The Planted Trees: Booking Across the USA: Arkansas

Sunday

Booking Across the USA: Arkansas

I grew up in the Ozark Mountains of Arkansas. It is still home to me despite my current Texas abode. I am so excited to be sharing a book and an activity about my family’s favorite place to be…Arkansas.

Forget all the stereotypes. Forget all the jokes. Arkansas is a state with a lively history, a rugged, hardworking people, some of the most beautiful places you’ve ever seen, its own brand of music, art, and culture, and a nature lover’s paradise.

Since I grew up only a few miles from the Ozark National Forest, I chose a book that reminds me of that childhood, barefoot kids, folk music, lightning bugs, rattlesnakes, and beans and cornbread.

Fiddlin’ Sam is about a man who travels through the Ozark Mountains playing his fiddle to make the people happy. In return the people share what they have, usually in the form of food, to say thanks. In the story Sam is looking for someone to pass his fiddle and his music to before he runs out of time. The story is very good and the artwork consists of beautifully done watercolor pictures that perfectly capture the Ozark Mountains of Arkansas.

Fiddle music also captures the state of Arkansas really well. In fact, Mountain View, Arkansas is the Folk Music Capital of the World and they host a folk and bluegrass music festival every year. Probably the most famous Arkansas fiddle song is The Arkansas Traveler which was actually Arkansas’ state song from 1949-1963. You will probably recognize the tune as a children's song, but the original words are here.

Along with the story of Fiddlin’ Sam and the song The Arkansas Traveler, I created a printable book so that you and your family can visit some more interesting sights around Arkansas.

The printable is laid out like Eric Carle’s book, Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? You will be illustrating the book and filling in the appropriate location in the blanks.

On the last page is a map of Arkansas for you to locate the places you’ve visited.

I also included the place names at the end of the printable in case you’re having trouble finding the answers.

I hope your family enjoys traveling the state of Arkansas as much as mine does and be sure to check out the other states below.

Proud to be an Arkansan living in the tree house,

Chelli