. "The Wheel on the School." Rev. of The Wheel on the School. Web log post. The Newbery Project. 31 Mar. 2008. Web. 26 Sept. 2010. <http://newberryproject.blogspot.com/2008/03/wheel-on-school_31.html>.
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