Popular Culture about San Francisco
by Wendy Gibson (for the facebook group)
When I travel with my daughter (on family vacations), I try to have her read fiction and nonfiction about the different places that we are traveling to. We also watch movies and TV shows that are set there. To get ready for our May 2016 trip, I have been researching online to find different books, movies, and TV shows that our troop can use to learn about the city as well as get excited about our trip! (10/11 year old friendly!) Here is my list so far! Can anyone else add to it?! 🙂
TV SHOWS- Full House (the opening scenes are perfect!), MythBusters, Monk (detective/CSI show, may have to watch some episodes for content), and That’s So Raven
BOOKS- Al Capone Does My Shirts, Al Capone Shines My Shoes, and Al Capone Does My Homework- a boy and his family move to Alcatraz Island to live when his dad is hired as a prison guard. The series tells the (fictional) story of the kids who lived on the island. The Mystery in San Francisco (Boxcar Children #57), any of the Julie American Girl books, Flat Stanley’s Worldwide Adventures #12- Escape to California, Smile by Raina Telgemeier (bonus- the main character is a Girl Scout!), Nate the Great San Francisco Detective, The Crook Who Crossed the Golden Gate Bridge, and The San Francisco Earthquake 1906 (I Survived #5)
I love the American Girl stories about Julie. Lawrence Yep writes some wonderful children’s books about the Chinese American experience in San Francisco. I liked Dragonwings and The Earth Dragon Awakes about the SF earthquake. The book Maybelle by Virginia Lee Burton is about the cable cars in San Francisco.
MOVIES- Birdman of Alcatraz, The Princess Diaries, Big Hero 6, Mrs. Doubtfire, Cats & Dogs: The Revenge of Kitty Galore, and Herbie Rides Again. I’m pretty sure in Homeward Bound II the pets are roaming all over San Francisco trying to get home.