Tito Puente: Mambo King Rey del Mambo by Monica Brown

Tito Puente: Mambo King * Rey del Mambo
A bilingual picture book by Monica Brown; Illustrated by Rafael Lopez
Blue Slip Media. 2013
ISBN: 9780061227837
Preschool to Grade 4
Upon request, the publisher sent me a copy of this book for review.

Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, clap your hands for Tito Puente…

Brown and Lopez (Pura Belpre Honor winner My Name in Celia: the life of Celia Cruz Me llamo Celia: la vida de Celia Cruz) have again created a wonderful tribute to a famous Latin American. In this colorful, and very festive bilingual picture book biography readers will learn about the man considered the ‘Godfather of Salsa” and the “King of the Mambo” -- Tito Puente.  

Born Ernest Anthony Puente Jr. on April 20, 1923, in Spanish Harlem in New York City, the young Tito was making music before he could walk. He would bang on pots and pans making so much noise that his neighbors said, “Get that boy some music lessons!” 

¡Tum Tica! ¡Tac Tic! ¡Tum Tic! ¡Tom Tom!

During World War II, Tito was in the Navy. He joined the ship’s band and learned to play the saxaphone and write music. After the war, Title went to the Juilliard School of Music and dreamed of having his own band.

And, he did have his own band—The Tito Puente Orchestra and he made music with Celia Cruz, Santana, and La Lupe.

Lopez uses bold colors to create large, double-page paintings. In every one we see the hyperactive Tito constantly in motion. Whether he was playing stickball, blowing on the saxophone off the bow of the ship while in the Navy or banging his timbales in his orchestra, Tito was a man in perpetual motion. The book dares readers to sit still. But you just can’t!

¡Tum Tica! ¡Tac Tic! ¡Tum Tic! ¡Tom Tom!  

The book concludes with a brief recap of Puente’s life (he died June 1, 2000), and a sample of a simple rumba beat that is traditionally played with these three instruments: the bongos, the congas, and…the timbales, of course! (A set of Tito’s timbales is on display in the Smithsonian)

A must for any collection. 

¡Tum Tica! ¡Tac Tic! ¡Tum Tic! ¡Tom Tom!

Watch the bilingual book trailer for Tito Puente. 

For more information on Tito, listen to Jazz Profiles on NPR.

Nonfiction News

A number of nonfiction articles and news items have caught our attention recently. 

Marc Tyler Nobleman, author of Boys of Steel and Bill the Boy Wonder, wrote an interesting article for the May/June issue of Horn Book: "Danger! Dialogue Straight Ahead." Nobleman coins the term "nonfictionesque" as he examines how authors use dialogue in nonfiction texts. When we review books for The Nonfiction Detectives blog, we look closely at the dialogue used as well as the source notes. We hope many publishers read Nobleman's article and make sure authors have the space they need to cite their sources in nonfiction books.

Margie Culver shares her admiration for illustrator, John Hendrix, on the Nerdy Book Club blog. Hendrix has illustrated a number of picture books including Nurse, Soldier, Spy: The Story of Sarah Edmonds and A Boy Called Dickens.

The 2013 Green Earth Book Awards were announced earlier this year, and two books we reviewed last year won. Citizen Scientists by Loree Griffin Burns won a Green Earth Book Award in the Children's Nonfiction category, and Moonbird by Phillip Hoose won in the Young Adult Nonfiction category.


Marc Arsonson examines close reading and "rereading" of nonfiction texts and the Common Core State Standards in the "Consider the Source" column for School Library Journal. Arsonson asks librarians and teachers to think about the nonfiction books in our collections. He challenges readers by asking: "Can you point to a single book, a paragraph, or a chapter in a nonfiction book that you can highlight as rewarding rereading?" Food for thought! 

Helen's Big World: The Life of Helen Keller

Helen's Big World: The Life of Helen Keller   
by Doreen Rappaport
illustrated by Matt Tavares
Disney Hyperion Books, 2012
ISBN: 9780786808908
Grades K-5

The reviewer borrowed a copy of the book from her school library.

Earlier in the month I attended Maine's Reading Round-Up of Children's Literature in Augusta. This is an annual state conference that brings together youth services librarians and school librarians. Each year the Lupine Award is presented at Reading Round-Up.

From the Lupine Award web site:

"The Lupine Award is designed to honor a living author or illustrator who is a resident of Maine, or who has created a work whose focus is Maine, as shown through the work’s characterization, plot or setting."

(Fans of Miss Rumphius will understand the significance of the lupine.)

This year a nonfiction book, Giant Squid by Mary Cerullo and Clyde Roper, won a Lupine honor in the juvenile/young adult category. Read Louise's review of Giant Squid.

