Non-Fiction Picture Books Tell Stories

   Visit Alyson Beecher on Wednesdays for Non-Fiction Picture Books at Kidlit Frenzy -- hashtag #nfpb2020! Thanks to her hosting and sharing and those who add their posts, you can discover and celebrate terrific nonfiction picture books! 

      

Several vertical double pages
 highlight the beauty
of the French's sculptures!

            With Shawn Fields' marvelous pen and ink sketches, Linda Booth Sweeney tells this story of a boy who grew up on a farm, then small towns in Massachusetts who became a famous sculptor whose work can be found in many places, foremost in our capitol. He didn't do well in school, loved being out in nature observing and drawing birds. The story shares that one time he carved a turnip into a frog and his parents noticed his talent as he discovered what he was going to do in his life. He did different studies in art. When the family moved to Concord, he took art lessons from May Alcott, Louisa May Alcott's sister. His first commission, at age twenty, was of the "Minuteman" leaving his plow, found now at The Old North Bridge. He went to Italy to study with a famous sculptor. Thus, he began this artist life.
             Knowing his journey to this culminating monument of Lincoln, the book also becomes the story of Lincoln. By the time it was to be created, Daniel was already famous and his friend, Henry Bacon, an architect that had been chosen as the designer of the memorial, wanted French to create the statue. That part itself is fascinating.

             The back matter is extensive. It includes the author's and illustrator's notes, a Daniel Chester French Timeline, a brief piece titled "Dan the Maker", a page of the history of The Lincoln Memorial, a list of French's creations and their location, and a resource list.
              I loved that Sweeney began the book as a story, with Field's drawings of a boy and a girl listening. They are there several times in the book and at the end. It's a nice touch.

           I've been to Washington, D.C more than once in my life, traveled the many steps to all the museums and monuments. One favorite memory is when I went with students, middle-grade age, and of course, they were often ahead of me and my colleagues, eager to get to the "next" destination. This time we were to rendezvous at The Lincoln Memorial. My students and I kept field journals of all the places visited, notes and sketches. When we arrived at this special place, the students were sprawled on the floor under the sculpture of Lincoln, looking up, sketching, reading the quote, in awe. That was years ago and we had learned a bit about Daniel Chester French, but not this story by Linda Booth Sweeney. I wish we had had it then. This memorial gives a sense of calm when one is there. I'm glad I have visited and have these memories.

Monday Reading - Nature Teaches Us

              Visit Kellee and Ricki at UnleashingReaders and Jen at Teach Mentor Texts to see what they've been reading, along with others who post their favorites.  Your TBR lists will grow! Happy Reading!
          Share with the hashtag #IMWAYR


         We all hope that we can practice the best ways to care for ourselves and for each other. It's been another week of worries, especially closings, here in our state and beyond. Wishing all of you will remain well and manage the challenges ahead for yourselves and your communities.


           Thanks to Candlewick Press for all the books shared in this post. I am grateful to have the copies. I already had purchased The Nest That Wren Built, so will pass a copy on to my granddaughter's school! Each one published on March 10th!

I have not finished Gold Rush Girl by Avi and it is exciting. I'll share it next week.
           This week was challenging, as I imagine it was for many of you. I am thinking of all of you who have to create different ways to teach and/or do your other work because of the Coronavirus Pandemic. Best of my wishes to you for continuing good health.

          In a cumulative tale, the author, and here in a picture book, the illustrator, must repeat and repeat. This time, in Randi Sonenshine's spring story, clever and subtle changes in that same rhyme swing us readers through the story wonderfully. Papa Wren begins the construction with "These are the twigs, dried in the sun,/that Papa collected one by one/to cradle the nest that Wren built." I admire Randi's ability to keep that favorite rhyme, yet build the nest part by part, just as wrens out in our own world do. Included are "leaves of ruby and gold"; "moss, softer than suede"; and later, "the hatchlings scratching within".  Images feel new and perfect for this life story, filled with anticipation for "what's next?", like "spidery rootlets" and "tuft of rabbity fur" that's "plucked from a sharp, persnickety burr". 
             Just as Randi adds to her telling, Anne Hunter creates her own cumulative illustrations in ink and pencil on colored papers. Page by page, she lets us see the work as the nest becomes, a NEST, and one that becomes the beautiful dwelling for eggs, and then, those lovely little hatchlings. There is a sweet surprise at the end which readers will adore. 
             Randi adds the science of wrens in a glossary and "Wren Facts" in the back matter.

