Seeing Symmetry by Loreen Leedy

Seeing Symmetry
by Loreen Leedy
Holiday House, 2012
ISBN: 9780823423606
(Gr. 2-5)

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

Not many math picture books are published each year, so I was excited to see Loreen Leedy's new book about symmetry. Leedy is known for writing excellent nonfiction picture books such as Mapping Penny's World, Measuring Penny, and Follow the Money.

Seeing Symmetry introduces young readers to the concept of symmetry through colorful illustrations of animals, letters, buildings, and other familiar objects. The illustrations were created using Photoshop and Adobe Illustrator. Captions and labels effectively point out the symmetry in each illustration. Leedy begins with the basic definition of symmetry and progresses to more complex concepts such as vertical symmetry, horizontal symmetry, and rotational symmetry. Children will enjoy trying to answer the questions posed throughout the book. On one page showing various words in different color fonts, readers are asked: "How many of these words have a horizontal line of symmetry?"

According to the notes on the copyright page, the book "meets the Common Core State Standards for fourth-grade mathematics in geometry: identify line-symmetric figures and draw lines of symmetry." A glossary in the back of the book defines the math terms used in the book. An author's note points out several animals in nature that are not symmetrical (conch, narwhal, flounder, etc...). Leedy also provides readers with symmetry activities to try at home using paper and paint.

Teachers will find Leedy's latest book invaluable in introducing and reinforcing the concept of symmetry while children will have a blast exploring the book and looking for symmetry in the world around them.

                                           Seeing Symmetry Book Trailer

The Pregnancy Project: a memoir by Gaby Rodriguez with Jenna Glatzer

The Pregnancy Project: a memoir

Gaby Rodriguez with Jenna Glatzer

Simon & Schuster. 2012

ISBN:  9781442446229

Reviewer obtained a copy from publisher.

(Grades 8 and up)

There have been numerous books, both fiction and nonfiction, written about teens trying to overcome their family patterns. It is nice to read a success story for a change. The story of Gaby Rodriguez and why she pretended to be pregnant for a high school project is the subject of this inspiring memoir. Rodriguez has attracted a lot of media attention, something she never expected. Now in college, Gaby stopped the cycle of teen pregnancy that was prevalent in her family because of her intellect and determination. Her memoir, written with the help of professional writer Jenna Glatzer, has even sparked a Lifetime network movie.

Gaby was in seventh grade when her mother explained how young she had been when she became pregnant.  “I always knew my mother had been young when she had her first child, but I never did the math, never realized that she was in middle school. And when she first told me she had Nievitas at fifteen, I assumed she meant she got pregnant when she was fifteen. Then she corrected me and said she got pregnant when she was fourteen, and for some reason that pushed it over the edge for me.” Her mother would go on to have seven children during her turbulent sixteen-year marriage. Five years after her divorce, at age thirty-five, after becoming a grandmother when her first child, Nievitas at age twenty gave birth to a daughter, Gaby’s mother became a mother again…with Gaby.

Gaby intertwines background information about her family with her reasons for choosing this particular project idea. The purpose of the senior project was “a chance for students to work on a skill that would be valuable in their careers, to help them prepare for life after graduation.” Gaby wanted her project to have a real impact on her fellow students. She wanted “to find an opportunity for growth, both for me and for the people around me. The statistics told me that my classmates’ families were a lot like mine – full of broken homes, teen pregnancy, poverty, and a lack of education.” Gaby wanted to come up with an idea that would reflect her community, while making a big impression. Gaby was fortunate to have so many people that supported her: her mother, teachers, siblings, and, especially, her boyfriend.

How would faking a pregnancy do that? You must read The Pregnancy Project to find out. The writing rambles a bit, but the essence of Gaby’s story, her hard work and the ingenious way she changed her life is inspiring. This book would be useful as a class project.  It will appeal to girls and boys.

For more information about Gaby, her movie, and to read the LIfetime interview with Gaby, click here.  

The Daytona 500: The Thrill and Thunder of the Great American Race

The Daytona 500: The Thrill and Thunder of the Great American Race
by Nancy Roe Pimm
Millbrook Press, 2011
ISBN: 9780761366775
(Gr. 5-8) 

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

Many sports fans look forward to the Super Bowl each February, however there's another major sporting event this month: The Daytona 500. If you're in search of a nonfiction book to satisfy the race fans in your library, you'll want to check out The Daytona 500: The Thrill and Thunder of the Great American Race.

The book provides an overview of the history of stock car racing, and it all began in Daytona Beach, Florida.  In the early 1900s cars raced on beaches in Daytona and Ormond.When Bill France entered the scene in 1937, the sport changed forever. France formed the National Association for Stock Car Racing (NASCAR) and went on to build the 2.5 mile track at Daytona International Speedway. Nancy Roe Pimm describes the first Daytona 500 in 1957 which ended in a close finish between Lee Petty and Johnny Beauchamp. Beauchamp was declared the winner, but officials reversed their decision 61 hours after the race concluded after reviewing newsreel footage.

Lee Petty was declared the winner. He was awarded the trophy and a purse of $19,050. Embarrassed by the turn of events, France decided there was no way he would be put in such a difficult position again. "This is the first time so close a finish has ever occurred in auto racing," he said. "We won't be caught off guard again. We'll install a photo finish camera on the line."

