Tuesday, November 11, 2014

Non-fiction-Always beautiful!

           Thanks to Alyson Beecher, we discover favorite non-fiction picture books every Wednesday when others link up on her blog, KidLit Frenzy

         I have two lovely books to share today. Hope you're discovering good ones, too.
Feathers: Not Just for Flying - written by Melissa Stewart and Illustrated by Sarah Brennan
            This is a perfect book for those studying about birds, those who use journals in the field, and many who write poetry with a non-fiction theme. It's an incredibly wonderful book that gives interesting information about feathers via similes. The illustrations are not only beautiful, but helpful. It's like a field journal, but also a scrapbook. I just loaned this to a class studying birds this year. They will love it!



The Great Migration: An American Story - written and illustrated by Jacob Lawrence, with a poem in tribute by Walter Dean Myers
          This is an older book from the Museum of Modern Art, NYC, and oh so inspiring with the story told in the beautiful art by Lawrence and his personal tale told briefly in the text. Around World War I, African-Americans in the south began a migration for a better life, and never stopped moving north. Lawrence was born around that time, and says his family was part of the migration. Sadly, although they found work, there was no great welcome in the north, but families persevered and life did improve. I didn't know that labor agents enticed African-Americans to move, were often jailed along with those who worked with them. The south was losing their cheap labor and the northern workers were angry that jobs were being lost to them. The final lines of Myers' poem is: But there are the children, and there is the hope/Of a people with yet one more river to cross. It's a beautiful book.

16 comments:

  1. I loved Feathers Not Just for Flying when I read it and so did the kids I read it with. The Great Migration is new to me but I will be looking for it. It sounds so interesting. Thanks for posting about these books.

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    1. Thanks Alex, hope you find it. The paintings are amazing.

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  2. Thanks, Linda. I look forward to seeing Feathers. I think using that book with a child could create a naturalist-in-training.

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    1. It's just great, Jane-a treasure for us at school because we do so much field work. Thanks!

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  3. Every time I pick up Feathers, I am more in awe of this book. So much information and also so beautifully illustrated. I plan to use it soon for a specific project.

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  4. The Great Migration is new to me but sounds sounds so interesting. I've been missing out on reading WDM's books!

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  5. I love FEATHERS (nominated it for Cybils)! Will have to check out the other one. Thanks, Linda!

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  6. I love the feathers one. Haven't read the other. Thanks!

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  7. I'm off to request both books. I love that my fellow bloggers keep me knee deep in books to request and read!

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  8. Feathers are not just for Flying is a great text. Loved your description of it as field journal and scrap book

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  9. I LOVED Feathers Are Not Just for Flying. I thought the art was beautiful. I used it for my literary nonfiction unit last year.

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  10. I loved Feathers, and did not expect to - there are so many teaching opportunities!

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  11. Feathers Are Not Just for Flying looks like a wonderful book! You always find such great books to share. I know just what to get the grandkids then!

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  12. Thank you for reminding me I need to read The Great Migration, Linda. I absolutely love Feathers.

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  13. I'll try to read more posts tomorrow, had my writers' group tonight, so no time to do anything else. Thanks everyone. I'm happy you love or will love these books.

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  14. I've been seeing Feathers making the rounds in the blogosphere, but haven't had a chance to read it yet.

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