Among the better written early readers, based on historical book wagons in a time when book learning was not as well valued as it is today. An author's note explains the facts behind the story.

Based on the true account of the first travelling bookwagon in the United States, Clara and the Bookwagon tells the story of a young farm girl Clara who longs to read, and librarian Mary Titcomb who made books available to people outside the city via her horse drawn bookwagon. Although discouraged by her father who believes books are for the rich and those with time to spare, Clara wishes she could borrow the books at a nearby general store library. When she meets librarian Mary Titcomb and bookwagon, Clara appeals again to her father to borrow a book. When her father agrees Mary Titcomb offers to assist Clara in learning to read. Although the prose is no more difficult to read than Lobel’s level-two reader (Days with Frog and Toad, 1979), Levinson offers independent readers a single story that incorporates themes of literacy and life on a busy family farm. The book is recommended for children age five to eight.

week 1