The chronological format and clear writing make this an accessible book for middle grade readers. Kids will enjoy looking at the black and white photos of races from the turn of the century as well as the colorful photos from recent years. The book will appeal to NASCAR fans while introducing new vocabulary and racing rules and regulations to those unfamiliar with the sport. Facts boxes and photos capture the excitement and history of the race. Backmatter includes a glossary of racing terms, source notes and books for further reading. The Daytona 500 would make a solid purchase for a middle grade sports collection.

Get Real by Mara Rockliff

Get Real: What Kind of World are You Buying?

by Mara Rockliff

Running Press. 2010

ISBN: 9780762437450

(Grades 6 and up)

Reviewer checked this book out of the local library.

Can we really change the world with our wallets is the question Rockliff asks readers to ponder in her 2010 book, Get Real. Every day we make decisions on what to buy. From sneakers, t-shirts, fast food, to coffee. In a straight-forward tone, Rockliff leaves no holds barred as she explains how we are manipulated by giant corporations who care more about their financial returns than about the people who make their products, as well as the negative impact buying without a conscience is having on our world.

Chapter 3, “And All I Got Was This Lousy T-Shirt: What They Never Tell You At the Mall”. “So there you are, inside the store, staring at racks and racks of clothes.” You want to buy a pair of jeans. Right away you have too many choices. “Do you want low-rise or high rise? Classic fit, boot-cut, wide leg, or relaxed? The deep blue kind that scream “brand new”? Or the pre-faded kind that look like you’ve been wearing them for years?” But then try asking for jeans sewn by a worker earning a decent wage. Where does it say the factory who made the denim jeans did not dump their toxic wastes into a river or stream? “See if the sales clerk can point out the sign that says how many toxic chemicals were sprayed on the “natural cotton” that will soon be nestled close against your skin.” After this set up, we learn just who made those jeans and the child slaves who work in horrific conditions and earn a meager wage to help support their family. What should you be asking when you buy those jeans? “Were these clothes made in a sweat shop?” To find out which companies are responsible, she lists several [.org] sites.

Ever wonder what is really in that fast food you think is so yummy? Chapter 4, “Peek Between the Buns” is about all the chemicals placed in your food to make it taste better and the factory farms where your food is raised. Chapter 7, “Buys in the ‘Hood: Bust out of that big box” Rockliff brings up an argument that we’ve heard before, “Just how organic is that bunch of grapes if it has traveled 15,000 miles and using one gallon of fuel for every second?” When you chose to buying your food from big box stores, you have no idea where it comes from. Part of the problem is that box stores do business on a giant scale. They don’t buy for just one store, they buy for hundreds of stores. Consequently, they need to find a supplier that can ship them tons of foods, year round, and cheap. We are so used to having whatever we want, whenever we want that we don’t consider that maybe eating fresh green beans in the middle of winter is an unnecessary luxury we can do without. To really know where you food is coming from, buy from a farmer’s market or purchase a share in CSA’s (Community Supported Agriculture)

The book’s design will be appealing to teens. It is active with bright colors and includes pictures to emphasize the point the author is making. It is printed on 100% recycled paper and certified by the ICTI (International Council or Toys Industry that mandates toys and related products are produced in a safe and humane environment). 

Rockliff demands consumers to be more socially responsible.  We all need to stop buying willy-nilly, and, instead, ask ourselves these questions: “Who made it”, “What’s in it?”, “What’s it doing to the earth, other people, and me?” It might not mean having a closet full of the latest fashions or owning the latest cell phone or cool laptop, yet, by making those hard choices readers will be taking huge steps in helping others and, by buying less, saving our world from becoming one big trash dump.

The book has an index, and an extensive list of resources, including books, articles, and web site.

Use this book to explain to students what the High Cost of Materialism is having on our planet and ourselves. Visit The Center for a New American Dream to watch the 5 minute video A Plentitude Economy.  Here is an interview on Green Teen with the author.

There Goes Ted Williams- Nonfiction Picture Book Giveaway

There Goes Ted Williams: The Greatest Hitter That Ever Lived
by Matt Tavares
Candlewick Press
On shelves February 14, 2012
ISBN: 9780763627898
(Gr. K-5)

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

We have partnered with Kid Lit Frenzy to encourage readers to read more nonfiction picture books this year.

As a child growing up in a small New England town, I was raised to love the Red Sox. I have fond memories of watching players like Jim Rice and Carl Yastrzemski take the field at Fenway Park in the late 1970s. Ted Williams had been retired for many years by that time, but he still remained in the hearts and minds of baseball fans. I've been eagerly anticipating the release of Matt Tavares' latest picture book about Ted Williams. Part of my excitement comes from my own passion for baseball, but I also know this book will be extremely popular with the readers in my library.

Matt Tavares traces the rise of hitting sensation Ted Willams from a skinny boy growing up in the 1920s to one of baseball's greatest batters of all time. As a lanky teenager, Ted Williams was drafted by the New York Yankees, but he turned down the contract to play minor league baseball near his home in southern California. Eventually Williams went on to play for the Boston Red Sox. Williams had great success in the major leagues and closed the 1941 season with a .406 batting average.

This picture book biography with wide margins and short lines reads like free verse poetry. Tavares provides readers with highlights from Williams' career while capturing the excitement and emotion of the game.


He circles the bases,
not running
but leaping, bouncing
almost floating,
jumping up and down
and clapping his hands
and laughing
all the way to home plate. 

