Picture books

A History of Me by Adrea Theodore, illustrated by Erin K. Robinson

~ Janet Dawson ~ Leave a comment

Published by Neal Porter Books

A History of Me: Theodore, Adrea, Robinson, Erin: 9780823442577: Amazon.com: Books

Summary:  “I was the only brown person in class.” The narrator feels the stares of her white classmates when they learn about slavery and civil rights.  Her mother tells her of ancestors who were enslaved or who only got to go to school for a few years, reminding her to be grateful for her own education.  She loves to learn but doesn’t like feeling like her race is what the other kids see about her.  The girl grows up to become a doctor with a daughter of her own.  When her daughter tells her of similar experiences at school, she encourages her to feel proud of herself and her ancestors, and to focus on what she sees when she looks in the mirror.  Includes notes from the author and the artist.  32 pages; ages 4-8.

Pros:  This book opens up interesting questions about how Black history is taught in schools and how to do it in a way that empowers children of color.

Cons:  The author’s note was in a font size that strained my middle-aged eyes.

The Faith of Elijah Cummings: The North Star of Equal Justice by Carole Boston Weatherford, illustrated by Laura Freeman

~ Janet Dawson ~ 1 Comment

Published by Random House Studio

The Faith of Elijah Cummings: The North Star of Equal Justice: Weatherford, Carole Boston, Freeman, Laura: 9780593306505: Amazon.com: Books

The Faith of Elijah Cummings: The North Star of Equal Justice: Weatherford, Carole Boston, Freeman, Laura: 9780593306505: Amazon.com: Books

Summary:  Elijah Cummings’ parents worked as sharecroppers on a South Carolina farm before moving to Baltimore to give their seven children a better life.  Elijah struggled in school, but with the help of his parents, the librarians at his public library, and his first employers, he went on to Howard University and eventually became a lawyer.  He served in the Maryland House of Delegates from 1983 until 1996, when he was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives.  Elijah was elected chair of the Congressional Black Caucus in 2003; when he died in 2019, he became the first African American legislator to lie in state in the U.S. Capitol.  Includes remarks by Nancy Pelosi and an excerpt of a statement from the Congressional Black Caucus following Elijah’s death as well as a timeline, a bibliography, and a list of sources.  40 pages; grades 1-5.

Pros:  The first part of the book about Elijah’s early life is an inspiring testimony to the power of hard work and having mentors.  The writing is engaging, and the illustrations are a kid-friendly enhancement of the text.

Cons:  I don’t want to diminish Elijah Cummings’ considerable achievements, but to me, the second part of the book was less interesting than the first. If I were reading this to elementary kids, I would want to supplement it in some way to make it more engaging for them.

Seeking Freedom: The Untold Story of Fortress Monroe and the Ending of Slavery in America by Selene Castrovilla, illustrated by E. B. Lewis

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Published by Calkins Creek

Seeking Freedom: The Untold Story of Fortress Monroe and the Ending of Slavery in America: Castrovilla, Selene, Lewis, E. B.: 9781635925821: Amazon.com: Books

Summary:  May 26, 1861: George Scott, living in a cave in the woods after escaping slavery two years earlier, sees other Black people entering Fortress Monroe and not being returned.  He learns that the commander of the fort, Major General Benjamin Franklin Butler, has declared the Black people “contrabands of war”, which means he doesn’t have to return them to the Confederates.  When Scott tells Butler he can find the Confederate hideout, Butler sends him on a mission back into the woods where he’s been hiding.  Scott finds the Confederates gathered at a church, and the Union army attacks, thwarting the threat to the fortress.  As a reward, Butler writes a letter to President Lincoln making the case for Scott and the other contrabands.  His words play a part in what eventually becomes the Emancipation Proclamation.  Includes four pages of additional information about George Scott, Benjamin Franklin Butler, Fortress Monroe, and the contrabands, as well as a bibliography.  40 pages; grades 2-6.

Pros:  This well-written and engaging narrative tells a little-known Civil War story, illustrated with sepia-toned paintings that evoke the photographs from that era.  Seems like more should be written about Benjamin Franklin Butler, who went on to become governor of Massachusetts and was a leader in civil rights on many fronts.

Cons:  Apparently, “contrabands” was the term used for those who found refuge at the fortress, but it seems like a somewhat dehumanizing expression. 

The Year We Learned to Fly/El año en que aprendimos a volar by Jacqueline Woodson, Illustrated by Rafael López

~ Janet Dawson ~ 1 Comment

Published by Nancy Paulsen Books

The Year We Learned to Fly - Kindle edition by Woodson, Jacqueline, López, Rafael. Children Kindle eBooks @ Amazon.com.

El año en que aprendimos a volar (Spanish Edition) - Kindle edition by Woodson, Jacqueline, López, Rafael, Canetti, Yanitzia. Children Kindle eBooks @ Amazon.com.

