FOUR AMAZING AMERICAN HEROES

I struggled with a title for this. It's February. It's African-American history month. But... these people are Americans that every child and adult should know. They are heroes. They overcame huge obstacles. They saw problems and brought about change. They wrote amazing stories and lived amazing lives. I encourage you to learn more about them in the books listed below.

 

Opening the Road: Victor Hugo Green and His Green Book  

by Keila V. Dawons; illustrated by Alleanna Harris

Imagine taking a trip and not knowing if you will be able to find a safe place to eat, go to the bathroom, get gas, or spend the night just because your skin color is not white. Opening the Road is an exceptional book that explains how Victor Hugo Green created a directory of safe places for black people traveling the highways and byways of the USA (and eventually foreign countries). He saw a need and he provided help.

You could pair this book with Nic Stone's Clean Getaway for upper elementary - "Scoob" Lamar and his G'Ma go on a wild adventure through the South and the Traveler's Green Book plays a major role in the story.

 

Jump at the Sun: 

The True Life Tale of Unstoppable Storycatcher 

Zora Neale Hurston  

by Alicia D. Williams; illustrated by Jacqueline Alcaantara

 Zora is one of my all-time favorite people so I was more than delighted to read Williams biography. Zora's mother always told her she needed to "jump at the sun" and Zora took that advice to heart, as Williams ably relates to her readers. And illustrator Alcaantara has brought Zora's folktale characters to life! This is a great introduction to the amazing life of Zora Neale Hurston. 

 

If you want to know more about Zora, read the Zora and Me series by Victoria Bond and T. R. Simon. It is written for a tween audience.

The Highest Tribute: Thurgood Marshall’s Life, Leadership, and Legacy 

 by Kekla Magoon; illustrated by Laura Freeman

Did you know that Marshall's first name was originally Thoroughgood but when he was in 2nd grade, he decided to change it to Thurgood? That was just one of many things that Thurgood would change in his lifetime!  I am a big fan of Kekla Magoon and learned a lot by reading this biography. I encourage you to read this book and other books by her. Try The Season of Styx Malone for starters.

 

Rise!: From Caged Bird to Poet of the People, Maya Angelou  

by Bethany Hegedus; illustrated by Tonya Engel

Much of Maya Angelou's early life was tragic and heartbreaking but her grandmother, her brother - Bailey, and other people in Stamps, Arkansas like Mrs. Flowers, were rocks to cling to in an otherwise tempestuous childhood. When Maya was eight she was raped by her mother's boyfriend. She chose to speak out against her abuser. He spent only one night in jail but was then found murdered. Maya blamed herself and suffered from selective mutism for several years. But with help from others she finally found the courage to speak again. And speak she did!

I think this would be a good book to pair with Kimberly Brubaker Bradley's 2020 Newbery Honor Book Fighting Words which also deals with sexual abuse and courage.

 

           

    

WANT TO TEACH A CHILD TO LOVE POETRY? 

TRY THIS BOOK!

 

A Hatful of Dragons and More than 13.8 Billion Other Funny Poems 

by Vikram Madan

Madan's book is clever and funny and very informative - including many different types of poetry. So if you are trying to teach younger (elementary - middle school aged) kids to love poetry, start here. The poems are reminiscent of Jack Prelutsky. But there is so much cleverness incorporated that this book will keep kids engaged and hopefully inspire them to crate their own poems.  

This is also a Bluebonnet nominee for 2021.  Speaking of Bluebonnets - the announcement of the winner for 2020 was scheduled for February 26th but that has been pushed into March. Bad weather, ice & snow, no power, flooded libraries, and other catastrophes have limited student access to books. And librarian access to computers and ballots! So look for the winner to be announced in early(ish) March.

 WHAT ARE YOU READING?

HERE'S WHAT I'VE BEEN READING! 

PICTURE BOOKS

 
        

    

Milo Imagines the World by Matt de la Peña; illustrated by Christian Robinson - Remember riding on the subway? Or any kind of mass transit. Do you make up stories about the other people you see? Milo does. He's on a long subway ride with his sister - one he makes every month. So to pass the time - Milo imagines the stories of the people he observes. This is a beautiful and timely books - breathtaking. Please read this one!