I was pleased when I learned that the winner of the 2012 Lupine Award in the picture book category was also a nonfiction book, and I had the privilege of seeing Matt Tavares accept the Lupine Award at Reading Round-Up.

The picture book biography chronicles Helen Keller's life from infancy to adulthood. Rappaport eloquently weaves quotes from Helen's own writing into the narrative. The book is well designed. Quotes are set apart in large fonts in different colors. Brilliant watercolor, pencil and gouache illustrations encompass most of the two-page spread. Illustrations show Keller feeling water run from a pump into her hand, touching a horse, and feeling sea spray on her face as she and Annie Sullivan ride in a sailboat. Tavares explains in the illustrator's note that he focused on Keller's other senses (touch, hearing and taste) to illustrate her story. Helen's Big World is a book that deserves a place in a juvenile biography section. Visit Doreen Rappaport's web site to learn more and to view illustrations from the book.

Other book by Doreen Rappaport and Matt Tavares:

Lady Liberty: A Biography

Jack's Path of Courage: The Life of John F. Kennedy

Here are past winners:
2012-2007
2006-1999
1998-1989 

It's Our Garden by George Ancona

It's Our Garden: from seeds to harvest in a school garden
George Ancona
Candlewick Press. 2013
ISBN: 9780763653927
Grades 1-3
I borrowed a copy of this book from my local public library.


Recently, at the day care center where my husband works as cook (Cooker John) they were awarded funds to purchase supplies to create a garden. Maine has adopted the 5210 Let’s Go! Childhood Obesity Prevent Program that works with communities and organizations to change unhealthy eating patterns and promote good nutrition and plenty of physical exercise. The program encourages having a garden in your backyard (or day care playground) so children experience growing and eating what they’ve planted in the hopes they will prefer a fresh salad instead of French fries. (Ummm! tomatoes!) So, when my husband turned to his local librarian to ask for some books on other community gardens, I was thrilled to hand over It’s Our Garden! : from seeds to harvest in a school garden by George Ancona.

It’s Our Garden provides an overview of how an elementary school in started and now maintains their garden. Ancona is an award-winning photographer who provides readers with a glimpse into the workings of this school garden throughout the four seasons. 

The idea for the garden at Acequia Madre Elementary School located in Sante Fe, New Mexico was the dream of third-grade teacher, Mrs. McCarthy. She talked to the other teachers, the principal, and the parents, and they all worked together to make her dream come true. Students and the community are involved in every aspect of this garden. From what is planted to the weeding to the harvest. Parents, siblings, grandparents, and other community members are happy to help make this garden a success. Even though the school is closed during the summer, garden chores must continue. As families come together to work, the garden becomes a community-gathering place. It provides a setting for music and gatherings of children, grownups, friends and families. The music fills the garden with joy.   

A small horno, the traditional oven used to bake bread is snuggled in a corner of the garden. Each spring it receives a fresh coat of adobe. In August it is used to bake yummy pizza. 

Everything about this book is so appealing. A simple, straightforward text, an abundance of color photos of children helping in every aspect of the garden, and drawings done by the students grace each page. The book is part celebration of the process in creating these wonderful, prosperous gardens at Acequia Madre Elementary School, and also a simple how-to that does answer some basic questions my husband’s day care had about the day-to-day workings of a garden.

Listed in the book is a list of books from Miss Sue’s Bookshelf and websites of other school gardens.

The tone of the book is a mixture of celebration and gentle encouragement. It’s Our Garden is a perfect book to share with students to celebrate Earth Day.

IT'S OUR GARDEN. Text and photographs copyright © 2013 by George Ancona. Illustrations copyright © 2013 by the students of Acequia Madre Elementary School.Reproduced by permission of the publisher, Candlewick Press, Somerville, MA.

Baseball Bonanza

Baseball is in the air! April is the start of the Major League Baseball season. Drive by any local park, and you'll find Little League practices in full swing. If you're planning to display or feature baseball books in your library or classroom this spring, we have some recommendations for you (with links to our reviews).

