Teaching to the National Council for the Social S

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AUTHOR Krey, DeAn M. TITLE Children's Literature in Social Studies: Teachingto the Standards. NCSS Bulletin 95. INSTITUTION National Council for the Social Studies, Washington,DC.

ISBN . ISBN-0-87986-076-6 PUB DATE 1998-00-00 NOTE 185p. AVAILABLE FROM National Council for the Social Studies, P.O.Box 2067, Waldorf, MD 20604-2067; Tel: 800-683-0812 (Toll Free) ($19; NCSS member price, $14; add shipping charges). PUB TYPE Books (010) -- Guides Non-Classroom (055) EDRS PRICE MF01/PC08 Plus Postage. DESCRIPTORS Annotated Bibliographies; *Childrens Literature;Elementary Education; Learning Activities; Middle Schools;*Multiple Intelligences; Selection Tools; *Social Studies; *Thematic Approach IDENTIFIERS National Social Studies Standards;Response to Literature; *Trade Books

ABSTRACT \ Thid guide enables teachers to selectcurrent children's books incorporating One or more_of the10 thematic strands of social studies (culture; time, continuity, and change;people, places and environments; individual development and ideatity;in.lividuals, groups, and institutions; power, authority, and goverLance; production, distributica,F-d consumption; science, technology, and society; globalconnections; and civic ideals and practice). Chapter 1 presents the 10 thexaticstrands and the value of the literature-based teaching of social studies isemphasized. The process of selecting children's books with appropriatecontent for teaching the 10 thematic strands of social studies isaddressed in chapter two. The selected books are particularly important for childrenat the elementary and middle levels, but also are appropriate foruse with older students. Sample social studies literature response activitiessuitable for use with the books are suggested in chapter three. The activitieshave been developed using Howard Gardner's theory of multiple intelligencesas a framework. The social studies literature response activities demonstratethat it is possible to teach the major social studies strands andaccommodate the various intelligences at the same time. The remaining chapters containa collection of 547 recommended children's books published in the1990s suitable for teaching the 10 thematic strands to children. Each book title isaccompanied by complete annotations with thematic strands referredto according to the strand number. All titles presented in this guide are included ina list at the end. (BT)

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Bulletin 95 BEST COPY AVAILABLE 2 NCSS National Council for the Social Studies Founded 1921

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NCSS Bulletin by De An & Krey 95 1?it TA ILE IF CONTENTS

Acknowledgments 5

Preface:H. Michael Hartoonian 6

Author's Foreword 7

1. Literature-Based Instruction in Social Studies 9 The Ten Thematic Strands of Social Studies 9 Children's Trade Books and Social Studies: The Research 9 Children's Trade Books: The Potential for Social Studies 10

A Connecting Model: Children's Books and the Strands 11

2. Finding the Right Children's Literature 15

Bibliographic Sources 15

Literature for Children and Young Adults 16

The Cooperative Children's Book Center andCCBC Choices 17 Criteria for Book Selection 17

3.Social Studies Literature Response Activities 19 Linguistic Intelligence 19 Logical-Mathematical Intelligence 19 Spatial Learners 20 Bodily-Kinesthetic Intelligence 20 Musical Intelligence 20 The Interpersonal Learner 21 Intrapersonal Intelligence 21 Naturalistic Intelligence 22

4.Selection Criteria 25 The Screening Process 25 Classification by the Ten Thematic Strands of Social Studies 25 About the Annotations 26

5.Children's Trade Books with Culture as the Major Thematic Strand 27 Children's Trade Books with Culture as a Second Thematic Strand 54 Children's Trade Books with Culture as a Third Thematic Strand 57

5 3 6.Children's Trade Books with Time,Continuity, and Change as the Major Thematic Strand 59 Children's Trade Books with Time, Continuity and Changeas a Second Thematic Strand 73 Children's Trade Books with Time, Continuity and Changeas a Third Thematic Strand 76

7. Children's Trade Books with People, Places, and Environments as the Major Thematic Strand 79 Children's Trade Books with People, Places, and Environmentsas a Second Thematic Strand 99 Children's Trade Books with People, Places, and Environmentsas a Third Thematic Strand 101

8.Children's Trade Books with Individual Development and Identityas the Major Thematic Strand 103 Children's Trade Books with Individual Development and Identityas a Second Thematic Strand 121 Children's Trade Books with Individual Development and Identityas a Third Thematic Strand 124

9.Children's Trade Books with Individuals,Groups, and Institutions as the Major Thematic Strand 125 Children's Trade Books with Individuals, Groups, and Institutionsas a Second Thematic Strand 134 Children's Trade Books with Individuals, Groups, and Institutionsas a Third Thematic Strand 136

10. Children's Trade Books with Power, Authority, and Governance as the Major Thematic Strand 139 Children's Trade Books with Power, Authority, and Governance as a Second Thematic Strand 143 Children's Trade Books with Power, Authority and Governance as a Third Thematic Strand 143

11.Children's Trade Books with Production, Distribution, and Consumption as the Major Thematic Strand 145 Children's Trade Books with Production, Distribution, and Consumptionas a Second Thematic Strand 150 Children's Trade Books with Production, Distribution, and Consumptionas a Third Thematic Strand 151

12.Children's Trade Books with Science,Technology, and Society as the Major Thematic Strand 153 Children's Trade Books with Science, Technology, and Societyas a Second Thematic Strand 157 Children's Trade Books with Science, Tedinology and Societyas a Third Thematic Strand 157

13. Children's Trade Books with Global Connections as the Major Thematic Strand 159 Children's Trade Books with Global Connections as a Second Thematic Strand 163 Children's Trade Books with Global Connections as a Third Thematic Strand 164

14. Children's Trade Books with Civic Ideals and Practices as the Major Thematic Strand 165 Children's Trade Books with Civic Ideals and Practices as a Second Thematic Strand 171 Children's Trade Books with Civic Ideals and Practices as a Third Thematic Strand 171

Title Index 173

Subject Index 181

About the Author 189 6 4 L> ACCaklaIWO_IEEINGERCEN1TS

I would like to express my appreciation to the entire staff at the Cooperative Children's Book Center at the Uni- versity of Wisconsin-Madison. Their enthusiasm for high quality children's literature is catching. I would also like to acknowledge the consistent help of Michael Simpson, NCSS Director of Publications, and the NCSS publications staff during the preparation of this NCSS Bulletin. A thank you is also due to Dori Holter. Her cheerful, energetic preparation of the many versions of the manuscript was invaluable. Finally, I want to thank my husband, Bob, for his unfailing love and support. His attention to "everything else" made it possible for me to focus on and complete this three-year project.

7 5 I> PREFACE

De An Krey has always known two things aboutyoung On behalf of the social studies community, I want learners: that they are enthralled by beauty, and that they to thank Dr. Krey for this wonderful contribution to possess an acute sense of wonder. Dr. Krey also has a our field. It is also proper and right to thank our col- deep understanding of the role of social studies in the league, Ginny Moore Kruse, of the Cooperative school curriculum. In particular, sheargues that by na- Children's Book Center at the University of Wiscon- ture of its rationale, its epistemology, and its integrative sin in Madison, who has long been a friend of social potential, social studies is, or should be, the center of the studies and works tirelessly for the children ofour elementary school program. Other content fieldscan nation. gain from social studies through an association made with proper meaning and purpose. H. Michael Hartoonian Guided by this wisdom, Dr. Krey has constructeda University of Minnesota vehicle that now allows us to travel overan important NCSS Past President region of the academic landscape. The model that she gives us to navigate this terrain is eloquent anduse- ful, and presents a new way of thinking about there- lationship between social studies standards and children's literature. The model representsa wonderful marriage between cultural narratives andcontent patterns and theories. We have before us the exciting prospect of learning beautiful and important stories about the human condition, as well as systematicways to understand and apply the lessons in those stories to our lives. As a professional community, we must be impressed with the way these recommended readingsare connected to the instructional patterns presented in the standards. The books listed here are not justany books: they are the most right and powerful set of readings that can be assembled for such a task. And, together with the standards, they offer the opportunity topro- vide educators and students with a betterway to fmd out who we are, how the social world works, and what is expected of us as citizens, as family members, and as human beings. A reflective journey through these books will lead us to a deeper understanding ofour social covenant with one another. The stories will make us cry, make us laugh, and bringus closer together. They will help us in our continuing workto build community, to develop character, andto create content.

6 MITIH1 OR'S [FOREWORD

Two developments of the 1990s merit special attention by social studies teachers. The first is the widespread adoption of the social studies standards based on ten thematic strands that were published by National Council for the Social Studies in 1994. The second is the significant increase in the number of children's books available for purchase in the United States today. Taken together, these two developments can provide powerful learning experiences for students in social studies dassrooms. The purpose of this Bulletin is to enable teachers to select current children's books whose content specifically incorporates one or more of the ten thematic strands of the social studies. In Chapter One, the ten thematic strands of social studies are presented and the value of the literature-based teaching of social studies is emphasized. The process of selecting children's books with appropriate content for teaching the ten thematic strands of social studies is addressed in Chapter Two. Although the selected books are particularly important for children at the elementary and middle levels, the reader is reminded that they can also be appropriate for use with older students. Sample social studies literature response activities suitable for use with the books described in this Bulle- tin are suggested in Chapter Three. The activities have been developed using Gardner's theory of multiple intelligences as a framework. The social studies literature response activities demonstrate that it is possible to teach the major social studies strands and accommodate the various intelligences at the same time. The remaining chapters contain a collection of 547 recommended children's books published in the 1990s. They have been selected because they are vehides for delivering the ten thematic strands to children. Each chapter covers one thematic strand. Each title is accompanied by complete annotations. All titles presented in this volume are included in a list at the end. In the annotations, thematic strands are referred to by their number. A fold-out in the back cover allows the reader to identify the strand associated with each number.

7 CHAFITE ONE LITERATUM-BASED INSTRUCTIONIN SOCIAL STUDIES

A fresh era of thought about the teaching of social stud- tailed descriptions, complex characters, and ies began in1994when National Council for the Social melodic passages, allow young readers to con- Studies (NCSS) identified ten thematic strands of social struct understanding in powerful ways. The studies. The ten strands were spawned from a defmition potential that these books hold for promot- that described the social studies as "the integrated study ing citizenship learning has made literature- of the social sciences and humanities to promote civic based instruction an appealing option for competence."' The strands point to a core of fundamen- many social educators.4 tal knowledge drawn from many academic disciplines, and most heavily from the social science "disciplines of Studies advocating the teaching of social studies anthropology, archaeology, economics, geography, his- with a literature-based instructional approach have tory, law, philosophy, political science, psychology reli- taken many forms.5 Some articles list appropriate gion and sociology, as well as appropriate content from books for teaching social studies, some make ration- the humanities, mathematics, and natural sciences."2 ales for literature-based social studies teaching, and others suggest strategies to be used for literature-based The Ten Thematic Strands of Social Studies social studies instruction. Very few authors present Each of the ten thematic strands encompasses meaningsevidence from research concerning the effects of lit- from one or more of the above disciplines. The ten erature-based instruction. strands are: After reviewing the literature about the relationship o CULTURE between the form of discourse and the formation of O TIME, CONTINUITY, AND CHANGE time concepts, Downey and Levstik concluded that (I) PEOPLE, PLACES, AND ENVIRONMENTS "the story shape" or "narrative" can provide "tempo- O INDIVIDUAL DEVELOPMENT AND IDENTITY ral scaffolding that makes some degree of historical O INDIVIDUALS, GROUPS, AND INSTITUTIONS understanding accessible even to quite young chil- O POWER, AUTHORITY, AND GOVERNANCE dren."6 This suggests that children's books are appro- O PRODUCTION, DISTRIBUTION, AND CONSUMPTION priate vehicles for carrying the thematic strand of O SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, AND SOCIETY Time, Continuity and Change, in particular. O GLOBAL CONNECTIONS In a review of literature that included59references O CIVIC IDEALS AND PRACTICES3 advocating literature-based instruction and presenting The power of the ten thematic strands lies in their data-based evidence concerning the effects of litera- potential to serve as a framework for social studies cur- ture-based social studies teaching, McGowan, Erickson ricula and stimulate visions of effective classroom and Neufeld examined the following questions: "Can learning experiences. literature-based instruction contribute to the teaching and learning of social studies content? In what Children's Trade Books and Social Studies: ways? To what extent?" They sought studies that in- The Research vestigated (a) the extent to which students acquire With increasing frequency, visions of effective social stud- social studies knowledge through literature-based in- ies learning experiences include literature-based instruc- struction, (b) whether children are given opportuni- tion, in which children's books are used as a basis for teach- ties to develop a range of skills central to gaining and ing social studies. McGowan, Erickson and Neufeld make exercising civic competence through literature-based the following observations: instruction, and (c) whether teaching with children's books can promote multiple aspects of children's af- Literature and social studies teaching have fective growth.7 demonstrated a persistent, attractive connec- McGowan, Erickson and Neufeld concluded that tion. Educators have long argued that many the research supports, to some degree, the claim that features of trade books, particularly their de- students acquire social studies knowledge through

9 1 0 literature-based instruction. Regarding the develop- take time to explain and even givenames to the feel- ment of student skills (or competencies) and nurtur- ings characters in the stories are experiencing. Good ing values for civic competence, the researchwas stories address how an immigrant mother of six chil- described as thin and lacking, respectively. Neverthe- dren feels as she boards a ship bound for America. less, they make the following recommendation, Good stories have illustrations thatcan show visually which this writer heartily endorses: "We joineduca- how two African American children felt when they tors who have advanced the literature-social studies won a cakewalk. Good stories awaken the mind and connection and recommend that teachers adopt this the heart. For example, in Sun and Spoon (1997),Gram potentially productive instructional approach.We has died.10 Ten-year-old Spoon is struggling mightily also recommend that researchers assemble more evi- with his sadness. He thinks he has founda way to feel dence so that the effects of literature-basedteaching better when he takes Gram's favorite deck of playing become common knowledge ..."8 cards from his grandfather's diningroom cabinet. When Grandfather misses the cards, Spoon isnot only Children's Trade Books: sad, but also filled with regret andworry Readers are The Potential for Social Studies led to empathize with this moody, middle childas he Children's trade books have great potentialas social stud- gradually learns to cope with what is, for him,a new ies teaching tools. They communicate social studies life experience. knowledge in an artistic manner. In books of highqual- Third, high quality children's literature offersa ho- ity, both the author and illustratorpresent their subject listic picture of a human event. Good children's books in aesthetically pleasing forms, making humanstories present the reader with much more than "survey" text- beautiful. The books can stimulate emotionalresponses books usually provide. Good stories offer details of in the same way as a great piece of music or a dassic the event's setting, often not only in words butin pic- painting. tures, too. Individual characters become real as their When used to teach social studies, high quality words and actions appear on a book'spages. The spe- children's literature has the potentialto accomplish cific characters the reader hascome to know become many goals. First, it expands a learner's knowledge involved in plots where problems arise and solutions about a particular human event that hasnot been ex- are sought. All of these elements provide a holistic, perienced first hand. Because it isnot possible for any vicarious experience for anyone who readsa children's student to live in all of the times and places ofhuman book. For example, in The Milkman's Boy (1997), by experience, literature can be the vehideto transport Donald Hall, both the text and the illustrations show learners into other cultures, places anderas. Litera- us what it was like to be a part of the Graves Family ture can enable learners to experience thecommon- Dairy in Connecticut.11 They offer historic details place as well as extraordinary events. Whether read- about the era when some families keptcows in their ing about traveling on the Underground Railroad, vis- backyards, when bottled milk was deliveredto indi- iting the Inuit, or building cathedrals, suchexperiences vidual doorsteps by horse drawn cart, when small are "new" to most younger readers. For example, in business owners knew their customers byname, and Birdie's Lighthouse, by Deborah Hopkinson, the reader when, once in a while, someone could become gravely vicariously shares a child's life in theyear of 1855, ifi from drinking raw milk. learning from Birdie's diary what itwas like to spend Fourth, good books will give readersa balance be- a year on a tiny, isolated, rock-covered island.9 The tween the facts of human events and the human char- diary entries describe daily events and how ten-year- acteristics of the people involved. Often, textbooksor old Birdie learned to keep the lanterns lit,on her own, reference books provide summarystatements that in- in a time of family crisis. clude dates, names of places,names of famous people, Second, high quality children's literature provides statistics of a situation, and events insequence. The learners with an insider's perspective that includesthe reader, in this case, never becomes familiar with the emotions of human events. Mostyoung readers have individual people, their individual aspirations, disap- not had enough life experience to be able to imagine pointments, and joys. For example, most elementary what others may be experiencing emotionally as vari- textbooks series describe the Great Depressionas a ous human events occur. Well-written children's books time when many people could not fmd employment.

10 1 1 But in Potato: A Tale From the Great Depression (1997, Focus Questions for Developing Thematic Strands in a written by Kate Lied when she was eight years old) Social StudiesTeaching Unit the reader meets a real family, and each individual fam- 1.Culture ily member.12 The reader is led to empathize with What leisure activities take place in my home(s)? them as they leave Iowa to dig potatoes in Idaho and What is the ethnic background of those who then trade potatoes for necessities to survive. The live in my home(s)? reader comes to know the individuals in this story of What traditions are observed by the people in the Great Depression; they are not lost in summary my home(s)? statements about the era. What religious beliefs are held by people in my Fifth, good books will provide learners with the home(s)? opportunity to identify with characters, events and What language(s) is (are) spoken in my home(s)? emotions that are similar to their own personal expe- 2. Time, Continuity and Change riences. For example, in Megan McDonald's Insects Are How has (have) my home(s) changed? My Life (1995), Amanda is obsessed with insects.13 We When was (were) my present home(s) created? see her joyfully observing bugs, collecting bugs, and Has my family always lived here? talking about bugs. Readers will identify with Who else has lived here? Amanda's passion for bugs because most children de- What stories exist about events that have oc- velop a consuming interest in something, whether it curred in my home(s)? be dinosaurs, horses, soccer, computer games, 3. People, Places, and Environments origami, or beanie babies. This book naturally leads What does (do) my home(s) look like? Inside? the reader to identify with Amanda and ask the ques- Outside? tion, What is my obsession? or What is of unending What is the location of my present home(s)? interest to me? Why? What are the physical and human characteris- A Connecting Model: tics of the place(s) I call home? Children's Books and the Strands Where else has my family lived? If teachers are to move forward by both refming their 4. Individual Development and Identity literatutt-based social studies instruction and carrying out What is special to me about my home(s)? research to support it, visualizing the relationship be- What special events have I experienced in my tween the children's books they choose to use and the home(s)? ten thematic strands of social studies will be necessary. What is my favorite space within my home(s)? The five-part model in Figure 1 can assist in the visual- 5. Individuals, Groups, and Institutions ization process. It is a representation of the relationships What family members live in my home(s)? between a thematic teaching unit, focus questions, class- (Each child should be invited to include all per- room learning experiences, the ten thematic strands of sons in the settings they call home.) the social studies, and civic competence. The general Who are our neighbors? How are we alike /dif- thematic model and a specific model are both included. ferent? For purposes of illustration, assume that the cur- In what groups do my family members and I riculum of a school suggests the study of a unit titled participate? "The Places We Call Home," written for children rang- 6. Power, Authority, and Governance ing in age from six to nine years old. What rules must I observe in my home(s)? Why? Brainstorming what to teach about "The Places We Are there rules I must follow in my yard(s) or Call Home" could result in the following systematic neighborhood(s)? Why? itemization of knowledge in the form of sets of focus Who enforces rules and laws in my neighborhood? questions. (The focus questions listed here are a sug- How can I get help if I need it? gested partial listing of those that could be used in the 7. Production, Distribution, and Consumption development of Thematic Strands I to VII.) How does the availability of money to the adults in my family affect their decisions about where we live?

11 What does it cost to live in different types of The next phase in the teachingprocess, after brain- homes? storming focus questions fora thematic unit, is to What personal possessions do I keep in my choose learning experiences which enablechildren to home(s)?14 construct knowledge to answer the focus questions. The learning experiences might involvea children's These groupings of focus questions are directly re- book, a role play, a learninggame, an interview, a com- lated to one or more of the ten thematic strands of puter simulation or an infinite variety of other activi- social studies. For example, Set Three of the question ties. As children are engaged in theseexperiences, the groupings given above, which begins with the ques- teacher's role is to guide the children towardconstruct- tion, What does (do) my home(s) look like? develops ing the conceptual knowledge (or meanings)of the the meanings contained in ThematicStrand III, People, appropriate thematic strands of social studies. Finally, Places, and Environments. The remainingsets of ques- as children begin to demonstrate acquisition of knowl- tions for which homes are a focal point emerge from edge related to one or more of the thematicstrands, the other thematic strands creating the "integrated they grow toward civiccompetence. To summarize study of the social sciences" called for in the defmi- the entire teaching process, Figure1 details this gen- tion of social studies.15 eral thematic model for teaching socialstudies. The phases address (a)a thematic Figure 1 - General Thematic Model forTeachingSocial Studies teaching unit, (b) focus questions, (c) classroom learning experiences which will often be literature- based, (d) thematic strands ofso- cial studies, and (e) the majorpur- pose of social studies, which is civic competence.16 Figure 2 shows the relationship Thematic between a children's book andan Strands of NCSS thematic strand. It provides Social a visual representation of the five Studies phases of the thematic model for teaching social studies. Beginning at the bottom of the model,a thematic teaching unit is chosen. Next,major focus questions are identified. At the center of the model, the chosen learning experience is a teacher reading aloud and sharing the illustrations in a children's book coupled Major Focus with an activity to be used before, Questions for a during, or after the book is read. The Thematic accompanying activity and related Teaching discussion questions should be cho- Unit sen by the teacher to answer the aforementioned focus questions and, in turn, construct the thematic strands of social studies carried by A Thematic the book. Finally, as children begin Teachingto. Unit to demonstrate acquisition of one or more thematic strands, they grow in the knowledge necessary Reprinted from Social Studies and the Young Learner 8, no. 1 (Sept-Oct 1995), 13. for civic competence, i.e., thepur- 12 13 Figure 2 - Literature-Based Model for Teaching a Theme of the Standards Notes 1. National Council for the Social Studies (NCSS), Expectations of Ex- cellence: Curriculum Standards for Social Studies (Washington, D.C.: National Council for the Social Studies, 1994), 3. 2.Ibid. 3.Op. cit., 10-12. 4.Thomas M. McGowan, Lynnette Thematic Erickson and Judith A. Neufeld, Strands of "With Reason and Rhetoric: Social Building the Case for the Litera- Studies ture-Social Studies Connection," e, Social Education 60, no. 4 (1996), 203-207. 5.Mary Hammond Bernson, "Be- yond Momotaro," Social Studies and the Young Learner 10, no. 3 (1998), 24-26; Kathryn Button, The teacher will read aloud Horlace showingthe illustrations. "Linking Social Studies and Lit- Then children will examine the artifacts fromanother era, hypothesizing about their use. eracy Development through Children's Books," Social Studies and the Young Learner 10, no. 4 (1998), 23-25; Luther B. Clegg and Peggy K. Ford, "Historical Fiction and Fantasy for the Young III IV VVIVII Learner," Social Studies and the Young Learner 9, no. 2 (1996), 24- 26; Margaret J. Johnson and Carole Janisch, "Connecting Lit- eracy with Social Studies Con- tent," Social Studies and the Young O What leisure activities What family members take place in my home(s)? Olive in my home(s)? Learner 10, no. 4 (1998), 6-9; Linda A Thematk 41% How has (have) my OWhat rules must I D. Labbo, "Off the Shelf: Re- home(s) changed? aces observe in my home(s)? TeachingI. sources for Celebrating the Lives /11% What does (do) my all fillek How does the availability Unit home(s) look like? NW of money to the adults In of African American Women," my family affect my home(s)? glifh What is special to me Social Studies and the Young Learner about my home(s)? 9, no. 3 (1997), 21-23; Alexa L. Sandmann and John F. Ahern, pose of the social studies, found at the top of the model. "More Children's Literature to Promote Citizenship in Upper Spedfically, Figure 2 shows the relationship between a and Middle Grades," Social Studies and the Young Learner 10, particular book and a particular NCSS thematic strand. no. 2 (1997), 25-28; Loraine M. Stewart, "Reading beyond King, The book is Home Place (1990), written by Crescent Carver, and Tubman," Social Studies and the Young Learner 9, no. 4 (1997), 26-27. Dragonwagon and illustrated by Jerry Pinkney.17 To- 6.Matthew T. Downey and Linda S. Levstik, "Teaching and gether, the author and illustrator tell a beautiful story Learning History" in James P. Shaver (ed.), Handbook of Re- about the passing of time in our lives, about continuity search on Social Studies Teaching and Learning (New York: in family life, and about change in rural areas (NCSS The- MacMillan, 1991), 401. 7.McGowan, Erickson and Neufeld, 203-207. matic Strand II). A dassroom learning activity or a social 8.McGowan, Erickson and Neufeld, 206. studies literature response activity is suggested for use 9.For more details about the book, see p. 81 below. after reading Home Place, which will engage children in 10.For more details about the book, see pp. 116-17 below. hypothesizing about the use of artifacts from another 11.For more details about the book, see p. 148 below. 12:For more details about the book, see p. 148 below. era, just as the family in the story does. The use of a high 13.For more details about the book, see p. 111 below. quality trade book, along with a social studies literature 14.DeAn M. Krey, "Operationalizing the Thematic Strands of So- response activity which focuses on the same thematic cial Studies for Young Learners." Social Studies and the Young strand as the trade book, is an approach which has the Learner 8, no. 1 (1995), 12-15, 32. 15.NCSS, op. cit., 3. potential to refme that strand in the minds of students. 16.Krey, op. cit., 12-14. 17.For more details about the book, see p. 64 below. EST COPYAVM 13 1 4 1> CHAPTER TWO FINDING THE RIGHT CHILDREN'S LHERATURE

Bibliographic Sources phy, cultures, multicultural literature and the 1995 The 1998 edition of Children's Books in Print reported that Notable Children's Trade Books in the Field of Social Stud- the number of published children's books available for ies.5 All of these are lists that focus on the various the- purchase in the United States at that time was 126,600.1 matic strands of social studies. For example, the his- This represented an increase of more than 60,000 books tory bibliographies are good sources for finding books since 1990! With this impressive number of children's that develop the thematic strand of Time, Continuity books on the market, teachers who are choosing books and Change. The geography sources address the the- are faced with a complex task. On the one hand, the task matic strand of People, Places, and Environments and might seem to be a luxurious adventure, but on the other, the sources on cultures address the thematic strand it is an awesome challenge. of Culture. Three current teachers' guides of this type, How does a teacher choose the "right" children's which are worthy of mention, are H is for History: Us- books for teaching social studiesi.e., the right ing Children's Literature to Develop Historical Understand- children's books for developing the ten thematic strands ings;6 G is for Geography: Children's Literature and the Five of social studies in the minds of children? It is certainly Themes;7 and C is for Citizenship: Children's Literature not efficient for every individual teacher to take the time and Civic Understanding.8 to browse thoroughly through catalogs, bookstores and However, even with these types of listings available, libraries to locate the right books. Each year it is esti- Alleman and Brophy point to the trade-offs that are mated that at least 4,500 new books are published in embedded in a literary approach. After examining a the United States for children and young adults, so the K-3 textbook series that incorporates children's litera- search could be a full-time pursuid2 How does a teacher ture in its student materials, they identify an emerg- begin seeking the books that can serve as vehicles for ing problem. Many of the literature selections focus teaching the thematic strands of social studies? on trivial and peripheral aspects of social studies. They Consultations with professional librarians when report that even when these literary sources provide seeking high quality children's books often lead to bib- appeal and interest, they often distract from the main liographic references. Listings like The Newbery and social education understandings, and in the worst cases Caldecott Awards: A Guide to Medal and Honor Books; they create potential misconceptions or actually con- Children's Books: Awards and Prizes; and Children's tradict social studies goals. One of their examples is a Choices are fine starting places.3 However, these types first grade lesson about friendship which utilizes the of lists have been compiled with various literary quali- story of the Little Red Hen. They comment: ties and criteria in mind as opposed to whether they have the potential to meet the goal of developing the This selection is a poor choice for this topic ten thematic strands adopted by National Council for because it conflates personal friendship with Social Studies. prosocial and Golden Rule behavior. In the There are also narrower lists that reflect the social story the Little Red Hen calls her friends to- studies content of children's books. McGowan and gether to solicit their help in planting and har- Powell offer bibliographies of resource books on vesting a field of wheat. Her friends refuse to multicultural education, social issues, and geographic help her, so when it is time to eat the fruits of areas of the world.4 In this case the purpose for in- her labor, she refuses to share. The story fea- cluding books in these listings was their appropriate tures characters who are unhelpful and spite- topical content as opposed to the potential for devel- ful and carries an undertone suggesting that oping the ten thematic strands of social studies. friendship is conditional. These are not val- Porter identifies a dozen guides to quality literature. ues we wish to instill through our social stud- They indude bibliographies and activity guides in the ies teaching.9 areas of history, American history history-social science, integrated social studies, biographies, geogra-