Underground: Subway Systems Around the World by Uijung Kim - This is an interactive informational book! You will be introduced to a subway system - Tokyo's for example - and provided with a few important facts. Turn the page - and it's a "look and find" for an assortment of items on the crowded subway. There's a glossary at the back of the book that explains items that might be unknown to kids. I'm happy this is on TLA's 2x2 list this year. More kids and parents will read it. You could read this before or after you read Milo Imagines the World. They would go well together.

 Home in the Woods by Eliza Wheeler - based on the story of the author's grandmother - "Dad lives with the angels now, and we need to find a new home." Doesn't that first sentence just reach out and grab you?

Unicorns are the Worst! by Alex Willan - Are unicorns really the worst? Goblin things so. All that glitter! And tea parties -- so many tea parties. But maybe goblin is wrong - maybe there is something WORSE than unicorns!

In a Jar by Deborah Marcero - Do you like to collect things?  Read about Llewellyn and his friend, Evelyn, who collect all sorts of amazing things.  But then Evelyn has to move far away.  Llewellyn has an idea to bridge the distance. Can you guess what it is?

Nicky & Vera by Peter Sis - Nicky saved almost 700 children from the Nazis. Vera was one of them. Peter Sis tells their story.

GRAPHIC NOVEL

 

Measuring Up by Lily LaMotte; illustrated by Ann Xu - Twelve year old Cici has to leave her beloved A-má behind when she moves to Seattle with her mom and dad. She hatches a plane to bring A-má to visit but in order to raise the money, she needs to win a local cooking competition for kids. I really enjoyed this one! 

CHAPTER BOOKS

   

When You Trap a Tiger by Tae Keller - Newbery award winner!  This is realistic fiction with a dash of magical realism and lots of Korean mythology. Lily is a great character. This book definitely made me cry!

Black Brother, Black Brother by Jewell Parker Rhodes - Trey is light skinned like his Norwegian dad while Donte is darker like his mom. The boys attend a prep school outside of Boston - not on scholarship. Their mom is a lawyer; their dad works in computer science so they have money. But the kids and teachers and administration at school just can't quite accept Donte. He is taunted, bullied, and accused of things he did not do. Things spiral out of control and Donte has to figure out where he fits and how he can find his own place in a world that does not want to accept him. Great book! The only thing I don't like is the cover because to me it says Donte and Trey don't get along - which is not at all the case. Donte's whole family is very supportive. Rhodes also wrote Ghost Boys which I also highly recommend.

 

CAN YOU NAME THE MAN IN THE PAINTING?

I am guessing most everyone has heard of The Three Musketeers. Possibly The Count of Monte Cristo also? This is a portrait of Thomas-Alexandre Dumas. He was born in Saint Domingue - (we know it as Haiti today) in 1762. His father was a French Marquis and white. His mother. Marie-Cesette Dumas, was a black woman of African descent who was purchased by Thomas-Alexandre's father.  In 1775, Thomas-Alexandre's father took him to France. Thomas-Alexandre became a decorated general in the French army but unfortunately, he and Napoleon did not get along. He was imprisoned for two years but eventually made his way back to France where he rejoined his wife and children. 

One of those children - a son - was the prolific author, Alexandre Dumas, who wrote The Three Musketeers and The Count of Monte Cristo along with many other novels, plays, and literary works. And many historians speculate that Alexandre drew inspiration for some of his characters - such as Edmond Dantès - from his father. Yet none of his characters are portrayed as black - or played by black actors - in the many theatrical works that have been produced based on Dumas' works. That is mind-boggling. What if one of the Three Musketeers or D'Artagnan or Dantès had been properly represented by a black actor? What kind of inspiration could have been provided for children of color? Think about the response to the movie The Black Panther. And now, of course, what can I do about that? 

Positive representation in books is so important. Books that present ALL aspects of diversity are needed in ALL communities. 