You Never Heard of Willie Mays?! by Jonah Winter, illustrated by Terry Widener

There Goes Ted Williams: The Greatest Hitter Who Ever Lived by Matt Tavares

The Unforgettable Season: The Story of Joe DiMaggio, Ted Williams and the Record-Setting Season of '41 by Phil Bildner, illustrated by S.D. Schindler

Brothers at Bat: The True Story of an Amazing All-Brother Baseball Team by Audrey Vernick, illustrated by Steven Salerno

Hammerin' Hank Greenburg: Baseball Pioneer by Shelley Sommer

Baseball Heroes (from the Good Sports series) by Glenn Stout

Other baseball book recommendations:

We Are the Ship: The Story of Negro League Baseball by Kadir Nelson
Winner of the 2009 Sibert Medal

Becoming Babe Ruth by Matt Tavares

H is for Home Run: A Baseball Alphabet by Brad Herzog, illustrated by Melanie Rose

Louis Sockalexis: Native American Baseball Pioneer by Bill Wise, illustrated by Bill Farnsworth

Heroes of Baseball: The Men Who Made It America's Favorite Game by Robert Lipsyte

All Star!: Honus Wagner and the Most Famous Baseball Card Ever by Jane Yolen, illustrated by Jim Burke

Mighty Jackie the Strikeout Queen by Marissa Moss, illustrated by C.F. Payne

From the Backlist- To Dance: A Ballerina's Graphic Novel

To Dance: A Ballerina's Graphic Novel
by Siena Cherson Siegel
illustrated by Mark Siegel
Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 2006.
ISBN: 9780689867477
Grades 4-8

The reviewer borrowed a copy of the book from her school library.

A few days ago we posted an infographic about the Sibert Medal. One of the facts we included in the infographic is that two graphic novels have won Sibert Honors.

The Sibert Medal criteria states that the committee will look for: "excellent, engaging, and distinctive use of language" and "excellent, engaging, and distinctive visual elements." This emphasis on both language and visual elements means that graphic novels may be considered for the Sibert medal. In the first year of the Sibert Medal (2001), Pedro and Me: Friendship, Loss and What I Learned by Judd Winick won a Sibert Honor.

In 2007, To Dance: A Ballerina's Graphic Novel also won a Sibert Honor. The graphic novel memoir is written in the first person narrative and tells the story of how Siegel loved to dance and move from an early age.  As a young girl, she studied ballet in her dance teacher's basement studio in Boston. After seeing the Bolshoi Ballet perform Swan Lake and reading A Very Young Dancer, Siegel was inspired to become a professional ballet dancer. At age eleven, Siegel was accepted by the School of American Ballet, and her family moved to New York City. In just 64 pages, the author describes family turmoil, dancing in George Balanshine's ballet company, meeting Mikhail Baryshnikov, attempts to have a social life as a teenager, grueling rehearsals schedules, and ankle injuries.

The graphic novel format lends itself well to the autobiography. Each page contains numerous panels, and the soft watercolor and ink illustrations by the author's husband strike just the right tone. The majority of the memoir is told through captions; speech bubbles are used occasionally. Whimsical ballet shoe ribbons are incorporated in illustrations throughout the story. Ribbons are used in the chapter headings and include characters from ballets such as Harlequin and Columbine from The Nutcracker.

The Sibert Medal criteria also considers whether books are "respectful and of interest to children." To Dance is definitely of interest to the children (especially fourth and fifth grade girls) in my library. I suggest adding this graphic novel memoir to your library's graphic novel collection instead of shelving it with biographies to get the most exposure and ensure high circulation. You won't even need to booktalk the book; just display it with the cover facing out. Your readers will scoop it up and then tell their friends about this engaging and appealing graphic novel memoir.

Read School Library Journal's interview with Siena Cherson Siegal.

The Sibert Medal Infographic

I was intrigued by the data that Travis from 100scopenotes.com shared in his Newbery Medal Infographic and Caldecott Medal Infographic, so I decided to try my hand at creating an infographic about the Sibert Medal. I used easel.ly.com and adopted the same format Travis used so data could be compared among the three awards. The results are really interesting and may compel readers to go back and revisit some favorite nonfiction titles from past years. 

The Sibert Medal Infographic

Creepy Creatures by Valerie Bodden

Cockroaches

Written by Valerie Bodden

ISBN: 9781608182329

Ticks

Written by Valerie Bodden

ISBN: 9781608182343

Creepy Creatures series

Creative Company. 2013

Preschool to Kindergarten

I obtained a copy of both books from my local public library.

Ants and beetles, and termites and slugs and ticks and cockroaches! Oh, my!

Just in time for summer, Creative Company have added six new animals to their Creepy Creatures series: Ticks, Termites, Ants, Slugs, Cockroaches, and Beetles. I looked at Ticks and Cockroaches. This series provides readers with a overview of those insects that children are always curious about.

Each book is 24 pages in length with lots of close-up color photos that children love to pore over. The information is relayed using simple language, one or two sentences per page. Perfect for young listeners. Scientific words are set off in bold and then written out phonetically. 