15 1 5 Alleman and Brophy conclude that the social stud- sent lists of books organized under themes suchas ies goals and major understandings to be developed "Boom or Bust: Economic Development" and 'Ameri- can "get lost in the shuffle." The social studies com- can Cultural Traditions: Religion, Education, and the munity must address these issues immediately. Arts." Students are encouraged to readat least two Refining the process of selecting children's litera- books, preferably on the same theme.13 ture to be used in social studies lessons is a first step. Ahern and Sandmann discuss using literatureto fo- In this first step, new criteria that address social stud- cus on an historical era such as the Great Depression ies goals must be used. The criteriamust focus on or World War H. They remind teachers that "litera- whether or not the book being selected foruse in lit- ture" provides readers with details of the lives of erature-based instruction has the potential for devel- people from other times and places thatgo far beyond oping one or more of the ten thematic strands ofso- what a textbook can accomplish. For example, they cial studies in the minds of children. suggest using Eleanor Roosevelt: A Life of Discovery by The NCSS thematic strandswere adopted as re- R. Freedman because it "describes Eleanor's sensitiv- cently as 1994, and few authors who advocate theuse ity to the plight of those who were suffering during of literature-based instruction have analyzed theirrec- the Great Depression and her effortsto help the poor ommended books for thematic strands, with theex- and the unemployed."I4 ception of a few articles that have appeared in Social Trail and Harvey describe an Advanced Placement Studies and the Young Learner.10 As of fall1998, only U.S. History and English course that theyteam teach. one comprehensive bibliographic source had at- A glance at their syllabus shows that "literary selec- tempted to identify the specific thematic strands of tions" are the core of the course. Theyreport that "sev- social studies in each children's book listedthe 1996, eral students remarked on how much better theyun- 1997 and 1998 Notable Children's Trade Books in the Field derstood and appreciated" theera being studied be- of Social Studies, published by NCSS itself.11 cause of the literature they read.15 It is obvious that teachers needmany more Schur, a seventh grade anthropology teacher,states children's books to choose from, in additionto those that great literature has thepower to dispel myths offered in the above-mentioned sources. In response about another culture by providing students withan to this need, the present publication provides a rec- insider's point of view. She asks studentsto read a novel ommended list of children's books publishedin 1990, and imagine themselves livingamong its characters 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, and 1997, which in their time and place. As participant-observers, her are specifically selected for the list because they have students keep a journal of field notes. In thisway, stu- the potential to develop one or more of the ten the- dents gain "a holistic view of how the materialpos- matic strands of social studies. sessions, customary activities and beliefs of people within a culture are interrelated and inseparable."16 Literature for Children and Young Adults Lamrne identifies children's books for middle level A review of social studies journals fromrecent years pro- classes that tell stories about child laborers. Examples vides numerous examples of how literaturecan be the are The Bobbin Girl (1996), Working Cotton (1992) and "carrier" of knowledge for "young adults" (olderthan The Day of Ahmed's Secret (1990). (Allare annotated in 11) as well as the younger learner (ages 5-11). Examples this book.)17 follow for a variety of social studies classes foryoung Trade books for reducing violence have been iden- adults, such as history anthropology and citizenship. tified by Ronald A. Banaszak and Mary K. Banaszak. Banks suggests a literary approach to the study of They point out that during reading, students havethe immigration throughout history. Hestates that the opportunity to experience events along with the char- literary component of social studies unitscan present acters and realize consequences of violent behavior. "the human element as a balance to the...analysis of They recommend books such as Voices from theStreets: political and economic forces."12 In thesame issue of Former Gang Members Tell Their Stories and Dr. Seuss's Social Education, Connor speaks of teachingUnited The Butter Battle Book.18 States history thematically. She suggests organizinga The above citations certainly support the idea that course around central ideas rather than chronologi- using the books that are annotated in Chapters5-14 cal periods. In the summer, her future studentsare can be a powerful teaching/ learning strategy not only

16 for elementary children, but for older students as well. As a book examination center and research Elleman makes the following comment on using library the CCBC receives review copies of books with text and illustrations as follows: almost all of the trade and alternative press books published in English in the U.S.A. for Many people still question using picture books children and young adults during the year. with children beyond first or second grade. I Each week during 1997, we examined newly wonder why. Television and films rely mostly published books. We subsequently read many on pictures to tell their "stories"; a greater of them. We discussed hundreds formally or quotient of graphics to text is often found in informally with other librarians and educators magazines; coffee-table books proliferate; ad- in Wisconsin and elsewhere in the nation.20 vertisers use images to make their points in ads and commercials; CD-ROMs are filled Their work culminates annually with the publication with graphics; newspapers overflow with full- of CCBC Choices. In CCBC Choices the "excellent" books color photos and diagrams; and computer of the year are recommended. The authors state, "Our techies go to great lengths to embed more criteria are simple: an excellent book is both interesting graphics into new programs. Why, then, do and accurate. The way in which these criteria are real- we disparage picture books for older children? ized is as varied as the books themselves."21 But, we answer, older readers consider picture During the years 1990 through 1997, 1,615 titles ap- books baby books. If so, then where does that peared in Choices. These books, already judged by the attitude come from? They don't seem to con- panel of experts at CCBC to be interesting and accu- sider the images on the computer screen as rate, form the pool from which the social studies trade "babyish." Do we subconsciously foster and books recommended in this bulletin were selected. convey this attitude? The CCBC strongly encourages the use of a Short enough to read aloud in one sitting, "multicultural" collection of children's literature. They picture books are ideal to stimulate dassroom state their belief as follows: discussion; often filled with lyrical prose, they make good writing models; multilayered in The continuedand increasedpublication story and content, they work in numerous of a wide range of voices from a wide range connections across the classroom; and con- of cultural perspectives will help ensure that taining a wealth of art styles and mediums, all children will fmd validation in the books they offer rich aesthetic opportunities. When available to them to read, as well as a stronger we ignore picture books as a vehicle to share understanding of what it means to be a citi- with children beyond primary grades, we miss zen of their community, their nation and the a rich opportunity for turning children on to world.22 reading, learning, and appreciating art. The potential is there.19 Criteria for Book Selection Keeping in mind the Cooperative Children's Book Cen- The Cooperative Children's Book Center and ter criteria and the purpose of this publication, the fol- CCBC Chokes lowing are the first four criteria used for selecting the A search for current children's books for teaching so- books recommended in this publication: dal studies was conducted at the Cooperative Children's 1. The book has the potential for constructing one Book Center (CCBC) at the University of Wisconsin- or more of the ten thematic strands of social stud- Madison during the winter of 1996. The CCBC is a non- ies in the minds of children. circulating library of children's and young adult litera- 2. The book is interesting. (What this means for each ture. InCCBC Choices, 1997, Kathleen T Horning, Ginny book is as varied as the books themselves.) Moore Kruse, and Megan Schliesman describe the 3. The book is accurate and free of misconceptions CCBC and their role as follows: and stereotypes. 4. The collection of books, taken together, will present a multicultural view of the world. 17 17 Also taken into careful considerationwere the cri- CCBC Choices, 1997 (Madison: Cooperative Children's Book Cen- teria used by the Book Review Committee appointed ter, School of Education, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1997). by NCSS in cooperation with the Children's Book 3.Association for Library Service to Children, The Newbery and Caldecott Awards: A Guide to the Medal and Honor Books (Chicago: Council (CBC). Their annotated recommended list American Library Association, 1995); Children's Book Council, appears as Notable Children's Trade Books in the Field Children's Books: Awards and Prizes (New York: Children's Book Coun- of Social Studies each year in Social Education. Their cil, 1993); International Reading Association, "Children's Choices," criteria have been described as follows: The Reading Teacher, annually 4. Meredith J. McGowan and James H. Powell, "An Annotated.Bibli- ography of Resources for Literature-based Instruction," Social Edu- The selection committee looks for books that cation 60, no. 4 (1996), 231-232. emphasize human relations, represent a diver- 5. Priscilla H. Porter, editor. -Teacher's Resources: A Story Well Told." sity of groups and are sensitive to a broad range Social Studies and the Young Learner 8, no. 2 (1995), 23-26. 6. Laurel Singleton, H is for History: Using Children's Literature to De- of cultural experiences, present an original velop Historical Understandings (Boulder, Colorado: Social Science theme or a fresh slant on a traditional topic, are Education Consortium, 1995). easily readable and of high literary quality, and 7. Laurel Singleton, G is for Geography: Children's Literature and the Five have a pleasing format and, when appropriate, Themes (Boulder, Colorado: Social Science EclucationConsoreium, 1993). 8. Laurel Singleton, C is for Citizenship: Children's Literature and Civic illustrations that enrich the text.23 Understanding (Boulder, Colorado: Social Science Education Con- sortium, 1997). From consideration of the NCSS criteria,a fifth and 9. Janet Alleman and Jere Brophy, 'Trade-offs Embedded in the Liter- a sixth criterion were developed for selecting the books ary Approach to Early Elementary Social Studies," Social Studies and the Young Learner 6, no. 3 (1994), 6-8. for this bulletin. 10. Susan Wunder, 'Addressing the Curriculum Standanis for Social Stud- 5. The book is of high literary quality. ies with Children's Literature," Social Studies and the Young Learner 8, 6. The book has illustrations or photographs that di- no. 2 (1995), 4-7; Linda D. Labbo, Sherry L Field and Diane L. Brook, rectly support the text. "Safari Sojourns: Exploring South Africa with the New Geography Standards," Social Studies and the Young Learner, 8, no. 2 (1995), 8-12; Criterion six is based on a strong presumption that, DeAn M. Km" "Operationalizing the Thematic Strands of Social Stud- for many children and young adults, the imagespre- ies," Social Studies and the Young Learner 8, no. 1 (1995), 12-15 and 32. sented in a children's book are as powerfulas the text. 11. National Council for Social Studies, Book Review Committee, "1996 Too often, books with wonderful illustrationsare con- Notable Children's Trade Books in the Field of Social Studies," So- cial Education, 60, no. 4 (1996), Special Supplement; "1997 Notable sidered to be only picture books for the very youngest Children's Trade Books in the Field of Social Studies," Social Educa- readers in our schools. tion 61, no. 4 (1997), Special Supplement; "1998 Notable Children's The fmal criterion used for books selected for this Trade Books in the Field of Social Studies," Social Education 62,no. publication was: 4 (1998), Special Supplement. 12, Dennis Banks, "The Debate over Immigration Has a Human Face: 7. The book is developmentally appropriate for chil- A Literary Approach," Social Education 61, no. 4 (1997)198. dren in the age range indicated in the annotation. 13. Mary E. Connor, 'Teaching United States History Thematically" This determination of appropriatenesswas first Social Education 61, no. 4 (1997), 203-204. made by the panel of experts at CCBC. Each book is 14. John Ahern, and Alexa Sandmann, "Literature and Historya Fo- cus on the Era of the Great Depression and World War II (1929- listed with a recommended appropriateage range. 1945)," The Social Studies 88, no. 6 (1997), 277-282. Some examples are: Ages 3-6, Ages 4-10, Ages 5-8, Ages 15.David Traill, with the assistance of David Harvey "Team-teaching AP 6-11, Ages 7-10, Ages 8-12, Ages 9-11 and Ages 9-Adult. History and English," Social Education 62, no. 2 (1998), 77-79. Where this author believed a book to be especially 16. Joean Brodsky Schur, "From Fiction to Field Notes," Social Educa- tion 61, no. 7 (1997), 380-384. appropriate for older readers, the age range has been 17. Linda Leonard Lamme, "Child Laborers in Children's Literature," increased with the words "and older." Social Education 62, no. 1 (1998), in the Midrib- Level Learning supple- Chapter Three presents a number of examples of ment, M15-M16. social studies literature response activities thatare 18. Ronald A. Banaszak and Mary K. Banaszak, "Trade Books for Re- ducing Violence," Social Education 61, no. 5 (1997), 270-271. appropriate for use with many of the children's books 19. Barbara Elleman, editor, "Picture Book Potential," Book Links 5, described in the subsequent chapters. no. 4 (1996), 5. 20. Homing, Kruse and Schliesman, op. cit., 6 Notes 21.Ibid. 22. Op cit., 11. 1. RR. Bowker, Children's Books in Print (New Providence, NJ: Reed 23. "1998 Notable Children's Trade Books in the Field of Social Stud- Reference Publishing Company, 1998). ies,Social Education 62, no. 4 (1998), special supplement, 2. 2. Kathleen T Horning, Ginny Moore Kruse and Megan Schliesman,

18 I> CHAPTER UHIREEIE SOCIAL STUDIES LaERATURE RESPONSE AcrwrnEs

For an activity to qualify as a social studies literature re- dresses. Most of the sample activities can also be used sponse activity, it must have two characteristics. First, the with many other works of literature recommended activity must focus on the one or more thematic strands in this book. of social studies (i.e., Culture or Time, Continuity, and Change) that are developed in the trade book that is be- Linguistic Intelligence ing read. Second, the activity must be child-centered and Linguistic learners thrive on the use of words. They ex- varied to provide for the multiple intelligences possessed cel when they are asked to respond to a story in either by children. Only then will children be able to construct oral or written form. For example, a social studies litera- social studies knowledge and to refme and clarify the ture response activity to Margaree King Mitchell's Uncle meaning of a thematic strand in their minds. Jed's Barbershop would be a teacher-guided, planned dass Gardner has identified eight learning styles or ca- discussion.3 It would address the economic sacrifices pacities for learning that he calls multiple intelligences. Unde Jed made while trying to make a living during the Concisely defmed, they are: depression years in the segregated South. The teacher's 1.Linguistic. Children who are strongly linguistic role, in this case, would be to plan questions that would think in words. draw out student understandings and emotional re- 2.Logical-Mathematical. Children who are strongly sponses to the story, and develop the social studies strand logical-mathematical think by reasoning. of Production, Distribution, and Consumption at the 3.Spatial. Children who are strongly spatial think in same time. images and pictures. A written, linguistic response might follow the read- 4. Bodily-Kinesthetic. Children who are strongly ing of Snow Day by Barbara M. Joosse, in which a fam- bodily-kinesthetic think through somatic sensa- ily observes a day off from school.4 Learners could tions. write "big books" about what they did on a day off 5.Musical. Children who are strongly musical think during the school year. They would move through the via rhythms and melodies. process of brainstorming, writing, editing, illustrat- 6.Interpersonal. Children who are strongly interper- ing and publishing. An effective form of publishing is sonal think by bouncing ideas off other people. to have authors read their fmished books to younger 7.Intrapersonal. Children who are strongly children who have not seen the books in the making. intrapersonal think deeply inside of themselves.1 The "big books" could illustrate family traditions and 8.Naturalistic. Children who are strongly naturalis- cooperative activities with peer groups, and would tic think by using sensory input from nature.2 thus develop the social studies theme of Individuals, No single learning activity can accommodate all Groups, and Institutions. eight types of intelligence at once, but most activities Simple, linguistic prompts could be used to stimu- can speak to two or three intelligences at the same late writing after reading James Stevenson's I Had A Lot time. It is therefore important for teachers to keep of Wishes.5 Students could be asked to complete oneor track of the intelligences each social studies learning both of the following sentence stems, "My wish that experience addresses, so that, over time, all intelli- came true was ...." and "I am still wishing for...." gences will be accommodated. Many challenges are The social studies theme of Individual Development posed by the search for a balance that will enable all and Identity can be developed through this activity eight intelligences to be put to use. Each of the following social studies literaturere- Logical-Mathematical Intelligence sponse activities reflects a dimension of multiple in- Logical-mathematical learners excel in activities that call telligence theory, and each is presented in conjunc- for reasoning. After reading David Macaulay's Shortcut, tion with one of the trade books annotated later in learners could make cause-effect paper chains thatre- this book. The social studies thematic strandsare iden- count the series of events set in motion by the farmer, tified, along with the intelligences the activity ad- Albert, and his horse, June, as they made their way to

19 19 market one sunny day.6 This activity addresses the social enjoys sport and physical movement and has a sense of studies strand of Time, Continuity, and Change. timing when moving the body Mary D. Lankford's trade Creating a timeline is another logical-mathemati- book Hopscotch Around the World invites readersto actu- cal activity that could follow the reading of Anne ally engage in several versions of the game,as directed Shelby's Home Place.7 Children could chooseone of by the illustrations and instructions in the book.12 The the toys representing each of the six generations in book shows children throughout the world playing hop- the story, sketch it, and place it appropriatelyon a dass scotch, allowing students to learn the commonality of timeline, showing Time, Continuity, and Change. leisure pursuits and to understand reasons forsome of Having read Great Grandma Tells of Threshing Day, by the differences in the way the game is played. Older chil- Verda Cross, the teacher could take dictation from the dren can work in small groups to teachone another the students in order to create a chart to classify thegen- games. Younger children will need teacher guidance to der-determined working roles of men, women, and learn one game at a time. It is an ideal bodily-kinesthetic children during annual neighborhood threshing bees.8 activity that demonstrates similarity and differences in The book's setting is on the Great Plains of the mid- culture(s) (strand one). twentieth century The activity illustrates the social stud- Chato's Kitchen by Gary Soto is another book that ies strand of Individuals, Groups, and Institutions. suggests an activity that uses somatic sensations.13 In the book Chato prepares frijoles (beans), tortillas, salsa, Spatial Learners enchiladas, arroz (rice), guacamole, and flan (caramel Bonnie and Arthur Geisert's Haystack follows the changes custard). The teacher and learners might prepare just in a haystack, which is presented as a resource throughout one of the foods, while help could be enlisted from the seasons, as it serves people and animalson a Midwest- parents to prepare others. Both the preparation pro- ern farm.9 Since spatial learners rely on images and pic- cess and the tasting will stimulate the bodily-kines- tures, a social studies literature response activity to accom- thetic learner. In this activity, one aspect of Culture modate their needs would be to have students work in emerges. groups of four to sketch the haystack in each season. The Diane Hoyt Goldsmith's Pueblo Storyteller describes cycle diagrams could be used to create bulletin board dis- the process of forming the traditional storyteller fig- plays. In this case, the learner is acquiring knowledge and ure from clay, as seen through the eyes of an eight- understanding of the theme of Production, Consumption, year-old Cochiti girl.14 After reading the steps aloud and Distribution. and clarifying the steps, children can work in pairs with George Litdechild comments in verse and collage form day to form their own storytellers. One childcan form on his life as a member of the Cree nation in This Landis "the grandfather" or "grandmother" and the second my Land.10 A padal social studies literature response child can form the children. The pair should alsotry would be to have students use their individual dass pic- to remember a story they have heard their older rela- tures in personal collages that represent their own lives. tives tell, perhaps about a place they lived in the past This art project would reflect the social studies theme of and how they worked and had fun with family and Individual Development and Identity friends there. When the figures are complete and the In The Whispering Cloth, Pegi Dietz Shea presents stories recalled, they should be shared with another Hmong story cloths as a record of Hrnong migra- pair of children. It is clear that this activity accommo- tion.11 For a spatial activity, learners couldmake dates both the bodily-kinesthetic and the linguistic simple, sequential drawings that recalla move they intelligences, while building the social studies theme have made from one home to another,or a trip they of Culture. have takenperhaps even an overnight witha friend. Like the Hmong story cloths, the drawings should tell Musical Intelligence a story. The social studies theme of Time, Continuity The musical intelligence is characterized bya sensitivity and Change can be developed in this activity. to patterns of rhythms and tones. What a Wondeiful World, illustrated by Ashley Bryan, is a children's book that de- Bodily-Kinesthetic Intelligence velops the meanings in the song of the same tide made The learner with bodily-kinesthetic intelligencetunes in famous by Louis Armstrong.15 The bookportrays dif- to the world through touch and movement. This learner ferent environments in the world (deserts, jungles, fiords, r, 20 U mountains, farmlands, etc.). The illustrations use hot, In Marsha Wilson Chaffs Up North at the Cabin, the brilliant colors to portray each line of the lyrics. The chil- reader experiences a visit to "the cabin" through the dren in each scene are shown giving a puppet show. Of eyes of a young girl.19 After reading the story, learn- course this suggests that an appropriate social studies lit- ers could work in groups of four or five to pantomime erature response activity might be a puppet show set to the lake, the loon, the canoe, the dock, the chipmunk, the music. Listening to a tape or CD of the song, learn- or the woods. The rules for this interpersonal activity ing to sing the song, and creating scenery and puppets are: (1) no sounds can be used during the pantomime, will catalyze thought about Global Connections. (2) every member of the group must participate in In George Shannon's Climbing Kansas Mountains, a the pantomime, and (3) as each group begins its pan- boy and his father view their small prairie town from tomime, members must announce whether they are the top of an elevator. They discuss the patterns acting out a natural or man-made feature. The audi- formed by the streets, roads, and grain fields.16 They ence guesses what is being pantomimed. This activity see the details of a Kansas community from a new builds the social studies theme of People, Places, and perspective. A musical social studies response activity Environments. for this story could be writing lyrics to a familiar Elijah's Angel by Michael J. Rosen is a story about a melody about the learner's own town or city Chil- Jewish boy and his 80-year-old Christian friend, who dren would need to look carefully at their own sur- find a way to share their December holidays.20 An in- roundings to decide what to mention in their song. terpersonal follow-up activity for this book would be Songs that repeat themselves, such as "Old McDonald to have children interview important persons in their Had a Farm" work well for such an activity. This ac- lives about favorite holidays. The teacher should brain- tivity assists in teaching the social studies theme of storm with children about questions appropriate to People, Places, and Environment. ask in their interviews. Typical questions are: With Arnold Adoff's book Street Music: City Poems focuses whom do you usually spend time on that holiday? on the sounds of city life.17 A musical social studies lit- What do you do on that holiday? What foods do you erature response would be choral reading of the poetry. usually eat on that holiday? Why is it your favorite Working in pairs, the children should plan/orchestrate holiday? Older children can take brief notes; adults which voices should speak each line of the poem. For should assist younger children with their notes. The example, for the poem "Open Window," they would teacher should prepare a letter for young children to choose which voices in the class would speak the words carry to the interview. This interpersonal activity "dang," "bang," or "crash," "smash." Then, the whole builds the social studie§ theme of Individual Develop- dass could read one another's scripts. Inviting another ment and Identity class to hear the results is exciting for students as they learn about People, Places, and Environments. Intrapersonal Intelligence The learner who possesses intrapersonal intelligence The Interpersonal Learner enjoys working alone and feels confident doing it. This The learner with interpersonal intelligence possesses the learner seeks time to reflect on personal goals, strengths desire and ability to work in situations where thingscan and areas needing improvement. Megan McDonald's be talked over and planned with others for mutual ben- book Insects Are My Life introduces the reader to a child efit. In The Piñata Maker: El Piiiatero, author George who is enthralled with learning about insects.21 An Ancona shows Don Ricardo making a beautiful white intrapersonal social studies response activity for this book swan Piriata.18 Making a papier-mâché piriata in a trio is would be the creation of individual silhouettes of each an interpersonal activity that children enjoy. From plan- child. Over the course of several days, the teacher makes ning through the construction process, this project re- silhouettes of each child, or, alternatively, older children quires interaction. The interaction allows the learner to can trace one another's silhouettes. Then, each child is develop an understanding of the social studies theme of asked to decide what his or her favorite interest is (i.e., Culture, in this case, Mexican culture. what does he or she like to think about or do often?). A Another exciting interpersonal social studies litera- letter can be sent home asking the family to select a vari- ture response is pantomiming the natural and man- ety of objects symbolic of the child's interests, which usu- made geographical features found in a children's book. ally results in an interesting and educational collection.

21 21 Children may also be asked to find symbols of their in- Lynn Reiser's Beach Feet uses rhyme to explore hu- terests in a magazine or on a computer graphics program. man feet and marine life found at a beach.25 A natu- The objects can then be placed "inside" the silhouettes ralistic social studies literature response activity would of the children, which will be displayed in the dassroom. be to listen to a recording of the sounds of theocean This intrapersonal activity develops the social studies while writing rhyming verse about the activities that theme of Individual Development and Identity humans participate in when they visit a beach: pic- In Jo Hoestlandt's Star of Fear, Star of Hope, a story nicking, building sand castles, sunning, flying kites, set during the Holocaust, a Jewish child gives a home- playing volleyball or bird watching. The social studies made gift to her friend, who treasures the gift and the theme of People, Places, and Environmentscan be friendship forever.22 An intrapersonal activity would developed here. have the teacher prompt the learners to think ofone The book Seedfolks by Paul Fleischman is set inan of their good friends. Then a variety of materials economically disadvantaged urban neighborhood in would be provided so that children could makeap- which some of the residents are relativenewcomers propriate gifts to give to their friends. In this case, in to the United States and others have lived there for a which a friend disappeared as a result ofgovernment lifetime.26 One byone they claim a spot in a vacant persecution and never returned, both the themes of lot and plant gardens. Each one treasures hisor her Power, Authority, and Governance and Individual own garden for different reasons and becomes a hap- Development and Identity are promoted. pier, healthier person. A naturalistic social studies re- Another intrapersonal activity would begin with lis- sponse to this story would be a dass community beau- tening to the song "Getting to Know You," after which tification project such as making a small planting ina the teacher and children would read Kodomo by Susan park or preparing a planter for a senior citizens'cen- Kuklin.23 In this book, individual Japanese childrenare ter. From fundraising to planting and tending the described in words and photographs. Information is plants, the activity exemplifies the social studies theme included about their ages, their siblings, their lives at of Civic Ideals and Practices. home, their lives at school, and their personal interests. After sharing the book, the teacher can prompt learn- Notes ers to think of the things about themselves that they 1. Thomas Armstrong, Multiple Intelligences in the Classroom (Al- could share with a child who lives somewhere else in exandria, VA: Association for Supervision and Curriculum the world. This list could be entered in their journalsto Development, 1994), 27. 2.Howard Gardner, "Reflections on Multiple Intelligences: Myths be referred to when the teacher provides them withan and Messages," Phi Delta Kappan 77, no. 3 (1995), 200-209. e-mail, or pen-pal address of a child from anotherpart 3. For more details about Unde Jed's Barbershop, see p. 149 below. of the world. The theme of Global Connections would 4. For more details about Snow Day, see p. 132 below. be the social studies focus of this lesson. 5. For more details about I Had A Lot of Wishes, see p. 110 below. 6.For more details about Shortcut, see p. 116 below. 7. For more details about Home Place, see p. 64 below. Naturalistic Intelligence 8.For more details about Great Grandma Tells of Threshing Day, Naturalistic intelligence is the ability to usesensory input see p. 87 below. 9. from nature to gain information and enhance one's ability For more details about Haystack, see p. 87 below. 10. For more details about This Land Is My Land, see p. 70 below. to adapt and survive in the world. In Kathryn Lasky's book 11. For more details about The Whispering Cloth, see p. 53 below. The Most Beautiful Roof in the World: Exploring the Rainforest 12. For more details about Hopscotch Around the World, see p. 161 Canopy, the reader is introduced to scientist Meg Lowman below. and her two sons.24 In this true story, rock climbing equip- 13. For more details about Chato's Kitchen, see p. 31 below. 14. For more details about Pueblo Storyteller, see p. 46 below. ment is used to gather specimens from the upper layers of 15. For more details about What A Wondetful World, see p. 52 be- the rainforest in order to learn about its ecosystem. Aso- low. cial studies response activity would be a field trip toa na- 16. For more details about Climbing Kansas Mountains, see p. 83 ture center, where guides point out common specimens below. 17. For more details about Street Music: City Poems, see p. 95 bein an ecosystem and students record their observations in low. the same manner as Lowman. This naturalistic activity 18. For more details about The Piñata Maker: El Pifiatero, see pp. develops the social studies theme of Science, Tedinology 45-46 below. and Society in the minds of children. 19. For more details about Up North at the Cabin, see p. 96 below. 20. For more details about Elijah's Angel, see pp. 127-28 below. 22 4 4 21. For more details about Insects Are My Life, see p. 111 below. 22. For more details about Star of Fear, Star of Hope, see p. 142 below. 23. For more details about Kodomo, see p. 39 below. 24. For more details about The Most Beautifid Roof in the World, see p. 154 below. 25. For more details about Beach Feet, see p. 80 below. 26. For more details about Seedfolks, see pp. 169-70 below.