          Mary Murphy is from Dublin, Ireland, wrote this lovely text which needs to be read aloud and seen! She states that she used brush and ink rendered digitally to illustrate. The book throughout is gleeful, celebrating trees, fish, dogs, the earth, and each of us, the only ones who truly know how to be themselves. In the part about dogs, they "flick water into their mouth to drink./I can't do that, but then/only a dog knows/how to be a dog."  Endpapers are filled with all kinds of people and trees, water, too in a swirl of a crowd of those things, Being Them! I'd love to read this aloud to discover what readers would create with other things, knowing what a particular thing knows how to be. What a fun book that emphasizes individuality! 

            Maribeth Boelts lets Kaia tell her story who proclaims she's "hottest-hot-pepper brave" yet we then learn, except for bees! A story about a little girl whose father keeps bees on the roofs shares a universal lesson, to try and try again to face the scary, and then face it again. An early "try" up to the roof with her dad finds Kaia with a sting! After some time, she's ready to visit again with her dad. She finds the courage, this time, to gather the reward, honey. Bright, colorful cartoon-like illustrations by Angela Dominguez show the ups and downs of feelings in a diverse family and with Kaia and her friends, too. For those afraid of bees, and perhaps other things, this might help make a change.

     

Still Reading: The Splendid and the Vile by Erik Larson

Poetry Friday - It's "A Dictionary for A Better World"

It's Poetry Friday, it's March, that month that cannot seem to behave. All the week it was warm enough for short pants and short sleeves, now expecting snow! Welcoming us is  Matt Forrest Esenwine at  Radio, Rhythm, & Rhyme.  He's sharing some coming books by dear Lee Bennett Hopkins and reminding us about March Madness Poetry which you can find here! Considering these days since March 1st, I guess "madness" is the word! Denver Public Schools just announced they will close starting Monday for the next three weeks!  Thanks for hosting, Matt.

             Way back in September, I had the pleasure of revealing the cover of Dictionary for A Better World: Poems, Quotes, and Anecdotes from A to Z by Irene Latham and Charles Waters, illustrated by Mehrdokht Amini. Here is that post with a few questions answered by these creators who've made what is now a favorite alphabet book. Of course, I imagine alphabet books as page by page reveals a letter, a word and an illustration. And they are wonderful.

              However, this is so much more. And in these times, welcomed and needed! In the past, I have had students create their own alphabet books and now wish I could share this book with them, to see the marvelous ways that Charles and Irene have enhanced the twenty-six letters with more, more, more. Mehrdokht's illustrations are icing on the cake! Each word presents a poem with a footnote that tells in what form the poem is written. Charles and Irene alternate the writing and some are collaborations. The opposite pages offer a companion quote, a comment by Irene or Charles and a challenge action to "Try It!" They've given me much to ponder as I've read slowly, trying to find ways to incorporate their suggestions into my life, whether poetry or actions. 

        The opening poem, an abecedarian, celebrates the words, opening a world that I believe Irene, Charles, and Mehrdokht want us to know, to embrace, to celebrate. 

        One thing I loved, too, was that every word brought a new idea, sometimes serious, sometimes whimsical, and Mehrdokht's illustrations added to the emotion. In the final page, after "Z", a poem proclaims "we're all in this together", and there these three creative people are, among other people, children and adults, dogs and birds, crocodiles - TOGETHER! 

        In another favorite, a quiet picture of two children sitting on a sofa, looking at each other. The word (and poem) is Charles' poem, "Listen", the quote, by Jacqueline Woodson: "Even the silence has a story to tell you. Just listen. Listen."

         In "Reach", by Irene, she ends her poem with "all for the possibility/of rising/together." The illustration shows two hands reaching, almost touching, painted on a sketchbook as an artist readies a brush. 

          My own descriptions fail to show the beautiful emotions from the illustrations, gathering all the words together into one beautiful entry!

          There is an author's note and so much more at the back, resources used and recommended, a gratitude list, and an index of poem forms used. This book has it all!