You are walking in the woods on a summer day. Suddenly, you see a brown dot on your arm. You look closer. It's a tick!  Ticks are arachnids (un-RAK-nidz) They have two body parts and eight legs.
. 
The books are handy because they offer a very basic introduction to each animal such as where they live, what they eat, how they grow, and any unique traits to help define them. Did you know cockroaches can hold their breath? That's why you see them in your sink; they climb up your drainpipe! 

The books have a table of contents, bibliography of books and web sites for more information, and an index. To round out the experience, each title includes an activity that emphasizes the animals physical characteristic.

You can take a peek inside the books in the series by visiting Creative Company's web site. 

I have so many preschoolers always wanting books with pictures of insects. This set will fill that need.

Dirt by Ellen Lawrence

Dirt 

by Ellen Lawrence
FUNdamental Experiments Series
Bearport Publishing, 2013
ISBN: 9781617727375
Grades: K-4

Reviewed from a copy sent by the publisher.

Budding scientists will enjoy getting their hands dirty as they learn about soil in Dirt, part of the FUNdamental Experiments series. The book features seven experiments that are aimed at teaching readers about soil. Each experiment begins with a question. Are dead plants in soil? How do worms help plants? How do rocks become soil?

The directions to the experiments are written in a clear and logical manner. Each step is labeled with a number and readers will find the accompanying photographs helpful as they complete the experiments. Small human-like creatures (without clothes) pictured on each page will elicit a giggle from young readers. On some pages the figures view soil with a magnifying glass. Other pages show the people wearing hard hats and writing on clipboards. Parents and teacher will be pleased that the experiments call for common household objects such as coffee filters, plastic soda bottles, and flower pots.

The experiments are simple, but they require children use higher-level thinking skills. Throughout the book, children as asked to observe, think and reflect. One experiment asks readers to sort a cup of soil into three categories: non-living, living, and once-living. Another experiment has readers compare three types of soil and determine which one best holds water. Children are asked to write their observations and answer questions in notebooks.

Curious readers will enjoy reading two pages in the back of the book that offer explanations and answer the questions related to each experiment. Additional back matter includes a glossary, a quiz, and a list of related books. Other titles in the FUNdamental Experiments series include water, motion and color.

Click here to look inside the book.

Follow Follow by Marilyn Singer

Follow Follow: a book of Reverso Poems
a companion to Mirror Mirror
by Marilyn Singer; Illustrations by Josee Masse
Dial Books, 2013
ISBN: 9780803737693
All ages
I checked this book out of my local public library.

It is National Poetry Month! How lucky for us that Marilyn Singer has given us a new collection of reverso poems in this companion to Mirror Mirror (winner of the Cybil Award in Poetry and an ALA Notable). Some of my favorite classic fairy tales and fables are here -- with a twist. Josee Masse's gorgeous illustrations, created with Liquitex Acrylic on a Strathmore 500 series, are breathtaking. They beg readers to take a closer look. Follow Follow is a great book to share with anyone who will listen. 

I think my favorite is No Bigger Than Your Thumb. (Tom Thumb) 

Or, maybe Will the Real Princess Please Stand Up? (Princess and the Pea)

Last week I was very lucky to be invited to hear poet Richard Blanco. He was the guest author at the middle school’s yearly read-a-thon. I felt as if I was on another plain after listening to him for an hour. I loved how he intersperse his poems with anecdotes about what influences his writing.  I know I am not alone in feeling afraid of poetry.  I worry, every time I pick up a poetry book that I won’t understand what the poem is about. Blanco said many things, but one comment stood out. Blanco acknowledge that some people do say they tried poetry once and never went back to it, yet we don’t apply that action to anything else. If you watch a movie you don’t like, does them mean you never watch another movie? What about books? Pizza? Shoes? People? That comment made me think.

During April, make a point to share poems in your story time, with your classes, colleagues, friends, family, etc. This new collection of poems will amaze and provide endless enjoyment to readers of all ages.

Go here to read an excerpt.

posted by Louise

You Never Heard of Willie Mays?! by Jonah Winter

You Never Heard of Willie Mays?!

Written by Jonah WInter; Illustrated by Terry Widener
Schwartz & Wade. 2013
ISBN: 9780375868443
Kindergarten thru Grade 4
I obtained a copy of this book from my local public library.

Monday, April 1st is opening day of baseball season. Fans have been waiting to celebrate the first pitch, the crack of the bat, and the suspense of who’s gonna win! Willie Mays played baseball when it was a whites only sport. Yet, his talent as a player would change white peoples attitude. Willie could catch, throw, run, and hit. He could do it all! He was not just a great “black” baseball player -- he was simply the greatest baseball player most people had ever seen. Period.