2 3

23 C C-0 FT IE 11.13 SELECTION CRITERIA

The ten chapters that follow contain annotated lists of minds of children. children's books published in the 1990s that offer particu- 2. The book is interesting. (The way this is accom- larly valuable support for standards-based social studies plished in each book is as varied as the books them- teaching. Each chapter includes books that representone selves.) of the ten thematic standards of social studies. The col- 3. The book is accurate and free of misconceptions lection indudes the following literary genres: (a) histori- and stereotypes. cal fiction; (b) contemporary realistic fiction; (c) picture 4. The collection of books, taken together, will books; (d) biographies and autobiographies; (e)poetry present a multicultural view of the world. and song books; (f) informational books; and (g) folk- 5. The book is of high literary quality. lore. 6. The book has illustrations or photographs which The books lend themselves to a variety of reading support the text. strategies. Many would be wonderful for teachers to 7. The book is developmentally appropriate for young read aloud. Some could be used with smallgroups of readers. children in literature circles. Others Could be read in- dependently by children. And still others could be of- Classification by the Ten Thematic Strands of fered in sets for children to selectas resources for Social Studies project work. Teachers will need to guide students To reiterate, the ten thematic strands of social studies toward books which meet their particular reading sought in the books were: skills. o CULTURE O TIME, CONTINUITY, AND CHANGE The Screening Process O PEOPLE, PLACES, AND ENVIRONMENTS No claim is made here that the recommended collection O INDIVIDUAL DEVELOPMENT AND IDENTITY contains the "best" or the "only" books written in the o INDIVIDUALS, GROUPS, AND INSTITUTIONS 1990s for teaching social studies. But the collection pre- ID POWER, AUTHORITY, AND GOVERNANCE sented has undergone a double screeningprocess, first O PRODUCTION, DISTRIBUTION, AND CONSUMPTION by the panel of experts at the Cooperative Children's e SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, AND SOCIETY Book Center in Madison, Wisconsin, and secondly, by O GLOBAL CONNECTIONS the author. However, not every book in the collection is O CIVIC IDEALS AND PRACTICES' for every child, every classroom settingor every family. Teachers must engage in a third readingor screening In the chapters that follow, each book has been clas- which focuses on the appropriateness of the book for sified according to the principal thematic strand of their particular classroom and school community. social studies that is represented in its text and illus- It is intended that the books in this collection will trations. Many books incorporate more than oneso- (a) serve as models of the types of books that incor- cial studies thematic strand, and in these cases thean- porate the thematic strands of social studies and (b) notation records the second and third most important exemplify the high quality of children's literature that strands represented in the book. Although each book is currently available for classroom use in social stud- is listed and annotated according to the strand with ies. Most importantly, this collection is presentedto which it is most strongly connected, at the end of each assist teachers in the process of locating the children's chapter is a list of books whose second or thirdmost books they need for teaching social studies in their important thematic strand is the same as the theme classrooms. of the chapter. The criteria for selecting the books in thisrecom- To take an example, Paula Kurzband's The Feather- mended collection were: Bed Journey is classified under the theme of Time, 1. The book has the potential to develop oneor more Continuity, and Change in Chapter 6 because the of the ten thematic strands of social studies in the feather bed was made in another era by a Jewishgreat-

25 AIN 0 E grandmother in Poland and later sent to a grandmother in America.2 A secondary theme in the book LAUA tES HOR ES is Power, Authority and Governance because the story Joan ewe .Photograp deals with German government actions that forced by Richard Hewett. Clario ,1990) 40 Jewish people into ghettos in Poland. Third, Global pages.1.5BN.0-89919-844-9.Leyel:Ages 4-9. Eight-year old Laura Santana grew up surrounded by the Connections are apparent in the book as a Jewish fam- activiries at the southern California boarding and riding ily hears how the feather bed was sent to America by stable where her father is employed and near which the a Polish farmer who helped save grandma's life. family lives. To this Mexien-American child's long-time The reader will observe, upon examination of the list, that some thematic strands are more frequently pleasure in riding Sugar Baby bareback down to the creek developed in the content of the books than others. are now added riding lessons which prepare her to compete in her first horse showThirty-five full-color photo- This reflects the current coverage of the strands by graphs well placed on the pages picture Laura enjoying trade books of the kind presented here. Part of the both kinds of riding, while the short text in a large type- reason for this disproportionality is that a number of face echoes this spirit. strands in the social studies standards are broader than othersfor example, those dealing with Culture 0 0 (strand I), Time, Continuity and Change (II), or People, Places and Environments (III). It is predictable that The descriptive annotations for each book were prepared for CCBC Choices by the panel of experts at the more titles will appear under these themes than, say, under the more limited and focused theme of Science, Cooperative Children's Book Center, on the campus of the University of Wisconsin-Madison.3 The author Technology and Society (VIII). In this author's opin- of this book has selected the 547 books from CCBC ion, the infrequently represented strands in this col- lectionstrands VI-Xare probably also not being Choices because of their applicability to social studies themes and classified each book according to its ma- given enough attention by publishers of trade books at the present time. jor, second, and third thematic strands. Educators interested in the use of trade books to sup- About the Annotations port their social studies teaching can fmd up-to-date information on publishers in Children's Books in Print.4 The following is a model of the annotation system similar in style, though different in text, to the model that For easier ordering by libraries, media centers or bookstores, the ISBN (International Standard Book Num- appears on page 2 of the Notable Children's Trade Books ber) of each book has been included in the annotation pull-out. Each annotation contains the following information: in addition to the standard information on the title, author, illustrator, publisher and year of publication. () Title: Subtitle

2 Author Notes () Illustrator / Photographer 1. National Council for the Social Studies (NCSS), Expectations of Excellence: Curriculum Standards for Social Studies (Washing- () Publisher and Year ton, D.C.: National Council for the Social Studies, 1994), x-xii. © Number of pages 2. For more details about The Feather-BedJourney, see p. 62 below. 3. CCBC Choices is published in Madison, WI, by the Cooperative © International Standard Book Number (ISBN) Children's 13ook Center annually. This book has benefited spe- () Age Level cifically from the selections and annotations in Kathleen T Horning, Ginny Moore Kruse and Merri V. Lindgren, CCBC ® Descriptive annotation Choices 1990; CCBC Choices 1991; and CCBC Choices 1992; () Thematic strands of the curriculum standards for Kathleen T. Horning, Ginny Moore Kruse, Megan Schliesman, social studies (see list above) by first, second, and with Merri V Lindgren, CCBC Choices 1993; and Kathleen T Horning, Ginny Moore Kruse and Megan Schliesman, CCBC third choice Choices 1994; CCBC Choices 1995; CCBC Choices 1996; and CCBC Choices 1997. 4.R.R. Bowker. Children's Books in Print. New Providence, NJ: Reed Reference Publishing Company, 1998.

r 26 4., CCilkgoVER [FEIVIE CHILDREN'S TRADE BOOKSWITH CULTURE AS nm MAJOR THEMATIC STRAND

ABUELA'S WEAVE ALL NIGHT, ALL DAY:A CHILD'S FIRST BOOK OF Omar S.Castaneda. Illustrated by Enrique O. Sanchez (Lee & AFRICAN-AMERICAN SPIRITUALS Low,1993) 32 pages.ISBN:1-880000-00-8.Level:Ages 6-9. Ashley Bryan.(Atheneum Publishers,1991) 48 pages.ISBN: 0- When it comes to weaving, young Esperanza couldn't 689-31662-3.Level:AII ages. have a better teacher than her grandmother,a Mayan The words and music to twenty spiritualsare accompa- elder who is well known for her beautiful tapestries in nied by luminous full-color paintings. Bryan'sart pro- the rural area of Guatemala where they live. But when it vides a lush, visual interpretation of well-knownsongs comes to taking the weavings into town to sell at mar- such as "I'm Going to Eat at the Welcome Table," "Pe- ket, her grandmother insists on staying behind. She is ter, Go Ring the Bells," and the title song, "All Night, All afraid that the birthmark on her face will discouragecus- Day" This is a welcome addition to Bryan's earlier tomers from buying their work, and she is especially anx- children's books that interpret this distinctive, African ious for the elaborate weaving she and Esperanza worked American contribution to music. on together to get the attention it deserves. Abuela's re- 0 luctance to enter the marketplace makes Esperanza feel self-conscious about the items she has for sale, until she ALPHABET CITY sees customers walking past the commercial stalls to look Stephen T.Johnson. (Viking,1995) 32 pages.ISBN:0-670-85631- at her weavings. Brightly colored, distinctive illustrations 2. Level:Ages3-6. by a talented new artist add to the overall appeal. Au- Paintings that resound with the realism of photo- thentic cukural details enrich both thetext and the pic- graphs offer an enticing array of hidden (andnot-so- tures in this unusual story of a child's first steps toward hidden) treasures in a book that fmds letters of the pride and self-sufficiency alphabet in cityscapes and city objects. Johnson's vi- O 00 sion invites readers to lookand then look againat the world around them. AHYOKA AND THE TALKING LEAVES O 0 Peter and Connie Roop. Illustrated by Yoshi Miyake (Lothrop, Lee & Shepard1992) 60 pages. ISBN: 0-688-10697-8. Level:Ages7-10 THE AMAZING PAPER CUTrINGS OF and older. HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSEN By developing a writing system for use by the Cherokee Beth Wagner Brust (licknor& Fields,1994) 80 pages.ISBN:0- people, the Cherokee leader Sequoyah did after twelve 395-66787-9. Level:Ages 8-12 and older. years "what no one person had ever done beforehe had During a visit to the Hans Christian Andersen Museum created a written language from a spoken language." in Odense, Denmark, the author learned about thepa- Sequoyah's accomplishments come to life throughout this per cuttings often created by Andersen as gifts to young original story featuring Sequoyah'syoung daughter, people. In an amazing book illustrated with thirty-three Ahyoka. The easy-to-read, six-chapter book is illustrated black-and-white paper cuttings, Brust shares her admira- with eighteen black-and-white drawings. The 86-symbol tion for this dimension of the Danish writer whose world Cherokee syllabary appears at the beginning of thestory fame stems from autobiographical writings basedon his A short bibliography follows the authors' epilogue which harsh early years. The bibliography andsource notes are provides facts about the famous American Indian leader, organized according to the six short chapters. in whose honor the "towering majestic redwoods"were O 0 named, Sequoia National Park was created, and thean- nual Sequoyah Children's Book Awand is given by Okla- homa children. O 0 2 6 27 THE AMERICAN EYE: ELEVEN ARTISTS OF THE person voice provides the narrative for this engaging TWENTIETH CENTURY photoessay in which readers get a glimpse into other as- Jana Greenberg and Sandra Jordan.(Delacorte,1995)120 pects of Anthony's life and community as well, from his pages. ISBN:0-385-32173-2. Level:Ages 10-18 and older. interest in basketball, to the importance of extended fam- The authors profile pioneering contemporary artists, ily gatherings, to his excitement at the pending arrival of giving examples of their art reproduced in full color, ana- a new baby brother or sister. lyzing what makes each great, and suggesting why each 00 artist is distinctively American. At the end of the text, readers will fmd a sixty-six term glossary offering a vir- ANY KIND OF DOG tual course in art appreciation, data about each artwork Lynn Reiser.(Greenwillow,1992) 24 pages.ISBN:0-688-10915-2. pictured, a list of where to see works by the artists, a Level:Ages3-6. general bibliography as well as one for each artist, and a "Richard wanted a dog, any kind of dog. But his mother

standard index. The artists are Arthur Dove, Georgia said a dog was too much trouble..." Each of the substi- O'Keeffe, Edward Hopper, Thomas Hart Benton, Stuart tutes that Richard's mother offers in place of a dog (cat- Davis, Romare Bearden, Isamu Noguchi, David Smith, erpillar, mouse, alligator, lamb, etc.) has a feature in com- Jackson Pollock, Andy Warhol, and Eva Hesse. A fine mon with one breed of dog shown in the illustration on companion to the authors' earlier works, THE the facing page (an alligator, for example, is long like a PAINTER'S EYE: LEARNING TO LOOK AT CON- dachshund), but Richard only wants a dog. The patterned TEMPORARY AMERICAN ART (Delacorte, 1991) and language of the text balances the exaggerated humor of THE SCULPTOR'S EYE: LOOKING AT CONTEMPO- the illustrations in this delightful picture book. RARY AMERICAN ART (Delacorte, 1993). 0 0 ARCTIC MEMORIES ANGEL'S KITE / LA ESTRELLA DE ANGEL Normee Ekoomiak (Henry Hok1990) 32 pages. ISBN:0-8050- Alberto Blanco. Illustrated by Rodolfo Morales. (Children's Book 1254-0. Level:Age .5 and older. Press,1994) 32 pages.ISBN: 0-89239-121-9. Level:Ages4-Z Seventeen extraordinary full-color reproductions of fab- An enchanting picture book featuring lively, colorful col- ric art works composed of felt applique and embroidery lage art and an engaging, original story about Angel, a show Inuit ice fishing, "Iglu" life, blanket tossing, and young man who consoles himself over the disappearance other games, legends, and seasonal events, induding an of the church bell in his Mexican town by making beau- Inuit Nativity. The artist's written interpretations of spe- tiful kites. His "comets" and "stars," as the kites are called, cific Inuit traditions integrate his personal worldview with cheer everyone but Angel himself until he creates one times and events almost totally past in James Bay in Arc- particular kite that is not only beautiful, but magical as tic Quebec. The parallel, bilingual limit-English texts are well. Originally written in Spanish, the text is presented visually striking. Important background information at in English and Spanish. The singular illustrations are alive the end describes the Inuit people and language as well with detail created from items that the artist in every child as contemporary Inuit art and artists. Ekoomiak's own will recognize: string, foil stars, tissue paper, fabric, and words explain how permanent damage to his hearing in other art box treasures. childhood never keeps him from hearing the language of the earth's creatures. Ekoomiak's artistic tribute to his people combined with his expressions of natural unity ANTHONY REYNOSO: BORN TO ROPE result in a one-of-a-kind book offering multiple levels of Martha Cooper and Ginger Gordon. (Clarion,1996) 32 pages. information and insight. ISBN:0-395-71690-X Level:Ages 7-10. 0 0 Anthony Reynoso is nine years old and lives with his parents in Guadalupe, Arizona. Like his father and grandfa- ASHLEY BRYAN'S ABC OF AFRICAN AMERICAN ther before him, Anthony is practicing to become a POETRY charro, or Mexican cowboy. He is a skilled rider and roper, Ashley Bryan. (Jean KarVAtheneum,1997) 32 pages.ISBN: 0-689- but there is always more to learn from his father, with 81209-4. Level:Ages 6-12. whom he also performs in exhibitions. Anthony's first- Lines and images from African American poetry form 28 27 the foundation of this unusual alphabet book in which the Little Bethel A.M.E. Churchserve as the geographic Bryan lets form and content inspire one another. Rather locales for Down Home family events rich in emotion than trying to arrange the names of twenty-sixpoets so and memory Johnson's characters have distinctive faces that each corresponds to a single letter of the alphabet, and great body language. Her etchings and aquatints with or finding poems in which the first letter of the first word watercolor and colored pencil are wondetfully effectivein would do the same, Bryan was moved to create tempera this warm story celebrating and elevating small, happymo- and gouache images inspired by individualpoems and ments in a conscious echo of the mid-twentieth century then "use only the lines of eachpoem that inspired the O 0 image, and... capitalize the alphabet letter wherever it occurred in those lines." The result isan alphabet book BLESSED ARE YOU:TRADITIONAL EVERYDAY for older children that offers a world of cultural richness HEBREW PRAYERS and is not bound by traditional rules (though all twenty- Michelle Edwards. (Lothrop, Lee& Shepard,1993) pages.158N: six letters do make an appearance, in their usual order). 0-688-10760-5.Level:Ages Each dazzling page of this 121/2 x 91/2 in. volume features Brief traditional Hebrew prayerssuggest opportunities for a full-page image in Bryan's vibrant color scheme. In the opening and dosing the day, asking for comfort, and offer- upper left-hand corner of the page is the alphabet letter; ing expressions of thanksgiving and wonder. Thirteentexts in the lower left-hand corner is the shortpoem or ex- are decorated with small paintings and borders and printed cerpted lines that relate directly to theart, with the fea- in Hebrew and English with transliterations of the He- tured letter emphasized. At the bottom of thepage is brew on the left side of each doublepage spread. Each the name of the African Americanpoet who wrote the full-page picture on the right sidesuggest a contemporary words. An acknowledgmentspage is arranged by each familymost often a brother and sister with their baby letter of the alphabet and provides the full bibliographic brotherengaged in ordinary activities: camping in the citation for each poem or excerpt in this bold, dynamic backyard, baking bread, watching a thunderstorm, play- book. ing on an ocean beach, burying a tiny dead pet in the woods, 0 enjoying a book together on the sofa. The childrenare not pictured praying "because remembering God ispart of ATTHE BEACH their everyday lives." The distinctive full-color paintings Huy Voun Lee. (Henry Holt 1994) 24 pages.158N:0-8050-2768-8. and decorations were created for the 91/4 by 11 in. bookin Level:Ages 6-10. watercolor, gouache, and colored pencil. There's no better place for Xiao Ming to practice hisChi- O 0 nese character writing than in the sand at the beach, where real people and objects mirror the images of thecharac- A BLUE BUTTERFLY:A STORY ABOUT CLAUDE ters he is writing. Cut-paper collages work beautifullyto MONET convey abstract symbols through simple, concrete images, Bijou Le Tord.(Doubleday,1995)32 pages.LSBN:0-385-31102-8. from "big' (a man stretched outon the beach) to "good" Level:Ages 5-8. (mother and child together). The beauty and heart of Monet's artistry is the subject of 000 this graceful picture book that touchesupon the passion of the painter and his exquisite work. Ina text that is fewer BIG MEETING than two hundred words, Le Tord describes Monet's paint- Dee Parmer Woodtorillustrated by Dolores Johnson. (Ath- ing in language that is as carefully chosen and placedas eneum,1996) 32 pages. ISEIN:0-689-31933-9. Level: Ages 3-8. brushstrokes on a canvas. Words placed ina deliberate "It happens the third week of August, insome places the vertical arrangement on the page encourage readersand second, when people get together DownHome." Ex- listenersto savor the images they create. Le Tord's illus- tended families from most heritages hold regularfamily trations are inspired by Monet's work. A loving, carefully gatherings, but reunions have particular significancefor crafted introduction to an artist who amazed and inspired, many African American families. Readers are reminded and to the wonder of nature that amazed and inspired of or introduced to this special experience throughone him. family's visit Down Home, "a placeto run free," accord- O 00 ing to the young narrator. Grandma Bessie'splace and

n 8 29 BOODIL MY DOG THE CAROLERS Pqa Lindenbaum. (Henry Holt,1992) 48 pages.1.58N: 0-8050- Georgia Guback(Greenwillow,1992) 32 pages. ISBN: 0-688- 2444-1.Level:Ages 3-7. 09772-3.Level:Ages 2-8. According to the narrator of this story Boodil the bullterrier A group of young carolers bearing a star enters a pictur- is the most amazing dog in the worldonly her remarkable esque village decorated with Christmas lights. When the self-control keeps her from tearing the dreaded vacuum carolers are outside a home singing "0 Little Town of cleaner to pieces, for example. While Boodil's adoring owner Bethlehem," the landscape of Christmas Bethlehem can describes all of her dog's endearing and impressive qualities, be seen near them and music for the carol runs along the viewers get quite a different picture from the illustrations of bottom of both pages. The next double page picture an ordinary, slightly lethargic, pink-tummied, overstuffed sau- shows a white family inside the home decorating cook- sage of a dog who is, indeed, everything her enthusiastic ies amidst other holiday preparations. The family joins owner imagines her to beand more! the carolers to sing "The First Noel" at the next house 0 where, once again, readers see both outside (the scene of an angel appearing to shepherds) and inside (a black BROWN ANGELS:AN ALBUM OF PICTURES AND family involved in holiday activity). At each stop the car- VERSE olers make, another part of the Christmas Story unfolds Walter Dean Myers. (HatperCollins,1993) 40 pages.158N: 0-06- in a new carol, outdoor scene, and indoor family life. One 022917-9.Level:All ages. family seems to be grandparents while another is a Original rhymes and poems accompany old photographs woman and two children. The six families have visibly of young African American children collected by Myers. distinctive ways of observing Christmas: some customs Myers comments in his brief opening statement that are religious, some are ethnic, and some are secular. Each these were children both loved in their time by the adults family joins in the spontaneous outdoor community cel- who prepared them for a photograph and valued by the ebration. Reading the pictures as this cumulative, word- person behind the camera. By immortalizing these less story evolves invites singing along. The artist devel- Brown Angels, Myers implies the importance of all chil- oped a fresh concept by creating full-color art done in dren. In writing about them, he emphasizes their beauty cut-paper collage. and worth. Preschoolers will enjoy paging through the O 0 album to see other children in photographs. Older children might make up stories about them and their families or CELEBRATING KWANZAA wonder about photographs kept by their own families. Adults Diane Hoyt-Goldsmith. Photographs by Lawrence Migdale can reflect upon what can be understood by seeing the faces, (Holiday House,1993) 32 pages.158N: 0-8234-1048-X Level:Ages little suits and dresses, ribbons and ties, bare feet and toys. 5-12 This exquisitely designed and printed album of brown-toned Eighth-grader Andiey Barnes tells how her five-genera- photos is wonderfully decorated with the recurring image tion Chicago-area family celebrates the seven-day Afri- of a full-color bin-I in flight. Elegant bookmaking expresses can American festival that begins on December 26th. The Myers' tender respect for these children of yesterday. origin of this celebration and its founder, Dr. Maulana O 0 Karenga, are introduced, as are the Seven Principles. Ex- pressions of cultural pride from present and past African CANTO FAMILIAR American leaders are quoted to underscore the Kwanzaa Gaty Sotoillustrated by Annika Nelson.(Harcourt Brace1995) values expressed throughout the book, which will ap- 79 pages.ISBN:0-15-200067-4.Level:Ages 9-12. peal to older children as well as families. Sections show- Gary Soto offers twenty-five original poems in a collec- ing Chicago's Ujamaa market and the family's Kwanzaa tion that is rich with the sounds and images of Mexican Karaamu, or feast, are two of several distinctive features American culture and brims with experiences of child- of this striking 91/4 by 1014 in. color photodocumentary hood. Little brothers, serapes, lost eyeglasses, tortillas, account. dish washing, math tests, and other familiar events and O 00 objects are depicted in poems that weave Spanish words, like touchstones, into their fabric. Colorful full-page prints by Annika Nelson accompany some poems. O 0 30 CHAMPIONS: STORIES OF TEN REMARKABLE cook, and fire-fighter are just a few of the occupations ATHLETES described. Each of them is connected by a child-narrator's Bill Littlefield. illustrated by Bernie Fuchs. (Littlarown,1993)132 voice as she talks about the various workers she encoun- pages.ISBN:0-316-52805-6.Level:Ages 7-12. ters in her neighborhood. Her witty stream-of-conscious- Ten athletes presented in this 111/2 by 81h in. volumeare ness description reveals as much about herself, her family introduced briefly, then quoted, and finally pictured in and her neighborhood as it does about the world of work chapters laced with dialogue. The athletes are Satchel 000 Paige (baseball player), Julie Krone (jockey), "Pele" (soccer player), Joan Benoit Samuelson (runner), Nate CHRISTMAS IN THE BIG HOUSE, CHRISTMAS IN Archibald (basketball player), Susan Butcher (dogsled THE QUARTERS racer), Muhammad Ali (boxer), Billie Jean King (tennis Patrida C and Fredrick LMciassack Illustrated byJohn player), Diana Golder (skier), and Roberto Clemente Thompson. (Scholastic 1994) 68 pages.ISBN:0-590-43027-0. (baseball player). Paintings of the athletes are eachre- Level:Ages 8-13 and older. produced on a full page in full color, contributingan- To depict daily life for the two communities living in par- other unique dimension to an absorbing book. allel realities on a Virginia plantation during December 0 0 1859,the authors gained access to primary source materials from Tidewater plantation records and held inter- CHATO'S KITCHEN views there to find out more family histories. Wisely set- Gary Sotollustrated by Susan Guevara.(Putnam,1995) 32 ting their text immediately before the outbreak of the pages.ISBN:0-399-22658-3.Level:Ages 4-8. Civil War, the McKissacks offer an amazing balance of Chato and his best friend Novio Boy are streetwise cool perspectives while they report the distinctive culture of cats from "East Los" who are thrilled when a family of the Quarters. Showing the misery as well as the dignity mice moves in next door. When Chato invites hisnew of families in captivity, they allow readers to draw their neighbors over for dinner, they innocently accept,not own condusions. Thompson's detailed paintings ren- realizing that their host plans to serve them as the main dered in acrylic and reproduced in full-color recreate the course. Gary Soto skillfully integrates Spanish into the season and the buildings as well as some of the distinc- text of this wry cat-and-mouse tale. While surprising plot tive Afro-centric head-wraps of enslaved women and twists and amusing turns of phrase will delightmono- holiday decorations in the Big House. Both the text and lingual English-speaking readers, there will be double the the illustrations move far beyond conventional media- fun for those who understand Spanish as well,as Soto induced images of plantation life. Incomparable in scope, plays with both languages simultaneously Equally play- content, and emotional impact, this well-designed, easy- ful is artist Susan Guevara, who fills her illustrations with to-read account furnishes provocative information and cultural references: a calendar page open to May5(Cinco offers dynamic year-round reading. de Mayo); an elegant birds' wedding taking place ina 000 mailbox; and tiny letters on a banana label readingsangre de Honduras. Small visual details suchas these add an CHRISTMAS TREE MEMORIES extra layer of meaning for observant readers without Aliki.(HarperCollin.1991) pagesiSBN:0-06-020007-3.Level: detracting from the overall fun of the story. Guevara's Ages 3-6. style suits the broad humor perfectly,as she is especially Two lively children and their parents settle down fora gifted at expressing subtleties of character throughcon- snack in front of their lighted tree on Christmas Eve. trolled exaggeration. iDelicioso! "Some of the ornaments were older than the children. 0 But most of them the family had made, some together with friends." Scraps of conversation and accompanying CHICKEN SOUP BOOTS double-page spreads picture the origin of familiar deco- Maria Kalman. (Viking,1993) 36 pages. ISBN: 0-670-85201-5. rations: a walnut cradle from Granny's, stained glass cook- Level:Ages4-8. ies shaped in kindergarten, the late Aunt Eunice's lion Kalman's highly original artistic and literary perspectives and lamb, museum origami, spool figures made during distinguish a picture book about people at work. Atrav- recovery from chicken pox, and a starfish Santa. Seasonal eling salesman, composer, doorman, artist, short-order mementos and the anecdotes they evoke suggest a 0 () v 31 family's shared experiences as well as the anticipation of will challenge children to consider the people and world Christmas Day. Ink, watercolors, and pencil crayons were around them. Inspired readers will want to follow some used by the artist to create the images for this lovely book. of the tips at the end of the text for exploring new neigh- O 00 borhoods and making a video like the one on which this book is based. THE CIRCLE OF THANKS: NATIVE AMERICAN O 0 POEMS AND SONGS OF THANKSGIVING Joseph Bruchac. Illustrated by MutvJacob. (Bridge Water,1996) COMING HOME: 32 pages.ISBN:0-8167-4012-Z Level:Ages 7-11 and older. FROM THE LIFE OF LANGSTON HUGHES American Indian peoples from across the country recite Floyd Cooper. (Philomel,1994) 32 pages.ISBN:0-399-22682-6. poems and songs of thanks to acknowledge their grad- Level:Ages 4-12 nide for creation and the bounty of the natural world. Cooper's lyrical prose and striking full-color paintings are Abenaki storyteller and writer Joseph Bruchac retells combined in this brief, moving portrait about a promi- some of these thanksgiving poems in a collection illus- nent writer of the Harlem Renaissance. His grandma trated with Cherokee painter Murv Jacob's singular full- took care of young Langston Hughes in Kansas; she had color art, which reflects the heritage of the people from once worked on the Underground Railroad, and so he which each poem or song originated. Reader-friendly heard those stories, along with ones she told him about notes at the end of the text provide additional informa- John Brown, the Buffalo soldiers, and his own grandfa- tion on the importance of each poem's subject. ther. Although Hughes apparently felt emotionally home- O 0 less as a youth, his life and works continue to offer both hope and home to many. A tour de force by Floyd Cooper. CLEAN YOUR ROOM, HARVEY MOON! O 00 Pat Cummings. (Bradbury Press.1991) 32 pages.ISBN:0-02- 725511-5.Level:Ages 3-6. CONFETI1 POEMS FOR CHILDREN The Voice of Doom that Harvey Moon hears when he Pat Morafilustrated by Enrique °Sanchez (Lee & Low,1996)28 has has settled down to watch Saturday morning cartoons pages.ISBN:1-880000-25-3. Level:Ages 5-8. is that of his mother, reminding him to clean his room. "Red shouts a loud, balloon-round sound..." (from "Col- A humorous, rhyming text lists the ordinary and the ex- ors Cradde, Colors Roar"). Children will delight in the traordinary items for which poor Harvey has to find a imagery and rhythm of these thirteen lively, evocative place while the colorful, angular illustrations amusingly poems from writer Pat Mora. Spanish words are used depict the child's archetypal problem bedroom. throughout and are defined in a glossary at the end of O 0 the book. Sanchez illustrates each verse with colorful acrylic art that is filled with energy and joy. COME HOME WITH ME:A MULTICULTURAL 0 TREASURE HUNT Aylette Jenness. Illustrated by Laura beSantis. Photographs by CUCKOO: A MEXICAN FOLKTALE/ Max Belcher. (The New Press,1993) 48 pages.ISBN:1-56584-064- CUCO: UN CUENTO FOLKLORICO MEXICANO X. Level:Ages 7-12 and older. Translated into Spanish by Gloria de Arag6n And6jar. Abdus is African American, Annie is Irish American, (Harcourt Brace,1997) 36pages. ISBN: 0-15-200274-X. Marcos is Puerto Rican, and Terri is Cambodian. These Level:Ages 3-9. four friendly, appealing tour guides take readerson an Even though Cuckoo was admired for her lovely voice exploration of the ethnically diverse Boston neighbor- and bright feathers, a little goes a long way when one is hoods in which they live in a different kind of adventure also vain and lazy "Even the sweetest song can turn sour story that combines lively, informative text with photo- = Pero aim la canción mcis (Juice se puede amargar." One day graphs and colorful graphics. Readers must turn back while the other birds are asleep, Cuckoo notices flames and forth through the pages as they make decisions about threatening to destroy a season's supply of seeds. Flying where to go and what to see next, accompanied each with one seed at a time in her beak, Cuckoo carries seeds step of the way by one of the four children. Facts about "from the fiery fields to the cool woods" and drops them the African American, Irish American, Latino, and Cam- into Mole's tunnel. The next day a raspy cry "Cuckoo," bodian cultures are provided in stimulating asides that is the only sound Cuckoo can muster, and her feathers 32 J- are scorched black. All of the creatures agree, "You can't that traditional values remain essential to the modern tell much about a bird by looking at its feathers=Todos Inuit community These values are expressed manyways: estaban de acuerdoalfinal que nose puedejuzgar aun pcijaro in the continued use of the Inuit language; in the har- porsuplumaje." The type-face for both languages is large, vesting of Arctic foods; in music, graphic art, and the and the brief text is easy to read. Ehlert's stunning Pre- recollection of old stories. Bierhorst interprets the role Columbian palette has a strikingly contemporaryappear- of storytellers, the presence of the natural world, the ance. In short notes written at the end of the tale for "art of living," the connection of the supernatural,story interested older readers, Ehlert writes that "the illustra- sources, and"basicthemes that link this distinctive lit- tions were inspired by a variety of Mexican crafts and erature to the world community" The tales in this hand- folk art, including cut-paper fiesta banners, tin work,tex- some volume are accompanied by Inuit printmaker Mary tiles, metal milagros, clay 'tree of life' candelabrum, and K. Okheena's black-and-white illustrations and are fol- wooden toys and sculptures." Her mixed mediaassem- lowed by source notes and references. blages are skillfully photographed, giving the illusion of O 0 three dimensions. O 0 DAY OF DELIGHT: A JEWISH SABBATH IN ETHIOPIA CUTTERS, CARVERS & THE CATHEDRAL Maxine Rose Schur. Illustrated by Brian Pinkney. (Dial, George Ancona. (Lothrop, Lee & Shepard, 1995) 32pages. 1994) 32 pages. ISBN: 0-8037-1414-9. Level:Ages 5-9. ISBN: 0-688-12056-3. Level: Ages 8-12. For more than one thousand years, Jews have inhabited Daily visitors to the Cathedral of St. John the Divine in the high mountains of Ethiopia. Using the narrative voice New York City see a working cathedral where worship, of a youngboy, Menelik, Schur describes the hardworking festivals, concerts, art exhibits, and lecturesare held, and inhabitants of one of these Jewish communities. The vil- where homeless and otherwise helpless peopleare be- lagers make pottery prepare raw cotton or weave, work friended. This unfinished cathedral hasa hidden story the soil they sharecrop, grind grain into flour, and forge one about people. Ancona traveled to a fossil-rich Indi- the iron for which they are known. Children help by col- ana limestone quarry mill to photograph 111/2 in. ton lecting cow dung for fuel or harvesting honey The work blocks of stone being cut for transportacross five states and worries of the week are set aside for the Sabbath. to the Cathedral. He found the chief masonry draftsman Menelik tells how his mother bakes dabo (white Sabbath using a computer to produce templates. He talkedto bread) and makes wat (peppery chicken stew). Families carvers in the stone-yard and on scaffolds. Ancona's im- bathe and don clean shammas before the Sabbath eat- ages and interviews reveal the diverse cultural and na- ing, singing, rest, and worship begin. Pinkney's full-color tional backgrounds of individuals who take pride in mak- art-work contains important cultural details andwas pre- ing a cathedral during this century and the next. Color pared using scratchboard, black ink, oil pastels, oil paints, photos show the high tech work, hard labor, and artistry and gouache. involved in creating a dassic structure incontemporary O00 times. A marvelous companion to materials about the Middle Ages. DE COLORES AND OTHER LATIN-AMERICAN O 0 0 FOLK SONGS FOR CHILDREN Jose-Luis Orozco, compiler(Dutton,1994) 56 pages.ISBN: 0-525- THE DANCING FOX: ARCTIC FOLKTALES 45260-5. Level:Ages 5-10. John Bierhorst, editor. Illustrated by Mary K. Okheena. Each of the twenty-seven Latin American songs, chants, (Morrow, 1997) 142 pages. ISBN: 0-688-14406-3. Level: and rhymes chosen by performer / songwriter Jose-Luis Ages 9-14 and older. Orozco for inclusion in this text are presented with lyrics Eighteen tales retold in rich language andset in a large, in Spanish and English, simple musical arrangement, and easy-to-read typeface include "The Woman under the explanatory notes about the song's subject and how it is Sea," "Worms and Lice," and "The Blind Boy and the traditionally sung. Elisa Kleven's brightly colored collage Loon." Bierhorst is known as a scholar of traditional lit- illustrations are lively joyous accompaniments to the music. erature with a gift for communicating old tales to today's 0 young readers. In a splendid introduction, he explains