There Goes Ted Williams is more than just a sports story. During Williams' career, he left baseball to serve as a pilot in World War II and the Korean War. During the Korean War, Williams made a tough decision to eject from his malfunctioning plane even though he could break both legs and end his baseball career. Williams walked away from the crash and returned to baseball several months later.

In the tradition of Mudball and Henry Aaron's Dream, Tavares' illustrations are detailed and full of life- the creases in the uniform, the shadow formed by the brim of the hat, the stitches on the baseball. The watercolor, gouache and pencil illustrations eloquently capture Williams' stance and facial expressions. In one intense scene, Williams is pictured in the foreground running away from a burning fighter jet. This is sure to capture the attention of even the most reluctant readers.

A list of Williams' stats by year and a bibliography are located in the back of the book. In an author's note, Tavares reveals that Williams was not perfect. He had a bad temper, he swore, and he had a tumultuous relationship with the media. Despite these flaws, the author set out to tell the story of a man who was one of the greatest hitters of all time and also served his country well. "The story of Ted Williams is the story of an American hero." Young baseball fans will scoop up this book; it would also make an inspiring story for an adult to share with a child. Pair this book with The Unforgettable Season: Joe DiMaggio, Ted Williams, and the Record-Setting Summer of 1941 by Phil Bildner.

 There Goes Ted Williams- Giveaway

Candlewick Press is giving away a copy of There Goes Ted Williams. 

Fill out the entry form below for your chance to win.

                   Giveaway Rules

• Complete the entry form below.
• Only one entry per person will be accepted.
• You must be 13 years or older to enter.
• Entries will be accepted from 9 p.m. on Sunday, February 12, 2012 until 12:00 a.m. on Friday, February 17, 2012.
• The winner will be contacted by email. If the winner does not respond within 48 hours, we will select a new winner.

13 Planets: the latest view of the Solar System by David A. Aguilar

13 Planets: the latest view of the Solar System

David A. Aguilar

National Geographic. 2011

ISBN: 9781426307706

(Grades 3-8)

Did you know that Jupiter is so large that all the planets, including  the dwarf planets, could fit inside it? That Saturn has 62 confirmed moons? That dwarf planets Makemake and Ceres have no moons? These facts and more can be found in David Aguilar 13 Planets. Aguilar, Director of Science Information at the Harvard Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, takes readers on a brief journey of our Solar System.  In easily understood language, Aguilar explains how astronomers are discovering new things everyday, making them “wonder just how big the universe is.” 13 Planets tells the latest scientific information about terrestrial planets (Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars), dwarf planets,(Ceres, Pluto, Haumea, Makemake, and Eris), the gas planets, (Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune), and the possible future of The Sun, and solar systems beyond The Milky Way.

Starting with the Sun, in order of their distance from it, [Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Ceres, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, Pluto, Haumer/Kuiper Belt, Makemake, Eris] Aguilar reacquaints readers with current information about our Solar System. Accompanying each entry is the mythology, astrology or other related facts. For example, about Earth, we are told, “Gaea, the Earth goddess of the ancient Greeks, was known as the mother of Earth. Born out of chaos, she in turn gave birth to the sky, the seas, and the land. The Romans called her Terra.”

Children will find the unusually shaped planet, Haumer, located in the Kuiper Belt, interesting. Shaped like a chicken egg, it is dubbed, “a cosmic football” “because it tumbles end over end like a football kicked for a field goal.” They will also like its analogy that if cut in half, the solid rock planet would resemble an M&M. “The outside candy coating is the ice and the chocolate found inside is the rock.”

The book closes with some heavy thoughts about the death of the sun and whether there is life on other planets. “The End of our Solar System” explains what will happen to our sun in a billion years. In 12 billion years the sun will puff into a red planetary nebula before fading away.  Aguilar hints that beyond our solar system astronomers have discovered more than a thousand planets.  He claims that soon Earthlike planets will be revealed and that within the next twenty years we may know if life exists on these “super-Earths.”

On par with books published by National Geographic, the illustrations are exquisite and well captioned.  The artwork is done by the author, but other credits include NASA and National Geographic Society.

This book will appeal to children (Grades 3 – 8) who can never get enough information about space.  

The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind

The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind
by William Kamkwamba and Bryan Mealer
illustrated by Elizabeth Zunon
Dial Books for Young Readers, 2012
ISBN: 9780803735118
Grades K-5

The reviewer received a copy of the book from the Moving Windmills Project.

You've heard the saying, "One person can make a difference." It sounds cliche, but it's true. If you need evidence, look no further than the picture book biography, The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind. William Kamkwamba and Bryan Mealer collaborated to tell the amazing story of how William brought electricity and irrigation to his drought-stricken village in Malawi.

William's family grew maize and tobacco in central Malawi; they relied on these crops for food and income. When a drought hit the country, the family had to cut back to one meal per day. There was no money to pay fees for William to attend school. William, a curious and inventive young man, spent his free time at the local library reading books about science. When William came across a photo of a windmill and learned that it could be used create electricity and pump water, he saw a solution to his family's problems. Using a tractor fan, pipe, bolts and other parts he found in a junk yard, William built a windmill that generated enough electricity to run a light bulb. He knew this was just the beginning; his goal was to use windmills to pump water up from the ground to irrigate the fields.What a great example for kids about the power of books and reading.

The authors use dialogue and incorporate words from the Chichewa language to create an engaging story that will inspire young readers.

