For Woody Guthries’s 100th birthday. The children’s book “This Land Is Your Land” first appeared in 1998, and has since been updated with a special edition. The book has bright, folk art style illustrations by Kathy Jakobsen which bring Woody Guthrie’s classic song to life. It includes interesting details such as: a scene with a soup kitchen in a poor neighborhood; images of Woody Guthrie playing guitar with friends; and depictions of picnics and sing-a-longs in various regions of the USA. There is also a tribute to Woody Guthrie written by his friend Pete Seeger.
Every page will stimulate discussion about how things were and are around America, as well as the lessons and culture of Occupy Wall Street. And, your child will become familiarized with a song that has been sung over and over again — with old and new verses — at Liberty Square and many other occupations.
For a children’s BOOK idea, see below, or click to our recommendation: here.
The video below is a wonderful way to explain Occupy Wall Street, and all of the occupations around the country, to children. A parent asked some of the occupiers to describe Occupy Wall Street to their six-year-old daughter.
“This Land is Your Land” has become a true folk song, with many verses. You can find extensive lyrics in the Rise Up Singing songbook, on page 5. Though, don’t hesitate to make up your own words. In the video below, Father Bill Brisotti adds one verse about unjustly pushing Native Americans on to reservations, and another verse that asserts, “This land is your land. This land is my land. It’s not the bank’s land…”