32 33 DID YOU HEAR WIND SING YOUR NAME? DREAM CATCHER:THE LEGEND AND THE LADY AN ONEIDA SONG OF SPRING Karen Hartmanillustrated byJulie Cuccia-Watts.(Weeping Sandra De Coteau Orialustrated by Christopher Canyon. Heart Publications,1992) 56 pages. Level:Ages 6-13. (Walker,1995) 32 pagesJSBN:0-8027-8350-3.LevetAges 4-9. There were two books published in1992about the A lyrical poem from Oneida writer Sandra De Coteau Ojibway dream catcher (or dream web, as it is sometimes Orie celebrates the coming of spring with keen, gentle called). While Osofsky's picture book describes earlier questions that invite children to observe and appreciate uses of the dream catcher in a work of realistic historical nature's gifts. "Did you see /the White Birch standing tall fiction for younger children, Hartman's book gives back- among the Darkwoods / and the greening of the Aspen ground information about the artistic tradition itself. She saplings?" Orie, who grew up and still resides in Wisconsin, describes how she herself learned to make dream catchers uses elements of nature significant to her Oneida culture to from an Ojibway elder years ago and relates a story the mark spring's arrival, explaining their meaning in an author's woman told her, passed down through the generations, of note. Canyon's rich, detailed paintings are filled with the small how dream catchers came to be made by the Ojbway people. wonders of nature, as well as its expansive beauty She then provides a step-by-step account of how she makes 0 a dream catcher, induding explanations of what each part symbolizes. This treasure trove of hard-to-find information DIEGO will be a welcome addition to school and public libraries. Jonah WinterIllustrated by Jeanette Winter. (Alfred A. Knopf, O 0 1991)32 pages. ISBN: 0-679-81987-8.Level:Ages 5-9. A poetic, easy-to-read account of the childhood and early DRUMBEAT ... HEARTBEAT: adulthood of Mexican muralist Diego Itivera is presented A CELEBRATION OF THE POWWOW in bilingual texts (English/ Spanish). Rivera is character- Susan Braine. (We Are Still Here) (Lerner,1995) 48 pages.ISBN: 0- ized as a visionary and dreamer who liked to draw the 8225-2656-5. LevekAges 7-11. colors, people, and events he witnessed in his native land. Braine shares her own anticipation and excitement for The brief text of the91/2 x71/4 in. volume is accompanied the powwow with readers in an inviting, informative throughout by bordered3 x31/2 in. exquisitely stylized photoessay. Braine, a member of the Assiniboine Tribe paintings that dramatically lead up to a wordless double- in Montana, talks about the importance of the powwow page spread of Rivera at work on a mural, effectively com- to American Indian culture, and its significance in unit- municating the magnitude of his art form. ing Native and non-Native peoples. Her enthusiasm is O 0 infectious as she takes readers through a typical day at a powwow, which might indude a parade, a rodeo, and DREAMCATCH ER many related activities, in addition to the steps and spins Audrey Osofsky.Illustrated by Ed Young. (Orchard1992) 32 of the dancers and the rhythm of the drum. Engaging pages.ISBN:0-531-08588-0. Level:Ages 4-9. color photographs capture both the high energy and the 'A dream net for baby / like a small spiderweb / spun of reflective, quiet moments of a powwow gathering. nettle-stalk twine / stained dark red with the bark of wild O 00 plum" hung by the Ojibway people of centuries ago on babies' cradleboards. Such a net might serve as a charm EAGLE DRUM:ON THE POWWOW TRAIL WITH A to catch "dark dreams ...like ffies in a spider's web" YOUNG GRASS DANCER before a bad dream could reach a slumbering infant. Good Robert Crum. (Four Winds Press,1994) 48 pages.ISBN:0-02- dreams "drift through the hole in the center of the web; 725515-8.Level:Ages 7-11. dreams of...white shells tinkling in the breeze /pheas- "I almost can't remember a time when I wasn't a dancer," ant feathers ruffling/ sucking maple sugar in a birchbark says nine-year-old Louis Pierre. Louis, a Pend Oreille In- cone." Young's decorative page borders pay tribute to dian, lives on the Flathead Reservation in Montana. Louis' the floral patterns of Ojibway artists, and his images of s knowledge of traditional dance has been passed on to dothing and other objects allude to this cultural history him from his grandfather, along with an understanding Ojibway language references and names are accurate. The of the importance of dance to the history and culture of full-color illustrations were created in pastel for this 93/4 x his people. This photodocumentary shows Louis as he 101/2 in. picture book. learns a new dancethe grass danceand dances it in a O 0 powwow for the first time. 34 3 3 O 00 END OF WINTER FOUR SEASONS OF CORN:A WINNEBAGO Sharon Chmielarz Illustrated by Annette Cable. (Crown,1992) TRADITION 32 pages.ISBN: 0-517-58745-9. Level:Ages 6-9. Sal6 IM.Hunter.Photogrophs by.loe Allen.(We Are Still Here) Because the villagers are tired of cold, dark days, Hans (Lemer,1996)40pages.ISBN:0-8225-2658-LLevel:Ages7-11. and his friends parade in masks to drive winteraway. Af Planting in the spring, tending in thesummer; harvest- ter that fails, Hans suggests filling a wheel with straw to ing, storing, and giving thanks in the fall; food through- create a fiery sun with warmth enough to frighten the out the winter. These are the four seasons of corn for frigid weather. For one reason or another, the long nights the Wmnebago, or Hochunk, people. Twelve-year-old become shorter and the air warmer. Detailed illustrations Russell, a member of Hochunk Nation who lives in St. reproduced in full color suggest folk art in this 1014x 83A Paul, is learning about the importance ofcorn from his in. picture story The original folktale featuring personi- grandfather, who takes Russell, his brothers, sisters, and fied elements is based on medieval Germanic rituals in cousins to the country each year to plant and care fora which masks were worn to scare Wmter and flaming field. But the corn is more than food for the Hochunk; it wheels were rolled down mountainsides to celebrate is also considered a gift from the spirits. As Russell and light. The author's note suggests thatcontemporary ob- his family give attention to the corn everyseason in the servances in several world religions feature light during midst of their busy city lives, they reaffirm tiesto their the year's "shortest" days and may be continuations of heritage and knowledge of the ways of their people. Text those medieval traditions, as arecontemporary Mardi and color photographs constitute another welcomepor- Gras masks. O 00 Otrayal 00 of contemporary American Indian lives.

FAITH RINGGOLD FRIDA KAHLO Robyn Montana Turner. (Littk Brown,1993) 32 pages.ISBN:0- Robyn Montana Turner.(ittle, Brown,1993) 32 pages.ISBN:0- 316-85652-5. Level:Ages 7-12. (Also see FRIDA K41-ILO in this list 316-85651-Z Level:Ages 7-12. (Also see FAITH RINGGOLD in this of annotations, another book in this series.) list of annotations, another book in the series.) This addition to a fme series involves the African Ameri- This addition to a fine series involves the Mexican artist can artist Faith Ringgold. Ringgold's children's books TAR Frida Kahlo. Books about Kahlo for adults,as well as BEACH (Crown, 1991) and AUNT HARRIETS UNDER- media and commercial attention, have resulted innew GROUND RAILROAD IN THE SKY (Crown, 1992) visibility for this Mexican artist. Like the other 111/4 by8 originated from her three-dimensionalstory quilts and in. books in the series, this concise biography contains thrust other works based on her African American heri- material documented from sources typically not tapped tage into the spotlight as well. Like the other 11 IA by 8 in children's books about artists. Each book in the series in. books in the series, this concise biography contains is generously illustrated with reproductions of artwork material documented from sources typicallynot tapped in full color. in children's books about artists. Each book in the series O 00 is generously illustrated with reproductions of artwork in full color. FROZEN MAN O 00 David GetzIllustrated by Peter McCarty. (A Redfeather Book/ Henry Hok1994) 68 pages.ISBN:0-8050-3261-4. Level:Ages 8- FAMILY PICTURES/CUADROS DE FAMILIA 16 and older. Carmen Lomas Garza. (Children's Book Press,1990) 32pages. Hiking across the Alpine Sirnilaun Glacier between Aus- ISBN: 0-89239-050-6. Level:Age 7 and older. tria and Italy during 1991, two tourists discovereda fro- Brilliantly colored oil, acrylic, and gouache paintings il- zen body. This hiking victim carried a tool from the Stone lustrate scenes from the Chicano artist's childhoodin Age. The probable identity of the well-preservedcorpse Kingsville, Texas. Details from traditional Hispanic fam- was unraveled through the combined efforts of scien- ily and community life abound in the nave-style illustra- tists and scholars of life more than five thousandyears tions, as well as in the accompanying explanatorypas- ago in that region. As riveting as a modern thriller, the sages printed in both English and Spanish. high interest, easy-to-read text is interspersed with color O 0 photos, black-and-white sketches, and maps. O 00 3 4 35 GATHERING THE SUN: and an index of song types facilitate use of this book of AN ALPHABET IN SPANISH AND ENGLISH alphabetically arranged songs. Alma FlorAda.English nunslation by Rosa Zubizarretalllustrated by O 0 SimOn Silva (Lathrop Lee &Theparci1997)40 pages.158N:0-688- 13903-5.Level:Ages 5-10. THE GREEN FROGS: A KOREAN FOLKTALE Ada celebrates the lives and work of Latino farm labor- Yumi Heo, reteller and illustrator. (Houghton Mifflin,1996) 32 ers in this singular bilingual alphabet book that pays wel- pages.15BN: 0-395-68378-5. Level:Ages 3-8. come tribute to the hardworking people who harvest the "Long ago when tigers still smoked pipes...a pair of bounty of the land. Each double-page spread features a naughty frogs always did the opposite of what their short poem about some aspect of field workers' lives in mother told them to do. This pourquoi tale explains why both Spanish and English. The featured alphabet letter is frogs always cry "Gaegul! Gaegul! Gaegul!" whenever it taken from the fffst letter of the Spanish-language titles rains and whyin Korea"children who don't listen to to poems such as Arboles (Trees), Lluvia (Rain), and their mother are called chung-gaeguri or green frogs." Orgullo (Pride). The poem for the letter C is titled César Heo remembers hearing the story of the green frogs Chavez, in whose memory Ada dedicated this book that when she was a little girl in Korea. Herhumorous illustra- is illustrated with the glowing, expansive artwork of tions suggest swampy underwater, and under-the-microscope Simon Silva, which spans each two-page spread of this images. They were created with oil paint and pencil and are 111h x 91/2 in. volume. Silva's deeply hued gouache paint- reproduced in full colormostly shades of green. ings of the laborers and the land are infused with the O 0 heat of the sun and the dignity of the people. O 00 HABARI GANI? /WHAT'S THE NEWS?: A KWANZAA STORY GOING BACK HOME:AN ARTIST RETURNS TO Sundaira Mominghouse Illustrated by.lody !Gm. (Open Hand, THE SOUTH 1992)32 pages.1.58N:0-940880-39-3.Level:Ages 4-9. Michelle Wood with lgus Toyomi. (Children's Book Press,1996) 32 A seven-chapter illustrated story about a contemporary pages.158N:0-89239-137-5.Level:Ages 9-12 family interprets information about the "only nationally Wood's paintings are based on her family's early twenti- celebrated, indigenous, non-heroic African-American eth century sharecropping experiences in the southern holiday in the US." One full-color painting accompanies United States. Containing patterns reminiscent of Afri- each chapter, along with a symbol representing the can textdles, Wood's works are distinctive and intriguing. candles for each day. The Seven Principles and a twenty- Igus's interpretations of Wood's reflections on her journey eight item glossary for Swahili words and Kwanzaa terms home accompany eighteen works reproduced in full color. are appended at the end of this well-designed book. Igus's comments serve as invitations to look dosely at Wood's O 00 paintings. Both have appeal for and are accessible to children. O 0 HALMONI AND THE PICNIC Soak Nyul Choi.Illustrated by Karen M.Dugan.(Houghton GONNA SING MY HEAD OFF!: Miff lin,1993) 32 pages.158N: 0-395-61626-3. Level:Ages 5-8. AMERICAN FOLK SONGS FOR CHILDREN Yunmi's Korean grandmother has lived with her US. fam- Kathleen Krull. Illustrated by Allen Garns. (Alfred A. Knopf ily in New York City for two months but is still reluctant 1992) 145 pages.158N: 0-394-81991-8. Level: All ages, to use English words when she sees Yunmi's school especially ages 8-12. friends, even though she was a teacher in Korea. Rather A collection of sixty-two folk songs particularly appeal- than proving to be the embarrassing situation Yunmi ing to older children balances regional and topical music expects, a school picnic provides Yunmi and her dass- popular for different reasons during various times. The mates with an opportunity to encourage this very smart, range of songs includes "Down In The Valley;" "Follow exceedingly gracious woman to enjoy herself in a social The Drinking Gourd," "If I Had A Hammer," "Joe Hill," setting. The picnic features Halmoni's kimbap, which she "John Henry" "The Motorcyde Song," "Shall We Gather has made as a treat for them all, as well as a chance for At The River," "Shenandoah," "Tell Me Why" "What her to turn the jump rope. The children find out that it is Have They Done To The Rain?", and "Yankee Doodle." polite to call her Halinoni (grandmother) but rude to Easy piano and guitar arrangements, a first-line index, address an elder by her name. A contemporary story by 36 3 5 the Korean-born author of YEAR OF IMPOSSIBLE Garvey and Malcolm X. The Apollo Theater and the Cot- GOODBYES (Houghton Mifflin, 1991) specifiesways to ton Club. A capella on the street comers, Sunday night understand how someone new to a language might feel. gospel, a soprano saxophone, rent parties, checkergames, Korean language words are used in context within this cheer- funerals, children "living out theirown slam-dunk ful 101/4 by 71/4 in. picture story illustrated in full color. dreams /Listen/for the coming of the blues." Theim- O 00 ages are touchstones of history and emotional experience, inviting readers to dive deeply into the history of THE HANDMADE ALPHABET Black experience in America, to know the facts, but also Laura Rankin. (Dial Books forYoung Readers,1991) 32pages. the feelings of both triumph and despair. Toaccompany ISBN:0-8037-0975-Z Level:Ages 4-12 his father's poem, Christopher Myers has used ink and The manual alphabet is used as thebasisfor this original gouache over torn paper to create bold, dramatic collage and artistic concept book. Realistic drawings of handsigns art that is as richly layered as the words, giving face and for each letter are shown withan object beginning with form to the soul of Harlem. that lettera cup dangling from the thumb forminga O 0 "c"; the hand forming "rn" reflected ina mirror; a ribbon wrapped around the hand forming "r." This imaginative HER STORIES: AFRICAN AMERICAN FOLKTALES, approach to the alphabet could serveas an introduction FAIRY TALES, AND TRUE TALES to finger spelling, as well as an aesthetic experience. Virginia Hamilton, reteller and authorillustrated by Leo and 0 Diane Dillon. (Blue Sky/Scholastic 1995)109 pages.ISBN:0-590- 47370-0. Level:Ages 7-14 and older. HANUKKAH! In a companion volume to THE PEOPLE COULD FLY: Roni Schotterillustrated by Marylin Hafner. (Joy Street/Little. AMERICAN BLACK FOLKTALES (Knopf, 1985), Brown,1990) 32 pages.ISBN:0-316-77466-9. Level:Ages 2-5. Hamilton retells nineteen tales with female protagonists "In darkest December/Night steals in early/Andwhisks that have been passed down from generationto genera- away the light. /But warm inside, /Mama, Papa and tion by African American women. The talesare divided Grandma Rose /Light the sun ...So opens a full-color into five sections: animal stories, fairy tales, thesuper- picture book rendering of the way each person in a family natural, folkways and legends, and true tales. Eachsec- with five children contributes toa contented Hanukkah tion is introduced by an author's note and includes three evening together somewhere and sometime in the mid- or four stories. Each tale is told in a distinctive voice and twentieth century A half-page explanation of Hanukkah followed by commentary that places thestory in a his- follows the picture story noteworthy for the languageof torical and cultural context. The Dillons' distinguished its text and for the depiction of intergenerationalactivity color paintings add to the overall elegance of this beauti- during a ritual celebration. fully designed volume. O 0 O 00

HARLEM: A POEM HOANG ANH: A VIETNAMESE-AMERICAN BOY Walter Dean Myers.fflustrated by Christopher Myers. (Scholastic Diane Hoyt-Goldsmith. Photographs by Lawrence Migdale. 1997) 32 pages.ISBN: 0-590-54340-Z Level:Age 12 and older). (Holiday House,1992) 32 pages. ISBN: 0-8234-0948-1. Level: Walter Dean Myers has writtena riveting, richly textured Ages 8-12. poem that traces the history of Harlem in a cascade of A photo-essay uses color photographs anda short first- freewheeling, carefully chosen words. Harlemwas the person text to describe the day-to-day life of a young Viet- gathering place. Harlem was the welcoming place. namese-American boy living in San Rafael, California. Harlem was Black faces, Black voices, Blackenergy Hoang Anh briefly recounts the circumstances of his Harlem was Black without apology, "... a promise /Of a family's escape from Vietnam in 1978, their life ina refu- better life, of a place wherea man didn't/Have to know gee camp, and derails of his family's bicultural life style his place /Simply because he was /Black." Myers'srhyth- in the United States. Roughly one-half of the book is mic free-verse text vibrates with joy and pain andpulses devoted to Hoang Anh's observances of the New Year with the people and places, the sights and soundsof (TET), making this a useful source for information about Harlem throughout the twentiethcentury: Langston the Vietnamese holiday. Hughes, Countee Cullen and WE.B. DuBois,Marcus O 0 3 6 37 THE HOKEY POKEY HOORAY, A PIICIATA! Lany LaPrise Charles P Macak, and Taftt Baker. Illustrated by Elisa Kleven.(Dutton,1996) 32 pages.ISBN:0-525-45605-8.Level: Sheila Hamanaka (Simon &Schuster,1997) 32 pages. ISBN: 0- Ages4-7. 689-80519-5. Level:Ages 2-6. Clara and her friend Samson go shopping for a special Beginning with a spirited young girl in red high-top ten- pifiata for Clara's birthday party and they find just the nis shoes and blond pigtails, Hamanaka illustrates the one Clara wants. Trouble is, she likes it so well she can't Hokey Pokey by adding a new character to the dance bear the thought of breaking it! Filled with lots of in- with each verse and double-page spread. The effect is that triguing visual details, Kleven's bright picture story about the song becomes a cumulative tale on a visual level, and a young Latina girl and her African American friend is a young children looking at the book will delight in find- true celebratory delight from beginning to end. ing the character who has joined the dance on each page, 0 especially the dancing dog, cat, and mouse. Hamanaka also varies the perspective on each page so that some- HOW SWEET THE SOUND:AFRICAN-AMERICAN times we are looking at the dancers in profile, sometimes SONGS FOR CHILDREN we see them from above, and sometimes from below. By Wade Hudson & Cheryl Willis Hudson.fflustrated by Floyd the time we get to the "left hip" page, we see the dancers Cooper. (Scholastic 1995)48 pages.ISBN:0-590-48030-8. Level: from such a distance that it appears as though the entire Ages 5-12. world population has joined the dance line. This fact may The lyrics for twenty-three songs from African Ameri- escape the youngest readersthey'll be looking for that can traditions or perspectives are printed to be read or mouse! And they'll find him, wiping his brow, seated atop sung with pictures of present and past African American the barcode on the back cover of the book. life for inspiration. This inviting picture book meshes the 0 words of spirituals and modern music with other songs. Cooper's full-color illustrations were rendered in oil wash. HOLD THE ANCHOVIES! A BOOK ABOUT PIZZA Easy musical notations at the end take into account the Shelley Rotner and Julia Pemberton Hellurns. Photographs by African American component of improvisation. Huddie Shelley Rotner. (Orchard1996) 24 pages.ISBN: 0-531-09507-X Ledbeter, Billy Strayhorn, James Brown, Stevie Wonder, Level:Ages 3-6. James Weldon Johnson, J. Rosamund Johnson, and Tho- Young pizza lovers will learn how a pizza is made in this mas A. Dorsey are among the musicians and poets rep- mouth-watering photo-essay. Simple text and bold color resented. A brief history is provided for each song, along photographs show where the ingredients for each part with an eight-item list of related resources and an index. of the pizzadough, sauce, cheese, and toppingscome 0 from, and how they are combined to make the delicious treat. A basic pizza recipe is included. THE HUNTERMAN AND THE CROCODILE: 0 A WEST AFRICAN FOLKTALE Baba Wague Diakite. (Sch6lastic 1997) 32 pages. ISBN: 0-590- HOME LOVELY 89828-0. Level:Ages 5-9. Lynne Rae Perkins. (Greenwillow,1995) 32 pages. ISBN: 0-688- A marvelous storytelling voice with a playful tone re- 13688-5.Levek Ages 4-7. lates the circular tale of Bamba the Crocodile who is on Tiffany must stay home alone in the trailer during after- his way to Mecca with his family. After Bamba begs noons while her mother is at work. With no neighbors, Donso, a passing hunter, for help, the hunter fmds himit's a lonely time. Then she fmds and plants some seed- self in precarious waters, both literally and figuratively. lings next to the driveway in the hopes of brightening up Because Donso and other humans have not lived in har- their new home, and they draw the attention of the mail- mony with nature, the hunter receives little sympathy man, Bob, on his daily rounds. With the help of Bob and her from a cow ("dingi-donga"), an old horse ("ke-te-ba"), mother, Janelle, Tiffany nurtures a bountiful garden of veg- and a chicken ("ko, ko, ko"). A nearby mango tree also embles, flowers, and friendship. A warm, realistic picture book dedines to help Donso. Rabbit gives sound advice, how- shows a financially struggling, single-parent family filled with ever, and even Bamba agrees to help when Donso has a creativity and love. Full-color illustrations of pen and ink and second crisis. This volume offers a perfect example of a watercolor shine with caring moments and tender derails. text completely unified with its visual elements. Grow- 0 0 ing up in a village in Mali, West Africa, Diakité is close to 38 3 his storytelling heritage. As an artist using the daysur- for making Kwanzaa cards and celebrative clothing,a game faces of pottery for his canvas, Diakité created theart- to play, three songs to sing, and eight recipes to cook. Seven work here on hand-painted ceramic tiles. full-color illustrations feature some of the leading African 0 0 American artists of children's books: Ashley Bryan, Carole Byard, Floyd Cooper, Leo and Diane Dillon, Jan Spivey "I HAVE A SONG TO SING, 0!": AN INTRODUC- Gilchrist, Jonathan Green, and Jerry Pinkney Many of the TION TO THE SONGS OF GILBERT AND SULLIVAN readings can be used all year, such as Eloise Greenfield's John Langstaffeditorfilustrated by Emma Chichester-Clark previously published biographical prose about Rosa Parks. (Margaret KMcEkleny Books,1994) 74 pages. ISBN: 0-689- A resource list completes an engaging, attractive do-it-your- 50591-4. Level:Ages 8-12 and older. self family book A many-thceted exploration of this holi- In his introductory note to young readers, Langstaff day that celebrates the richness of traditional African heri- writes that when he was a child, his entire familysang tage offers something for everyone. and even acted outGilbert and Sullivansongs. "There 0 were solos, duets, and trios we performed together, with everyone joining in the rousing chorus refrains." Whether K IS FOR KWANZAA: A KWANZAA ALPHABET this collection is used to add to the repertoire for family BOOK sing-alongs and classroom choruses, or toprepare young Juwanda G.Ford.fflustrated by Ken Wilson-Max (CartwheeU theater-goers for a Gilbert and Sullivan experience, the Scholastic 1994 32 pages.ISBN:0-590-92200-9.Level:Ages 3-8. sixteen songs chosen from eight operettas will undoubt- A child-friendly ABC book about Kwanzaa features words edly please, as will Chichester-Clark's full-page illustra- such as Africa, Bendera, Candle, and Dashiki, with short tionsin both color and black-and-white--that perfectly written definitions and brightly colored illustrations depict- embody the zany Gilbert and Sullivan style. Even Brian ing the main idea. Abrief history of Kwanzaa opens the book. Holmes's musical arrangements area delight, with di- 0 rections such as "pompous but bold," "jaunty and boast- ful," and "with matter of fact haughtiness"to help young KODOMO: CHILDREN OF JAPAN singers cast just the right mood to the song. Preparing Susan Kuklin.(Putnam,1995)48 pages.ISBN:0-399-22613-3. for a long car trip? This is a book to bring, 0! Level:Ages 5-11. 0 An engaging photoessay provides a colorful portrait of children in modern Japan. Divided into twoparts, the THE INDIAN WAY: LEARNING TO COMMUNICATE first, titled "A Way of Life," introduces U.S. childrento WITH MOTHER EARTH three of their counterparts living in Hiroshima: eight- Gaty McLain. Illustrated by Gaty McLain and MichaelTaylor. year-old Eri and nine-year-old Nozomi both describe their (John Muir Publications,1990)103 pages.ISBN:0-945465-73-4. day-to-day lives at school and at home, while fourteen- Level:Ages 7-11. year-old Ai tells readers about the tradition of dressing Two contemporary Arapaho children always look forward in a special kimono on New Year's Day. Part Twopre- to times when there is a full moon because on those eve- sents readers with "traditional activities" as they are ob- nings their Grandpa Iron 1-el1s them a Full Moon Story Each served by four children in Kyoto. These traditions include of Grandpa Iron's stories teachesreverence for nature and martial arts, calligraphy, and the tea ceremony. respect for Mother Earth. The book indudes suggestions 0 0 for creative activities that children can undertaketo help them remember the ecological lesson inherent in each of the thir- KWANZAA teen stories. A. P Porter illustrated byJanet Lee Porter. (Carokhoda,1991) 56 0 pages. ISBN:0-87614-688-X Level:Ages 5-9. An easy reader briefly traces the origin of the African IT'S KWANZAA TIME! American holiday created by Maulana Karenga in1966 Lynda Goss and Clay Gossillustrated by award-winning artists. and then describes how it is observed by families today. (Putnam,1995) 71 pages.ISBN:0-399-22505-6.Level:Ages 5-12. Special attention is given to the historical significance of This introduction to Kwanzaa includes suggestions for each of Kwanzaa's seven principles and to the meanings home decorations and a ceremony,a variety of stories and and uses of Kwanzaa symbols. Full-color illustrations tales to read aloud, a play to dramatize,a poem, directions appear on each double-page spread, adding appeal and 3 8 39 accessibility to the text. A glossary of die Kiswahili words lection of twenty original poems holds the promise of used throughout the book provides English defmitions discovery and young readers will not be disappointed at and a pronunciation guide. what they fmdpoems that reminisce, delight, and sur- 0 0 prise. Some of the poems, like "Other Voices," "Straw- berries," and "Chile," are a mere handful of words, drops KWANZAA: A FAMILY AFFAIR of water forming a small pool that reflects everyday items Mildred Pitts Walter. (Lothrop, Lee& Shepard,1995) 95 pages. and occurrences in new and exciting ways. Other poems, ISBN:0-688-11553-5.Level:Age 9 and older. like "My Grandmother's Songs," are a cascade of memo- The author of HAVE A HAPPY... (Lothrop, 1989), a ries and observations as seen through the poet's passion- novel about a boy and his family celebrating Kwanzaa, ate and exacting eye: "My grandmother's songs /... con- has been observing Kwanzaa for thirty years. In this user- soling/ the chairs placed /upside down / delighting/ the friendly handbook, she interprets the background, seven family portraits / on the walls." Some of the poems were principles, and the symbols of Kwanzaa, a special Afri- written originally in Spanish and others in English. All can American holiday that takes place between Decem- are presented in both languages and paired with ber 26 and January 1. Daily activities are described, and a Gonzalez's colorful artworkimaginative, interpretive helpful crafts section contains directions for making paintings that will conjure up a laugh, a smile, a moment games, gifts, and other items needed during Kwanzaa. (or more) of contemplation, just as the poems do. Four recipes are included along with a glossary pronun- 0 ciation key and a list of related books. Most of these activities can be undertaken by a reliable older child or teen- LAURA LOVES HORSES ager, although Walter encourages readers to secure a Joan Hewett. Photographs by Richard Hewett. (Clation,1990) 40 parent's permission. Walter is the author of many pages.ISBN:0-89919-844-9. Level:Ages 4-9. children's books, including JUSTIN AND THE BEST Eight-year-old Laura Santana grew up surrounded by the BISCUITS IN THE WORLD (Lothrop, 1986), MARIAH activities at the southern California boarding and riding LOVES ROCK (Bradbury 1988), MARIAH KEEPS stable where her father is employed and near which the COOL (Bradbury, 1990), and TROUBLE'S CHILD family lives. To this Mexican American child's long-time (Lothrop, 1985), a novel for young teenagers. pleasure in riding Sugar Baby bareback down to the creek 0 0 are now added riding lessons that prepare her to compete in her first horse show. Thirty-five full-color photo- LA BODA: A MEXICAN WEDDING CELEBRATION graphs well placed on the pages picture Laura enjoying NancyVan Laanillustrated by Andrea Atroyo.(Little Brown, both kinds of riding, while the short text in a large type- 1996) 32 pages.ISBN:0-316-89626-8. Level:Ages 4-Z face echoes this spirit. The traditional Zapotec wedding ceremony borrows el- 000 ements from both Native and Catholic traditions. Here a young girl learns about them by asking her patient abuela LIFE AROUND THE LAKE:EMBROIDERIES BY THE countless questions as the two participate in the wed- WOMEN OF LAKE PATZCUARO ding ceremony of Alfonso and Luisa. The curved lines Maricel E. Presilla and Gloria Soto. (Henry Holt 1996) 32 pages. of Arroyo's stylized illustrations suggest sweeping move- ISBN:0-8050-3800-0.Level:Ages 9-12 and older. ment as the entire town participates in this joyous com- Some of the Tarascan women of central Mexico create munity event. Even the typography helps to tell the story traditional needlework for sale at the market as one way 0 to support themselves while the local fishing economy dwindles. A guild organized more than fourteen years LAUGHING TOMATOES, AND OTHER SPRING ago equips local women to become master embroider- POEMS / JITOMATES RISUEICJOS,Y OTROS ers. Most of their embroideries reflect a happier time. POEMAS DE PRIMAVERA The women honor their heritage by stitching images of Francisco X.Alarcón. Illustrated by Maya Christina Gonzalez life before Lake Patzcuaro became polluted, before soil (Children's Book Press,1997) 32 pages. ISBN: 0-89239-139-1. run-offs from mountains bare of trees filled the lake, be- Level:Ages 7-10. fore the fish began to die, before the wild ducks disap- "A poem makes us see everything for the first time." Fran- peared. Their dazzling stitchery shows an abundance of cisco Alarcón's epigraph to his vibrant picture book col- fish in Lake Patzcuaro. It recreates Tarascan mythology 40 3 9 and seasonal observances often still enjoyed. Full-color him /her as an actual person and a zest to know more. photographs of the women's intricately designed embroi- The artists are da Vinci, Michelangelo, Bruegel, deries grace each page of this beautiful 101/4 in. square Anguissola, Rembrandt, Hokusai, Cassatt, van Gogh, book about culture, economy, environment, and the art Kollwitz, Matisse, Picasso, Chagall, Duchamp, O'Keeffe, of resilient, hard working Tarascan women. W. H. Johnson, Dali, Noguchi, Rivera, Kahlo, and Warhol. 000 0