"Wachitabwina!" a man yelled. "Well done."
As the doubters clapped and cheered, 
William knew he had just begun. 
Light could not fill empty bellies, 
but another windmill could soak the ground, 
creating food where once there was none. 
Magesti a mphero- electric wind- can feed my country, William thought.

Oil paint and cut-paper collage illustrations work perfectly with the text to convey William's story. Rich, earth tones are used to illustrate the land and sky. One illustration shows a deep purple sky in the background while William's family sits around a lantern sharing a meal. On a two-page spread, layers of yellow and orange paper illustrate a sun shining down upon dry, barren land made of textured paper. Later in the story, blue paper with swirled designs are placed around a windmill to illustrate the wind while people pick maize in lush green fields.

An author's note in the back of the book provides more details for readers eager to learn more about William (now a student at Dartmouth) and how he constructed the windmill. I'm looking forward to sharing this powerful story with the readers in my library. Pair this book with Planting the Mangrove Tree: Planting Trees to Feed Families by Susan L. Roth or Energy Island by Allan Drummond.

For more information about William and the Moving Windmills Project: http://movingwindmills.org/
                        

 The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind is part of the We Give Books program: http://www.wegivebooks.org/

His Name Was Raoul Wallenberg by Louise Borden

His Name Was Raoul Wallenberg: Courage, Rescue and Mystery During World War II
by Louise Borden
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2012
ISBN: 9780618507559
Grades 6 and up

The reviewer received an advanced reader's copy of the book from the publisher.

I've been a fan of Louise Borden since I read The Journey That Saved Curious George which chronicles the real-life escape of Margaret and H.A. Rey (authors of Curious George) from Nazis during World War II. Borden is also known for the historical fiction picture book, The Great Skating Race: A World War II Story from the Netherlands.

In her latest book, Borden introduces readers to Raoul Wallenberg, a real life hero who saved thousands of Jews in Hungary during World War II. Wallenberg was born into a wealthy family in Sweden in 1912. He proved to be an excellent student and used his family's wealth and status to travel the world. After earning an architecture degree in the United States, Wallenberg returned to his homeland of Sweden. Wallenberg was a strong communicator and spoke several languages, and he was sent to Budapest as a diplomat in 1944. He was charged with the responsibility of protecting Jews living in Hungary.

Wallenberg set up an office and hired hundreds of employees to print "schutz passes" or protection passports that placed Jews under the protection of the Swedish government. Wallenberg also invented the collective passport which allowed more than one person to share a passport. Wallenberg's work didn't stop with passports; he purchased and rented apartment buildings that served as safe houses for Jews in Budapest. Unfortunately, Wallenberg was detained in a Soviet prison in 1945; he was never seen again.

The format of the book works well for the subject. The text's poetic form is effective with concise writing, short lines and wide margins. Numerous photographs and primary documents (passports, letters and drawing by Wallenberg) bring the story to life and will engage readers and show how one person can make a difference in the world.

Borden traveled to Sweden and Switzerland to interview Wallenberg's sister and brother. This background work helps Borden paint a portrait of a strong and resourceful young man who had saved thousands of lives. An extensive bibliography along with recent photographs of Wallenberg's family can be found in the back of the book. History buffs and students studying the Holocaust shouldn't miss this powerful story.

Other reviews of His Name Was Raoul Wallenberg:
A Year of Reading
http://readingyear.blogspot.com/2012/01/my-name-is-raoul-wallenberg-by-louise.html

Born and Bred in the Great Depression By Jonah Winter

Born and Bred in the Great Depression

By Jonah Winter; Illustrated by Kimberly Bulcken Root

Schwarts & Wade Books. 2011

ISBN: 9780375861970

(Grades K and up)

I checked this book out of the public library.

The Great Depression is not a topic children frequently ask about, yet I believe this will change after reading Winter 's loving tribute to his father who grew up in East Texas during the Great Depression.

“In that tiny white frame house/there were ten of you – /eight kids/ and your parents – in four small rooms./You slept at the foot of one bed/because there were only two beds/ and you were the youngest." 

The narrative reads like a conversation the author is having with his father. "You got your water from a well/because there was no indoor plumbing./There were no toilets,/so you had to use an outhouse./I know, because you've told me, Dad./This was the world you grew up in."

The marriage of text and illustrations makes this tender book endearing. Using drawing pencils, ink, and watercolor on watercolor paper, Root captures this busy family as they go about their lives. Most of the double-page spreads show Winter’s father doing his chores, smushed at the foot of the bed with his 7 siblings, or riding with his father to pick up a block of ice in their "old Model T." Readers can see that everyone went without most of the basic comforts we take for granted because they were too expensive or unavailable. Yet, not having enough money for shoes did not impede on Winter's father's ability to have fun. Root shows us the young boy enjoying his freedom by walking on the railroad tracks. Never sentimental or gloomy, we learn that people needed to be tough and resourceful. They read by kerosene lantern because they couldn’t afford electricity. Granny Winter had to work hard to keep everyone fed. “The way you describe her, Granny Winter/did everything – cooking, cleaning,/gardening, milking." 

The family photos of Winter's grandparents and father on the end pages adds authenticity. There is no author's note.

For children of today the Great Depression, 1929-1939, happened a very long time ago. They probably have no living relative who experienced those hardships. Fortunately, we can hand them this touching, nonfiction picture book that will gently introduce the subject without being overwhelming.

Far from Shore: Chronicles of an Open Ocean Voyage by Sophie Webb

Far from Shore: Chronicles of an Open Ocean Voyage
by Sophie Webb
Houghton Mifflin Books for Children, 2011
ISBN: 9780618597291
Grades 4-8

The reviewed received a copy of the book from the publisher.
 
