Queen of the Falls

I am a huge Chris Van Allsburg fan. In my opinion, he is a masterful story teller.  Some of his most popular books are Jumanji, The Polar Express, and Two Bad Ants!  When Van Allsburg publishes a book, I know it is going to be worth buying.  As soon as Queen of the Falls was published, I ran to the bookstore to pick up a copy.  Van Allsburg did not let me down!

Van Allsburg usually writes fantasy stories. However, this story is much different.  Queen of the Falls is the true story about Annie Edson Taylor.  Never heard of her?  Don't worry, I had not heard of her eigther.  Annie Edson Taylor was the first person to go over Niagra Falls in a wooden barrel!  Van Allsburg does a great job of recreating Annie's daring ride across the Falls.  It is an exciting story that will keep children's attention and will also teach them a valuable life lesson.

Take a minute and watch Chris Van Allsburg talk about the making of this book!




This is a great book to read just to build schema (background knowledge).  I know I added new information to my mental files by reading this book.  It is also great for inferring.  When you read this book with your chid, I guarantee you are going to predict what is going to happen next!


Below are some questions to guide your thinking conversation with your child:

1. Read to, "Many in the crowd cried out; then all eyes were frozen on the churning water below" and ask your child:  Why do you think people cried out?  What might be happening?

2. Read to, "She was forced to say goodbye to her final student and close the school" and ask your child:  How do you think Annie feels?  Why do you think this?


3.  Read to "Annie Taylor would go over Niagra Falls in a barrel" and ask your child:  Why do you think Annie wants to go over Niagra Falls?  


4.  Read to "She looked at her drawing and was certain she would be safe no matter how violent the ride" and ask your child:  If you were the foreman, would you agree to make the barrel? Why? Why not? 

5.  Read to "...she was nothing at all like the death-defying dare devil she was determined to become" and ask your child:  Why was Frank surprised?  What do you think a dare devil looks like? 


6.  Read to "Billy tied one end of a rope to the barrel and the other end to the boat" and ask your child:  What do you think Annie might be feeling?  What would you be feeling? 


7.  Read to "They knocked the lid off with a hammer" and ask your child:  Make a prediction.  What do you think is going to happen when they open the barrel? 


8.  Read to "Excited crowds quickly lost interest when they discovered the fearless Queen of the Falls was a little old lady" and ask your child:  Why do you think people so disappointed when they see Annie?  What do you think the people expected to see?  


9. Read to the end of the story and ask your child:  What lesson do you think Annie learned?  


Extension Activity:


If you want your child to really use their brain this summer (and you do not mind a little mess), I have a GREAT extension activity for you.

If Annie would have tried to go over the Falls in a regular barrel, the barrel might not have made it.  Even if the barrel made it,  Annie might not have survived without the extra padding of pillows.  The book shares that you can put an egg in a can and drop it to the floor.   The can will not be damaged, but the egg might be broken.

Challenge your child to see if they can put an egg in a can and drop it to the ground without the egg breaking.  Work with your child to develop a few "barrel" designs for the egg to travel over "the Falls".  Try it out.  What would be the best container to use?  What might you use for padding?  If the egg breaks, come up with a new and improved plan and try again!