           I've read the book slowly since it arrived, used it to inspire my own poetry, especially during Laura Shovan's birthday month February challenges. Here is one that I wrote to a song shared by Margaret Simon that had the theme of musical freedom. In our world of much divisiveness, my hope "For A Better World" feels more positive after reading this wonderful new book.

Our Imperfect World

Here in my home, we love a storm

while you wish it away –

the trees in need, the grass is brown,

sol reigns another day.

If you send a bucketful,

I’ll send some cloudless blue,

offering a weather change

for all, a different view.

Like life, not always easy

but people aren’t truly far apart.

To find a common ground

we can look into their hearts.

                           Linda Baie ©

         “I wish it need not have happened in my time," said Frodo. "So do I," said Gandalf, "and so do all who live to see such times. But that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us.”

Non-Fiction Picture Book Wednesday - People Work To Make Things Right

   Visit Alyson Beecher on Wednesdays for Non-Fiction Picture Books at Kidlit Frenzy -- hashtag #nfpb2020! Thanks to her hosting and sharing and those who add their posts, you can discover and celebrate terrific nonfiction picture books! 

      

           Vivian Kirkfield tells this story of Sarah E. Goode, former slave, finally free and moved to Chicago with her family. She grew up with a father who was a carpenter, who could build anything. She learned from him, then in her new city, she hears many stories from those who have to fit their families into one room!  She runs a furniture store but realizes so much of the furniture is bulky.  Thinking and planning, she works to build a "cabinet bed". After several tries, she succeeds! A small cabinet, when unfolded, reveals a bed. She applies for a patent, waits for a whole year, is turned down. She does not give up. Like others, she persists, and finally gets that patent for what is called a "cabinet bed". This is years before the "murphy bed" is patented, one many of you might know of. Vivian also adds a list of "Black Women Patent Holders" and Sarah is the first and oldest, in 1883.

           There is also an author's note, an explanation of "patent", a Sarah E. Goode Timeline, and a source list. Vivian shares that little is really known of all of Sarah E. Goode's life, but what is there has been pieced together into a story of inspiration. Chris Ewald's full-page lovely paintings of Sarah's life as a young slave to successful shop-owner and carpenter show her joy as she works to solve this problem. 

          

          I am delighted to share another book by Vivian Kirkfield, another story little known, but now she's shared it in a picture book. Ella Fitzgerald and Marilyn Monroe, two peas in a pod. Wait, did you know they were good friends? I did not. Both had troubled childhoods. Ella grew up on the streets, hanging around bars to jive with the music. Marilyn was in and out of foster homes and in an orphanage. But both had a dream, Ella to sing and Marilyn to act. Vivian tells how Marilyn, already acting, wanted to improve her singing. By then, Ella had already made many recordings, so Marilyn listened and listened, heard the way Ella vocalized and harmonized. Just as Marilyn put a bit of herself into the characters she played, Ella put a bit of herself into her songs. Marilyn's singing in "Gentleman Prefer Blondes" was a hit. She now had more power and when she heard that no matter how popular Ella was, she still was not allowed to sing at a Hollywood hot spot. Marilyn helped and Ella sang. They became good friends, both sharing the discrimination of the past and the successes now earned. Alleanna Harris's illustrations add to the story of these two famous women, both the triumphs and the struggles, sometimes in full pages, other times in small circle scenes. I love the picture of them walking together down a street with that Hollywood sign showing behind them. It's a great example of how allies can help each other fight against discrimination.

        There's an author's note with added information and a wonderful picture of Ella and Marilyn together, 1954. Vivian adds primary and secondary sources. 

         Voting is going on, Super Tuesday and Super Tuesday two have passed, more is coming. Strong women, men, too, have fought for this important right for years and years. The 100th anniversary of the passage of the 19th Amendment, guaranteeing and protecting women's constitutional right to vote is this year. Things did not end there, of course, as this book emphasizes for young readers. In poetry, Deborah Diesen shows the long journey of the fighting for "Equality's Call". Page by page, she shows the journey made as the founders appeared to wish, that "The voice of the people/would strengthen our nation." Every few pages, as the history is shown, people join the line to protest as the poetic refrain repeats: "A right isn't right/Till it's granted to all." That final page is filled with all kinds of people, marching, helping each other, holding signs that say "VOTE" and "VOTING is PEOPLE POWER." Magdalena Mora beautifully illustrates the breadth of people who have worked for this important thing we call "voting", showing them marching and striving for better!