The Year We Learned to Fly: Woodson, Jacqueline, López, Rafael: 9780399545535: Amazon.com: Books

Summary:  From the team that brought you The Day You Begin comes this picture book about a brother and sister going through a difficult year.  There’s boredom in the spring when the weather keeps them inside, sibling fights in the summer, loneliness in autumn, and finally, a move away from the familiar neighborhood in winter.  Each season, their grandmother reminds them, “Lift your arms, close your eyes, take a deep breath.”  When they do, the two children are able to fly, looking down on their city and letting go of their difficult feelings.  In their new house, other kids are initially unfriendly, but when they see the two who can fly, they close their eyes, take a deep breath, and join them.  Includes an author’s note acknowledging Virginia Hamilton’s The People Could Fly: Black American Folktales as her inspiration for this story.  Available in English and Spanish. 32 pages; ages 4-8.

Pros:  I probably shouldn’t start predicting the 2023 Caldecott the day before the 2022 awards will be announced, but I do love Rafael López’s beautiful illustrations that perfectly complement the intriguing, poetic text by Jacqueline Woodson.

Cons:  Don’t hurry through the story; there’s a lot to unpack in both the text and the illustrations.

I have a discussion guide for this book on Teachers Pay Teachers that includes discussion questions, vocabulary, and connections.

Two holiday books for Christmas Eve

~ Janet Dawson ~ Leave a comment

20 Big Trucks in the Middle of Christmas by Mark Lee, illustrated by Kurt Cyrus

Published by Candlewick

Twenty Big Trucks in the Middle of Christmas by Mark Lee: 9781536212532 | PenguinRandomHouse.com: Books
Amazon.com: Twenty Big Trucks in the Middle of Christmas: 9781536212532: Lee, Mark, Cyrus, Kurt: Books

The Little Owl & the Big Tree: A Christmas Story by Jonah Winter, illustrated by Jeanette Winter

Published by Beach Lane Books

The Little Owl & the Big Tree: A Christmas Story: Winter, Jonah, Winter, Jeanette: 9781665902137: Amazon.com: Books
The Little Owl & the Big Tree: A Christmas Story: Winter, Jonah, Winter, Jeanette: 9781665902137: Amazon.com: Books

Summary: Santa and interlibrary loan brought me these two holiday books just days before Christmas. In 20 Big Trucks Before Christmas, two boys watch the holiday preparations in their town which require–you guessed it–twenty big trucks. A mishap hanging the star atop the tree inspires the donut truck driver to take the donut off his truck, decorate it with red and green lights, and use it to replace the star. When Santa arrives in a pickup, it’s time for the celebration to begin!

We’ve seen Rockefeller the owl already this year in The Christmas Owl. This version of the story, by the Winter mother-and-son team, focuses on the wild owl: “The owl didn’t have a name–and of course she didn’t: She was a wild animal.” Humans are necessary to help her when she’s trapped in the tree destined for Rockefeller Center, but after her stay at the wildlife rehabilitation center, she is “back in the wild, back in the trees, somewhere out there under the stars.” An author’s note tells a bit more of the story. Both books are 32 pages and recommended for ages 4-8.

Pros: Here are two illustrators that really should get more recognition. Kurt Cyrus’s lifelike pictures of machinery are always popular with kids, and Jeanette Winter, who is 82 years old and has written and illustrated dozens of books, has a beautiful folk-art style that’s perfect for Rockefeller’s story.

Cons: I wish I could have gotten these books a few weeks sooner so I could have shared them with kids before vacation.

The 1619 Project: Born on the Water by Nikole Hannah-Jones and Renée Watson, illustrated by Nikkolas Smith

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Published by Kokila

The 1619 Project: Born on the Water: Hannah-Jones, Nikole, Watson, Renée, Smith, Nikkolas: 9780593307359: Amazon.com: Books
The 1619 Project (Picture Book): Born on the Water by Nikole Hannah-Jones and Renée Watson

Summary:  In the first poem, titled “Questions”, a girl gets an assignment to trace her roots and realizes she can only go back three generations. At home, she asks her grandmother for help.  Her grandmother gathers the family together and tells them their story, beginning with their ancestors in West Central Africa who were kidnapped in 1619 and forced on a hellish journey aboard a slave ship.  Those who survived were forced into slavery in tobacco fields, fighting to hold onto their memories of home.  Their descendants went on to become great people in their new country.  By the end of the story, the girl is ready to return to school and finish her story; the final poem is called “Pride”.  Includes notes from the authors and the illustrator and the website for the 1619 Project.  48 pages; grades 1-5.

Pros:  The award-winning authors have crafted an empowering collection of poems that doesn’t shy away from harsh histories, but also celebrates an African history that is often overlooked.

Cons:  I wish there were more resources listed; the 1619 Project website has books connected to the project, but no others.

¡Mambo Mucho Mambo! The Dance That Crossed Color Lines/El baile que atravesó la barrera de color by Dean Robbins, illustrated by Eric Velasquez

~ Janet Dawson ~ 1 Comment

Published by Candlewick

Amazon.com: ¡Mambo Mucho Mambo! The Dance That Crossed Color Lines: 9781536206081: Robbins, Dean, Velasquez, Eric: Books

Amazon.com: ¡Mambo Mucho Mambo! The Dance That Crossed Color Lines: 9781536206081: Robbins, Dean, Velasquez, Eric: Books

Summary:  In the 1940’s, young people danced in groups divided by race and ethnicity.  Millie danced to jazz in her Italian neighborhood, while Pedro danced to Latin songs in his Puerto Rican community.  But then a band called Machito and His Afro-Cubans started mixing things up, using jazz trumpets and saxophones with Latin maracas and congas to make what they called Latin jazz.  In 1948, New York City’s Palladium Ballroom broke the rules by opening its doors to everyone and hiring Machito to play for them.  It brought together Millie and Pedro, who danced a new dance called the mambo–and danced it so well that they became the best at the Palladium, the best in New York City, and finally, the best in the United States.  Includes an author’s note with more information on Machito, the Palladium, and the dancers mentioned in the text; also a list of resources.  40 pages; grades 1-5.

Pros:  The realistic oil painting illustrations and the brief text capture the movement and energy of the dancers, as well as the different groups that came together at the Palladium.  The back matter adds good informational value.

Cons:  No photos.

Fox: A Circle of Life Story by Isabel Thomas, illustrated by Daniel Egnéus

~ Janet Dawson ~ Leave a comment

Published by Bloomsbury Children’s Books

Fox: A Circle of Life Story: Thomas, Isabel: 9781526600776: Amazon.com: Books
Fox: A Circle of Life Story by Daniel Egneus

Summary:  Look: you might see a bushy tail or a flash of orange.  Listen: a soft pad of paws.  A fox travels through the snow, hunting for food to take back to its den, where three cubs wait.  As the cubs get bigger, they go out on hunting expeditions, too.  On one trip, the fox is hit by a car and dies by the side of the road.  The cubs return home and are seen walking by the fox’s body as it slowly starts to decompose.  Birds and insects feed on the body, and insects lay their eggs there.  “Life is everywhere.  Death is not just an end but a beginning.”  Includes additional information on death, decomposition, and the cycle of life.  48 pages; grades 1-5.

Pros:  This beautiful book looks at death and decomposition from a scientific viewpoint, part of the cycle that allows new life to grow and flourish.  It doesn’t deal with grief (the young foxes seem unfazed by the death of their parent) but shows readers the natural process of death.

Cons:  Readers who may not have picked up on the foreshadowing of the “circle of life” subtitle may be shocked and dismayed by the death of the fox.  This is definitely a book to share and discuss one-on-one.

Sonny Rollins Plays the Bridge by Gary Golio, illustrated by James Ransome

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Published by Nancy Paulsen Books

Amazon.com: Sonny Rollins Plays the Bridge: 9781984813664: Golio, Gary, Ransome, James: Books
Amazon.com: Sonny Rollins Plays the Bridge: 9781984813664: Golio, Gary, Ransome, James: Books

Summary:  When Sonny Rollins needs a place to practice his music that won’t disturb the neighbors, he heads for the bridge.  Climbing the steps to the walkway, he finds a place where he can blow his saxophone as loud as he wants.  Subway cars, tugboats, and seagulls add their distinctive voices to the song Sonny plays from New York City’s Williamsburg Bridge.  Includes additional information about Sonny Rollins and the Williamsburg Bridge, as well as a collection of quotes from interviews with Sonny, now 91 years old. 32 pages; grades 1-5.

Pros:  This would be a great resource for music teachers to introduce Sonny Rollins’s music.  The brief poetic text makes a quick but compelling read-aloud, there’s lots more information at the end, and the illustrations gorgeously capture the feeling of music on the bridge.

Cons:  There’s not much biographical information in the main story; the back matter provides more, but more research will be needed for a full picture of Sonny Rollins’s life and career.

Red and Green and Blue and White by Lee Wind, illustrated by Paul O. Zelinsky

~ Janet Dawson ~ 1 Comment

Published by Levine Querido

Red and Green and Blue and White: Wind, Lee, Zelinsky, Paul O.: 9781646140879: Amazon.com: Books
Red and Green and Blue and White: Wind, Lee, Zelinsky, Paul O.: 9781646140879: Amazon.com: Books

Summary:  Isaac’s house is the only one on the block decorated in blue and white instead of red and green as he and his best friend (and neighbor) Teresa count down the days until Chanukah and Christmas.  Then one night a rock is thrown through the window of Isaac’s house.  The family is scared but determined not to let their fear make them hide their faith.  The next night, they light the menorah again.  When Teresa sees the lit candles, she draws a picture of the menorah with the words “For Isaac,” and hangs it in her front window.  Before long, others in town show the same support.  Their drawings get on the news, and a few weeks later, there are 10,000 menorah pictures hanging in windows all over.  Includes an author’s note with additional information about the 1993 real-life event in Billings, Montana that inspired this story.  32 pages; grades 1-5.

Pros:  This brief but moving story tells of the power of good triumphing over evil, a perfect theme for the holiday season.  The illustrations are filled with cozy comfort that’s in contrast to the broken glass on the cover.  

Cons:  Most reviewers recommend this for ages 4 and up, but I think the story would be better appreciated by an older audience, especially if you’re reading it to a group.