Social Studies

A Voyage in the Clouds: The (Mostly) True Story of the First International Flight by Balloon in 1785 by Matthew Olshan, illustrated by Sophie Blackall

~ Janet Dawson ~ Leave a comment

Published by Farrar, Straus and Giroux 

Summary:  On the morning of January 7, 1785, Dr. John Jeffries and his dog Henry, and Monsieur Jean-Pierre Blanchard and his dog Henri, set off to be the first to travel from one country to another in a hot air balloon.  Jeffries was an Englishman financing the trip and Blanchard was an experienced pilot from France. Their dislike for each other showed up almost immediately when Blanchard wore a weighted vest to try to convince Jeffries that the balloon would be too heavy for both of them.  Jeffries discovered the trick, though, and insisted that they both make the voyage.  Partway through, the balloon began to sink, and the two men had to put aside their differences to make it to France.  They dumped everything they could out of the basket, including their clothes, but their descent wasn’t reversed until they both relieved themselves over the side.  Their safe arrival marked the beginning of a beautiful friendship.  An author’s note separates the facts from a few of the liberties taken in the story.  40 pages; grades K-4.

Pros:  A humorous piece of history, impeccably illustrated by last year’s Caldecott medalist Sophie Blackall.  Kids will get a big kick out of the picture of the two men clad in their old-fashioned drawers peeing over the side of the balloon basket.  The cartoon bubble dialog brings the events to hilarious life.

Cons:  Definitely a mix of fact and fiction, so be sure to read the author’s note.

Pocket Change: Pitching in for a Better World by Michelle Mulder

~ Janet Dawson ~ Leave a comment

Published by Orca Book Publishers

Summary:  What is money?  And why do some people have more of it than others?  This book starts with a history of money, which hasn’t been around all that long, and work, which has increased with the introduction of money.  People used to be self-sufficient, but with the Industrial Revolution, they started working to earn money and buy goods and services from others.  Advertising has created even more demand.  The author then moves on to grassroots movements that are helping to look at wealth in different ways and try to distribute it more equally.  Organizations like Kiva and the Grameen Bank provide microloans to give people an opportunity to work their way out of poverty, while groups such as Habitat for Humanity allow them to provide sweat equity instead of money.  Sidebars labeled “My Two Cents’ Worth” give brief personal stories from the author’s life to illustrate the concepts.  A glossary, index, and additional resources complete the book.  48 pages; grades 3-7.

Pros:  A can-do look at how kids can help others around the world.  The interesting history of economics will have readers looking at money, shopping, and advertising in new ways.  Lots of colorful photos on each page give this an appealing look.

Cons:  Not a topic most kids will be interested in without some adult guidance.

 

 

Preaching to the Chickens: The Story of Young John Lewis by Jabari Asim, illustrated by E. B. Lewis

~ Janet Dawson ~ Leave a comment

Published by Nancy Paulsen Books

 Summary:  Growing up in Alabama, young John Lewis waned to be a preacher. His mama always said, “Work hard and trust in God.”  John loved going to church and found it easy to trust in God.  Working hard took a little more effort.  There was plenty of work to do on the farm where his family lived and grew cotton.  John was put in charge of the chickens on the farm.  After he had fed them and put fresh straw in their nests, he would pretend he was the preacher at church and that the chickens were his congregation.  He even baptized them with water from a syrup can.  When a man offered to trade with his family for one of John’s chickens, he convinced his family to trade other goods instead.  Many years later, John would go on to speak before huge crowds and stand up for those who couldn’t speak for themselves, as a leader of the Civil Rights movement.  An author’s note gives more information about John’s life as an adult.  32 pages; grades 1-5.

Pros:  An interesting slice-of-life look at a boy who rose from an impoverished childhood to do great things for others.  The paintings by award winner E. B. Lewis capture life on the farm.

Cons:  Although the author’s note lists some of Lewis’s accomplishments, there’s not really enough biographical information for a full report on his life.

A Family is a Family is a Family by Sara O’Leary, illustrated by Qin Leng

~ Janet Dawson ~ 2 Comments

Published by Groundwood Books 

A Family Is a Family Is a Family: Sara O'Leary, Leng, Qin: 9781554987948: Amazon.com: Books

Summary:  When her teacher asks the class what makes their families special, the narrator isn’t sure how to answer.  She quietly listens to her classmates answer the question.  There are large families and small families, families with two moms and two dads, divorced parents and stepparents, families who all look alike and those who all look different.  Finally, the girl remembers a time with her family in the park.  Someone asked her foster mother to point out her real children.  Her mom answered, “Oh, I don’t have any imaginary children.  All my children are real.”  Conclusion:  A family is a family is a family.  32 pages; ages 4-8.

Pros:  Filled with family love and warm, funny illustrations, this book is perfect to share with children and invite them to think about what is special about their own families.

Cons:  It is no accident I am posting a book celebrating different kinds of love today.

Pablo Finds a Treasure by Andree Poulin, illustrated by Isabelle Malenfant

~ Janet Dawson ~ Leave a comment

Published by Annick Press 

Summary:  Pablo and his sister Sofia spend their days hunting for treasure on Treasure Mountain, the local dump.  They’re joined by many other children who look for items that their parents can resell to buy a little food.  Sometimes they find old food, and eat it quickly before someone can steal it.  Their worst enemy is Filthy-Face, a man who bullies the children into handing over their treasures.  On this particular day, Pablo is having trouble finding anything; Sofia is doing better and scolds him for overlooking bits of plastic that can be recycled.  Just when he is ready to give up, Pablo finds a gold chain.  He and his sister excitedly make a list of all the things they’d like to buy with the chain until suddenly Filthy-Face looms in front of them.  He steals everything, and the two children have to run home empty-handed…until they arrive safely and Pablo reveals where he has hidden the gold chain.  32 pages; grades 1-4.

