The Floating House: Geography Book Blog: Projects: GENI: Geography Educators' Network of Indiana: Indiana University

The Floating House

Author:Scott Russell Sanders

“Look,” Mary cried. “The river’s yawning!”

Scott Russell Sanders’ picture book The Floating House follows the McClure family as they move from Pittsburgh to Jeffersonville, Indiana in 1815. The book’s delightful text and drawings gives young children an image of what life was like in rural America almost 200 years ago. Readers are given insights into the importance of rivers and good old fashioned determination and hard work to make a life worth living in the early wilderness of the Midwest.

Things to discuss and do with students:

How is your life different than the life of the McClure family?
Why did the McClure family move?
What things in nature did the McClure family see on their trip?

If your students liked this they might also like:

Grandfather’s Journey by Allen Say
The Raft by Jim LaMarche
The Ox-Cart Man by Donald Hall

Author’s Web Site: https://www.scottrussellsanders.com/

Ohio River information: https://theohioriver.com/ohio-river-facts

Falls of the Ohio State Park: https://www.fallsoftheohio.org

Lesson Plans: