I Dissent: Ruth Bader Ginsburg Makes Her Mark by Debbie Levy, illustrated by Elizabeth Baddeley

October 5, 2016July 4, 2017 ~ Janet Dawson ~ 2 Comments

Published by Simon and Schuster

Summary: Growing up in the 1940’s, Ruth Bader noticed many prejudices and injustices. There were hotels and restaurants that banned her family because they were Jewish. Girls weren’t expected or encouraged to do many of the things boys could do. Even as a left-handed person, Ruth faced discrimination, getting a “D” in penmanship when she was forced to write with her right hand. Ruth’s mother took her to the library and encouraged her to get an education; although she died the day before Ruth’s high school graduation, Ruth persisted and went to college and law school. Overcoming the difficulties of being hired as a female lawyer, she eventually became a law professor, then a judge. In 1993, Ruth Bader Ginsburg was appointed to the Supreme Court. Throughout her career, up to the present day, she has fought for the rights of those who experience discrimination. Now the oldest member of the Supreme Court, there are those who think it’s time for her to retire. Ruth Bader Ginsburg dissents. Includes an extensive author’s note with additional biographical information, notes on the Supreme Court cases mentioned in the text, and a bibliography. 40 pages; grades 1-4.

Pros: The first picture book about this woman who continues to inspire. Building Ruth’s story around her experiences with discrimination and passion for justice gives the story a good focus. The illustrations add a bit of humor and incorporate some of the text into the pictures.

Cons; Those whose politics don’t match Ginsburg’s may disagree with the way some of the Court cases are described.

Around America to Win the Vote: Two Suffragists, a Kitten, and 10,000 Miles by Mara Rockliff, illustrated by Hadley Hooper

September 4, 2016January 21, 2025 ~ Janet Dawson ~ 1 Comment

Published by Candlewick Press

Summary: On April 6, 1916, Nell Richardson and Alice Burke drove off from New York City in a little yellow car packed with, among other things, a tiny black kitten. On September 30, they pulled back into New York City, smiling, sunburned, and with a full-grown cat. They had circled the United States, driving south out to California and north back to New York, to promote the cause of women’s suffrage. They got stuck in the mud, drove through a blizzard, and dodged bullets by the Rio Grande. They attended parties and teas, drove in a circus parade, and won a medal at a fair in California. It was a remarkable trip, given that the first cross-country car trip had only happened thirteen years before, and these two women doubled that. Each step of the way, they worked tirelessly for their cause, “Votes for women!” At the end of the journey, Nell stayed home to rest, but Alice boarded a train and began the journey all over again. The author’s notes give more information about both the drive and women’s struggle to get the vote in the United States; there’s also a list of books for further reading. 40 pages; grades K-3.

Pros: A great addition to any unit on women’s studies or the right to vote. The lively text is complemented by the cheerful, predominantly yellow (the color that represented women’s suffrage) illustrations.

Cons: It seemed kind of icky that the women brought a sewing machine so that if anyone told them women should stay home to cook and sew, Nell would sew while making a speech to prove women could do both.

Mountain Chef: How One Man Lost His Groceries, Changed His Plans, and Helped Cook Up the National Park Service by Annette Bay Pimentel, illustrated by Rich Lo

August 16, 2016 ~ Janet Dawson ~ 1 Comment

Published by Charlesbridge

Summary: In 1915, there were eleven national parks, but no service to administer them. Assistant Secretary of the Interior Stephen Mather knew the country needed one, but couldn’t get through the Washington red tape to set it up. To convince lawmakers, he organized a two-week camping trip through the mountains of California, and hired Tie Sing, a Chinese American trail cook reputed to be the best. Tie Sing had his hands full, transporting and preparing such delicacies as frogs’ legs and Lyonnaise potatoes, and serving them on a table set with a tablecloth and fine china. Along the way, he lost a couple of mules packed with supplies and food, and often had to improvise. He succeeded in keeping the campers well-fed and happy, though, and the National Parks Service will celebrate its 100^th birthday on August 25. Back matter includes more information about Tie Sing, the expedition, and several members of the party. 40 pages; grades 1-5.

Pros: A fascinating story about a little-known man; Pimentel and Lo have succeeded admirably in bringing to life someone about whom very little is known. There’s a lot of text, but the story is so engaging that this would make an excellent read-aloud. As someone who has camped all over the U.S. and Canada, I appreciated Stephen Mather’s philosophy: “Give a man a poor breakfast after he has had a bad night’s sleep and he will not care how fine your scenery is.”

Cons: It’s my opinion that any activity that involves English plum pudding with brandy sauce, peaches and cream, and a heavy linen tablecloth cannot really be described as “camping”.