           Sadly in the early years, only white men with property could vote, and the timeline of years is long, all the way to 1965 when the Voting Rights Act was passed. Still today, different groups continue to try to suppress the vote. The back matter offers brief paragraphs of "Voting-Related Amendments & Legislation" then a wonderful list of Voting Rights Activists. 

That final group, all reminding to VOTE!

Monday Reading - New Books - All Terrific

              Visit Kellee and Ricki at UnleashingReaders and Jen at Teach Mentor Texts to see what they've been reading, along with others who post their favorites.  Your TBR lists will grow! Happy Reading!
          Share with the hashtag #IMWAYR 

I am grateful to have received this advanced copy from Scholastic Press

         

        For anyone who does not believe the strength of eleven, almost twelve-year-olds, they have not met Maximiliano Feliciano Esteban Córdoba. It's summer and Max's dream of trying out for fútbol is dashed when his father won't let him join a local team so he can improve. Within the clash with his father, Max worries that he will lose a best friend who plans to join. Max will have to help his father and sometimes his grandfather build bridges. They are both stonemasons. Within the loving family that includes aunts, too, Max knows he is loved, but being treated as if he is "never" old enough to know family secrets frustrates him. He is comforted by his dog, Lola, as he sets out to find secrets from a special box his father has hidden. This leads to an adventure he begins, first at the towering ruins of La Reina Gigante, a haunted hideout used in the past by the Guardians to hide refugees as they fled Abismo, a war-torn, neighboring dictatorship. There he finds Mañanaland scratched into the wall, a place he believes is where his mother has disappeared. Thus begins a journey that includes the stories his Buelo has told him for years, but now they've become very real as Max becomes a "Guardian" helping a young girl escape. 

        Hearing Max tell his story, watching him discover and dream, and most of all show how very brave and kind he is will make readers smile and wish they had such a friend. Pam Muñoz Ryan beautifully shows a multi-layered story of thoughtful and compassionate Max that will connect readers to the frightening lives of refugee immigrants. I hope many young readers will have the chance to read this wonderful book, out last week.

           Keila V. Dawson gives us readers a New Orleans version of a Gingerbread Man runaway, and you can be sure to read this book and laugh now, but save it for King's Day and Mardi Gras next year, too! With French words sprinkled throughout his taunting, that King Cake Baby thinks he's made for freedom. He escapes from an old Creole woman and an old Creole man (sound familiar?), runs out into the world also to escape a praline lady in Jackson Square and a waiter at Café du Monde. He's moving fast to get to the Mississippi River to catch the Creole Queen riverboat but meets his nemesis in a crafty baker. With out-loud cartoon-like illustrations by Vernon Smith, this is a fun story for everyone, but especially those who celebrate these special days. If you know the French Quarter, you'll have even more fun! Dawson adds a king cake recipe, too. It was a lovely surprise to win this book from Jama Rattigan's great review in February! She adds even more cooking ideas! Long ago, my family went to a Mardi Gras party where we had a real King Cake. We were all so excited to learn about this special tradition!

          I'm so glad to have this book and know it will be a marvelous one for classrooms who are encouraging curiosity in their young students. Michelle Schaub's simple poem carries readers all the way through a diverse crowd of sleepyheads, all dreaming of different kinds of science because clearly from those items on shelves, quotes, and pictures on the walls, they already have passions.  Alice Potter's brightly colored illustrations enhance Michelle's words ("The oceans rock the world to sleep:/the waves whisper, 'Good night.') with extras like a painting of Jacques Cousteau, a bookshelf of books like "Blue Planet", and a fishbowl. Each double-page spread celebrates a particular science. There's marine science, meteorology, ecology, geology, physics and more! And each page is designed for curious readers. Who is that pictured on the wall? Why, it's Carl Sagan! And how does he connect to astronomy? And there is George Washington Carver or Wangari Maathai, and Mary Anning, scientists all and interesting people to get to know! 

         At the back lies one page for beginners with each science listed, an explanation of it and one question to help those interested to "Think Like A Scientist".  It's a picture book to savor, holds so very much to help start a study of, a passion!

Inside picture before the title page. I wanted to share these wonderful
Little Scientists!