LIFT EV'RY VOICE AND SING LIVES OF THE MUSICIANS James Weldon Johnsonillustrated bylan Spivey Gilchrist. Kathleen KrulL Illustrated by Kathryn Hewitt.(Harcourt Brace (Scholastic 1995)32 pages.ISBN: 0-590-46982-Z Level:Age 3 Jovanovich,1993)96 pages. ISBN: 0-15-248010-2. Level:Ages 7- and older. 14 and older. Gilchrist's powerful Afro-centric images offer an emo- Tidbit-filled sketches of the famous reveal infamous hab- tional match for the classic words of Johnson's famous its and quirks for a generation accustomed to thumbnail anthem. Her watercolor paintings suggest a painful his- glimpses of celebrity personalities. Brief selected musi- tory and the pride of heritage while celebrating African cal "notes" add other facts. Twenty musicians are thus American struggle and survival. The jacket art features introduced to young readers who may not have heard of children looking forward and up, while the title page of- most or all of them: Vivaldi, Bach, Mozart, Beethoven, fers a personified image of continental Africa, weeping Chopin, Verdi, Schumann, Foster, Brahms, Tchaikovsky, into the ocean. Water becomes a life force in illustrations Gilbert & Sullivan, Satie, S. Joplin, Ives, Stravinsky picturing elders from past centuries next to their descen- Boulanger, Prokofiev, Gershwin, and W Guthrie. Per- dants today. Hope is offered through images of a rooted sonal details and anecdotes are linked to the unconven- tree and liberation by flying. Although the artistic concepts tional full-color art accompanying each two-page ac- are sophisticated, all family members can appreciate this count. Material typically unavailable in encyclopedias important 121/4 x 91/4 in. book in one or more ways. brings European and American musicians to life. By their 0 0 unconventional approach, Krull and Hewitt may just have revolutionized the generally dull form of collective biog- LION DANCER: ERNIE WAN'S CHINESE NEW YEAR raphy for young readers. Kate Waters and Madeline Slovenz-Low. Photographs by 000 Martha Cooper. (Scholastic/Hardcover,1990) 32 pages.ISBN:0- 590-4306-Z Level:Ages 4-11. LOOK TO THE NORTH: A WOLF PUP'S DIARY Clear color photographs illustrate a short photoessay Jean Craighead George. Illustrated by Lucia Washburn. focusing on two days in the life of a young Chinese Ameri- (HarperCol I ins, 1997) 32 pages. ISBN: 0-06-023641-8. Level: can boy living in New York City. Readers see Ernie Wan Ages3-7. preparing for his role as a lion dancer in a New Year's The author of JULIE OF THE WOLVES (HarperCollins, celebration in Chinatown. Both family and community 1972) shares her expertise and fascination for wolves in celebrations of the Chinese New Year are detailed. an engaging volume for young readers. Written in sec- 0 0 ond person, the narrative sets the mood by asking young readers to 'look to the north" at various times of the LIVES OF THE ARTISTS: MASTERPIECES, MESSES year and to think about wolf pups. When dandelions (AND WHAT THE NEIGHBORS THOUGHT) begin to turn white, wolf pups are being born. When Kathleen KrulL Illustrated by Kathryn Hewitt. (Harcourt Brace you see baby robins, wolf pups are being weaned. When 1995) 96 pages.ISBN:0-15-200103-4. Level:Ages 7-14 and older. you're out trick-or-treating, young wolves are learning Twenty artists are featured in these brief, breezy bio- to hunt for themselves. Each double-page spread inge- graphical sketches accompanied by an iconographic niously links a common occurrence in our temperate painting containing visual dues to that person's works climate with the growth of a wolf from birth to adult- and quirks. Krull and Hewitt begin where encyclopedias hood, and to put the information in context, realistic typically stop, just as they did in LIVES OF THE MUSI- acrylic paintings and a second strand of third-person nar- CIANS (Harcourt, 1993) and LIVES OF THE WRITERS rative follow a specific litter through its growth cyde. (Harcourt, 1994). They create somewhat unconventional 000 portraits of each artist, leaving readers with a sense of EST COIPY AVALUL 41 4 0 LUKA'S QUILT pieces of a life, as if this is all that is known, and these Georgia Guback (Greenwillow,1994) 32 pages.ISBN: 0-688- serve as striking, painful reminders of how much has 12155-1.Level:Ages 4-8. been lost, the "many thousand gone." Modifying her The traditional Hawaiian quilt Luka's tutu (grandmother) usual descriptive prose style, Hamilton pares language makes for her looks nothing like the elaborate, brightly to a minimum here, writing in short, explosive sentences colored quilt Luka had pictured in her head, and shecan- that propel people and events to the forefront, while the not hide her disappointment when Tutu presents it to Dillons' moody black-and-white illustrations give shape her. When the two attend a Lei Day celebration, Luka's to sorrow, grief, anger, bravery and pride, and expres- nontraditional approach to lei-making gives Tutuan idea sion to the overwhelming desire to be free. about enhancing the quilt to suit both generations. O 00 Charming cut-paper collages reveal a surprisingamount of cultural detail through the folk-art-style illustrations. MARVIN'S BEST: CHRISTMAS PRESENT EVER 000 Katherine Paterson.fflustrated byJane Clark Brown. (An I Can Read Book HarperCollins,1997) 48 pages.ISBN:0-06-027159-0. MAKE A JOYFUL SOUND: POEMS FOR CHILDREN Level:Ages 4-7. BY AFRICAN-AMERICAN POETS Young Marvin wants to think of a gift to make for his Deborah Slier, editor. Illustrated by Cornelius Van Wright and mother all by himself He's determined to do this with- Ying-Hwa Hu. (Checkerboard Press,1991) 97 pages.ISBN:1- out any help from his older sister, May, maker of ideal 56288-000-4.Level:Ages 4-12 family gifts. Everyone loves the wreath Marvin makes to A thick volume, generously illustrated, pulls togethersev- hang on the trailer. Marvin loves it so much himself that enty-five poems from diverse sources by well-known he refuses to let the wreath be taken down on New Year's poets (Lucille Clifton, Countee Cullen, Eloise Greenfield, Day. Time passes, and so does winter. A gentle resolu- Langston Hughes), as well as others who rarelyappear tion to a small family drama maintains Marvin's self-rein children's poetry anthologies (Kali Grosvenor, Nanette spect while sustaining the interest of new readers. Menage, Useni Eugene Perkins, Quincy Troupe). These Brown's full-color illustrations complement Paterson's poems for young children touch on such topics as family skillfully crafted, minimal words. friends, playing outside and school, in addition to cultural O 0 pride and African American heritage. The overall effect of this marvelously rich anthology is best expressed byone of MAY'NAISE SANDWICHES & SUNSHINE TEA the seledions by Mari Evans: "Who / can be bom black/ and Sandra Belton.fflustrated by Gail Gordon. (Four Winds Press, not/sing/ the wonder of it/the joy/ the challenge ..." 1994)32 pages.ISBN:0-02-709035-3. Level:Ages 5-8. 0 Belton's child narrator remembers her grandmother's stories, especially the one about her friendship with Bette MANY THOUSAND GONE:AFRICAN AMERICANS Jean and the fun they had with imaginary play. One fam- FROM SLAVERY TO FREEDOM ily was working class and the other was not. Belton Virginia Hamilton.fflustrated by Leo and Diane Dillon. (Alfred A. handles an important theme seldom approached in books Knopf 1993)151 pages.ISBN:0-304-82873-9.Level:Allages. for the young. Here are Sojourner Truth, Harriet Tubman, and O 0 Frederick Douglas. Here, too, are Chloe Cooley, Addison White, and Jackson of Alabama. Hamilton has gathered THE MEAN HYENA: A FOLKTALE FROM MALAWI together stories of individuals living in the time of sla- Judy Sierraillustrated by Michael Bryant.(Lodestar/Dutton, very and laid them out in a powerful presentation that 199 7) 32 pages.ISBN:0-525-67510-8. Level:Ages 6-10. chronides this chilling era in American history and the "Tell me, Who is this? He thinks his vest is so fme he endurance of a people. Some of thenames may be fa- never takes it off, even when he sleeps." A riddle opens miliar to children, many others will not be, but each vi- this tale of revenge through art, telling how Kamba the gnetteeach lifeis compelling and lends itselfto a tortoise finally fools Fisi, the tricky hyena who is always greater understanding of the whole, such as how laws to playing mean tricks on jungle creatures. After Kamba protect free African Americans were often ignored while "paints" new coats for Mbanda the zebra and Nyalugwe others were passed to strengthen the grip ofowners in the leopard, other creatures from miles aroundcome to the south. In some cases, the vignettesare only fragments, get new coats; even "night-skulking Fisi" wants a new 42 41 coat. "Don't play a trick on someone unless you want a whose name means "Smoking Mirror." Even more dra- bigger trick played on you." According to Sierra's note at matic visual images rendered in blues and purples domi- the back, Kamba and Fisi appear in nearly all the trick- nate these pages to launch the large presentation of a ster tales of Malawi: "Kamba is the slow, steady trickster formerly lost fragment of the mythological tradition of who is never outwitted, whereas Fisi is the eternal dupe, the Aztecs. "'Children do not laugh. Women do not always tricked and always shamed." Bryant's full-color dance. Men do not sing. The people spend their lives in paintings successfully picture the creatures, the natural darkness and silence. I will change all this,' declared the setting, and the very dramatic action. Lord of the Night." And he did. McDermott's bold shapes 0 and colors were created using acrylic fabric paint, opaque ink, and oil pastel on paper handmade in Mexico. He pro- MIMI'S TUTU vides helpful background information on the final page. TyniaThomassielllustrated by.lan Spivey Gikhrist.(Scholastic 0 1996).32 pages.ISBN:0-590-44020-9.LevekAges 3-5. As the first daughter born into her extended African MY FIRST KWANZAA BOOK American family in many years, little Mimi is lavished Deborah M. Newton Chocolatelllustrated by Cal Massey. with attention from all her female elders. More than any- (Cartwheel/Scholastk1992) 24 pages.ISBN:0-590-45762-4. thing, Mimi likes to observe her family's tradition of Af Level:Ages 2-Z rican dance by attending classes with her mother and by Easy-to-read short sentences relay basic information wearing the beautiful lapa (Guinean wrap-around) made about Kwanzaa and are paired with brightly colored il- by Gramma M'bewe. Boldly colored pastel and water- lustrations picturing a little boy, his father, and his mother color paintings deftly capture a young child's enthusiasm each preparing for the celebration with their extended for dance, movement, and participating in the social and family. The full-color pictures are filled with cultural in- cultural world of grown-ups. formation. A brief history of Kwanzaa, its Seven Prin- O 00 ciples, defmitions of symbols and words used during Kwanzaa, and a citation for an adult resource are listed at the MOON FESTIVAL back of this high-spirited, helpful 81/4x101A in. picture book Ching Yeung Russell. Illustrated by Christopher Zhong-Yuan O 00 Zhang. (Boyds Mills,1997) 32 pages.ISBN:1-56397-596-3. Level: Ages 6-9. MY MEXICO / MEXICO MIO Many Chinese people celebrate the Moon Festival, also Tonylohnston.fflustrated by Elohn Sierra. (Putnam,1996). 36 called Mid-Autumn Festival, at the time of the full moon. pages.ISBN:0-399-22275-8. Level:Ages 5-8. Family reunions and celebratory foods such as "golden Johnston creates moments of exciting activity and quiet brown moon cakes filled with bean paste and salty duck contemplation in eighteen poems that evoke some of egg yolks" are central to the Moon Festival celebration. the sights and sounds of Mexico. Sierra's illustrations, Parades display handmade paper lanterns pasted with which span each double-page spread, are washed with smashed, freshly cooked rice that are "shaped like fish, color and inflected with lightsoft, warm depictions of star fruits, and rabbits." Zhang's luminous full-color oil each poetic scene. The poems appear in English and Span- paintings picture elements of the celebration and show ish, and a glossary is included for some of the Spanish images of the legendary goddess Chang 0 who is be- words. seeched for blessings. Wise language choices and rich O 0 words express the delight of children preparing, parad- ing, eating, and listening to ghost stories. MY PAINTED HOUSE, MY FRIENDLY CHICKEN, O 0 AND ME Maya Angelou. Photographs by Margaret Courtney-Clarke MUSICIANS OF THE SUN (Clarkson Potter,1994) 40 pages. ISBN: 0-517-59667-9. Level: Gerald McDermott.(Simon & Schuster,1997)40 pages. ISBN: 0- Ages 5-8. 689-80706-6.LevekAges 6-10. In Angelou's engaging first-person narrative, young read- "Out of the starry night he came, invisible, untouchable. ers meet Thandi, an eight-year-old Ndebele girl in South Lord of the Night. King of the Gods. Soul of the World." Africa. Thandi relates details of her own life and of Dramatic language introduces the principle Aztec deity Ndebele culture, and these details are brought into focus 43 4 through Courtney-Clark's shining, colorful photographs nary things (a sprinkler, Pablo's tennis shoes) with such of Ndebele people. The Ndebele custom of painting extraordinary clarity of vision that each ode packsan houses with intricate, colorful patterns forms the inspi- emotional punch, taking the reader by surprise. Thepo- ration for the design of this vibrant book that isan invi- ems are accompanied by striking black-and-white illus- tation to friendship. trations. O 0 O 0

MY TWO UNCLES ON PASSOVER Judith Vigna. (Albert Whitman,1995) 32 pages. ISBN:0-8075- Cathy Goldberg Fishman.fflustrated by Melanie W Hall. 5507-XLevel:Ages 4-8 and older. (Atheneum,1997) 32 pages. ISBN:0-689-80528-4.Level:Ages 4- Elly loves her two unclesher father's brother Ned and 8. (Also see ON ROSH HASHANAH AND YOM KIPPUR in this list of his partner Phil. Together the three of them workon a annotations, another book in this series.) special handmade gift for her grandparents' fiftieth wed- In this book, a young girl describes the observance of ding anniversary, but then Elly is saddened to learn that Passover. She tells readers that she doesn't even need to Uncle Phil has not been invited to the anniversaryparty use a calendar to know when Passover is near because and Uncle Ned refuses to go without him. An unusually her home is filled with memorable activities. Hall's realistic account of a young child's struggle to understand slightly offbeat illustrations rendered in collagraph and the complexities of homophobia within her extended mixed media will grab the attention ofyoung readers family ends not with happiness but with hope. familiar with the meaning and import of these Jewish O 00 holidays and inform those who aren't. Aone-page glossary defmes words important to know. THE MYSTERIOUS VISITOR: STORIES OF THE O 0 PROPHET ELIJAH Nina Jaffalustrated by ElMa Savadier. (Scholastk1997)112 ON ROSH HASHANAH AND YOM KIPPUR pages.ISBN:0-590-48422-2.Level:Age 4 and older. Cathy Goldberg Fishmandllustrated by MelanieWHalL Hundreds of tales can be found in Jewish folklore about (Atheneum,1997) 32 pages. ISBN:0-689-80526-8.Level:Ages 4- the prophet Elijah, a messenger from heavento earth. 8. (Also see ON PASSOVER in this list of annotations, another Jewish children begin to learn about this popular prophet book in this series.) when the door is opened for Elijah to attend the Pass- A young girl's first-person narration graces this book. over Seder meal. All children, however, can enjoy the eight She tells readers of her family activities and the tradi- tales Jaffe chose for this handsome volume, including tional foods of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. As in "The Dream," "The Bear in the Forest," and "Elijah and the companion volume, ON PASSOVER, Hall's slightly the Fisher Boy" Jaffe's helpful introduction precedes the offbeat illustrations rendered in collagraph and mixedme- tales, and there is also a glossary, notes about the stories, dia will grab the attention of young readers familiar with a bibliography, and a list of other books containing Elijah the meaning and import of these Jewish holidays and stories. The collection is beautifully designed, and eight inform those who aren't. of Savadier's marvelous paintingsare reproduced in full O 0 color and placed opposite the openingpage of each tale. 0 ONE NATION, MANY TRIBES: HOW KIDS LIVE IN MILWAUKEE'S INDIAN COMMUNITY NEIGHBORHOOD ODES Kathleen KrulL Photographs by David Hautzig.(Lodestar,1995) Gary Soto. Illustrated by David Diaz (Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, 48 pages.ISBN:0-525-67440-3.Level:Ages 8-12. 1992) 68 pages.ISBN:0-15-256879-4.Level:Age 8 and older. Eleven-year-old Thirza and twelve-year-old Shawneeare Twenty-one poems reflect pleasures, loves, joys,regrets, students at the Milwaukee Community Indian School, and fears experienced growing up ina Chicano neigh- which is distinctive for a number of reasons discussed in borhood in California. The poet hones inon the small the text: its urban location, its funding through details of ordinary places (the park, the library) and ordi-

44 4 3 Potawatomi bingo hall profits, and its indusion of five PASS IT ON:AFRICAN-AMERICAN POETRY FOR Wisconsin tribes in the student body. Within this con- CHILDREN text, both children are presented as unique individuals: Wade Hudson, selector. illustrated by Floyd Cooper. (Scholastic Shawnee dreams of becoming an architect and return- 1993)32 pages.ISBN:0-590-45770-5. Level:Ages 4-9. ing to the reservation, while Thirza, an aspiring actress, A 103/4 by 85/8 in. picture-book poetry anthology ranges is headed for Broadway or Hollywood. An upbeat text in theme and mood from Eloise Greenfield's light-hearted and appealing color photographs show the two children "To Catch a Fish" to the sobering "Incident" by Countee in their day-to-day activities in and out of school. Cullen. A line from "Listen Children" by Louise Clifton O 0 was the inspiration for the title of the collection. Other poets represented by the nineteen selections are THE OTHER SIDE: HOW KIDS LIVE IN A Gwendolyn Brooks, Henry Dumas, Paul Laurence CALIFORNIA LATINO NEIGHBORHOOD Dunbar, James A. Emanuel, Mari Evans, Nikki Giovanni, Kathleen Krull. Photographs by David Hautzig. (Lodestar,1994) Nikki Grimes, Langston Hughes, Lessie Jones Little, 48 pages.ISBN:0-525-67438-1. Level:Ages 7-11. Linda Michelle Baron, and Naomi Long Madgett. The Twelve-year-old Cinthya Guzman and brothers Francisco title also represents the compiler's hope that a fine heri- and Pedro Tapia, ages eight and twelve, all were born in tage will be introduced to a generation for whom this Mexico and are living now in Castle Park, a Latino neigh- African American poetry and some of these poets are borhood in Chula Vista, California. For all three, moving unfamiliar. Cooper's illustrations painted in oil wash ap- to the United States meant making many adjustments, pear in full color on every page. Brief information is pro- but because Chula Vista is only seven miles from Tijuana, vided about each poet. Mexico, they have also been able to remain grounded in O 0 their birth culture, regularly returning to visit family. Text and photographs examine the similarities and differences PATRICK DESJARLAIT: CONVERSATIONS WITH A between the children's lives and communities on both NATIVE AMERICAN ARTIST sides of the border. Neva William& (Runestone/ Lemer,1995) 56 pages. ISBN:0- O 00 8225-3151-8. Level:Ages 8-14 and older. Patrick DesJarlait was an artist who belonged to the Red PABLO REMEMBERS:THE FIESTA OF THE DAY OF Lake Chippewa Band (Anishinabe) of northern Minne- THE DEAD sota. More than twenty years ago, Williams tape-recorded George Ancona.(Lothrop, Lee & Shepard,1993) 48 pages.ISBN: the interviews that form the basis for this book and fea- 0-688-11250-1.Level:Ages 5-9. ture DesJarlait's life and art, along with his comments A color photodocumentary explanation of El Dia de Los about reservation life in the 1920s, boarding school, and Muertos features a Mexican family's observances of The his development as an artist. During World War II, he Day of The Dead beginning October 31, All Hallow's worked as a film animator for the US. Navy and had a Eve. Bakers make special bread, candy makers create short stint as the art director at a relocation camp where sugar skulls, marigolds are harvested, women prepare Japanese Americans were held. His paintings employ special foods, and children cut out cardboard skeletons bright, rich tones to portray the many traditions of his in anticipation of the fiesta. Family altars are readied in people. Although DesJarlait did not receive wide recogni- advance of the bell-ringing that signals the spirits' return tion or acdaim while alive, his career has inspired younger and heralds the activities and visits that are part of the American Indian artists, and his paintings were pivotal in the three-day family and community event. Ancona's cam- development of contemporary American Indian art. era and text feature Pablo, his three sisters, and his par- O 00 ents as they honor the memory of their ancestors, especially their grandmother who died two years ago. Span- THE PINATA MAKER / EL PINATERO ish words used in context or defmed as necessaryam- George Ancona. (Harcourt, Brace,1994) 40 pages.ISBN: 0-15- plify Ancona's interpretation in a book measuring 814x 261875-9.Level:Ages 8-10. 101/8 in. in size and larger in importance. In Ejutla de Crespo, a village in southern Mexico, sev- O 0 enty-seven-year-old Don Ricardo makes pifiatas for all the festive occasions. Tio Rico, as the children call him, is

45 clearly valued among children and adults alike in thecom- changes important in Anishinabe culture. Theopen, en- munity. Color photographs and text show how Tio Rico gaging narrative explains the importance of the rituals makes both traditional and unusual pinatas for parties and traditions at the powwows by using comparisons that and holiday celebrations. A brief author'snote at the end will resonate for many non-Native readers. The book also of this bilingual book provides suggestions for making discusses how, by emphasizing the importance of family simple pinatas. and community, the Downwinds are maintaining tiesto O 00 traditional Anishinabe ways, ties that keep themstrong in the wake of many challenges that Native peoples face POWWOW in contemporary times. George Ancona.(Harcourt Brace.lovanovich,1993)48pages. O 0 ISBN:0-15-263268-9.Level:Ages 5-11. Dynamic color photographs underscore Ancona's expla- PUEBLO STORYTELLER nation of the Crow Fair in Montana, the biggestpow- Diane Hoyt-Goldsmith. Photographs by Lawrence Migdale wow in North America. Readers see how people gather (Holiday House, 1991) 26 pages. ISBN: 0-8234-0864-7. Level: on the prairie to renew acquaintances and celebrate the Ages 6-10. shared heritage of Lakota, Ojibwa, Cheyenne,Crow, A concise first-person text and color photographs docu- Cree, Blackfoot, Fox, and other Native peoples. Theopen- ment the day-to-day life of April Trujillo, a ten-year-old ing parade, role of the drum, and maintypes of dancing Cochiti girl who lives with her grandparentsnear Santa are explained and pictured. Whether a dancer wears Tra- Fe, New Mexico. April is a member of a gifted family ditional, Fancy Grass, or Jingle-dress clothing, eachone both of her grandparents are potters and her unde isa has practiced long before donning his specificcelebratory drum maker. She describes the step-by-stepprocess her garments at this event. Occasionally Ancona details the grandparents go through to make day storyteller sculp- enjoyment and excitement of Anthony Standing Rock,a tures, from going out to dig up the day they will use; to young Traditional dancer, and other children at this an- kneading and shaping it and sculpting the figure;to sand- nual reaffirmation of shared American Indian heritage ing, polishing, and painting it before firing it ina kiln. A and tradition. This striking eh x 111/4 in.account pictures a deep respect for elders and cultural traditions isapparent community created in one place annually fora celebration in April's young voice, as she places every-day activities of carefully prepared tributes to itscommon history in a cultural context. O 00 O 0

POWWOW SUMMER:A FAMILY CELEBRATES THE RAMADAN CIRCLE OF LIFE Suhaib Hamid GhaA Illustrated by Omar Rayyan. (Holiday Marcie R. Rendon. Photographs by Cheryl Walsh Belly/ Ile. House1996) 32 pages.ISBN:0-8234-1254-Z Level:Ages 6-9. (Carolrhoda,1996) 48 pages. ISBN: 0-87614-986-7. Level: Hakeem is a Muslim who will fast all day long with his Ages 7-11. family during the month of Ramadan, the holiest month 'According to Native tradition, the circle of lifeis end- of the Islamic calendar Like Muslims allover the world less. It has no beginning. There isno end." Rendon's text and throughout the United States, Hakeem and his family and Bellville's many color photographs lookat some of do not eat or drink anything during the day until thesun the ways in which one Anishinabe family celebratesthe has set. Hakeem's mother makes a variety of foods for circle of life: by opening theirarms and their hearts to them to eat until the break of dawn "when there is enough welcome foster children into their family, by keepingdose light to see the difference between black thread anda white ties among the generations, by grieving togetherin the thread." They then perform the first of five dailyprayers, aftermath of a death. The Downwind familyparents, do good deeds, and repair broken relationships. Rayyan's children, foster childrenis profiled over the course of a color illustrations succeed in differentiating betweencon- summer, during which time they go on thepowwow temporary and historic times. trail, attending two gatherings where they becomepart 0 of a larger community, thus entering the cirde of lifein yet another way. At powwows, ceremonies and dances also mark the continuous cycle ofconnections and

46 dJ RAPUNZEL SAM AND THE LUCKY MONEY Paul 0.Zelinsky. (Dutton,1997) 40 pages.1SBN: 0-525-45607-4. Karen Chinnillustrated by Cornelius Van Wright &Ying-Hwa Hu. Level:Ages 7-11. (Lee & Low,1995) 32 pages.1SBN:1-880000-13-X Level:Ages4-7. An elegant edition unfolds the classic tale of the dire out- When Sam goes to Chinatown with his mother to shop comes of a bargain made in desperation with a sorceress for New Year's Day, he carries the four dollar bills his by a father-to-be. The sorceress raises the child she names grandparents gave him in bright red leisees, just in case Rapunzel until age twelve and then imprisons her in a he should fmd something to buy with his newly acquired tower. Known to the girl as a stepmother, the sorceress wealth. Four dollars seems like a lot of money to him visits Rapunzel by hoisting herself on the girl's rope-like until he sees the prices on things he wants in the toy shop. braid. One day a prince hears the girl singing and begins But the money turns out to be lucky for Sam after all secret visits to her in the same manner. Their liaison turns when he fmds just the right way to spend it. Karen Chinn's into marriage after they hold a private ceremony in charming story of a young boy's first understanding of Rapunzel's tower dwelling, and soon her dress grows value is accompanied by expressive watercolors which "tight around her waist." After cutting Rapunzel's hair, the capture the bustling excitement of Chinatown on New sorceress casts her from the tower, and soon disaster befalls Year's Day, as well as Sam's many moods. the prince. Years later, the two lovers meet in the countryside 000 where Rapunzel is raising twin children. Zelinsky drew upon the Italian Renaissance to create a detailed visual envi- SEIZIOR CAT'S ROMANCE, AND OTHER FAVORITE ronment conveying a great depth of feeling and turmoil. STORIES FROM LATIN AMERICA Even within his patterned, formal gardens, it is clear that Lucia M.Gonzalez Illustrated by Lulu Delacre. (Scholastic 1997) nothing in life can be completely predictable. Here an 40 pages.1SBN: 0-590-48537-Z Level:Ages 4-11. herb known in German as "rapunzera bellflower seen The six tales in this colorfully illustrated handsome col- throughout the bookbecomes the object of the preg- lection are: "The Little Half-Chick," "Juan Bobo and the nant woman's craving. Derails of architecture, furnish- Three-Legged Pot," "Martina, the Little Cockroach," ings, clothing, and flowers are beautifully rendered in oil "The Billy Goat and the Vegetable Garden," "How Uncle paintings illustrating a book also notable for its splendid Rabbit Tricked Uncle Tiger," and the title story. Gonzalez design and complete background notes. provides a two-page foreword explaining how she became 0 familiar with these tales herself as a child in Cuba and why they are "cuentos favoritos," or favorite tales of chil- THE RETURN OF THE BUFFALOES:A PLAINS dren across Latin America. According to Gonzalez, the INDIAN STORY ABOUT FAMINE AND RENEWAL dominant themes of these tales are "universal to child- OF THE EARTH hood experience. Their characters learn the power of Paul Goble reteller and illustrator. (National Geographic Sodety, sharing, they learn the value of wit and cleverness." A 1996) 32 pages.ISBN:0-7922-2714-X Level:Ages 8-12 note about each story along with a brief glossary and The winter food supplies of the Lakota people are de- pronunciation guide, is included. Artist Delacre also pro- pleted. The children are too weak from hunger to play. vides a two-page note in which she relates how she re- Even though spring has already arrived, the buffalo have calls the stories from her Puerto Rican childhood and not returned to the Great Plains. Two young men are discusses some of her design and illustration decisions. dispatched to go far into the hills and find the buffaloes 0 0 for their starving people. They meet a mysterious and wonderful woman who leads them into a cave, addresses SEVEN CANDLES FOR KWANZAA each as Grandson, and causes the famine to end. Exten- Andrea Davis Pinkney.fflustrated by Brian Pinkney.(Dia1,1993) sive author's notes and the details about both parfleches 32 pages.ISBN:0-8037-1293-6.Level:Ages 3-9. and buffalo hunting make this volume especially valu- An easy-to-read and understand explanation of Kwanzaa able to anyone wanting information about the Lakota features images of a contemporary US. family observ- people. Goble's illustrations were created in India ink and ing each of the seven days in activities recognizable to watercolor. His earlier book BUFFALO WOMAN today's children. Emphasis is placed on Kwanzaa as "an

