Dixie's Big Heart

Dixie’s Big Heart: A Story About Alabama

Author Nancy Tuminelly

Illustrator Bob Doucet

Publisher ABDO Publishing Company

Copyright 2011

24 Pages

Nonfiction/ Informational/ Faction

            I chose to read this book because I thought it would be interesting to learn about the state in which I live. The book starts with Red Belly the turtle and Dixie the bird deciding to visit friends after a storm and see if all of them are alright. The pair travel from Mobile to various parts of Alabama including Selma, Tuscaloosa, Auburn, Huntsville, and Dothan. Along the journey they friends stop to see many friends including Miss Mary the librarian, Colonel Davis the racking horse, and Larry the largemouth bass. Throughout the book the author included facts about Alabama such as the state fish, nicknames for various cities, and state flower. The book also includes activities to do in Alabama, a map, and a glossary.

            The illustrations in this book look to be completed using watercolors, acrylics and photographs. The characters in the book are realistic; however, they also have a cartoon-like appearance. The hues of the colors are rather muted and include various tones of the same color. The text is in a formal placement throughout the book and there is no use of negative space. The illustrator also does not use much texture throughout this book; the characters and objects are rather smooth in appearance.

            Dixie’s Big Heart is appropriate for older children from nine to twelve years old and for children interested in history. Teachers could use this book in their class for social studies. Reading this book aloud would get students interested in their state’s history and possibly read the book for themselves. Teachers could also use this book as an opening for a social studies activity such as listing the places in Alabama that all of the students have been to or making their own state and choosing their own states’ flower, tree, fruit, or bird. This book as not received any awards; however, it would be an asset for most teachers of upper elementary grades in the classroom.