Biologist and seabird expert, Sophie Webb, shares an up-close look at the work of field scientists in Far from Shore. Based on her own experiences aboard the NOAA vessel, McArthur II, Webb provides readers with a first-hand account as the crew collects data on dolphins, whales, and seabirds in the Eastern Tropical Pacific. Each entry in the book provides the longitude and latitude of the ship which can be cross-checked with the map in the front of the book. The purpose of the voyage is to record data about dolphins to see if the changes in fishing regulations have had an impact on the marine mammal population.

Webb brings to life the work of scientists by adding her own personal reflections and details about life on the ship. The small details that the author includes make this book a gem. Webb describes what meals are like and how duct tape is used to secure items during the voyage. Throughout out the book, it's evident that Webb has great respect for nature.

"The Milky Way looks like a long, hazy cloud. When I look through my binoculars it becomes millions of specks of twinkling light. The breeze is warm and soft- truly a beautiful night."

Webb not only writes the text, but she illustrates each picture, map and graph. The illustrations are fitting for the science journal format. Brilliant watercolor and gouache paints are used to illustrate creatures great and small, from plankton to whales.  Detailed captions provide readers with additional facts about marine life. One impressive illustration is a full-page depicting a tuna net in the gorgeous blue waters of the ocean while a helicopter circles overhead. A two-page spread shows dolphins, mahi-mahi, sea turtles and other marine life swimming in a field of sea grass each illustration is labeled with the name of the species. An extensive glossary of scientific terms is located at the end of the book.

Middle grade readers and young naturalists will be attracted to this beautiful book. It would also work well as a read aloud in an upper elementary or middle school science class. It definitely deserves a place in a science collection and would make an excellent companion to the Scientist in the Field books.

North: the amazing story of Arctic migration by Nick Dowson.

North: The amazing story of Arctic migration

by Nick Dowson; Illustrated by Patrick Benson

Candlewick Press. 2011

ISBN: 9780763652715
Grades 3-6

A copy of the book was checked out from the public library.

Nick Dowson introduces migration to the Arctic, "this huge place that sits at the top of our world" in this visually stunning book. We learn that the winter months are long and cold and we see a landscape in hues of blues and grays were everything is snow and ice. Yet this hostile environment changes when summer burst forth teaming with life. 

"It's summer in the Arctic. All day and night, the sun spreads light, warming soil and water. Tundra flowers glow rainbow-bright, the calm air hums with summer bees, and mosquitoes rise like smoke from shining pools. NEW LIFE IS EVERYWHERE…"

Using watercolor, pen, and pencil, Patrick Benson's exquisite illustrations bring the sparse text to life. The book is 30 cm., the same size as most picture books, but it feels larger because the double-page spreads take up all the space, making you feel as if you are right there in the Arctic witnessing this incredible act of nature. Especially, the transformation from winter (gray tint) to summer (teaming with greens, blue sky, and colors for flowers) and back to winter again. Many of the pages are wordless as we witness the different creatures making their journey. 

Students will be intrigued by the facts. The gray whale leaves Mexico to travel five thousand miles, over eight weeks, passing Los Angeles, San Francisco, Vancouver, Anchorage.  While the bar-tailed godwits make their way from New Zealand.

Dowson includes a glossary, index, along with some important scientific facts about the Arctic: the size (5.4 million square miles), temperature during winter (-40 degrees F) and how global warming is affecting the ice cap and threatening some native Arctic species with extinction. (Polar Bears)

This book that belongs in all libraries.

A Nation's Hope Giveaway

A Nation's Hope: The Story of Boxing Legend Joe Louis
by Matt de la Pena, illustrated by Kadir Nelson
Dial Books for Young Readers, 2011
ISBN: 97808023731677
Gr. 3-6

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


Have you heard about the challenge we've organized along with Alyson from Kid Lit Frenzy? We're challenging people to read more nonfiction picture books this year. If you would like to take part in the challenge, visit the Kid Lit Frenzy blog and add your name to the list.

In honor of the 2012 Nonfiction Picture Book Challenge, we have a review of a picture book biography from 2011. We will also give away one copy of the book to one of our readers. (See the giveaway details below.)


Matt de la Pena eloquently tells the story of how a young Joe Louis, who was teased for stuttering, became a world class boxer and faced off with Max Schmeling, a boxer who represented Hitler's Germany. The book focuses on the 1938 match between Louis and Schmeling and how the event brought blacks and whites together during a time of segregation in the U.S.

"It was now more than just blacks who needed a hero. It was all of America, and color was set aside."

Using dark oil paints on wood, Nelson's illustrations convey the tension and emotion of the famous fight. Nelson masterfully uses shadows throughout the book: a silhouette of Louis jabbing at a punching bag, a man with a pipe listening to the radio, the shadow of Max Schmeling's body on the floor of the boxing ring after he is knocked down.

I have read this book several times, and I notice something new each time I pick it up. It's amazing how the words and illustrations work so well together. I read the story to a class of third graders, and they were captivated. It's a beautiful book to read aloud; it's poetic at times. The students had a powerful discussion about segregation, World War II and Hitler, however I had to provide quite a bit of background information. An author's note, timeline or list of additional sources would be helpful for young readers who lack knowledge about Jim Crow and World War II.