(Bradbury,1984)featured a tale about a different visita- American holiday inspired by African traditions... not 000tion of this holy Mother Earth figure. intended as a religious, political, or heroic holiday, nor is 47 4 6 it a substitute for Christmas." The striking full-colorart- SIMPLE SIGNS work for this 91A by 111/2 in, picture bookwas prepared Cindy Wheeler(Viking,1995) 32 pages.ISBN:0-670-86282-7. using scratchboard and oil pastels. Level:Ages 5-8. O 00 An astonishingly effective presentation of the American Sign Language signs for twenty-eight simple words. The SEVEN DAYS OF KWANZAA sign or action for each word is illustrated witha black- Ella Grier. Illustrated by John Ward. (A HolidayStepBook) (Viking and-white line drawing showinga child completing the 1997)18 pages.ISBN:0-670-87327-6.Level:Ages 3-8 and older. sign. A written hint for making the sign accompanies the A lively book containing short readings for each day of drawing (e.g., for "ball," like holdinga ball.) Each word is Kwanzaa begins with the words of a Kwanzaasong "Call illustrated in full color next to the drawing. your father! Call your mother! Call your sister! Callyour 0 brother! It's Kwanzaa time. Family time... Seven candles we will light." Although the small volume is meant to rein- SNAPSHOTS FROM THE WEDDING force information, four recipesat the end (popcorn nut Gary Soto.fflustrated by Stephanie Garcia.(G.PPutnam's Sons, cninch, date and peanut salad, muhindi, andjambalaya salad) 1997)32 pages.ISBN:0-399-22808-X Level:Ages 4-8 and older. will require adult supervision. O 0 The flower girl at a Mexican American wedding describes all the highlights of the eventfrom her perspective.We notice the yawning altar boy with dirty tennis shoes and SHANNON:AN OJIBWAY DANCER Unde Juan in his itchy new suit during theceremony. At Sandra King. Photographs by Catherine Whipple (Lerner,1993) the banquet, we see how perfectly black olives fitonto 48 pages.ISBN: 0-8225-9643-1. Level:Ages 7-11. each of the narrator's fmgertips. Soto aptlycaptures the This marvelous book uses photographs andtext to depict child's view of an adult occasion. Garcia's distinctive the life of a thirteen-year-old Ojibway girl,Shannon three-dimensional illustrations are equally appealing. Anderson, who lives with her grandmother,sisters, and Each one uses human figures sculpted in day, painted cousins in Minneapolis. Shannon's life is firmly rootedin and dressed in clothes made from fabric, and placedin her cultural heritage. A fancy dancer belonging to two small boxes that have been created to look likestage sets. drum and dance groups, Shannon goes through detailed The overall effect is a pleasing mixture of fantasyand preparations to get her intricatecostumes ready for reality, rather like a real weddingceremony. performances, but she is proud of her skillsin the 0 traditional ways of her people. "It'sa good thing I'm Indian," she says to her grandmother, andher SOLO GIRL grandmother replies, "always remember to be glad. Andrea Davis Pinkney.Illustrated by Nneka Bennett(Hyperion Remember that wherever you go, all that you are goes Chapters, Hyperion,1997) 51 pages.ISBN: 0-7868-2265-1. PBX0- with you." 7868-1216-8.Level:Ages 6-8. O 00 Cass is a whiz at math, but that's little consolationto this young African American girl when she wants to learn SHOES FROM GRANDPA double Dutch. Her feet can't keepeven one rope from Mem Fox. Illustrated by Patrida Mullins. (Orchard Books,1990) getting tangled. Her brothers, Jackson and Bud, writea 32 pages.ISBN:0-531-08448-5.Level:Ages3-Z rhyme to help Cass keep the rhythm when shejumps. An up-to-date cumulative variation on THE HOUSE When Cass blows the beat of the rhymeon the whistle THAT JACK BUILT features Jessie and rings with lines she won in a school math contest, she learns howto jump such as 'And her mom said, / 'I'll buyyou a skirt that won't a single rope. But will she ever learn double Dutch? To show the dirt, / to go with the socks from the local shops, / Cass's pleasure and surprise, her math skills playan un- to go with the shoes from Grandpa' The final, full-color expected role in helping her master the difficult footwork collage shows high-spirited Jessie's preference for jeans in this satisfying story about ayoung girl adjusting to life as she dashes away on her skateboard. The 111/2x 91/2 in. in her new city neighborhood. format is perfect for 0 group use. 0

48 4 SONGS FROM THE LOOM:A NAVAJO GIRL TAKE ME OUT TO THE BALLGAME LEARNS TO WEAVE Jack Norworth. Illustrated byAlec Gillman.(Four Winds Press, Monty RoesseL (Lemer,1995) 48 pages.ISBN: 0-8225-2657-3. 1992)32 pages.ISBN:0-02-735991-3.Level:Age 3 and older. Level:Ages 7-11. Typically seen as electronic sing-along signs when sung Jaclyn Roessel is learning how to weave in the traditional at Big League baseball games, lilting words dance Navajo way. Her grandmother, Ruth, is teaching her how across pages picturing a game, but not one played to shear the sheep, dye the wool, and work the loom. At during the late twentieth century. The illustrations the same time, she is teaching her the stories and songs replicate images of the former Brooklyn Dodgers at of weaving that are part of her Navajo culture. Without Ebbets Field during the 1947 World Series. The pic- them, her grandmother makes dear, Jadyn's education tures were drawn in pen, painted with watercolor, and as a Navajo weaver will be incomplete. Monty Roessel, highlighted with colored pencil. Background informa- Jadyn's father, documents Jadyn's education in photo- tion about the song, original verses, and a musical ar- graphs taken when she was between the ages of ten and rangement follow the almost wordless story of a fa- twelve. In accompanying text, he shares Jadyn's experi- mous strikeout. Considerable Dodger history appears ence, as well as the stories and songs that she learns. on the last double-page spread of this picture book O 00 tribute to baseball in general, "the" baseball song, and especially to a specific team and time. THE SPIRIT OF TIO FERNANDO: A DAY OF THE 0 0 DEAD STORY / EL ESPIRITU DE TIO FERNANDO: UNA HISTORIA DEL DIA DE LOS MUERTOS TALKING WITH ARTISTS Janice Levy.Illustrated by Morella Fuenmayor.(Albert Whitman, Pat Cummings,editor. (Simon & Schuster,1995) 96 pages.ISBN: 1995)32 pages.ISBN:0-8075-7585-2.Level:Ages 6-9. 0-689-80310-9. Level:Ages 6-14 and older. When he goes to the market, a little Mexican boy is re- Cummings has illustrated many books for children, minded of the ways he can honor his uncle's spirit dur- including C.L.O.U.D.S. (Lothrop, 1986), STORM IN ing All Souls' Day or El Dia de Los Muertos. Venezuelan THE NIGHT (Harper, 1988), and C IS FOR CITY artist Morella Fuenmayor's watercolors illustrating this sweet (HarperCollins, 1995). She also realizes that although bilingual picture story suggest important cultural details rarely she shares things in common with other illustrators, seen in US. books. In real life, a child Nando's age would not her studio work on each picture book is unique. In require as many explanations about the special activities in her popular TALKING WITH ARTISTS (Harper, which he and his mother engage while they remember the 1992), she provided a vehicle for fourteen picture book people they love who have died. Outsiders to these obser- creators to respond to frequently asked questions. This vances will enjoy learning about them in this way. second volume featuring thirteen artists includes each O 0 one's explanation of personal technique and a photo of his/her studio. The artists are Thomas B. Allen, STORIES FROM THE CLASSICAL BALLET Mary Jane Begin, Floyd Cooper, Julie Downing, Denise Belinda HolfrecIllustrated by Sophy Williams. (Viking,1995)127 Fleming, Sheila Hamanaka, Kervin Henkes, William pages.ISBN:0-670-86605-9.Level:Ages 6-11 and older. Joyce, Maira Kalman, Deborah Nourse Lattimore, Each of Hollyer's eight fictionalized versions of classical Brian Pinkney, Vera B. Williams, and David ballets is accompanied by three other distinctive elements: Wisniewski. Their published books are listed, and read- a brief history of the ballet, three pastel paintings repro- ers can see a childhood and an adult photo of each, a duced in full color, and Irina Baronova's one-page remi- reproduction of one piece of childhood art, and a pub- niscence of her experience as a ballerina in that particu- lished illustration. Terrific organization and compel- lar ballet. An autobiographical chapter by Baronova, ling subject matter mark these glimpses into artists' whose childhood training led her to the Russian Ballet, careers that offer realistic encouragement within ex- precedes this unique material. This absorbing reading for cellent reading. beginning or advanced dancers and for others, as well, 0 0 features "La Bayadere," "Coppelia," "The Firebird," "Giselle," "The Nutcracker," "Petroushka," "The Sleep- ing Beauty" and "Swan Lake." O 0 4 8 49 THE TIE MAN'S MIRACLE of the two turtle doves constituting the gift during the Steven Schnur. Illustrated by Stephen Tiohnson.(Morrow,1995) second day. The pattern continues until the twelfth day ISBN: 0-688-13464-5. Level:Ages 5-8. when singers begin "On the twelfth day of Christmas, A tie salesman comes to the door on thesnowy eighth my true love sent to me,12lords a-leaping, 11 [ladies night of Hanukkah. He's been colder, Mr. Hoffmanre- dancing], 10 [pipers piping]," etc. The music is printedat sponds to an inquiry No, he hasno family waiting for the end of this lively lovely, colorful volume. him. Dad invites him to join them while they light the 0 menorah. Baby Hannah reminds Mr. Hoffman of hisown Hannalah and his family lost in the war. Seth, thenarra- UNCERTAIN ROADS: SEARCHING FOR THE tor, has not yet heard about that time, a time when some- GYPSIES one could lose an entire family. Changing moods, Mr. Yale Strom. (Four Winds,1993)112 pages.ISBN:0-02-788531-3. Hoffman tells how as a child, he believed that if all eight LevetAges 9-14 and older. Hanukkah candles went out at once, his wishes would Strom's opening paragraph states that "with the collapse be carried straight to the ear of God. Although Seth and of communism, the fall of the Berlin Wall and the reunifi- Hannah never see Mr. Hoffman again,every year they cation of Germany, Pandora's box has been opened, and wish on the eight candles. Dramatic watercolorpaint- its contentsnationalism, pan-Slavism, tribalism, and anti- ings illustrate a gentle story hinting at the history about Semitismhave created an atmosphere of intolerance" which Seth and Hannah will some day learn. for which the "most easily identifiable targets"are the ap- O 00 proximately ten million to eleven million Rom living in Europe. Strom presents the people typically called "gyp- TREE OF CRANES sies" by outsiders through interviews with individuals,most Allen Say. (Houghton Mifflin,1991) 32 pages.ISBN: 0-395-52024- of whom are young. He provides background informa- X. Level:Ages 5-7. tion about the origin of the Rom in India andsome of the A Japanese boy "not yet old enough towear long pants" reasons for their historic movement across Europe. Ca- catches a cold playing at a neighbor'scarp pond and is sual discrimination against the Rom as wellas intentional put to bed by his mother after a hot bath. The mother acts of prejudice, including those during the Holocaust, seems unusually preoccupied and even severe as she folds are discussed. Strom's many superb full-color photos al- origami figures; she then, inexplicably, digs up and brings ternate with others reproduced in black and white toex- inside the little pine tree belonging to herson. As she tend the interviews. The book is organized bycontempo- hangs tiny origami birds on the tree, the mother remi- rary nation: Romania, which has thirteen distinct Rom nisces about Christmas during her own childhood in tribes; Hungary; Ukraine; and Sweden. A bibliography, warm California, long before she came to Japan and met glossary, and notations for several songs add valuable ele- the boy's father. 'INvo stories about promising andgiving ments to this important book. overlap in an unusual full-color 111% x 1014 in. book evok- O 0 ing two past generations, two cultures, and early twentieth century traditional Japanese domestic life. THE UGLY MENORAH O 0 Marissa Moss. (Farrar Straus Giroux1996).32 pages.ISBN: 0- 374-38027-9.Level:Ages5-8. THE TWELVE DAYS OF CHRISTMAS: Spending the eight days of Hanukkah with her widowed A SONG REBUS grandmother, Rachel is surprised and disappointedto dis- Emily Bolam,illustrator. U.S. edition. (AnneSchwartz/Atheneum, cover Grandma's menorah is a plain wood board with 1997) 30 pages. ISBN:0-689-81101-2. Level:Age 3-adult. tin cylinders. But when Grandma tells her about the A unique method of visualizing the traditional English menorah's origins in the days when she and Grandpa game song uses a rebus or picture to help young singing were young and poor, Rachel is able to see its sweet and readers and their adults keep track ofan ever-growing shining beauty Full-color, full-page illustrationsaccom- number of gifts. For example,an early page reads "On pany a tender family story the second day of Christmas,my true love sent to me O 00 two turtle doves and a [picture of a partridge] ina pear tree." On the opposite page is Bolam's acrylic painting 50 4 9 THE UNINVITED GUEST AND OTHER JEWISH artists, while the text engages interest in their progressive HOLIDAY TALES and distinctive spirits. Cassatt is an artist whose life and work Nina Jaffe.Illustrated by Elivia. (Scholastic 1993)72 pages.ISBN: are familiar to many readers. Among the other artists, 0-590-44653-3.Level:Ages 5-10 and older. Carrington's origins in northern England exposed her to Beginning with Rosh Hashanah and "The Never-Ending Celtic legends, Christian stories about mirades and Catho- Song," the meaning of six more Jewish holidays are briefly lic saints, and family suggestions that she raise fox terriers explained and accompanied by a story: "Miracles on the rather than attend art schooL After learning about surreal- Sea" by Peretz (Yom Kippur); "The Magician's Spell" ism in art, Carrington ultimately emigrated to Mexico where (Sukkot); "Hannah the Joyful" (Hanukkah); "The Purim she continued to "see the invisible" and create "fantasies with Trunk" (Purim); "The Two Brothers" (Passover); and other worldly creatures." Saar's early fascination with found "The Uninvited Guest" (Shabbat). The fmal ten pages objects extended into a career involving three-dimensional include sections containing information about each story assemblages, a famous one being "The Liberation of Aunt an explanation of the Jewish calendar, a glossary, a bibli- Jemima," her response as an African American artist to out- ography, and a list of recommended readings about Jew- sider notions about kitchen slaves. In recent years Saar con- ish folklore and the holidays. A distinctive full-page paint- tinues to transform ordinary objects, including circuit boards, ing done with watercolors and crayon and reproduced into artistic statements. Born in England, Frank was sent to in full color accompanies each story in an 111/4 by 81/4 in. the United States in 1940 to live with grandparents. Through- book full of interest for all readers. out her career sculpting and, more recently, creating 0 0 monoprints, Frank explores universals: life and life experience. Detailed picture credits and bibliographies condude VEJIGANTE MASQUERADER Sills's second fine work about women artists; the first was Lulu Delacre. (Scholastic 1993) 40 pages.ISBN:0-590-45776-4. INSPIRATIONS (Albert Whitman, 1989). Level:Ages 5-9. 000 Since 1858, boys and men in Ponce, Puerto Rico, have celebrated Carnival for the entire month of February. VOICES FROM THE FIELDS:CHILDREN OF These masqueraders or vejigantes wear down-like cos- MIGRANT FARM WORKERS TELL THEIR STORIES tumes and papier mache masks resembling animals. S. Beth Atkinillustrated by Will Clay. (Joy Street/Little Brown, Delacre's English / Spanish story based on this local cus- 1993)96 pages.ISBN: 0-316-05633-2. Level:Ages 9-14 and older. tom features young Ramon, who has found ways to cre- First-person narratives and/or poems introduce ten ate his first vejigante costume and work in exchange for voices representative of Latino migrant children and teen- a mask so that he can participate in the merriment with agers working in the Salinas Valley of California. This the older boys. During the opening festivities, Ramon's unparalleled photodocumentary children's book origi- foolhardy actions gain the boys' respect but also ruin his nated in migrant programs and in the fields where some costume. Bilingual information about three masquerad- of the children and teenagers agreed to tell their stories ers from Mexico, Spain, and Venezuela; directions for and be photographed. Atkin's brief introductory passages making a vejigante mask; several vejigante chants; a glos- establish a context for each commentary. These children sary; and a bibliography support the story All portions of Mexican heritage speak about work, family, fitting in, of this unique 91/4 by 101/4 in. picture book are illustrated the gang, and teen parents. Spanish was used in most of in full color with art created in watercolor, colored pen- the interviews; the English translations offer an urgent cils, and pastels. witness and testimony to certain realities and experiences 0 0 000and, sometimes, to hopes, as well. VISIONS: STORIES ABOUT WOMEN ARTISTS Leslie Sills. (Albert Whitman,1993)64 pages. ISBN: 0-8075-8491- WAITING FOR CHRISTMAS 6. Level:Ages 9-14 and older. Monica Greenfield. Illustrated bylan Spivey Gilchrist (Scholastic In a compact volume measuring9by 11 in., Sills showcases 1996)32 pages.ISBN: 0-590-52700-2. Level:Ages 3-6. the life and art of four women: Mary Cassatt, Leonorra On Christmas Eve an African American brother and sis- Carrington, Betye Saar, and Mary Frank The handsome ter anxiously await the end of the day and the beginning volume contains photographs of selected works and of the of Christmas morning. Gilchrist's wintery acrylic paint-

5 0 51 ings aptly capture the children's anticipatory mood, WHAT INSTRUMENT IS THIS? heightened by the short, lyrical lines of thetext. Rosmatie Haushen: (Scholastic Hardcover,1992) 38 pages.ISBN: O 0 0-590-44644-4levetAges4-8. Sixteen musical instruments are introducedone at a time, WEAVING A CALIFORNIA TRADITION: A NATIVE first with a color photograph ofa boy or girl playing an AMERICAN BASKETMAKER instrument paired with the question forming the book's Linda Yamane. Photographs by Dugan Aguilar (We Are Still title. Upon turning the page, a photograph ofsomeone Here) (Lerner, 1996) 48 pages. ISBN:0-8225-2660-3. Level: playing it corresponds with brief information about the Ages 7-11. instrument. The instruments indude a recorder,saxo- Eleven-year-old Carly Tex, a member of the Western phone, bagpipes, electric guitar, pipeorgan, and trumpet. Mono tribe in California, is continuing the tradition of A visual symbol and phrase designate to which instillment basketweaving that has been part of her family and her group each one belongs. Brief details about instruments, culture for generations. Carly enjoys learning from her lessons, teaching methods, practice time, joiningan or- aunt and mother about gathering and preparing grasses, chestra or band, and recitals appear at the book's endto branches, and other materials required for weaving, and respond to adults' questions. The diversity of the children about the various methods for creating baskets. With her showing an interest in the instrumentscan encourage the entire family, which indudes her father,a younger sister, natural curiosity of readers from varying backgrounds. and an older sister home from college, Carly also attends O 00 a California Indian Basketweavers Gathering, where she displays her work and continues to learn. Aguilar's color WHEN BIRDS COULD TALK AND BATS COULD photographs accompany Yamane's sensitive, informative SING:THE ADVENTURES OF BRUH SPARROW, SIS text that also discusses the beliefs that go hand-in-hand WREN, AND THEIR FRIENDS. with the Western Mono weaving tradition. Virginia Hamilton, retellerillustrated by Barry Moser. (Blue Sky/ O 00 Scholastic 1996) 63 pages.ISBN: 0-590-47372-Z Level:Ages 7-12 and older. WHAT A WONDERFUL WORLD Unforgettable winged creatures practically fly off the Ashley Bryan, illustrator. (Atheneum,1995) 24 pages.ISBN:0- pages of this elegant volume. Virginia Hamilton has se- 689-80087-8.Level:Ages 2-8. lected and retold eight African American folktales first Six children paint scenery: flowers, trees,sun, moon, stars, written down in authentic dialect by folldorist Martha and a rainbow. They draw, cut, and mount animal, bird, Young, who collected the stories from former slaveson and reptile shapes. Hand puppetsare costumed. Lettered her father's plantation in Alabama. In each of the brief signs proclaim "Puppet Show Today" and "Satchmo the stories, the creatures behave like humans with human Great!" The performance begins, "Isee trees of green, weaknesses: pride, selfishness, and just plain nosiness. The red roses too, I see them bloom / forme and you, and I stories are written in a prose style known as cante fable, think to myself, 'What a wonderful world!'Backstage, meaning that songs and verses are woven into the story children hold up set pieces picturing flora, fauna, and and each one ends with a moral. The characters them- puppet people indigenous to each hemisphere. "The selves are brilliantly characterized bya combination of bright, blessed day, the dark, sacred night;" the hands lift- Hamilton's perfectly crafted dialogue and Moser'sstun- ing the sun and moon onto the stagevary in skin color. ning watercolor paintings. Despite the human attributes Bryan's inspired vision for a hopeful future is alsoa trib- Moser gives Miss Bat and the birds through the facial ute to Louis Armstrong, whose performances of thissong expressions and the hats they wear, we never forget that composed three decades ago are legendary By address- they are creatures of the sky, thanks largelyto a page ing the young in love ("They'll know muchmore / than design that causes viewers' eyes tosweep upward as they I'll ever know"), Armstrong sang a personal testimony follow the characters' antics, makingan inevitable fall to goodness. That Bryan understands this song ona deep from grace all the more dramatic. level is evident in his tempera and gouache paintingsin- O 0 corporating bright borders and stylized patterned shapes while expanding the meanings of the lyrics andmusic in Othis 121/400 x 101/4 in. book. 52 51 THE WHISPERING CLOTH Pegi Deitz Shea. illustrated by Anita Riggia (Boyds Mills, 1995) 32 pages.ISBN:1-56397-134-8. Level:Ages 7-11. Mai,a young Hmong girl living in a refugee camp in Thailand, waits for the day she might join her cousins in the United States. To pass time, Mai listens to the women tell stories of their Laotian homeland, and she watches the stories take shape inside the beautiful borders of the pa'ndau, the story doth they sew. Wanting to stitch her own pa'ndau, Mai finds herself remembering the death of her parents and her ffight from Laos to the refugee camp with her grandmother. An important narrative about the experience of Hmong refugee people is illustrated with full-color paintings and an actual pa'ndau stitched for the text to tell Mai's story An author's note provides information on Ban Vmai, the refugee camp 000where the story is set.

WITH NEEDLE AND THREAD:A BOOK ABOUT QUILTS Raymond Bial. (Houghton Mifflin,1996) 48 pages.ISBN:0-395- 73568-8. Leyel:Ages 9-16 and older. For centuries people from many cultures have made quilts for comfort. In recent years a resurgence of quiltmaking and a growing interest in art quilts and quilt exhibitions has occurred in this nation. Bial writes about heirloom quilts, commemorative quilts, art quilts, the AIDS quilt, quilts made for charitable causes, a Hmong quilt, an Amish quilt, and others. Color photographs show some of the remarkable designs and derails. They show quilters at work, too, even a young girl stitching her first block. The author's intent is to write about the many connections people have with quilts, and the anecdotes included attest to this. A list of further reading concludes the book. 0 0

53 Children's Trade Books with Cultureas a Second Thematic Strand The title index on pp. 173-180 lists the number of thepage on which each book is annotated.

TITLE AUTHOR DATE AGE LEVEL

A Bellbird in a Flame Tree Kilmeny Niland 1991 All ages

A Is for Africa Ifeoma Onyefulu 1993 Ages 3-7

Angela Weaves a Dream:The Story of a Young Maya Artist Michelle Solá 1997 Ages 8-11

Appalachia:The Voices of Sleeping Birds Cynthia Rylant 1991 Ages 7-11

Arctic Son Jean Craighead George 1997 Ages 5-9

At Christmastime Valerie Worth 1992 Ages 5 and older

Bill Pickett: Rodeo-Ridin' Cowboy Andrea D. Pinkney 1996 Ages 7-10 and older

The Birthday Swap Loretta Lopez 1997 Ages 5-8

The Block Langston Hughes 1995 Age 11 and older

Buffalo Days Diane Hoyt-Goldsmith 1997 Ages 7-11

Building an Igloo Ulli Steltzer. 1995 Ages 7-11

C Is for City Nikki Grimes 1995 Ages 3-6

Calvin's Christmas Wish Calvin Miles 1993 Ages 5-8

Chibi: A True Story from Japan Barbara Brenner 1996 Ages 7-10 and Julia Takaya

Children of Clay:A Family of Pueblo Potters Rina Swentzell 1992 Ages 7-13

Children of Promise:African-American Literature and Charles Sullivan, editor 1991 Age 5 and older Art for Young People

The Christmas Tree / El Arbol de Navidad: A Christmas Rhyme Alma Flor Ada 1997 Ages 2-5 in English and Spanish

The Christmas Tree Ship Jeanette Winter 1994 Ages 5-9

Clambake:A Wampanoag Tradition Russell M. Peters 1992 Ages 7-13

Country Fair Elisha Cooper 1997 Ages 3-8

The Day of Ahmed's Secret Florence Parry Heide 1990 Ages 5-9 and Judith Heide Gilliland

Emeka's Gift:An African Counting Story lfeoma Onyefulu 1995 Ages 4-7

Families: A Celebration of Divers4 Commitment and Love Aylette Jenness 1990 Ages 5-12

54 5 3 Fort Chipewyan Homecoming:A Journey to Native Canada Morningstar Mercredi 1997 Ages 8-11

FunNo Fun James Stevenson 1994 Ages 4-8

Fun with 9umbers Massin 1995 Ages 7-11

Gabriella's Song Candace Fleming 1997 Ages 4-7

Georgia O'Keefe Robyn Montana Turner 1991 Ages 7-12

Gingerbread Days Joyce Carol Thomas 1995 Ages 3-7

Good-bye, Curtis Kevin Henkes 1995 Ages 3-6

A Great Miracle Happened There:A Chanukah Story Karla Kuskin 1993 Ages 5-10

Great Women in the Struggle Toyomi Igus, editor 1991 Age 7 and older

The Hired Hand Robert D. San Souci 1997 Ages 8-11

Home Field David Spohn 1993 Ages 3-7

Houses of Adobe:The Southwest Bonnie Shemie 1995 Ages 9-11

Houses of Bariclipi, Wigwam and Longhouse Bonnie Shemie 1990 Ages 6-9

How My Family Lives in America Susan Kuklin 1992 Ages 4-7

Hush! A Thai Lullaby Minfong Ho 1996 Ages 2-5

I Am a Jesse White Tumbler Diane Schmidt 1990 Ages 7-12

In My Family / En Mi Familia Carmen Lomas Garza 1996 Age 5 and older with Harriet Rohmer

The Inner City Mother Goose Eve Merriam 1996 Age 14 and older

In the Heart of the Village:The World of the Indian Banyan Tree Barbara Bash 1996 Ages 8-11

In the Street of the Temple Cloth Printers Dorothy Field 1996 Ages 9-14

I Was a Teenage Professional Wrestler Ted Lewin 1993 Ages 8-14

Imani's Gift at Kwanzaa Denise Burden-Patmon 1992 Ages 3-8

John Henry Julius Lester 1994 Ages 4-12

June 29,1999 David Wiesner 1992 Ages 4-9

Kinaalda: A Navajo Girl Grows Up Monty Roessel 1993 Ages 7-11 and older

Little White Cabin Ferguson Plain 1992 Ages 5-8

5 4 55 Lives of the Athletes:Thrills, Spills and Kathleen Krull 1997 Ages 11-14 and older What the Neighbors Thought

The Magic Moonberry Jump Ropes Dakari Hru 1997 Ages 4-7

Mayeros: A Yucatec Maya Family George Ancona 1996 Ages 7-11

A Million Fish ...More or Less Patricia C. McKissaack 1992 Ages 4-7

Morning, Noon, and Night:Poems to Fill Your Day Sharon Taberski 1996 Ages 5-8

Mother Gave a Shout Poems by Women and Girls Susanna Steele 1991 Ages 9-13 and older and Morag Styles, editors

My Buddy Audrey Osofsky 1992 Ages 4-9

My Fellow Americans:A Family Album Alice Provensen 1995 Ages 5-14 and older

My Name Is Maria Isabel Alma Flor Ada 1993 Ages 7-9

Neve Shalom/Wahat A-Salam:Oasis of Peace Laurie Dolphin 1993 Ages 7-10

Night Tree Eve Bunting 1991 Ages 3-7

Ogbo: Sharing Life in an African Village Ifeoma Onyefulu 1996 Ages 7-10

On the Pampas Maria Cristina Brusca 1991 Ages 4-8

A Picture Book of Jesse Owens David A. Adler 1992 Ages 5-9

The Red Comb Fernando Pico 1994 Ages 7-11

Remember That Les lea Newman 1996 Ages 4-8

Samuel Todd's Book of Great Inventions E. L Konigsburg 1991 Ages 3-6

The Seasons Sewn:A Year in Patchwork Ann Whitford Paul 1996 Ages 9-12

Six Words, Many Turtles, and Three Days in Hong Kong Patricia McMahon 1997 Ages 8-11

Snow Day! Barbara M.Joosse 1995 Ages 3-6

Stories in Stone:Rock Art Pictures by Early Americans Caroline Arnold 1996 Ages 9-12 and older

Street Music:City Poems Arnold Adoff 1995 Ages 7-11

Sunflakes: Poems for Children Lilian Moore 1992 Ages 2-7

Sweet Words so Brave:The Story of African American Literature Barbara K Curry 1996 Ages 9-16 and older and James Michael Brodie

Talking with Artists:Conversations with Victoria Chess, Pat Cummings, compiler 1992 Ages 6-14 and older Pat Cummings, Leo and Diane Dillon, Richard Egielski,Lois Ehlert, Lisa Campbell Ernst,Tom Feelings, Steven Kellogg,Jerry Pinkney, Amy Schwartz, Lane Smith, Chris Van Allsburg and DavidWiesner._ 56 b b Tanya and Emily in a Dance for Two Patricia Lee Gauch 1994 Ages 3-7

Tar Beach Faith Ringgold 1991 Ages 5-11

Tonight Is Carnival Arthur Dorros 1991 Ages 4-8

Totem Pole Diane Hoyt-Goldsmith 1990 Ages 5-10

Treemonisha Angela Shelf Medearis 1995 Ages 9-12 and older

When I Am Old with You Angela Johnson 1990 Ages 3-6

A Young Painter:The Life and Paintings of Wang Yani Zheng Zhensun 1991 Age 8 and older China's Extraordinary Young Artist and Alice Low

The Zebra-Riding Cowboy:A Folk Song from the Old West Angela Medearis 1992 Ages 5-9

Children's Trade Books with Culture as a Third Thematic Strand The title index on pp. 173-180 lists the number of the page on which each book is annotated.