I stumbled upon my Alexandre Dumas "Ah-hah!" moment by reading Jewell Parker Rhodes brilliant Black Brother, Black Brother. I will talk about that book another day. Again, please read a wide diversity of books. Broaden those horizons. Look in mirrors. Open windows and doors. You will be wiser. You will gain empathy and compassion. And you'll learn things you did not know.

If you want to know more about Thomas-Alexandre Dumas, read 

The Black Count : Glory, Revolution, Betrayal, and The Real Count of Monte Cristo by Tom Reiss.

 It won a Pulitzer!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, LANGSTON HUGHES!

     

 James Mercer Langston Hughes (February 1, 1902 - May 22, 1967) 

was an American poet, social activist, novelist, playwright, 

and columnist from Joplin, Missouri.

He was one of the earliest innovators of the then-new literary art form called jazz poetry. He was the voice of the Harlem Renaissance. He was my introduction to the Harlem Renaissance about twenty years ago. I had never heard of the Harlem Renaissance. Please read his poems - they are amazing! If you do a search, you can also find recordings of Langston reading his own poetry.
Partially borrowed from Wikipedia

 

 

You may have seen or read Lorraine Hansberry's 

groundbreaking play - 

A Raisin in the Sun. 

Did you know that the title comes from a poem 

by Langston Hughes entitled "Harlem"? 

Harlem 

by Langston Hughes

What happens to a dream deferred?

      Does it dry up

      like a raisin in the sun?

      Or fester like a sore—

      And then run?

      Does it stink like rotten meat?

      Or crust and sugar over—

      like a syrupy sweet?

      Maybe it just sags

      like a heavy load.

      Or does it explode? 

 

You might also like - 

 

 

Finding Langston by Lesa-Cline Ransome      

2x2s ARE HERE!

 Every year the Texas Library Association (TLA) creates a list of the best new books for kids aged 2 - 2nd grade (thus the 2x2). 

The list for 2021 has just been released. 

These are some of my favorites!

     

       

Here is the complete list:

1. Boxitects by Kim Smith. Clarion Books.
2. Every Night is Pizza Night by J. Kenji López-Alt. Illustrated by Gianna Ruggiero. W.W. Norton.
3. Facts vs. Opinions vs. Robots by Michael Rex. Nancy Paulsen Books.
4. Federico and the Wolf, by Rebecca Gomez. Illustrated by Elisa Chavarri. Clarion Books.
5. First Day Critter Jitters by Jory John. Illustrated by Liz Climo. Dial Books for Young Readers.
6. Hike by Pete Oswald. Candlewick Press.
7. I Am Every Good Thing by Derrick Barnes. Illustrated by Gordon C. James. Penguin.
8. Louis by Tom Lichtenheld. Illustrated by Julie Rowan-Zoch.
9. Packs – Strength in Numbers by Hannah Salyer. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.
10.   A Polar Bear in the Snow by Mac Barnett. Art by Shawn Harris. Candlewick Press.
11.  See the Cat – Three Stories About a Dog by David LaRochelle. Illustrated by Mike Wohnoutka. Candlewick Press.
12.  Shapes by Shelley Rotner and Anne Woodhull. Photographs by Shelley Rotner. Holiday House.
13.  Speak Up by Miranda Paul. Illustrated by Ebony Glenn. Clarion Books.
14.  The Three Billy Goats Buenos by Susan Middleton Elya. Illustrated by Miguel Ordóñez. G.P. Putnam’s Sons.
15.  Underground – Subway Systems Around the World by Uijung Kim. Cicada Books Ltd.
16.  Up on Bob by Mary Sullivan. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.
17.  What About Worms!? by Ryan T. Higgins and Mo Willems. Hyperion Books for Children.
18.  What Do You Do If You Work at the Zoo? by Steve Jenkins and Robin Page. Illustrated by Steve Jenkins. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.
19.  The Yawns Are Coming! by Christopher Eliopoulos. Dial Books for Young Readers.
20.   You Matter by Christian Robinson. Atheneum Books for Young Readers.