Born in Birmingham, Alabama on May 6, 1931, William Howard Mays, Jr loved playing baseball as a young boy. His pop had played in the semipros and coached Willie how to hit and play to center. At fifteen, Willie started with the Negro League, first with the Chattanooga Choo-Choos and then the Birmingham Black Barons. In 1951, when Mays was 21, he joined the major leagues -- The New York Giants. 

Using the same writing style as in You Never Heard of Sandy Koufax, author Jonah Winter has a faceless old timer recount the life and major accomplishments of Willie Mays. Like how he earned the nickname, "The Say Hey Kid." To us kids, Mays was just like a big kid himself. He was one of us, and we loved him. And he loved us right back. Talkin’ to the fans, he’d always say, “Hey!” in that high-pitched voice that earned him the nickname the Say Hey Kid.

And fans did love him. You could fill a whole book with all the jaw-dropping plays Willie made, all the homers he hit, all the bases he stole. (lots of them are on Youtube) The book ends with Willie making 'The Catch' in 1954 during Game 1 of the World Series. With millions of people watching on their TV’s, they witnessed Willie’s greatness. Watch that famous game by clicking here. 

Artist Terry Widener, a baseball enthusiast, used acrylic on chipboard to create the full page illustrations, many are two-page spreads, that perfectly convey the excitement of the game. Sidebars of additional information, mostly Willie’s stats, are in the shape of a ticket. 

The book begins with an author’s note, and ends with highlights of Willie Mays’s career, glossary of baseball terms, more information on the statistics used in the book. Throughout the book Winter’s included four radio broadcast quotes. He does explain that of the four quotes, two are re-created (there were no transcripts) and two are the announcers actual words.

A wonderful picture book biography to share with students, both baseball fans and those who just want to hear a fabulous story of someone who was amazing.

Watch Mays in 2010 being interviewed by Jon Stewart on the Daily Show. 

Scholastic Discover More: Planets

Scholastic Discover More: Planets 

by Penelope Arlon and Tory Gordon-Harris
Scholastic Inc., 2012
ISBN: 9780545330282
Grades 2 and up

The reviewer received a copy of the book from the publisher.

A few months ago, Louise and I posted a piece about how to evaluate nonfiction for children. In that post we described the different types of nonfiction texts (browser, specialized, concept, biography, and how-to).

Some nonfiction texts delve deeply into one topic. You can usually tell those books by the pages of back matter including source notes, extensive bibliography and notes from the author. Bomb: The Race to Build- and Steal- the World's Most Dangerous Weapon by Steve Sheinkin fits into the "specialized" category.

Another type of nonfiction text is the "browser." Children in my library check out a lot of browsers. They love to share interesting facts and stats with their friends as they pore over the photos and information in "browsers" such as world record books. Scholastic Discover More: Planets falls into the browser category.

This book will appeal to children as soon as they open the cover. Colorful photographs and illustrations will capture their attention, and the information is presented in a manner that children who are beginning to read independently will find easy to comprehend. Scholastic offers three levels of books in the Discover More series: emergent reader, confident reader, and expert reader. Discover More: Planets is categorized as a book for confident readers.

Fans of mythology will enjoy the section that shows how each planet is named for a Roman god. A two-page timeline provides readers with important dates in space exploration. Each planet is presented on a two-page spread. The information is presented in small chunks and in the form of fact boxes and captions. The book is designed so that readers may open to any page and begin reading, which many developing readers find less daunting than reading an entire nonfiction text from cover to cover. Students in need of in-depth information for research projects may find this series limiting. However, the books will please readers who want to sit back, relax and learn about science.

Each book in the series comes with access to a free digital book. The e-book companion for Discover More: Planets was impressive. The digital text focused on space machines and included close-up photographs of the Mars rovers along with photos and illustrations of space probes and satellites. Readers will enjoy testing their space knowledge with the "Quick Quiz." Scholastic Discover More: Planets has the potential to inspire young readers to check out more nonfiction books about the solar system and outer space.

To see the complete list of books in the Scholastic Discover More series, visit the site: http://www.scholastic.com/discovermore/

Rabbit's Snow Dance by James and Joseph Bruchac

A look back at a folktale from 2012.

Rabbit's Snow Dance
As told by James & Joseph Bruchac; Illustrated by Jeff Newman
Dial Books. 2012
ISBN: 9780803732704
Grades K and up
I checked out a copy of this book from my local public library.

Do you go out looking for pussy willows? In this entertaining take on a traditional Native American fable, father and son storytelling pair, Joseph and James Bruchac have re-told this engaging cautionary tale about how pussy willows came to be. 