Afro-Bets First Book about Africa Veronica Freeman Ellis 1990 Ages 6-12

Arctic Hunter Diane Hoyt-Goldsmith 1992 Ages 9-13

Artist in Overalls:The Life of Grant Wood John Duggleby 1996 Ages 9-14 and older

Brown Honey in Broomwheat Tea Joyce Carol Thomas 1993 Ages 5-10

Clouds for Dinner Lynne Rae Perkins 1997 Ages 4-8

Cynthia Gregory Dances Swan Lake Cynthia Gregory 1990 Ages 5-11

Dia's Story Cloth:The Hmong People's Journey to Freedom Dia Cha 1996 Ages 8-11 and older

Eagle Song Joseph Bruchac 1997 Ages 9-11 and older

Elijah's Angel:A Story for Chanukah and Christmas Michael J. Rosen 1992 Ages 7-11

Everglades; Buffalo Tiger and the River of Grass Peter Lourie 1994 Ages 9-11 and older

Girls and Young Women Inventing:Twenty True Stories Frances A. Karnes 1995 Ages 10-14 and older about Inventors, Plus How You Can Be One Yourself and Suzanne M. Bean

Gus and Grandpa and the Christmas Cookies Claudia Mills 1997 Ages 4-6

Hattie and the Wild Waves:A Story from Brooklyn Barbara Cooney 1990 Ages 6-9

The Heart of the Wood Marguerite W. Davol 1992 Ages 3-8

Hiawatha: Messenger of Peace Dennis Brindell Fradin 1992 Ages 7-11 and older

How I Was Adopted Joanna Cole 1995 Ages 3-7

5 6 57 L'chaim:The Story of a Russian Emigre Boy Tricia Brown 1994 Ages 8-11

The Little Lama oflibet Lois Raimondo 1994 Ages 7-10

Look Alive:Behind the Scenes of an Animated Film Elaine Scott 1992 Ages 7-11 and older

Meet Danitra Brown Nikki Grimes 1994 Ages 7-10

Mom Can't See Me Sally Hobart Alexander 1990 Ages 6-11

Night on Neighborhood Street Eloise Greenfield 1991 Ages 3-9

Red Dog, Blue Fly:Football Poems Sharon Bell Mathis 1991 Ages 7-11

The Sacred Harvest Ojibway Wild Rice Gathering Sharon Bell Mathis 1991 Ages 7-11

Teammates Peter Golenbock 1990 Ages 5-10

This Land Is My Land George Littlechild 1993 Ages 9-14 and older

What Zeesie Saw on Delancey Sreet Elsa Okon Rael 1996 Ages 5-8

The Window Michael Dorris 1997 Ages 10-13 and older

Zora Hurston and the Chinaberry Tree William Miller 1994 Ages 6-9

57 58 la' CHAPTER SOX CHILDREN'S TRADE BOOKSWITH TIME, CONTINUITY, AND CHANGEAS THE MAJOR THEMATIC STRAND

AT CHRISTMASTIME BILL PICKETr: RODEO-RIDIN' COWBOY Valerie Worthillustrated by Antonio Frasconi. (Michael di Capua Andrea D. Pinkney.Illustrated by Brian Pinkney. (Gulliver/ Books/HarperCollins,1992) 32 pages.ISBN:0-06-205020-6.Level: Harcourt Brace,1996) 32 pages.ISBN:0-15-200100-X Level:Ages Age 5 and older. 7-10 and older. Original short poems with titles such as "Wmter Dusk," The child of former slaves, Bill Pickett grew up on the "Tree Lot," and "Twelfth Night" embrace a wide range wide open Texas prairie. "He was quick as a jackrabbit, of impressionssecular and religiousabout an obser- more wide-eyed than a hooty owland curious." The vance stretching longer than a month. "Creche" is an eager boy developed his own unique style of cow wres- example of the insight to discover in every poem: "The tling in which he sank his teeth into the animal's lip to angel/is lacking/A wing; /Even the/Baby looks/ keep it under control. Observer's called it bulldogging, Shabby/ So that/It's hard/To explain/Their sturdy/ and it was to become Bill's trademark in a distinguished Abiding/Beauty" A final poem, "Spring," suggests a career as a cowboy and rodeo rider. Almost one in four memory: "By the muddy path/ Glints a single /Crumpled cowboys who rode the western states in the nineteenth strand/ Of Christmas tinsel." Frasconi's striking full-color century was black, author Andrea Pinkney notes in his- images in woodcuts and mixed media give visual power torical information that follows the text of this lively bi- to this handsome 111/4 x 91/2 in. edition of superb poetry ography. Bill Pickett was among the most famous of them 0 0 all. Brian Pinkney's scratchboard illustrations capture the expansive feeling of the western landscape and the en- BETSY ROSS: PATRIOT OF PHILADELPHIA ergy of humans and animals in motion on the pages of Judith St George Illustrated by Sasha Meret.(Henty Holt 1997) this 11 x 9 in. book. 118 pages.ISBN:0-8050-5439-1. Level:Ages 9-11 and older. 0 0 Children who have heard of Betsy Ross know of her as the patriot who sewed the fust "stars and stripes" flag for BLACK HEROES OF THE WILD WEST our country. What they may not know is that Betsy Ross Ruth Pe&Illustrated by Leandro Della Piana. (Open Hand was also a brave, independent, compassionate woman. Publishing,1990) 55 pages.ISBN:0-940880-26-1. Level:Ages 7-9 They probably never heard that she eloped when her and older. parents wouldn't consent to her marrying outside her Short biographical essays highlight the lives of African religion, or that she was widowed three times, raised American explorers, pioneers, entrepreneurs, and cowboys seven children, and ran her own business for fifty years. who helped shape the West. Six men and three women It was because of Betsy's upholstery business that George are featured in a highly accessible volume that pulls to- Washington is believed to have sought her out during gether much hard-to-find information. the Revolutionary War to ask her to sew the first flag. In 0 an author's note at the end of the text, St. George explains that there is no defmitive proof that Betsy did sew BLOOMERS! the first flag, but there is much evidence to suggest that Rhoda Blumberg. Illustrated by Mary Morgan. (Bradbuty,1993) she did, including signed affidavits from her daughter and 32 pages.ISBN:0-02-711684-0.Level:Ages 7-10 and older. granddaughters swearing Betsy told them about her Hooray for Libby Miller! In 1851, Libby arrived in Sen- meeting with General Washington, and, most moving eca Falls, New York, for a visit with her cousin, Eliza- of all, a signed paper pattern for a five-pointed star kept beth Cady Stanton, dressed not in the tight-fitting cor- in safe-keeping by her family This engaging biography set and skirt of convention, but in free-flowing trou- casts light on a beloved figure from history who is too sers that ballooned from her waist to her knees. One often referenced without really being seen. look and Elizabeth was convinced that this liberating 0 0 59 outfit was for her as well. Therest, as they say, is hisparents, brother, and sister. An upbeat first-person text torywomen's history! An engagingtext introduces describes Bridget's typicalsummer activities: drawing young readers to women's rights pioneers Stanton, pictures, hunting for crawdads, spending time with her Amelia Bloomer, and Susan B. Anthony,presenting the grandparents, studying the Cherokee languageon a basic tenets of the fight for equal rightsin direct, ac- computer at the library, and attending asummer cessible language as the history of bloomers,a fash- stomp dance. Information about Cherokee history, ion that was much more than a fad, is told. culture, and contemporary issues iswoven through- 000 out Bridget's discussion, accompanied by color photographs of this energetic girl. A BOY BECOMES A MAN AT WOUNDED KNEE 0 Ted Wood and Wanbli Numpa Afraid of Hawk(Walker,1992)42 pages.ISBN:0-8027-8175-6.Level:Ages 8-13 and older. CHILDREN OF PROMISE: AFRICAN-AMER1CAN A photo-essay with color photographstraces the dra- LITERATURE AND ART FOR YOUNG PEOPLE matic journey made in December 1990by the descen- Charles Sullivan,editor.(Hany N.Abrams,1991)126 pages.ISBN: dants of survivors of the Wounded KneeMassacre. 0-8109-3170-2.LevetAge 5 and older. The account is told from the point of view of eight- A curious mix of African American and othervoices year-old Wanbli Numpa, theyoungest Lakota to make from U.S. history shows "the evidence ofa country the trip. Throughout their treacheroussix-day jour- striving toward the recondliation between the real and ney on horseback in subzero temperatures, they are the ideal." The written and visualstatements of a sur- continually reminded of the suffering of theirances- prising range of public servants, philosophers,writ- tors along this same trail one hundredyears ago and ers, and artists bear witness both to a proud and pain- of the seriousness of their mission: to mend the sa- ful past. At the back of this anthology isa poetry title, cred hoop of the world thatwas broken at Wounded and author index, as well as an alphabetical listing of Knee in1890. 0 0 thel1lcontributors represented bymore than one hundred texts and eighty coloror black-and-white illustrations. Examples of the widerange of the people THE BOYS'WAR: CONFEDERATE ANDUNION included within Children of Promiseare James SOLDIERS TALK ABOUT THE CIVIL WAR Baldwin, Imamu Amiri Baraka, Romare Bearden, Jim Murphy. (Clarion,1990)110 pages.ISBN:0-89919-893-Z Gwendolyn Brooks, Lucille Clifton, Countee Cullen, Level:Age 9 and older. WE.B. Du Bois, Paul Laurence Dunbar, Bob Dylan, Using excerpts from letters and diaries written by boys Amos Fortune, Stephen Foster, and between the ages of twelve and eighteen whoserved in Meta Vaux Warwick Fuller. the Confederate and Union armies, the authorprovides 00 an intriguing history of the Civil War that focuseson the experiences of the war's youngest soldiers. Some of the CHRISTMAS COUNTING boys were "tall 14year olds who lied abouttheir ages," Lynn Reiser.(Greenwillow,1992) 32 pages. ISBN:0-688-10677-3. and others were drummer boys who tookup arms on Level:Ages 2-5. the battlefield. The fifty accompanying documentary Each December for ten years, anevergreen tree is car- photographs were carefully chosen; in most of them, the ried with its surrounding dirt inside the house.Each youthfulness of the soldiers pictured is obvious,some- year, a new person or pet joins the family, additional times shockingly so. decorations (three paper chains, five colored balls,etc.) 00 are added to the tree, and the cumulative storygrows a bit longer. Every year "after Christmas / the father CHEROKEE SUMMER planted/the... tree /back in the clearing in the for- Diane Hoyt-Goldsmith. Photographs by LawrenceMigdale. est/under the moon shining down." Reiser'scount- (Holiday House,1993) 32 pages. ISBN: 0-8234-0995-3.Level: ing book offers a patterned text,a conservation theme, Ages 7-11. and much to notice and count in wonderfullydevel- Bridget is a ten-year-old Cherokee girl wholives in a oped watercolor-and-pen illustrations. mobile home near Tahlequah, Oklahoma,with her 000 60 5 9 THE CHRISTMAS TREE SHIP boyhood through young adulthood and middle age to Jeanette Winter. (Philome1,1994) 32 pages.ISBN: 0-399-22693-1. his present status as an elderly gent. Throughout, he has Level:Ages 5-9. maintained his lifelong interest in animals of all species For twenty-five years, beginning in 1887, Captain (though long-haired dachshunds figure prominently, and Herman Schuenemann cut evergreens to load in a ship deservedly so). Anita Jeram's lively watercolor illustra- he then sailed south on Lake Michigan from Manistique, tions perfectly complement King-Smith's light, humor- Michigan, to Chicago. In 1912, a bottle washed up on ous tone and make this volume a perfect selection as a the Wisconsin shore containing Captain Herman's mes- family read-aloud. sage to his wife Hannah and their girls about a storm's 000 severity confirming his death and the loss of the ship. For twenty-two more years, Hannah Schuenemann and DISCOVERING CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS: HOW her three daughters continued to sail to Chicago bring- HISTORY IS INVENTED ing trees in time for Christmas. Based on a true event Kathy Pelta.(Lerner,1991)112 pages.ISBN:0-8225-4899-2.Level: and real people, a relatively small (91/4 x 83/4in.) full-color Ages 7-11 and older. picture book briefly relays this amazing piece of Great The author pieces together the facts known about Chris- Lakes history topher Columbus during his lifetime and in succeeding 0 0 centuries. She demonstrates how historians persevere in finding out more about the past as well as how human THE DAYS BEFORE NOW: AN AUTOBIOGRAPHI- knowledge continues to grow accordingly. Using an en- CAL NOTE BY MARGARET WISE BROWN gaging, narrative style, Pelta shows how historical mate- Joan W. Blos, adapter.Illustrated byThomas &Allen. (Simon & rial is documented and, likewise, how a legend about Schuster,1994) 32 pages.ISBN:0-671-79628-3. Level:Ages 3-9. someone who once lived can grow and take on its own When asked in 1951 to write an autobiographical essay life. Archival materials, maps, art reproductions, and con- for H. W. Wilson's Junior Book of Authors, Marga- temporary photographs provide an abundance of visual ret Wise Brown submitted a characteristically lyrical, sen- information on the pages of this absorbing book. Pelta's suous, and direct piece of prose. More than forty years excellent bibliographic narrative describes her sources; later, Blos recognized the essay as "vintage Margaret Wise she points out the resources young readers will most likely Brown," in other words, a perfectly paced, child-centered want to use. This outstanding book about both Colum- picture-book text that required only a little shaping and bus and historiography will no doubt still be compelling editing by Blos and Allen's pleasingly soft-edged illustra- reading after the year 2000. tions to bring it to life. Their combined efforts have given 0 us Brown's own autobiography, written in the style and form she single-handedly invented, nurtured, and passed DON'T YOU KNOW THERE'S A WAR ON? on to future generations. James Stevenson. (Greenwillow,1992)ISBN:0-688-11384-2. 000 Level:Ages 6-11. In the style of his earlier autobiographical picture books DICK KING-SMITH'S ANIMAL FRIENDS:THIRTY- WHEN I WAS NINE (Greenwillow, 1986); HIGHER ON ONE TRUE LIFE STORIES THE DOOR (Greenwillow,1987); and JULY Dick King-Smith. Illustrated by Anita Jeram. (U.S. edition: (Greenwillow, 1990)Stevenson reminisces about grow- Cand lewick, 1996) 95 pages.1SBN: 1-56402-960-3. Level: ing up in the United States during World War II. The Ages 4-12. artist's memories of his father's enlistment provide a What at first glance seems to be a collection of animal poignant counterpoint to the wry childlike self-impor- stories is actually an autobiographical portrait of the au- tance he exhibits in describing his own contribution to thor, told through his recollections of animals he has the war effort: collecting tin foil, buying war stamps, eat- known. Beginning with one of his earliest memories ing spam, and watching newsreels. Stevenson manages (riding an elephant at the zoo) and ending with an ani- to suggest a lot of emotion and detail with just a few mal he encountered while writing this book (a crow that brush strokes in his expressive watercolor illustrations. perches outside his study window), the chronological 0 arrangement serves to show us King-Smith's growth from

6 0 61 THE FEATHER-BED JOURNEY FUNNO FUN Paula Kurzband Feder. Illustrated by Stacey Schuett. (Albert James Stevenson. (Greenwillow,1994)32 pages.ISBN: 0-688- Whitman,1995) ISBN: 0-8075-2330-5. Level: Ages 5-8 and older. 11674-4. Level: Ages 4-8. Grandma tells Rachel and Lewis how the feather pil- Stevenson catalogs a collection of hisown childhood low she treasures was once a huge feather bed made memories, categorizing each recollection as "Fun"or "No by their great-grandmother in Poland. Grandmaslept Fun." From joyous ("Fun was whenwe raked up all the on the bed as a little girl and shared it with five other leaves, when my friends and I could jump in the pile")to children after the sad timescame and the Germans sad ("No fun was when my parents wenton a trip with- forced Jewish people into the ghetto: "Theydidn't out me"), each reminiscence is enhanced with simple wa- want Jews in Poland. They didn't want Jewsany- tercolor illustrations that are visual extensions of the where." An introduction to the Holocaust is skillfully mood. Children will recognize the truth in thesememo- presented for younger readers in this picture book that ries and the feelings they evoke as if theywere their own. also tells of the kindness of a Polish farmer who helped 0 0 save Grandma's life, and later sent the remnants of the feather bed to her in America. Full-page illustra- FUN WITH 9UMBERS tions balance images of fearful times with those ofa Massin.fflustrated by Les Chats Peles:Uonel Le Neouanic Benoit warm, secure, loving family. Moreland Christian Oliver. (Creative Editions/Harcourt Brace 000 1995)32 pages. ISBN:0-15-200962-0. Level:Ages 7-11. Phil the dog and Pippo, his human companion, travel FIRE IN THE FOREST: A CYCLE OF GROWTHAND through time to discover intriguing facts aboutsystems RENEWAL of counting and numerical representation developedby Laurence Pringle Illustrated by Bob MarstalL (Atheneum,1995) many cultures. An informative and imaginative 131/4 x 32 pages. ISBN:0-689-80394-X Level:Ages 7-11. 91/4 in. towering text is accompanied bydelightfully zany "Fires bring change, diversity andnew life," Pringle illustrations in which personified numbers dance, roll, tells us in his opening paragraphs. Using the and fly across pages. Other full-page art shows Phil and Yellowstone fires of 1988 as an example, the author Pippo among the Aztecs, Ancient Egyptians, Sumerians, writes about how forest fires fit into the natural cycle and others whose numerical achievements continueto of forest ecology His compelling text alternates with be counted today. wordless double-page illustrations that show thesame 0 0 expanse of forest before, during, and after a fire. 0 0 GRANDADDY AND JANETTA Helen V.Griffith.Illustrated by James Stevenson. (Greenwillow, FLIGHT:THE JOURNEY OF CHARLES LINDBERGH 1993)32 pages. ISBN:0-688-11227-7. Level: Ages 4-8. Robert Budeigh.fflustrated by Mike Wimmer. (Philomel Books, Young listeners and readers will againencounter the 1991) 32 pages. ISBN:0-399-22272-3. Level: Ages 5-10. spunky protagonist and amiable grandparent enjoyed Burleigh uses short sentences torecount the historic earlier in GEORGIA MUSIC (Grvenwillow, 1986) and first airplane ffight across the Atlantic that transformed GRANDADDY'S PLACE (Greenwillow, 1987). This third a twenty-five year-old pilot into a hero in 1927. The five-chapter story begins as Janetta travels alone bytrain terse, present-tense narrative conveys elements of the from Baltimore to Georgia. She wonders what has risk Lindbergh took and thecourage he exhibited only changed during the year that has elapsed since her last twenty-four years after the Wright Brotherssuccess- visit to Momma's rural childhood home. Does fully flew the first airplane. Wimmer's full-color art- Grandaddy remember what she looks like? Will shere- work provides a suitably heroic perspectiveon this member him? At once janetta notices that Grandaddy's exciting achievement. 0 0 beard is gone, while he wastesno time living up to his reputation in the humor department: "I thoughtto myself, if that child has grown a beard, how will Iever know her?" Yes, there are changes at Grandaddy's, smallones contributing to a family's memory of itself Grandaddy is good at telling stories, sometimesones from Momma's

62 t3 1 childhood. Janetta is good at listening and also at enjoy- HARD TO BE SIX ing the mule she once named Star, the egg-laying chick- Arnold Adoff. Illustrated byCheryl Hanna.(Lothrop,Lee& Shepard ens, and the cat. Griffith's ability to create distinctive, plau- 1991)32 pages.ISBN:0-688-09013-3. Level:Ages 4-6. sible, likable characters through dialogue, and Stevenson's "Hard to be six/when your sister is ten. / There are things skill in creating full-color art done in black line with wa- she can do that/ must wait until then: when I am/ seven tercolors, combine once again with success to delineate or eight, nine or ten. / Hard to be six until then." Adoff's a heart-warming bond between two generations. poems about the ups and downs of a typical six-year-old 0 0 who can't wait to grow up are marvelously illustrated with full-color paintings that show the six-year-old and GRANDMOTHER BRYANT'S POCKET his sister as biracial children with a white father and an Jacqueline Briggs Martin.Illustrated by Petra Mather& African American mother. (Houghton Mifflin,1996)48 pages.ISBN: 0-395-68984-8. Level: 000 Ages 5-Z Sarah Bryant has nightmares after her little dog Patches THE HEROINE OF THE TITANIC: A TALE BOTH is killed in a barn fire. Grandmother Bryant knows roots TRUE AND OTHERWISE OF THE LIFE OF MOLLY and herbs that might make bad dreams go away. But just BROWN as important to Sarah's healing are the stories, songs, and Joan W.Blosillustrated byTennessee Dixon. (William Mornow, patience that make a little girl feel safe and loved. A one- 1991)40 pages.ISBN:0-688-07546-0. Level:Ages 7-10. eyed cat, a gaggle of geese, a selfish old neighbor, and A sequence of visually boxed rhymes is interspersed be- the small, special things in Grandmother Bryant's pocket tween eight easy-to-read dramatic episodes from the life also play a role in Sarah's recovery. Set in1787,this com- of the woman known to some as "the unsinkable Molly forting story with its down-to-earth characters is charm- Brown." Molly became infamous after she moved from ingly told. Mathers's watercolor illustrations are detailed Hannibal, Missouri, to Leadville and Denver, Colorado. and lively; perfect for this intimate6 x 7in. book. As the spouse of J. J. Brown, she became wealthy. As a 000 survivor of the Titanic, Molly Brown also became somewhat famous. Just before her death in 1932, she became A GREAT MIRACLE HAPPENED THERE: a benefactor to the children of the then-depressed min- A CHANUKAH STORY ing town of Leadville. In a brief note at the end, Blos Karla Kuskin. Illustrated by Robert Andrew Parker. (Willa documents the factual sources she consulted to create Perlman Books/HarperCollins,1993) 32 pages. ISBN:0-06- this breezy, engaging historical fiction. Dixon's theatri- 023618-3. Level:Ages 5-10. cally presented illustrations for the 111/2 x 91/2 in. picture Kuskin's artfully written first person narrative features book were created with watercolors and ink the voice of a boy who invites a non-Jewish friend, Henry; 0 to join his family's celebration of the first night of Ha- nukkah on the twenty-fifth of Kislev. Members of three THE HIRED HAND generations express distinctive understandings of the Robert D.San Soucillustrated by Jerry Pinkney. (Dial,1997) 40 evening's events. Grandma remembers that people didn't pages.ISBN:0-8037-1296-0. Level:Ages 8-11. give Hanukkah presents at all when she was a girl and To find out the secret of how the New Hand hired by his indicates that "the older she gets, the more things she good-hearted father was able to cure the misery of some- can think of that cannot be explained in scientific ways." one with a bad back, New Sam, the lazy, careless son of The family members' comments about the nature of this black sawmill owner, spies on the New Hand to learn miracles constitute a memorable portion of Kuskin's the secrets of his healing powers. New Sam doesn't know amazingly natural dialogue that integrates elements of the full requirements involved in healing, however, and history and human nature. Whether Parker paintsa flam- when he tries to heal someone himself, his patient doesn't ing sunset, dinner candlelight, torches from the past,or survive. New Sam is charged with murder. A ghostly tale the fire of anger, his masterful watercolor and ink im- full of tension is set in what might have been Waterford, ages illuminate every page with one or another source Virginia, during the early 1800s, when antislavery Quak- of light. Kuskin's matchless text achieves the same in this ers who settled there welcomed blacks. Pinkney's trade- handsome 9 by 101/4 in. book. mark skill with historic de ails such as clothing and ma- 0 0 62 63 chinery is evident in his complex pencil and watercolor !THOUGHT MY SOUL WOULD RISE AND FLY:THE artwork. Helpful source notesare provided by San Souci DIARY OF PATSY, A FREED GIRL and Pinkney Joyce Hansen. (Dear America). (Scholastic 1997) 202pages. 00 ISBN: 0-590-84913-1. Level: Ages 10-13 and older. The Civil War is over, but Patsy doesn't feel free. Little HOME PLACE has changed on the plantation for this girl who has been Crescent Dragonwagon. Illustrated byJerry.Pinkney. a house slave all of her life. Even as some of the older (Macmillan, 1990) 32 pages. ISBN: 0-02-733190-3. Level: black men and women start brave journeys into difficult Ages 7-10. but hopeful new lives, Patsy is still tendingto the needs "Every year, / These daffodils comeup. / There is no house of Master, Mistress, and the house. She hasno one with near them ... But once, someone lived here. How can whom to start her own life of freedom. Instead,Patsy you tell? Look. A chimney, made of stone... Look. Push continues the work she has always done, waiting for the aside these weedshere's a stone foundation, laidon earth promised plantation school that she and others lookupon ..." Three white peoplea man,woman, and school-aged as a beacon of hope. Patsy, who learned how to write by girldiscover more: "A round blue glass marble,a nail, a surreptitiously listening when the children of the house horseshoe and a piece of plate. A small yellow botde. A china had their lessons, finds solace in her diary; where she de- doll's arm." Contemporary hikers and readers alikeimagine scribes these new and confusing times. These dailyen- the family that once lived here. The illustrations show an tries in Patsy's authentic, believable voice constitutea African American family; fragments of theirconversa- captivating narrative in Hansen's novel, articulating the tions are imagined. Beautifully rendered full-color paint- emotional weight and historical significance of these ings depict flowers and people of today along with the times of slow yet sweeping change. 000imaginative flowering of life and living in another time. 00 INDIGO AND MOONLIGHT GOLD HOMEPLACE Jan Spivey Gilchrist.(Black Butterfly/Writers and Readers,1993) Anne Shelby.fflustrated by Wendy Anderson Halperin. (A Richard 32 pages.ISBN: 0-86316-210-X Level:Ages 5-8. Jackson Book/Orchard1995) 32 pages.ISBN:0-531-06882-X Standing on her front porch gazing at the nighttime sky Level:Ages 4-8 and older. Autrie wishes she could freeze time. Not only could she "Your great-great-great-great grandpa built this house," keep the stars forever, but Mama would always be watch- a grandmother tells her granddaughter one day Together ing over her from the window, bathed in night's colors the two imagine all the changes that have occurredin of indigo and moonlight gold. Yet Autrie knows that night the house through six generations. Halperin'scozy pen- turns to day, warm breezes grow cold, and "Mama's don't cil and watercolor illustrationsare filled with details of sit and watch forever." The prospect of change doesn't everyday life in the past, cast againsta backdrop of con- frighten her, however, because mama's love has helped stancy (the house) and continuity (the family). her grow strong. Gilchrist's luminous oilpaintings lend 000 a quality of mystery to this African American mother's and daughter's special bond. HUSH! A THAI LULLABY 00 Minfong Ha Illustrated by Holly Meade (Orchard,1996)32 pagesISBN:0-531-09500-2. Level: Ages 2-5. THE INNER CITY MOTHER GOOSE A worried Thai mother tries to quiet all the animals and Eve Merriam.fflustrated by David Diaz Introduction by Nikki insects that might wake her napping baby in rhythmic Giovanni. (Simon & Schuster,1996.Introduction from the 1982 verse graced with gentle humor. Observant readers and edition by Eve Merriam.Text: 1969,1982,1996)70 pages.ISBN:0- listeners will find delight in the supposedly sleepingbaby's 689-80677-9. Level: Age 14 and older. active endeavors while his mother appealsto each ani- Poet Nikki Giovanni writes, "Eve Merriam took the spirit mal in turn to "Hush!," and all will enjoy thesoothing of Mother Goose to the inner cityto give voice to those pattern of the text. Cut-paper collage illustrations in who were being silenced...She had the moral indigna- warm earth tones fill each double-page spread with var- tion of a just cause." Many of Merriam'sseventy-one ied visual perspectives. 00 63 poems will startle some readers today, just as they did 64 when they were first published in 1969. Since 1969, an able anger as she provides thirty dose-up glimpses of mural introduction has been added, but the content remains virtu- sections accompanied by a terse, uncompromising account ally the same, and is as relevant and eye opening today as it of the conditions of this imprisonment. One portion of was thirty years ago. Merriam's poems continue to "carry the mural uses the Japanese Bunraki puppet tradition to some healing," offering truth, insight, and perspective at show US. military personnel acting in the "theatre of war," a time when these are very much needed. From Diaz's while a Noh drama pose is incorporated into the section eleven full-color illustrations rendered in acrylic to ac- about the US. Supreme Court challenge to the internment company this slim 9 x 5 in. volume, one can gain a strong camps. The full mural is reproduced on a double-page sense of human need within urban immediacy. spread at the end of the book. The 93/4 x 1I3A in. book 0 0 begins and ends with the visual and intellectual connection of tradition (the tale of Momotaro, or Peach Boy), JOHN HENRY US. labor history (peach picker), and hope (a contempo- Julius Lester. Illustrated byJerry Pinkney. (Dia1,1994) 40 pages. rary preschool-aged child offering a peach to the viewer ISBN:0-8037-1607-9. Level:Ages 4-12. of the artistic commentary). Readers, too, receive a new The mythic railroad worker from the African American perspective of history, tradition, and hope. oral tradition comes to life in this outstanding retelling 0 0 that recounts John Henry's extraordinary accomplishments. Lester's uses of anthropomorphism and anach- JUNE 29, 1999 ronism mark the story with his own distinctive flair. David Wiesner. (Clarion,1992) 32 pages.ISBN:0-395-59762-5. Pinkney's vibrant colored pencil and watercolor paint- Level:Ages 4-9. ings depict John Henry as an ordinary mortal, just a little In Ho-Ho-Kus, New Jersey, child scientist Holly Evans taller than everybody else. This is in keeping with Lester's uses helium balloons to launch vegetable seedlings into historical note concerning the academic research into the sky so that she can study the effects of extraterres- whether or not the legendary John Henry was based on trial conditions on their development. Six weeks later, a real man. The story retold for this picture book account giant turnips descend on Montana. In fact, each region is based on three specific versions of the African Ameri- of the United States is soon dealing with giant vegetables can folk ballad about the famous contest between John of some form or another. Wiesner's hilarious paintings Henry and a steam drill in the building of Big Bend Tun- of citizens throughout the nation creatively coping with nel in the Allegheny Mountains. Visual images of rain- an increase in produce (peas, for example, must be floated bows and meteors add cosmic scope throughout. The like barges dawn the Mississippi) are accompaniedby clev- final page combines John Henry with another icon of erly understated captions that make this spoof on Ameri- power: the White House. can resourcefulness even funnier. And what does scien- 0 0 tist Evans condude from her experiment? Even though she knows the giant vegetables aren't the results of her THE JOURNEY:JAPANESE AMERICANS, RACISM experiment (she never launched arugula!), only readers AND RENEWAL are let in on the truth behind this strange series of events. Sheila Hamanaka. (Richard Jackson/Orchard Books,1990) 40 0 0 pages.ISBN:0-531-08449-3.Level:Age 9 and older. Children's book illustrator and art director Sheila KENNEDY ASSASSINATED! THE WORLD Hamanaka is also a mural artist. Her five-panel, 25'x 8' MOURNS: A REPORTER'S STORY mural depicting the World War II internment of her Japa- Mom Hampton. (Candlewick1997) 96 pages.ISBN:1-56402- nese American elders forms the basis for this distinctive, 811-9. Level:Ages 9-14 and older. distinguished, and important book. As a child in thegen- The author was a young reporter trying to stay out of eration born after the war, Hamanaka and most other the way in the Dallas office of United Press International Americans were unaware that 120,000 male and female on November 22, 1963, when he found himself in the American citizens and residents of all ages with up to one- midst of what became one of the biggest stories of US. sixteenth Japanese ancestry were abruptly roundedup and history Hampton's sense of how to be helpful in what imprisoned in ten concentration camps early in 1942. Read- immediately became a highly competitive situation ers are wimesses to Harnanaka's journey through justifi- helped to give UPI an edge as the news broke. The grip-