The ALA Youth Media Awards will be announced on Monday, January 23rd. I wouldn't be surprised to see A Nation's Hope bring home some awards.

We will give away one copy of A Nation's Hope as part of the 2012 Nonfiction Picture Book Challenge.

Giveaway Rules

• Complete the entry form below.
• Only one entry per person will be accepted.
• You must be 13 years or older to enter.
• Entries will be accepted from 12:00 am on Monday, Jan. 16, 2012 until 11:59 pm on Saturday, Jan. 21, 2012.
• The winner will be contacted by email. If the winner does not respond within 48 hours, we will select a new winner.

Here Come the Girl Scouts! by Shana Corey

Here Come the Girl Scouts! 

By Shana Corey; Illustrated by Hadley Hooper

Scholastic Press. 2012

ISBN: 9780545342780

This reviewer’s copy was sent to her by the publisher. Thank you.

(All ages)

This year marks the 100th anniversary of the Girl Scouts. In Here Comes the Girl Scouts, Corey describes the indelible spirit of Juliette Low, founder of The Girl Scouts and how she would forever changed the lives of girls. Corey’s words convey the jaunty spirit of Low, nicknamed Daisy, that is perfectly matched by Hadley Hooper’s illustrations. (The pictures were created with traditional paint, ink and printmaking techniques, then scanned and assembled in Photoshop)

The book opens with: “Daisy was a girl with gumption." We see that gumption as Daisy stands next to a tree with a tree house, holding a fishing rod. The boards leading up onto the tree house platform have these words, “Gump-shun (n) courage, spunk, initiative, wit”  There are also these words just to the left of Daisy’s head:  “To make yourself strong and healthy, it is necessary to begin with your insides.” The book explains how Daisy said "bosh!" to the expectation that women should be "dainty and delicate." And as she grew into a woman, “Daisy had adventure after adventure. When she wanted a new gate for her house, she took lessons from a blacksmith and forged it herself.”

After a trip to England where she discovered the existence of the Boy Scouts, Daisy was determined to create a similar club exclusively for girls. Her first meeting of the Girl Scouts was held on March 12, 1912. From its inception, Low believed that all girls should have the same opportunities as boys, both in education and physical activity. Girls went hiking, swimming, took long walks,  learned how to tie knots, stop runaway horses, and enjoy the clean, fresh air.

In conclusion, we see two girls standing looking at portraits of women who were Girls Scouts and grew up to make a difference. Among the faces are Natalie Merchant, Gloria Steinem, Hillary Clinton, and Lucille Ball. “Girl Scouts have been making a difference ever since – just like Daisy.”

Children will love this picture book biography for its re-enforcement that girls can grow up to be anything.  The overall design is very attractive. Hadley places quotes from the first Girl Scout Handbook, written by W. J. Hoxie liberally throughout the book. The quotes add so much depth to Low’s story.

An author’s note and source notes round out this wonderful picture book biography. 

How the Dinosaur Got to the Museum by Jessie Hartland

How the Dinosaur Got to the Museum 
by Jessie Hartland
Blue Apple Books, 2011
ISBN: 9781609050900
Gr. K-3

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

Do you have dinosaur fans in your library? I work with patrons between the ages of 5-11 who are frequent flyers in the 567.9 section. They check out piles of dinosaur books each week. These kids can pronounce names dinosaur names perfectly, and they remember facts and stats about each species.  But, have they ever wondered How the Dinosaur Got to the Museum?

Inquisitive students and dinosaur lovers will enjoy this companion to How the Sphinx Got to the Museum. The story begins at the Smithsonian.  A boy standing beside an exhibit of a Diplodocus longus asks the docent, "So, how did the dinosaur actually get to the museum?" So begins the journey back in time to the Jurassic period. Using kid-friendly colorful illustrations and a lyrical text, Hartland provides young readers with an overview of how dinosaur bones covered with sand and silt turned into fossils over time and eventually became a museum exhibit.

"The rain comes- dripping, drenching, pouring- and turns into a torrential flood, sweeping the big dinosaur off its feet, down the river to its death."

Each turn of the page reveals another person responsible for bringing the dinosaur to the museum including the excavator, preparator, and curator. Kids will love reading the job titles written on special nameplates throughout the text. For example, the word "paleontologist" is written on the shape of a bone. Each job adds another layer to the story, which told in the style of This is the House That Jack Built. 

The topic, illustrations, and format work well together to create a book with lots of kid appeal. Even though the book is aimed at young readers, Hartland does not shy away from using complex vocabulary and rich language. Many new vocabulary words are defined within the story. Backmatter includes additional fact about the Diplodocus longus, information about fossils and links to dino dig web sites.

If you're looking for the perfect nonfiction read aloud for the K-3 crowd, then look no further.  The text also lends itself to choral reading and readers' theater.

Nonfiction Monday is hosted by Great Kid Books this week.

Gaia Warriors by Nicola Davies

Gaia Warriors

by Nicola Davies

Candlewick Press. 2011

ISBN: 9780763648084

Copy checked out from my local public library.

(Grades 5 and up)

Nicola Davies is a zoologist. Her passion for the environment is obvious by what she writes about. Topics she has covered include why animals are a certain size, (Just the right size), why scientist study animal feces, (Poop), animal communication (Talk, Talk, Squawk), and what are those little parasites that live on animal bodies (What’s eating you?) Her writing is accessible and perfect for sharing with students in grades 3 and up. 