Long ago, Rabbit had a long, beautiful tail. But even though his tale was long, his patience was short. When Rabbit wanted something he chanted, I want it. I want it. I want it right now!

What is sending Rabbit into a tantrum is his desire to eat the tasty leaves and buds at the top of the trees, but he can't reach them. If there was snow, Rabbit could easily reach them with his big snowshoe feet that allow him to walk on top of the snow. But, it is summertime. Rabbit decides it should snow right now, so he starts his special snow song and dance, ignoring the pleas from the other animals.

I bet you can guess the outcome. Rabbit sings and dances and soon there is so much snow - too much-- it covers all but the top leaves of the tallest tree. Worn out from all that dancing and singing, and before he takes one bite, Rabbit takes a long nap at the top of that tree. It is when he wakes, the snow all melted by the hot summer sun, that he falls down, down, down and little pieces of his tail get caught on one branch and another. And, ever since then, at the time of year when the snow goes away, you can see those little furry pieces of Rabbit's tale stuck on certain trees. Some call them pussy willows...

Newman's colorful illustrations, rendered in watercolor, gouache, and ink, are terrific. They show very expressive animals. From the worried looks of the bear and moose to the almost giddy smiles of Lynx, Otter, and Grouse who help with the snow dance, the pictures perfectly complement this tale about patience.

Be forewarned. When sharing this story with any age, Rabbit's snow chant is contagious. 

"Ee-OOO!"
Thump! Thump!
"Ee-OOO!"
Thump! Thump!
"Yo, Yo, Yo!
Yo, Yo, Yo!"

Happy Spring!

Listen to Joe tell a version of this traditional tale.

Read Debbie Reese's review on her blog American Indians in Children's Literature.

Brave Girl: Clara and the Shirtwaist Makers' Strike of 1909 by Michelle Markel

Brave Girl: Clara and the Shirtwaist Makers’ Strike of 1909

By Michelle Markel; Pictures by Melissa Sweet

Balzer + Bray (an imprint of HarperCollins) 2013

ISBN: 978-0-06-1804427

Grades 2 and up

I used a copy from the public library for this review

In 1909, thousands of young women, many just twelve years old, streamed from factories to strike. One young woman, Clara Lemlich, was their leader. In Brave Girl, Clara and the Shirtwaist Makers’ Strike of 1909 Michelle Markel celebrates how Clara stood up for what she believed was right and set in motion a strike that would make conditions better for garment workers in NYC and throughout the United States. 

This book tells the true story of Clara Lemlich, a Jewish immigrant who came to America to flee persecution in Eastern Europe. After moving with her family into the tenements in NYC, no one will hire Clara’s father. They will, however, hire Clara. Like thousand of other immigrant girls, Clara becomes a garment worker. They earn a few dollars a month, but it helps pay for food and rent. So instead of carrying books to school, many girls carry sewing machines to work. This was not the America Clara had imagined. Fed up with the horrible working conditions (Has everyone read Lyddie by Katherine Paterson, Uprising by Margaret Peterson Haddix, or Bobbin Girl by Emily Arnold McCully?) Clara begins speaking out, urging her fellow workers to team up and join a union. When she spoke out against the factory owners, Clara was beaten, arrested seventeen times, and had six ribs broken, but they can’t break her spirit.

Maine artist, Melissa Sweet, uses watercolor, gouache, and mixed media to create the paintings used in this book. Sweet frames each illustration to give the impression we are looking through a scrapbook, seeing snapshots of Clara’s life. They capture Clara’s determination and reflect the spirit of the thousands of women who stuck together to make their lives a bit better. There is one quite stunning illustration that allows us to look down on rows and rows of young women bent over their sewing tables. It gives one the perspective of how cramped their working conditions were. 

The combination of text and illustrations work together to make Brave Girl a must read for those in grades 5 and up. An author’s note give more back story about the garment industry, and the bibliography lists general and primary sources.

Brave Girl is a very powerful story. When addressing older students, use it to explain the benefits of Unions, the horrors of sweatshops in other countries, and how they -- the students -- can make a difference. 

Highly recommended.

To see selected pages from this book, go here.
For more books celebrating Women's History Month, go to Kidlit.

To learn more about women leadership, go here.

From the Backlist: The Mermaid Queen and other titles for Women's History Month

Mermaid Queen: The Spectacular True Story of Annette Kellerman, Who Swam Her Way to Fame, Fortune & Swimsuit History!
by Shana Corey
illustrated by Edwin Fotheringham
Scholastic Press, 2009
ISBN: 9780439698351
Grades: K-5

The reviewer borrowed a copy of the book from her school library.

