The Check Minus: Based on Two True Wallingford Stories
What is The Check Minus? It is a middle-grade book with something for every age. It is fiction, an imaginary story, based on two true stories from the lives of Wallingford natives. Set in real Wallingford, CT, it is a story within a story that demonstrates the importance of primary sources. It includes a nonfiction reference section with a glossary, timeline, information about Wallingford, and Moses Yale Beach, Founder of the Associated Press.
Most people in town are unfamiliar with Moses Y. Beach; MYB for short. Should they be? We think so. Discover what you did not know you needed. Stories with impact.
Join our Gift for a Gift campaign.
Gift For A Gift
Our book, developed by volunteers, was available to the public for the first time at Celebrate Wallingford 2024. It will be available at our booth eveery year. The Check Minus can be yours with a minimum gift of $12. Our Gift Exchange continues every day at #wpaatv; stop by. If you invite us to your group, we will bring books, share our behind-the-scenes effort to discover and reveal Moses Yale Beach to his community and the world. For $15, we will include Mansion Cookies. Most transactions will be in person. If that does not work for you, shipping and handling is $6.
Book Review:
“The Check Minus” is a delightful read that offers a heartwarming perspective on the immigrant experience. It reminds us of the value of questioning information, the importance of standing up for what’s right, and the power of human connection in overcoming challenges. With relatable characters, a vivid setting, and a positive message, this story earns a well-deserved “Check Plus.” It will leave you wanting to learn more about Youssef’s journey and the story behind the mysterious Moses Y Beach.
Good little book, “The Check Minus.” I learned a lot from reading it.
————————————————————————State Representative Mary Mushinsky
“The book, The Check Minus’ demonstrates the value of both local stories and verifying information in the research process!”
Lian Kania (she/her)
Grants Manager, CTHumanities
Wallingford, Connecticut is a quintessential New England town with deep historical significance dating back to its founding in the 17th century. Its archives are filled with fascinating stories waiting to be uncovered. The Check Minus is a beautifully crafted story that illustrates the power of curiosity, inclusivity, and the importance of introducing local history to young students.
This deeply collaborative initiative highlights the ever-changing fabric of the Wallingford community, and invites further exploration of its rich history.
Dawn Gottschalk is a New England based researcher and writer
Transcript
In Community: A Team of Creatives, Investigators, and Benefactors
The Moses Yale Beach Revealed Initiative began in 2017 with one goal: to discover why Mr. Beach was a footnote in the local history landscape when he appeared to be a 19th-century maverick and entrepreneur connected to the expansion of our country. There remains much more to excavate, but his story is no longer out of view. The conversations with experts in November 2022 provided the initial insight into his relevance for our time. This book is a window into his contributions, passions, and impact.
We are grateful to the Community Foundation of Greater New Haven and an anonymous benefactor for seed funding, which made this gift in story possible. This little book could not be willed into being without the talents discovered in our community and the support of local reviewers. Stefani Munzi, the last to join the team, contributed her talent as an illustrator.
For Teachers: Lesson Plans And Detective Certificates are available.
“The Check Minus” offers rich opportunities for interdisciplinary learning that connects students to history, literacy, critical thinking, and civic engagement. These lesson plans encourage students to see themselves as historians, researchers, and storytellers who can uncover and share important stories from their own communities.
The book’s message about inclusivity, fact-checking, and standing up for what’s right provides valuable life lessons alongside academic content. By engaging with Moses Y. Beach’s story and the modern characters who discover it, students learn that history is not distant or irrelevant, but a living narrative that shapes who we are today.
· Lesson 1 (Primary Sources) – Includes the specific encyclopedia error (January 7 vs. January 15), the grave rubbing activity, and exact quotes from Youssef’s experience
· Lesson 2 (Immigrant Experience) – Includes details about March 29, 1991 religious convergence, character name meanings, the celebration scene, cultural elements (Medjools, Ramadan, Hassan II Mosque)
· Lesson 3 (Moses Y. Beach) – Includes exact birth/death dates, Youssef’s vivid vision of 19th-century technology, and connections to other Wallingford historical figures (Lyman Hall, Raoul Lufbery)
· Lesson 4 (Fact-Checking) – Built entirely around the encyclopedia vs. gravestone conflict, includes the teacher’s gracious response and specific quotes about learning from mistakes
· Lesson 6 (Story Structure) – Details the podcast frame with ACB Freeman, maps out all seven sections of the inner story, and explains how the two narratives connect
· Lesson 8 (Standing Up for Truth) – Incorporates the Islamic principle of speaking truth, the moonlit cemetery adventure, cousin dynamics, and the teacher’s beautiful response
Standards Alignment
These lessons support:
Common Core ELA Standards
- CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.4-6 (Reading Informational Text)
- CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.4-6 (Writing)
- CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.4-6 (Speaking and Listening)
Social Studies Standards
- Historical thinking and research
- Civic engagement and responsibility
- Cultural diversity and immigration
- Local and national history
Media Literacy Standards
- Evaluating sources
- Understanding bias
- Creating media products