My favorite book, the one I read to third graders every summer is Surprising Sharks. I love the last two lines, “But every year people kill 100 million sharks. If you were a shark swimming in the lovely blue sea, the last word you’d want to hear would be...human!”

In Gaia Warriors, Davies turns her pen to educate the middle and high school crowd about Global Warming. The book’s design is attractive and resembles a notebook or magazine, instead of an educational textbook. There are quotes in bold text from famous people who were not afraid to make changes and lots of color photos. Never preachy, (well, a little bit) Davies emphasize that we need to make some changes, big changes, if Earth’s inhabitants are to survive. 

“We all have a choice. We can carry on as usual and fry. Or we can take the opportunity climate change offers us to make a better world for everyone. In other words, we can CHOOSE to change for the better.”

The book is divided into two parts. 

Section One is a guide to some of the basic facts about what is happening to the earth and its climate, written in the form of answers to questions. In addition, interviews with experts or activists further explain the question’s answer.  Questions asked: What is Climate Change?, How do we know that the climate is changing?,  What’s causing climate change? But hasn’t the climate always changed?, Is climate change our fault? If it’s only a few degrees, what difference will it make? What if the Scientists have made a mistake, and we waste money preparing for something that never happens! It’s all to big and scary, and there’s nothing I can do about it!”

In Section Two,, Davies explains:

“So, here’s the problem: Our planet is warming up, and in your lifetimes and that of your children, it’s going to get a lot warmer.”

We can’t go back to the Stone Age because “we can’t support 9 billion people on Stone Age farming and technology. “ The solution is that we have to change.

“We will have to stop driving everywhere, flying everytime we go on vacation, eating whatever we want, and having lots of deep, hot baths. But then, most of the people in the world have never been able to do those things anyway, so it’s only fair that we should stop being so greedy and selfish with the planet’s resources.”

We are then introduced to everyday people who are out there making important and necessary changes in how they eat, get to work, vacation, and many other ways in which they try to use our resources wisely.

The book does include more information, glossary, and index. Unfortunately, it has no documentation as to back the author’s information. Despite that, which is important, this British import is an appealing presentation on Global Warming and its solutions.

I feel like a Gaia Warrior because I can commute to work riding my bicycle 5 months of the year. I acknowledge that I was very, very lucky to find a great job closer to where I live. 

Place this in your display for Earth Day.

And, speaking of saving the Earth, visit this site with high school students. We all know Daryl Hannah from her role as movie actor, but she is also a committed activist for the environment. Click on "Show" and see the many movies, no longer than 5 to 8 minutes, Daryl has made that explores ways to save our planet. They are charming and will inspire students to become Gaia Warriors.

Nonfiction Monday

Welcome to Nonfiction Monday!

We are pleased to host the first Nonfiction Monday of 2012.

Please link your nonfiction reviews using Mr. Linky at the bottom of this post.

We've posted two new reviews for Nonfiction Monday.

Click on the links below to see our reviews, and be sure to check out all of the nonfiction reviews linked at the bottom of this post.

Black and White: The Confrontation Between Reverend Fred L. Shuttlesworth  

and Eugene "Bull" Connor by Larry Dane Brimner

 Titanic Sinks! by Barry Denenberg

Announcing: The Nonfiction Picture Book Challenge 2012

We are excited to be partnering with Kid Lit Frenzy for the
2012 Nonfiction Reading Challenge. 

Our goal is to encourage everyone to read more nonfiction picture books this year.

Take the challenge by setting a goal for yourself.
Maybe you want to read one nonfiction picture book each week or each month.
Visit both the Kid Lit Frenzy and The Nonfiction Detecetives blogs
throughout the year for nonfiction reviews and giveaways!

Tweet about the challenge using the hashtag #nfpb2012.

Feel free to add the Non-Fiction Picture Book badge to your web site.

Add your nonfiction review below.

Black and White: the confrontation between Reverend Fred L. Shuttlesworth and Eugene "Bull" Connor by Larry Dane Brimner

Black and White: the Confrontation between Reverend Fred L.

Shuttlesworth and Eugene “Bull” Connor

By Larry Dane Brimner

Calkins Cree, 2011

ISBN: 9781590787663

This book was sent to me by the publisher.

(Grades 7 and up)

February is Black History Month. Soon teachers, students, parents, and day care providers will be coming into my library looking for books on Martin Luther King, Jr, Ruby Bridges, and other titles about the civil rights movement. In a matter of hours, almost every book on the subject will be checked out.  Now we can add another great title to the mix. Black and White by Larry Dane Brimner offers readers another perspective on the events in that dark and ugly time in our nation’s history. Black and White offers readers a deeper understanding of the movement.

The book centers on Reverend Shuttlesworth and his commitment to getting rid of the unfair Jim Crow laws in Birmingham, and the South, during the 1950’s and early 1960’s. Those laws restricted African-Americans the right to work in stores, be policemen, or allow children to attend all-white schools.

The author does an excellent job, in 80 pages, documenting the confrontation between these two larger-than-life men, Fred Shuttlesworth and Bull Connor. Without this immense hatred Connor had towards African-Americans along with his abhorrent actions, the nation might not have ever learned of the struggle going on in Birmingham. (Called Bombingham because of all the bombings taking place there per orders of Bull Connor) Brimner makes it very clear that without Fred’s involvement the equal rights legislation of 1964 might never have happened.