Each month we'll be visiting nonfiction titles from past as part of our "From the Backlist" series. (The backlist is publishing term for books published in previous years.)

This month is we're celebrating Women's History Month, and one of my favorite picture book biographies is Mermaid Queen. This book is full of kid appeal! Corey eloquently tells the story of Annette Kellerman, a woman who made swimming for pleasure and fitness acceptable for women at the turn of the last century. Kellerman began swimming to strengthen her legs when she was a child. Swimming made her strong, and she loved it. Kellerman enjoyed swimming, diving and showing girls they could be athletes, too. People were shocked when she attempted to swim the English Channel, and she stunned Americans with her athletic bathing suit that showed off her legs. Kellerman's amazing life story coupled with Corey's narrative style and rich word choice make this a perfect book to read aloud.

"When she wasn't racing, she daydreamed about the ballerinas she'd loved as a little girl. She whirled and twirled, She dipped and danced and dived. No was was sure exactly what she was doing, but Annette didn't care one bit. She loved her new invention. It wasn't quite water ballet, and it wasn't quite swimming- it was water ballet!"

Bold computer illustrations will delight readers. Splashes of water in bright blue and orange are used in backgrounds and as frames around illustrations. An author's note give provides readers with further information about Kellerman. It's evident from the source notes that Corey did extensive research when writing the book. Not only is this book fun to read aloud to children, it's also important to show them how far we have evolved as a society. The next time kids see women swimming in the Olympics, they'll think of Annette Kellerman, the Mermaid Queen.

Be sure to visit the Kidlit Celebrates Women's History blog for articles and book reviews by a variety of kidlit authors and bloggers: http://kidlitwhm.blogspot.com/

Here are some other excellent books to share with children during Women's History Month (with links to our reviews). 

Here Come the Girl Scouts!

by Shana Corey, illustrated by Hadley Hooper

In the Bag!: Margaret Knight Wraps It Up

by Monica Kulling, illustrated by David Parkins

Life in the Ocean: The Story of Oceanographer Sylvia Earle

by Claire A. Nivola

Miss Moore Thought Otherwise

by Jan Pinborough, illustrated by Debby Atwell

Mrs. Harkness and the Panda

by Alicia Potter, illustrated by Melissa Sweet

Nurse, Soldier, Spy: The Story of Sarah Edmonds, a Civil War Hero

by Melissa Moss, illustrated by John Hendrix

Elizabeth Leads the Way

by Tanya Lee Stone, illustrated by Rebecca Gibbon

Look Up!: bird-watching in your own backyard by Annette LeBlanc Cate

Look Up!: Bird-watching in your own backyard

Written and illustrated by Annette Leblanc Cate

Candlewick Press. 2013

ISBN: 9780763645618

Grades 4 and up

The publisher sent a copy for review.

If you have students, friends, or you yourself are interested in learning how to identify birds then read Look Up! It is a terrific introduction to not just watching birds, but how to sketch them as well. Cate’s cartoon illustrations of birds, dozens of them, chatting about their unique and distinctive characteristics are combined with tons of birding facts, great suggestions for how to observe birds, and helpful tips on sketching what you see. Go here and click on ‘view an inside slide’)

Bird watching doesn’t have to include high tech instruments. The author recommends leaving your binoculars inside. Instead, one needs practice seeing the whole bird..its shape, size, and the way it moves. Birds are, by far, the easiest-to-see of all wild creatures. No matter how small your corner of the world, there will be some birds in it. You might be amazed at just how thrilling it can be to see new birds, find out about them, and learn their names.

Cate goes on to emphasize that by spending time outside observing what’s around you can help you to see the world of birds in a whole new way. When you take the time to sit and patiently draw them [birds], you do more than see them: you experience them. You feel more connected to the natural world, more at home in it.  Cate believes that once you become aware of the birds in your backyard, and you've paid attention to their shape, color, habits, and songs, then is the time to open a field guide to find out more details. Great advice! 

As I said earlier, there is so much detail in this book, but one never feels overwhelmed. This book is perfect for those who learn best with the combination of picture and text. Placed throughout are side charts with more information. Also, a bibliography, and an index.

Even the endpapers are packed with tips for enjoying this life-long hobby. Cate says, One of the best things about bird-watching is that it’s a hobby that you can have for your whole life. And if you keep sketchbooks, you’ll have a record of your lifelong pursuit, and that will be an amazing thing to have. This definitely will be one of my top Ten books for 2013.

Display with Bateman’s Backyard Birds by Robert Bateman, and The Boy who Drew Birds: a story of John James Audubon by Jacqueline Davies; illustrated by Melissa Sweet.

