Non-Fiction Picture Books - Stories We Never Knew

art by Sarah S. Brannen

           Visit Alyson Beecher on Wednesdays for Non-Fiction Picture Books at Kidlit Frenzy.  From her post and others, you will discover and want to celebrate terrific nonfiction picture books! 


             I've had this book for a while, just had not read it yet, but now, wow! It is the 2019 Orbus Pictus Award Winner, announced this past week at the NCTE convention.

       I am not a big football fan, have never heard of Ernie Barnes the NFL player but I now know I've seen the paintings of Ernie Barnes, the artist, possibly because of seeing art with a student years ago, who wanted to paint sports heroes. I am no longer sure of the name, but I remember the brilliant full-of-action work of Ernie's paintings. Now I know some of his story, too, from this book by Sandra Neil Wallace.

       Ernie Barnes grew up in North Carolina, loved to draw, and even drew in the mud when he was young. He carried a sketchbook everywhere. In his home in the segregated south, no one told him how to make a living as an artist, but a note at the back said a weight-lifting coach discovered him and made him an athlete.  He became a football star, earned scholarships to college, eventually ending in the NFL.

       One review says that his "work has influenced a generation of painters and illustrators and can be found in museums and collections, such as the African American Museum in Philadelphia and the California African American Museum."

       One thing I loved in this story is that Ernie's parents, while in the south kept from many public places like art museums, knew that the arts were important and that Ernie wanted to be an artist. His mother took him to work with her some days so he could see the art in the home of a wealthy lawyer where she worked. There are others who gave him courage to continue doing art like his art teacher, even a coach who kept fining him when caught sketching during football games (thus he kept going anyway)! 

       In the final game of 1964, a rainy clash, Ernie was newly inspired when the field turned to mud. "Painting mud." He finally decided to give up football and quit. It was a courageous act which left him broke until he presented himself to a meeting of the team owners, asking them to hire him as the official artist of the American Football League. His brilliant idea worked; he was soon exhibiting and selling his work in New York galleries, the success achieved from those early days of drawing in mud.

It's Monday - Books Loved

              Thanks to Ricki and Kellee at Unleashing Readers and Jen at Teach Mentor Texts for hosting this meme. Your TBR lists will grow longer, but you will find books to love and to share. 

         I reviewed Amy LudwigVanderwater's new poetry book, With My Hands: Poems About Making Things here! Terrific book!

       This is a 'next book' after Nikki Grimes’ Coretta Scott King Award-winning Bronx Masquerade. It's a perfect book to read this April/poetry month, shows how important it could be for teachers to use poetry with students, helping them to express their feelings, "their" stories so they can find empathy with each other, so they can be "known" to others. Slam poetry is an inspiring way to help students learn the power of poetry. Nikki Grimes shows this so beautifully in her new book.

       Darrian begins this tale with dreams of writing for the New York Times. He is curious when he hears a hint about writing, thus enrolls in Mr. Ward’s class, known for its open-mic poetry readings and boys vs. girls poetry slam. Grimes allows all the students in the class to talk, tell their stories, and then in poetry. The challenges they face are daunting, makes me wonder how much teachers and classmates know about that boy across the room, the girl who sits in front or in back of them in chemistry. It can be health problems, aging out of foster care, being bullied for religious beliefs, or having to take on too much responsibility because of an addicted parent. It touched me deeply when Darrian and his classmates began to learn about each other, become closer and closer, and realize that they have gained support, can count on it. It means so very much to have someone there for you.

                

        Thanks to Candlewick Press for this new book about Cody, with a few growing-up heartaches--out this week! Spring is on its way, Cody hopes! That means change and while some of it is welcome, like having the ants she watches wake up from hibernation, other parts are not, like being pushed into playing soccer by her friend, Pearl. There she must deal with what appears to be Pearl’s new friend, Madison, a “good” player. Cody isn’t even sure what cleats are!  Also, Cody’s brother, Wyatt, has a girlfriend and changes his fashion style, and her favorite, favorite jacket is torn and too little. The worst, however, is about Spencer, her very best friend, who has become too secretive. His mother is expecting a new baby, yet Cody wonders why it doesn’t look like it. Changes are hard, and Tricia Springstubb manages again to show a young girl with lots of energy along with showing readers how many inner questions they contemplate. That thinking felt quite authentic, made me wonder how many adults really know what kids are thinking, or worrying about? Cody manages to navigate her life with enthusiasm, yet facing new trouble can be challenging. Thank goodness she has kind parents and a sweet older brother who help.