Suggests the comparative use of Hawthorne's story, "The Minister's Black Veil," and the Johnny Cash song, "The Man in Black," for helping students learn to judge texts, explore symbolism, and discover the differences between different kinds of literature. (TJ)

Reading with an awareness of intertextuality helps students respond in a dynamic manner to multicultural literature. Students explore themes of liberation and racism as they examine the connections, as well as the disjunctions, between two award-winning children's books. During the four 45-minute lessons, grade 3-5 students will: read and discuss…

Literature is authentic language, written with unusual care, skill, and language awareness. It is useful for teaching culture and civilization, but equally useful for teaching basic elements of language: grammar, vocabulary, rhythms, and registers. Literary skills are also widely used in everyday situations, with sophisticated literary techniques…