Shadow of a Bull
by Maia Wojciechowska, Atheneum. 1965
Activities ©2002 Nancy Polette
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ABOUT THE BOOK
Manolo Olivar was the son of his father which may not seem like a necessary thing to say. But in Manolo's case it is. For his father had been Juan Olivar, the greatest bullfighter in all Spain and Manolo was his son in two special ways: One, he looked just like his father; and two, everyone expected that he, Manolo Olivar, would repeat the success of his father, would be just what his father had been, a fighter of bulls and a killer of death.

No one asked Manolo if his future was his choice. He had no choice. And only he knew that the bullfighter's unconquerable urge to fight bulls was not a part of him.

The day was chosen and the bull selected for the fight that would establish Manolo's future. Caught in a web not of his making, Manolo's struggles to retain his pride, his self-respect, and his independence go far beyond the world of bullfighters and the borders of Spain. They are the struggles of every boy in the process of becoming a man.

ACTIVITY:
Read about Spain's national parks.
BOOKS:
Passport to Spain by Keith Lye. Watts, 1987
Spain ed. by Marylee Knowlton. Gareth Stevens, 1987
If Manolo could run away and hide in one of these parks, whcih do you think he would choose?

Tell why by completing the pattern that follows.
If Manolo needed time alone to think about his future
He woud go to ___________________________________________________
Because of its ___________________________________________________
And ___________________________________________________________
While there the things he would most enjoy would be _____________________
_______________________________________________________________
And ___________________________________________________________
Which would allow him to __________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
ACTIVITY: Create a data bank about bulls. Put as many items as you can under each heading.

Classifying: Bulls

Eats Has
____________________________
____________________________
____________________________
 ____________________________
____________________________
____________________________
What it Does Types of Bulls (where found)
____________________________
____________________________
____________________________
 ____________________________
____________________________
____________________________
ACTIVITY:
Use the information from the data bank to create a fact and fiction book about bulls. On one page draw a picture and make a statement about bulls. On the next page tell your reader whether the statement was fact or fiction and why.

Fact or Fiction

Fiction
Any bull can be used in a bullfight. Bulls used in bullfights are specially bred to have fighting qualities. If a bull survives its first bullfight it cannot be used again in this way.