Pros:  An eye-opening look at poverty in an unnamed country.  The gray-toned illustrations match the sober subject.  This would make a good read-aloud to prompt further discussion or writing.

Cons:  It’s a pretty bleak story.

Freedom Over Me: eleven slaves, their lives and dreams brought to life by Ashley Bryan

~ Janet Dawson ~ 1 Comment

 Published by Atheneum Books for Young Readers 

Summary:  Many years ago, as he explains in his ending author’s note, Ashley Bryan received a collection of documents relating to slavery from the 1820’s through the 1860’s.  He chose one of these, an 1828 appraisal of 11 slaves from the Fairchilds estate and created stories for each of them.  He has given each of them a name, connections to each other, and a trade or talent that each has used to increase the wealth of the estate.  Of course, this increase in wealth was not enjoyed by any of them.  Each slave has a portrait and two narrative poems, one describing himself or herself, and the other telling about his or dreams.  Almost everyone ends with a longing for freedom.  Their master has died, the mistress is selling the slaves, and they have no idea where they will end up.  The original document is shown at the end, along with the author’s note.  56 pages; grades 4-7.

Pros:  The sadness of slavery is profound in these poems of dignified, talented people, many of whom remember their lives and families in Africa.  Bryant has done a masterful job of bringing them to life, both in words and pictures.

Cons:  I wanted to know where the estate was, but no details were given.

The Water Princess by Susan Verde and Georgie Badiel, illustrated by Peter Reynolds

~ Janet Dawson ~ Leave a comment

Published by G. P. Putnam’s Sons 

Summary:  Every day, the narrator goes with her mother to fetch water.  They start before dawn, and it’s late in the day when they get back.  The water is a dusty earth color and must be boiled before it can be drunk.  Despite these hardships, the girl’s family is happy.  Her mother sings as they travel to get the water, and her father gives her a warm greeting when he returns from the fields.  When she goes to sleep, her mother tells her to dream of someday when they will have clear, cold water nearby.  The last two pages tell more about the need for water for many people.  Links are provided to the Georgie Badiel Foundation, named for the supermodel who based this story on her childhood in Burkina Faso, and Ryan’s Well, an organization founded by a young Canadian boy.  Both groups are working to build wells in Africa and bring clean water to the people there.  40 pages; grades K-3.

Pros:  An eye-opening look at a difficult problem for many people around the world.  The illustrations are charming, and readers may be inspired to help out through the two organizations listed at the end.

Cons:  That this situation exists in the world today.

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

~ 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.

I

Lift Your Light a Little Higher by Heather Henson, illustrated by Bryan Collier

~ Janet Dawson ~ 1 Comment

Published by Atheneum

 

Summary:  Stephen Bishop invites you to join him on a tour of Kentucky’s Mammoth Cave.  Born a slave, Bishop was trained as a tour guide for this huge cave system (the longest in the world) that was on his master’s plantation.  Although other slaves also guided visitors, Stephen became the most famous.  He discovered new animals and forged new paths through the caves.  He shows visitors his name on the cave wall, written along with his wife’s and many other visitors’, with the smoke from a candle tied to a long stick.  Little is known of Stephen Bishop’s life, which ended at the age of 37.  He is buried not far from the entrance to Mammoth Cave.  Author’s and illustrator’s notes at the end give more information about Bishop and how this book was created.  32 pages; grades 1-4.

Pros:  The lyrical text and beautiful illustrations by Bryan Collier bring this little-known man to life, along with the caves he loved and studied for many years.  Since so little is known about him, this isn’t really a biography, but more an imagined meditation on slavery, race, and life.

Cons:  Read the author’s note first, or the story will be hard to understand.

Be the Change: A Grandfather Gandhi Story by Arun Gandhi and Bethany Hegedus, illustrated by Evan Turk

~ Janet Dawson ~ Leave a comment

Published by Atheneum Books for Young Readers 

Summary:  In this companion to Grandfather Gandhi, Arun Gandhi tells of his experiences as a child living in the ashram started by his grandfather, Mahatma Gandhi.  The ashram, devoted to living simply and nonviolently, had eleven vows.  The one young Arun struggled with the most was the vow not to waste.  One day, he threw away a stub of pencil and went to his grandfather to ask for a new one.  Big mistake. Grandfather told him he had to look in the tall grasses where he had thrown his away to find it.  His grandfather then had Arun create a tree on the wall where he would add “leaves” that were acts of passive violence, like wastefulness.  As the tree grew, so did Arun’s understanding of how his actions, even ones that seemed harmless, could create violence in the world.  Eventually, he came to see the truth of some of his grandfather’s most famous words, “Be the change that you wish to see in the world.”  A note from the authors explains more about not wasting resources, and there is a “Be the Change Pledge” for readers to make.  48 pages; grades 1-5.

Pros:  Difficult concepts are related from a child’s perspective, strikingly illustrated by Evan Turk.  With adult guidance, kids will come away from this book with new perspectives on what constitutes nonviolence and how they can help create peace in the world.

Cons:  There’s a lot for young readers to grasp.