I'm Still Scared is a memoir of Tomie dePaola. He recounts his experience as a second grader in the days following the bombing on Pearl Harbor. All the adults speak in hushed tones, school gets out early so children can hear the President's speech at home, families gather to discuss the war, air raid drills begin at school. Tomie is frightened. His mom provides explanations and comfort for him. He learns about air raid drills, brownouts and blackout curtains. A boy at school even called Tomie and enemy because he was Italian. Tomie was relieved to know that he was born in America and was not an enemy!

In this book from Tomie dePaola’s biography series, we get a glimpse into the life of 2nd grade Tomie. The book begins December 7, 1941, with the bombing of Pearl Harbor, and ends December 31, 1941. Tomie sees the changes around him in school and at home as talk of war begins. He wonders why the adults whisper so much and is scared of what he doesn’t understand. As he learns more about what wartime changes may bring, he sometimes feels better, and is sometimes still scared. His partial biography is told in a simplified biography style with frequent black and white illustrations. It is appropriate for grades 2-5. ( )

I would use this book in grades 2nd-4th grade as an independent read for students who can read easier chapter books and who are interested in biographies.

I would use this in a 2nd grade classroom as an independent read. I chose this for 2nd grade because they are around the same age as Tomie and they could relate to him and how he felt at certain times throughout the book. I chose this as an independent read because it may confuse most students because they may not be interested in learning about the bombing of Pearl Harbor at this time, but it is an easy read. ( )

Pages: 86
Reading Level: 3.8

I had read a lot about Tomie dePaola and knew that his chapter book series, 26 Fairmount Avenue, was written about his childhood experiences, especially around the time of WWII. This book takes place right after the bombing of Pearl Harbor and talks about how Tomie as a 2nd grader felt about the after effects of the bombing. I could not put this book down! I think it will really be great for young students learning about the war and reading about someone's first hand experience with it.