“Without Fred Shuttlesworth, the Birmingham campaign and the role Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., played in it may have taken a vastly different appearance. It was Fred who urged a reluctant Dr. King to shine the light of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference on the city. It was Fred who planned strategy and provided soldiers from the Alabama Christian Movement for Human Rights for local demonstrations, even as Dr. King was the national voice of the civil rights movement. Fred’s actions in the 1950’s and 1960’s helped pave the way to the landmark Civil Rights Act of 1964 and Voting Rights Act of 1965.”

The book’s design is very dramatic, a mixture of black, white, and red. The black text, placed alternately on white and red backgrounds grabs readers’ attention and holds it. Each page is loaded with historical black and white photos that are well captioned. Sidebars have additional information that is pertinent to what is being discussed.

Brimner, an award-winning author of more than 150 books of fiction and nonfiction, is respectful of his subjects. In the author’s note he acknowledges that Eugene “Bull” Connor was the perfect foe for Fred.

“Without his staunch racist and his harsh response to the African American cry for justice, civil rights progress might have taken an even longer time in coming.”

This is an outstanding addition to the growing literature about the Civil Rights Movement. Though this book is for a slightly older audience, still Include it in a display with  The Watson's go to Birmingham, 1963 by Christopher Paul Curtis, Boycott Blues: how Rosa Parks inspired a nation and Sit-in: how four friends stood up by sitting down, both by Andrea Davis Pinkney.

Titanic Sinks! by Barry Denenberg

Titanic Sinks!: Experience the Titanic's Doomed Voyage in this Unique Presentation of Fact and Fiction
by Barry Denenberg
Viking (an imprint of Penguin Group), 2011
ISBN: 9780670012435
Grades 5-8

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

Titanic books are quite popular with the readers in my library, and I'm predicting a surge in Titanic nonfiction book requests in 2012. In case you haven't heard, April of 2012 marks the 100th anniversary of the sinking of the infamous ship. James Cameron's blockbuster movie starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet will be re-released in April of 2012, and dozens of new Titanic books will be published this year.

Titanic Sinks! by Barry Denenberg stands out as a highly engaging look at the historic event. The book blends fact and fiction as it details the events leading up to one of the greatest disasters of modern time. The story is told through magazine articles and journal entries written by fictional reporter, S.F. Vanni, while on board the ship. Even though there are fictional elements, this is truly a nonfiction books. Denenberg researched the event thoroughly and provides source notes and an extensive bibliography.

The magazine articles begin in 1910, two years before the Titanic set sail on its maiden voyage. Readers learn about The White Star Company and how the Titanic and its sister ship, Olympic, were built. Kids who love facts and figures will enjoy reading the pages about Titanic's statistics:

Number of Furnaces- 159
Largest Whistle Ever Made
Cost- 7.5 Million Dollars

Through Vanni's journal entries, readers learn about the inner workings of the ship along with the social activities of First Class passengers. Black and white photographs are used effectively throughout the book to give readers a glimpse into life aboard the ship. After striking the iceberg, an hour-by-hour report details the sinking of the vessel. Readers will be interested in the notes from the publisher featuring updates of what happened after the Titanic sunk. The update describes what happened to White Star Chairman, J. Bruce Ismay, who withdrew from society after heavy scrutiny by the media and the public.

Titanic Sinks! provides readers with a up-close look at one of the most famous disasters of the twentieth-century. It's sure to attract the attention of middle grade readers making it a solid addition to  libraries and classrooms.

CYBILS- Nonfiction Short Lists

We recently had the wonderful opportunity to serve as first round panelists for the Children's and Young Adult Bloggers' Literary Awards or CYBILS. Louise judged the middle grade and young adult nonfiction books, and Cathy judged the nonfiction picture books.

For months we read, read and re-read the nominated titles. There were four panelists in Louise's group and seven in Cathy's, with each person living in a different part of North America and each panelist hosting their own book review blog. Email and Google Docs were our primary modes of communication as we evaluated each book using the CYBILS criteria: literary merit and kid appeal.

After weeks of evaluating, discussing, and debating the nominated titles, our work is complete. Here are the short lists for middle grade & young adult nonfiction books and nonfiction picture books. (We have linked each title that we reviewed in 2011.)

CYBILS Short List: Middle Grade and Young Adult Nonfiction (In alphabetical order)

 Amelia Lost: The Life and Disappearance of Amelia Earhart by Candace Fleming

How They Croaked: The Awful Ends of the Awfully Famous by Georgia Bragg

Into the Unknown: How Great Explorers Found Their Way by Land, Sea and Air

by Stewart Ross/Stephen Biesty

 The Many Faces of George Washington: Remaking a Presidential Icon 

by Carla Killough McClafferty

The Notorious Benedict Arnold by Steve Sheinkin

Unraveling Freedom: The Battle for Democracy on the Home Front During World War I 

by Ann Bausum

CYBILS Short List: Nonfiction Picture Books (in alphabetical order)

 

All the Water in the World by George Ella Lyon

Bring on the Birds by Susan Stockdale

Can We Save the Tiger? by Martin Jenkins

The Case of the Vanishing Golden Frogs by Sandra Markle

 I Feel Better with a Frog in My Throat: History's Strangest Cures by Carlyn Beccia

Planting the Wild Garden by Kathryn O. Galbraith

Thunder Birds: Nature's Flying Predators by Jim Arnosky

The books on the short lists are now being evaluated by round two judges, and the winners will be annonced on Valentine's Day.

Click here to view all of the CYBILS short lists.