Here Come the Humpbacks by April Pulley Sayre

Here Come the Humpbacks!

Written by April Pulley Sayre; Illustrated by Jamie Hogan

Charlesbridge. 2013

ISBN: 9781580894050

Ages 4-7

I received a copy of the book from the illustrator.

Flippers paddle. Flukes push. In every ocean on Earth, humpback whales swim.

Acclaimed science writer, April Pulley Sayre (Stars Beneath Your Bed) and Maine illustrator Jamie Hogan (Warmer World) have teamed up in Here Come the Humpbacks, a nifty informational picture book for a slightly older audience that introduces children to whale migration.  

The main text follows a mother humpback as she gives birth to her calf, and their eventual migration from the Caribbean Sea to Stellwagen Banks in the Gulf of Maine. The main narrative text uses short, informational sentences.

By April, the waters are quieter. The escort whale and most other whales have migrated. But the calf and his mother still cruise the reefs. She has not eaten for six months. She is ten tons lighter than she was last May. 

The mother does not have teeth for tearing, and the passage from her mouth to her stomach is small. She needs many small fish in one big bite. Those fish swim in cold waters, far, far north. It is time, at last, to migrate. 

Supplementing the text are expository sidebars. 

Teeth or No Teeth

Whales are divided into two main types: toothed whales and baleen whales. Toothed whales, such as orcas, use their sharp teeth to catch fish and other prey. Humpback whales are baleen whales. Baleen is a stiff fringe that hangs down from each side of a whale’s mouth. It is made of keratin, the same material that makes up human fingernails and hair. The baleen acts as a sieve to keep food in the whale’s mouth as the water drains out.” 

 As the whales travel north, they do face many dangers, either from predators (orcas) and environmental challenges (ocean pollution, busy shipping lanes)

Jamie Hogan’s illustrations, done in charcoal pencil and pastel on sanded paper are expansive. Using muted blues, greens, and grays (with a splash of red) we are immersed in the ocean world of the humpbacks. There are a few pages where the black text over the darker tones of the illustrations makes it difficult to read. 

The book lacks additional reading recommendations, but Pulley does include a comment about whale migration, the difficulties studying whales, and how the number of humpbacks is slowly increasing. A fine addition to libraries.

Pair this with Turtle, Turtle, Watch Out! by April Pulley Sayre, Surprising Sharks by Nicola Davies, The Whale Scientists: solving the mystery of whale strandings by Fran Hodgkins,

And for fun, Nim’s Island by Wendy Orr.

Electric Ben: The Amazing Life and Times of Benjamin Franklin

Electric Ben: The Amazing Life and Times of Benjamin Franklin  
by Robert Byrd
Dial Books for Young Readers, 2012
ISBN: 9780803737495
Grades 3-8
The reviewer borrowed a copy of the book from her public library.

Robert Byrd recently won a 2013 Sibert Honor and an Orbis Pictus Honor for Electric Ben. In January, we included the title in a list of books from 2012 we wished we had reviewed. Well, there's no time like the present!

Upon opening the picture book biography, it's easy to see why this book was recognized by the Sibert committee. Byrd's ink and watercolor illustrations will attract the attention of middle grade readers. The layout of each page is different, which makes turning the page exciting. On one page, the intricate illustrations show Franklin as a young man standing on the streets of Philadelphia munching on bread with brick buildings and the waterfront in the background. On the accompanying page a small illustration in a circle depicts Franklin on board a ship writing his observations of flying fish and dolphins. Detailed captions describe each of Byrd's illustrations.

The book follows Franklin's life from his early years growing up in Boston to his move to Philadelphia where he started his printing shop to later years spent in Europe. Readers will learn about Benjamin Franklin the witty writer, inventor, and statesman. Franklin was constantly looking for ways to help improve the lives of others. We can thank Mr. Franklin for libraries. He formed a "lending club" that became the first library in the America.

"Franklin was the key founder of the first hospital in America. He sponsored a police force, where townspeople paid to have their streets patrolled. He formed a volunteer fire brigade. It became the nation's first full-time firefighting force."

Even though this is a picture book biography, the audience is for older elementary and middle school students. There is a lot of print on page that might overwhelm beginning readers, but proficient readers will be amazed by the accomplishments of our founding father. The back matter (author's note, timeline and bibliography) is comprehensive. Readers will be interested in the "About the Pictures" section where Byrd explains how he based the color palette on Colonial colors and describes the research to illustrate the book.

Electric Ben deserves a place in a juvenile biography collection. It's unlike other biographies of Benjamin Franklin, and it's a prime example of how picture books can be for older readers, too.