The itch. The Hula-Hoopin’ itch. My fingers start snappin’. My feet start tappin’. My hips start swingin’.
The Hula Hoopin’ Queen was selected by the Screen Actors Guild Foundation for the first read aloud of 2019 on Storyline Online, an interactive literacy website where world-renowned actors and celebrities read popular, award-winning children’s books to help students fall in love with reading.
The Hula Hoopin’ Queen was written by Thelma Godin, illustrated by Vanessa Brantley Newton, and is now read by Oprah Winfrey on Emmy-nominated Storyline Online.
A spunky African American girl has a hula-hooping competition with her friends in Harlem, and soon everyone in the neighborhood—young and old alike—joins in on the fun. The Hula-Hoopin’ Queen is a charming celebration of family and community ties. Set in Harlem, this intergenerational story shows the importance of staying young at heart.
Resources for teaching with The Hula Hoopin’ Queen:
- Teacher’s Guide from Lee & Low Books
- Teacher’s Guide from Storyline Online
- Lesson Plan for teaching classroom community with The Hula Hoopin’ Queen from Lee & Low Books
Find the video of Oprah Winfrey reading The Hula Hoopin’ Queen at:
Enjoy Lee & Low’s other stories on Storyline Online:
- Catching the Moon: The Story of a Young Girl’s Baseball Dream with Kevin Costner and Jillian Estell
- As Fast As Words Could Fly with Dulé Hill
- Rent Party Jazz with Viola Davis