65 ping narrative reads like breaking news and is abundantly MAILING MAY illustrated with both familiar and unfamiliarpress pho- Michael 0.Tunnell. Illustrated byTed Rand.(Tambourine/ tos reproduced in black and white. Subsequent changes Greenwillow,1997) 32 pages.ISBN:0-688-12878-5.Level:Ages 5- in technology and other aspects of public life can beeas- 9. ily identified as a second level of information. In 1914 the train was the only way to travel the seventy- 0 five mountainous miles between May's home and Grandma Mary's in Idaho. May's parents can't afforda THE LEAVING MORNING $1.55 train ticket for May. Ingenuity and lots of luck make Angela Johnson.fflustrated by David Soman.(Orchard 1992) 32 it possible for May to be mailed from Grangevilleto pages.ISBN:0-531-08592-9.LevetAges3-6. Lewiston as a package weighing less than fifty pounds. "The leaving happened on a soupy misty morning," be- She is mailed to Grandma Mary's legally for fifty-three gins this account by a young African American boy of cents, like a parcel post shipment of baby chicks might the day the van came to help his familymove from a city be sent. Tunnell uses postal history information and apartment to a new home. Although his narration fo- May's family sources to develop a story basedon the real cuses on the neighborhood he's leaving and the difficulty Charlotte May Pierstorff's trip in the mailcar. Rand's of leaving friends and family ("We said good-byeto the watercolor paintings reflect the time, and the author's cousins all day long."), Johnson's text carries a subtleun- note provides facts about travel and communication in dercurrent of excitement and anticipation. The boy's the early 1900s. changing moods are aptly depicted in Soman'swater- 0 color illustrations, which also realistically show his older sister looking wistful and tentative while his parentsseem MARVEN OF THE GREAT NORTH WOODS to glow with happiness and confidence. Kathryn Lasky Illustrated by Kevin Hawkes. (Harcourt Brace 0 0 1997)44 pages.ISBN:0-15-200104-2. Level:Ages 6-9 and older. When the 1918 influenza epidemic hits Duluth, Minne- MA DEAR'S APRONS sota, Marven Lasky's family decides to isolate him from Patricia CMcMssack Illustrated by Floyd Cooper. (Anne the disease. They choose the unlikely scenario of send- Schwartz/Atheneum,1997) 32 pages.LSBN: 0-689-81051-2. ing their ten-year-old Jewish son to a French-Canadian Level:Ages4-Z logging camp far from the train station in Bemidji. For- History comes to life in a story inspired by anapron that tunately Marven has a head for numbers and figuresout once belonged to McKissack's great-grandmother, an how he can become useful at the camp. Marven weath- African American domestic worker who lived in rural ers the winter, and he also finds ways to adhere to some Alabama a hundred years ago. Young David Earlcan al- of the dietary rules observed by his birth family. The ways tell the day of the week by the apron his mother is author's father actually was sent by his family to sucha wearing when he wakes up in the morning. Each Mon- logging camp to escape influenza. Hawkes's paintings day, for example, is wash day, and Ma Dearwears the were rendered in acrylic and provide a strong sense of apron with the big pockets across the front that hold frigid landscapes, large lumberjacks, anda small, strong- dothespins. On Tuesday she wears a bright yellowapron willed lad. to remind herself of sunshine on a long day of ironing. 000 Not only does McKissack's story pay tribute towomen who worked hard to support their families, it also dem- ME, DAD AND NUMBER 6 onstrates some of the ingenious ways parents helped their Dana Andrew lenningsillustrated by Goro SasakL (Gulliver children cope with drudgery: "Inch along, inch along, Books/Harcourt Brace1997) 32 pages.ISBN:0-15-200085-2. like an inch worm," Ma Dear sings to herson as he helps Level:Ages 6-8. her scrub floors. Later, he sticks to the arduous task of Six-year-old Andy catches his father's contagious enthu- pulling weeds by pretending to be an inchworm. Cooper's siasm one Saturday morning when Dad and his pals bring compelling brown-tone paintings give thestory a strong home an old junker, a 1937 Pontiac coupe he bought for sense of its historical setting, even as they provide a time- $20.00. For two solid months they spend their free time less quality in depicting the love betweena mother and working on the car, bringing it back to lifeso Dad can her child. race it in the stock car races every summer weekend. He 0 0 rarely places in any race, but for Andy and hisparents, 66 6 5 the thrill is measured in possibilities. Jennings's homey, cal on the outside, but inside lived families as singularas first-person narrative and Sasaki's violet-tinted watercolor the stories they have to tell. Conrad exploresour history paintings bring to rife a fond childhood memory from an and our sense of belonging with six funny, moving sto- earlier era. ries told in the voices of children living in Levittown in 0 0 the six decades from 1940 to the present. Each onemas- terfully captures a sense of the times in which the chil- MY DADDY WAS A SOLDIER:A WORLD WAR II dren live, marking the changes from decade to decade in STORY the social climate of our nation. But they are unified bya Deborah Kogan Ray. (Holiday House,1990) 40 pages ISBN: 0- palpable sense of place, which, like the times in which 8234-0795-0.LevekAges 7-la they live, leaves a visible imprint on each child's life. Accurately reflecting specifics of girlhood in the United 0 0 States during the Second World War, Ray's fictional portrait features Jeannie, whose father was drafted in 1943 OUR OLD HOUSE to serve in the Pacific before returning home after V-J Susan Vizurragaillustrated by Leslie Baker. (Henry Holt 1997) 32 Day. The franldy sentimental account of domestic life pages.ISBN:0-8050-3911-2.Levet Ages5-8. on the home front is illustrated with more than twenty "There's a wisteria vine that curls around a post on our black-and-white drawings showing Jeannie tending a Vic- front porch... It's an old vine and it's an old house. It's tory Garden, collecting scrap metal with her wagon, food our house now. ... Itused to belong to someone else." shopping using a ration book, trying to sleep duringa This picture story gives examples of ways to find out blackout, writing and waiting for letters from her father, about the earlier inhabitants of a house, including find- and finding things to do while her mother works her ing a marble, a name written on the back of the mantle, defense plant shift. The text is set in a large typeface. and earlier layers of wallpaper, and noticing a distinctive 000 color to the roses growing in the neighborhood. Illustra- tions were rendered in watercolors that show the girl ON BOARD THE TITANIC narrator, the people she imagines once living there, and ShelleyTanaka.fflustrated by Ken Marschalt (I WasThere) (U.S. an old woman who visits the family and shares her first- edition:Madison Press/ Hyperion,1996) 48 pages.ISBN: 0-7868- hand memories. 0283-9. Level:Ages 8-14. 0 Harold Bride worked in the wireless room of the Titanic, while Jack Thayer and his parents had access to the luxury OUR PEOPLE oceanliner's first dass accommodations. Bride later be- Angela Shelf Medearis. Illustrated by Michael Bryant (Ath- came an important witness during subsequent U.S. and eneum,1994) 32 pages.ISBN:0-689-31826-X. Level:Ages 4-8. British investigations. Thayer insisted for years he had An African American girl proudly compares the realities seen theTitanicbreak in two on the night it sank, and in of her everyday life to the accomplishments of people 1985 he was proved right. Based largely on these two of African descent throughout history. The stories her survivor's experiences, this easy fictionalized narrative is daddy has told her of builders, explorers, inventors, ad- filled with dialogue. A wide range of compelling photo- venturers, and heroes influence her present-day play and graphs, cross-section illustrations, drawings and paintings inspire her dreams for the future. The connections bein full color, charts, and other visual material is hand- tween past and present are imaginatively drawn with somely placed on all pages of this gripping account. Daisy watercolor and colored pencil illustrations for this cheer- Spedden's POLAR, THE TITANIC BEAR (Little, Brown, ful picture book. 1994) is an excellent companion to this book. 0 0 0 POPCORN AT THE PALACE OUR HOUSE:THE STORIES OF LEVITTOWN Emily.Arnold McCully. (Browndeer/Harcourt Brace,1997) 40 Pam Conrad.Illustrated by Brian Selznick (Scholastic 1995)65 pages.ISBN:0-15-277699-0. Level:Ages 6-9. pages.ISBN: 0-590-46523-6. Level:Ages 9-12 and older. Based on real events originating in McCully's hometown Levittown, Pennsylvania, was once a potato field, but in of Galesburg, Illinois, this picture story takes place dur- the aftermath of World War II, houses grew there anda ing the mid-1800s and involves Galesburg newcomers community was born. The houses looked almost identi- Maisie Ferris and her open-minded parents. The Ferris 6 6 67 family reads the Bible, but they also read the latest books Crossman, an African American child who lives with her and magazines. Most of all, Maisie enjoys reading about mother and father on a small farm. Whenan Apache the English royal family and playing with her homemade boy escapes from the train transport and hides in the Queen Victoria doll. The neighbors raisecorn and hogs, Crossman family barn, Sarah discovers him and he is but Mr. Ferris plants canary seed and mustard. There's sheltered and cared for by her parents. At first Sarah is no American market for either one, but he thinks there jealous of Sky and the attention he receives from both her might be a British market for a recent American phe- parents, but he soon becomes like an older brother to her. nomenon: popcorn. Mr. Olmstead travels to England, Sky's values and way of life blend with those of Sarah's fam- taking Maisie along in case they get to visit royalty. Prince ily and he stands with them when white supremacistsare Albert fmds out about their public demonstrations ofa angered and threatened by the very idea of a blackman vot- peculiar kind of corn and invites them to the Palace. ing. A strong African American family and community, McCully's watercolors have rarely beenmore effective whose understanding of freedom embraces the desire than the one in which Maisie and her father practicecurt- for self-determination of an American Indian child and sies on the wordless double page spread picturing their his people, form the strong foundation of this novel. carriage trip to Windsor. Queen Victoria gave the real 0 0 Olmstead daughter a French wax doll with real hair and a velvet-and-lace gown; the girl McCully names Maisie A SEPARATE BATTLE:WOMEN AND THE CIVIL in this heartwarming historical story receivesone, too. WAR However, popcorn did not gain a market outside of Ina Chang. (Lodestar Books,1991)103 pages.ISBN:0-525- America as a result of the Ferris business trip. 67365-2 Level: Age 9 and older. 0 0 Women played an important part in the US. Civil War, serving such varied roles as volunteers, nurses, soldiers, THE RED COMB and spies in both the North and the South. Drawingon Fernando Pica Illustrated by Maria Antonia Ordonez nineteenth century women's letters, diaries, speeches, and (BridgeWater,1994) 48 pages.ISBN: 0-8167-3539-5. Level:Ages essays, Chang eloquently tells the story of these women, 7-11. placing them within the historical context of the aboli- Because Pedro Calderion has received rewards forcap- tionist movement and the struggle for women's rights. turing runaway slaves, considered lawbreakers," he is The handsome volume, generously illustrated with pho- envied by other young men in his Puerto Rican village. tographs and prints from the era, is exemplary nonfic- However, "black folks should help black folks,not hurt tion for young readers. them," counsels Old Rosa Bultron. Ultimately Rosa tricks 0 0 Pedro and saves a runaway girl. Pico isa history professor in Puerto Rico. The Cuban-born artist, whose illus- SERENA KATZ trations appear in full color in this eh x 914 in. book, has Charlotte Pomerantz Illustrated by R.W. Alley. (Macmillan,1992) lived in Puerto Rico since 1961. 32 pages.ISBN:0-02-8774901-0. Level:Ages 4-7. 0 0 Serena Katz, a New York City hardware store employee, is one of Mr. Duncan's best paint sale customers. The RUN AWAY HOME two establish such a good business relationship that Patricia C Mcnssack (Scholastic 1997) 160 pages.ISBN: 0-590- Serena invites the entire Duncan family fora weekend 46751-4.Level: Ages 10-12 visit from their Pennsylvania home. As they plan for their In 1888, Apache Indians who had been heldas prisoners trip, the Duncans find, to their surprise, thateveryone of war in Florida were transportedto Alabama. knows of Serena Katz: the postmistresssays she's a fa- McKissack's own great-great-great grandfatherwas a mous pool player, the school librarian saw her perform Native American whose tribal ancestry remains unde- daredevil motorcycle stunts, and the garbage collector termined, and in Run AwayHome,she has written a story describes her legendary wedding cakes. Just who is the based on "what might have been"as she imagines the real Serena Katz? A charming story ofa woman who has meeting between a fictional Apache boy and a rural Afri- (and continues) to do it all! can American family in Alabama at that time. The novel 000 is told from the point of view of eleven-year-old Sarah

68 SEVEN BRAVE WOMEN SILENT NIGHT:THE SONG FROM HEAVEN Betsy Heame illustrated by Bethanne Andersen. (Greenwillow, Linda Granfield Illustrated by Nel6/ and Ernst Hofer. (Tundra 1997)24 pages.SBN:0-688-14502-Z Level:Ages 5-11 and older. Books,1994 24 pages.ISBN:0-88776-395-2.LevekAge 7 and Family history meets fine art in this singular tributeto older. women, written from the perspective of a young girl who On December24, 1818,young Hans and Maria hurry recounts the family stories she has heard about her fe- through the winter streets of Oberndorf, Austria,to join male forebears, going back to her great-great-great grand- other villagers in assembling the Christmascrechein the mother. Each of the women is placed in thecontext of Church of St. Nicola. On this night Father Josef Mohr her time as the child cites the name of thewar era she was to ask organist Frans Gruber to compose music for lived through but pointedly states each time that "she verses he wrote earlier that day. On this nightaccord- did not fight in it." This brilliant device aptlyserves more ing to traditionthe carol "Stille Nacht" was firstsung than one purpose: it playfully givesyoung readers a clear because the organ was broken. An unusual book about historical text-book time line; it contrasts the lives ofmen the familiar hymn provides several levels of information and women; it underscores the book's premise that about the history of "Silent Night." The gold and black women have contributed to history by leading everyday visual elements on every page are reproductions of the lives requiring strength and courage; and,most impor- Hofer's scherenschnitte, or scissors-cut silhouette pictures tantly perhaps, it gives the story continuity througha of the assemblage of the creche scherenschnitte explained lyrical use of repetition that remindsus this history is later as an art developed centuries earlier in China. The alive due to an oral tradition. The colorful figures in the last page contains two verses of "Silent Night" in English young girl's pastan artist, a missionary an architect, a and in German. secretaryseem at once ordinary and extraordinary The 0 0 naïve style of Andersen's rich oil paintings perfectlycapture the story's sense of history as well as its serious, yet SOME OF THE PIECES celebratory, tone. Just as Hearne uses the repeated phrase Melissa Madenshillustrated by Deborah Kogan Ray.(Little about women not fighting in wars to tie thestory to- Brown,1991) 32 pages.15BN:0-316-54324-1.Level:Ages 4-8. gether, Andersen uses a rose-colored ribbon,seen stream- A boy remembers his father's made-up stories, wrestling ing horizontally across the background of eachpage and with him on the rug, listening together to cello music, held at the book's beginning and end in the beak ofa and enjoying early breakfasts together before the others dove. Both devices are subtle, artfully adding depth and woke up. He also recalls his father's sudden fatal heart meaning to an inspiring picture book for older readers. attack and the great sadness of the pastyear. Somehow, 0 the scattering of his father's ashes in all the places he loved confirms that loss and assists the boy in grieving. A gentle SHORTCUT picture story provides an example of suffering and heal- David Macaulay. (Houghton Mifilin,1995) 64 pages.1.5BN: 0- ing with an emotional tone appropriate to the develop- 395-52436-9.LevekAges 4-1o. mental need of its intended audience. The full-color il- On his way to the market, Albert opts fora short cut, lustrations reinforce all dimensions of this subdued book. instead of the "long, long way" and his simpleacts of 0 0 hanging his jacket on a post, hitching his horse Juneto a railroad switch, and cutting a rope that blocks his path STORIES IN STONE:ROCK ART PICIURES BY set off a chain reaction of events that spell disaster for EARLY AMERICANS others. A delightful cause-and-effect story is told injust Caroline Amold Photographs by Richard Hewett.(Clarion,1996) fifty-two short sentences spread out over nine chapters 48 pages. ISBN:0-395-72092-3.Level: Ages 9-12 and older. and an epilogue. Most of the plot, however, unfoldsin Line drawings on rock walls and bouldersacross the the pictures, which require a careful reading in orderto Americas provide evidence of human habitation between make sense of how and why things happenas they do. several hundred to six thousand (or more)years ago. An- 0 cient artists engraved or painted human figures, abstract designs, and animals that are often identifiable today. Arnold's thorough explanations and Hewitt's distinctive color photographs of the astonishing petroglyphs within

68 69 the Coso Range of contemporary California provide an or died during the Holocaust in Europe between 1933 excellent general overview of petroglyphs in the west- and 1945. The book is divided into sections: Nazi Ger- ern hemisphere. Readers will fmd a helpful glossary, in- many; The "Final Solution"; and Rescue, Resistance, and dex, and listing of thirteen of the North American loca- Liberation. A lengthy dironology, suggesrions for fur- tions where these old, permanent art forms can be seen. ther reading, and a glossary place the highly emotional 0 0 000material within its historical context. SWEET WORDS SO BRAVE:THE STORY OF AFRICAN AMERICAN LITERATURE THIS LAND IS MY LAND Barbara K Curry and James Michael Brodie Illustrated by .leny George Littlechild. (Children's Book Press,1993) 32 pages.ISBN: 0- Butler.(Zino Press, 1 996) 64pages.ISBN:1-55933-179-8.Level: 89239-119-Z Level: Ages 9-14 and older. Ages 9-16 and older. Seventeen dazzling, thought-provoking paintings by artist A fictional grandfather relates the history of African Ameri- George Littlechild, a member of the Plains Cree nation, cans in North America to his granddaughter by telling her are the focus of this stunning book. In the open, engaging about early storytellers and writers as well as recent liter- narrative that accompanies the vivid reproductions, most ary activists. He points out that centuries ago a black per- of which are full page, the artist explains the meaning and son who picked up a book and learned to read was both symbolism found in his paintings, making both the art and defiant and brave. The narrative pays homage to enslaved the artistic process wholly accessible to children. Describ- and oppressed people who kept their heritage alive through ing the painting "Red Horse in a Sea of White Horses," he deed and word and to those who continue in this tradi- writes, "An Indian Warrior sits atop a red horse. Not at tion. Thirty published writers are featured in the visually home in his own territory the red horse sits among the exciting, multidimensional presentation linking text, pho- white horses, who find him different and don't understand tographs, varied uses of type size, page designs, and paint- him... The red horse represents me." The artist paints a ings in bold colors. The writers include Maya Angelou, moving portrait in words of his own life and of Native James Baldwin, Amiri Baraka, Gwendolyn Brooks, experience in this singular book that celebrates the rela- Countee Cullen, Frederick Douglass, WE.B. Du Bois, tionship between individual, art, and culture. Paul Laurence Dunbar, Ralph Ellison, Olaudah Equiano, 000 Nikki Giovanni, Lorraine Hansberry, Langston Hughes (from whose poem the title originated), Zora Neale TILL YEAR'S GOOD END:A CALENDAR OF Hurston, James Weldon Johnson, Martin Luther King Jr., MEDIEVAL LABORS Malcolm X, Paule Marshall, Toni Morrison, Sonia Sanchez, W.Nikola-Lisalllustrated by Christopher Manson.(Atheneum, Alice Walker, and Richard Wright. A glossary and list of 1997)32 pages.ISBN:0-689-80020-7.LevetAges 7-11. selected readings accompany a volume tall in moreways lulyThick rows of peas I hoe and weed. Vile brine I than one. boil for salt I need." This and similar verses open each 0 0 double-page spread on which a full color pen-and-ink and watercolor illustration shows typical tenant farmer life. TELL THEM WE REMEMBER:THE STORY OF THE A short explanation of the hard labor of rural men and HOLOCAUST women during each particular season accompanies each pic- Susan D. Baachrach. Photographs from the United States ture spread. Inspired by the Books of Hours so popular dur- Holocaust Memorial Museum. (Uttle Brown,1994)112 pages. ing the Middle Ages, the author and illustrator have labored ISBN:0-316-69264-6.Level:Age 9 and older. to create the feeling of a similarly illustrated calendar A sampling of materials from the US. Holocaust Memo- 0 0 rial Museum includes the excerpted texts from taped oral and video histories and photos of people, artifacts, and TOMMY TRAVELER IN THE WORLD OF BLACK maps. The specific stories of twenty young people link HISTORY the artifacts through the effective device of museum-cre- Tom Feelings. (Black Butteifly/Writers & Readers,1991) 42 pages. ated "identity cards." The featured youth were born be- ISBN: 0-86316-202-9. Level:Ages 7-11 and older. tween 1911 and 1934 in Austria, Denmark, Germany, Significant historical events in the lives of Phoebe Greece, Hungary, Poland, and Romania; they suffered Fraunces, Emmet Till, Aesop, Frederick Douglass,

70 6 9 Crispus Attucks, and Joe Louis are dramatized in a comic-strip format. Each event is introduced by THE WALL Tommy Traveler, an African American child fascinated Eve Bunting.Illustrated by Ronald Himler.(Clation,1990) 30 with the private library collection of his neighbor, Dr. pages.ISBN:0-395-51588-2.Level:Ages 4-9 and older. Gray, who has had a life-long interest in collecting "This is the wall, my grandfather's wall. On itare the books, magazines, and newspaper clippings related to names of those killed in a war, long ago." So begins black history. As Tommy reads, he is transported back the first visit of a young boy and his father to the Viet- in time and becomes a first-hand observer and partici- nam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C. The pant in the events he describes. Originally published child experiences other "firsts," too: weeping adults as a weekly comic strip in 1958-59, this presentation and a wheelchair-mobile veteran. The father is quiet of black history is as fresh and original today as itwas and moved; the boy has questions. The illustrations thirty years ago and will appeal to a new generation suggest that this family is Hispanic or American In- of children. dian. Four sentences on the fmal page explain the Me- 0 morial. Restraint marks this strong evocation of the emotion people generally feel at the memorial. TOMORROW'S ALPHABET 0 0 George Shannon.Illustrated by Donald Crews. (Greenwillow, 1996)56 pages.ISBN:0-688-13505-6.Level:Ages 4-9. WAR GAME Just when you think you've read every possible idea for Michael Foreman.(Arcade1994)72 pagesiSBN:1-55970-242-7. an alphabet book, a new one comes along. In this book, Level:Ages 8-12 and older. the letters stand for the promise of what things will be in Following a summer of soccer practice, four British the future, e.g., B is for eggs, tomorrow's birds" and "1' is youths enlist in the British Army, expecting to be home for bread, tomorrow's toast." Part puzzle, partpoetry for the Christmas of 1914. After becoming immersed and all concept, Shannon's original approach willpro- in war's realities, the young soldiers lose their inno- vide creative inspiration to countless young visionaries cence andsome of themtheir lives. The heart of who probably think they're too old for alphabet books. this story is based on the documented instance ofa 0 Christmas cease fire during which British and German soldiers took time to bury their respective dead ina TREEMONISHA joint service, share food and gifts mailed from fami- Angela Shelf Medearis. Illustrated by Michael Btyant (Henry lies, give haircuts, and play soccerall in a self-declared Holt,1995) 37 pages. ISBN: 0-8050-1748-8. Level:Ages 9-12 No-Man's-Land. That emotional oasis contrasts pow- and older. erfully with fmal pages showing a bleak snowy ter- Scott Joplin created a musical autobiography in hisrag- rain dotted with bloodstains transformed by time opera Treemonisha, first performed in Harlem in Foreman's paintbrush into images of the poppies that 1915. Although the opera received a Pulitzer Prize in later symbolized the casualties of that war. The77/8x 1976, Treemonisha was first produced without cos- 101/2in.book's fictionalized text contains several deftly tumes or scenery. Joplin choreographed that produc- conceived light moments, an abundance of full-color tion and played the orchestral score on the piano him- original artwork, and occasional black-and-whitere- self. Even though he realized his workwas ahead of productions of posters, letters, and photos. Foreman its time, Joplin viewed this effort as a failure. He died also created WAR BOY (U.S. edition: Arcade, 1990.), two years later. The theme of Treemonisha honors Af- also about World War I. rican American heritage, while the story involves the 000 daughter of freed slaves who works on behalf of her people in the post-Civil War South. Medearis's fictionalized version of the plot includes excerpts from the libretto. Rendered in watercolor and colored pencil, Bryant's many illustrations costume lively characters and stage vivid scenes in an important book that 000should be read as if it were a short novel. 7 0 71 THE ZEBRA-RIDING COWBOY: A FOLK SONG FROM THE OLD WEST Angela Medearisillustrated by Maria Gistina Brusoa. (Henry Holt 7992)32 pages.ISBN:0-8050-7772-Z Level:Ages 5-9. Created by an unknown songwriter between 1870 and 1890, this song features an "educated fellow with jaw- breaking words" who might have been an Afiican Ameri- can man (as he is pictured here) or a Mexican vaquero or one of any number of cowboys from the documented frontier history to which Medeatis refers in her two-page afterword. The song lyrics, which read likea tall tale in verse, form the basis for this humorous picture book about a city-slicker cowboy who accepts the challenge of riding Zebra Dun. An easy arrangement for thesong is printed on the endpapers. 0 0

7 1

72 Children's Trade Books with Time, Continuity, and Changeas a Second Thematic Strand The title index on pp. 173-180 lists the number of thepage on which each book is annotated.

TITLE AUTHOR DATE AGE LEVEL

Abuelita's Paradise Carmen Santiago Nodar 1992 Ages 4-7

Afro-Bets First Book about Africa Veronica Freeman Ellis 1990 Ages 6-12

Ahyoka and the Talking Leaves Peter and Connie Roop 1992 Ages 7-10 and older

All the Lights in the Night Arthur A. Levine 1991 Ages 5-9

The Amistad Slave Revolt and American Abolition Karen Zeinert 1997 Age lland older

Anastasia's Album Hugh Brewster 1996 Ages 10-13 and older

Arctic Hunter Diane Hoyt-Goldsmith 1992 Ages 9-13

Arctic Memories Normee Ekoomiak 1990 Age 5 and older

Artist in Overalls:The Life of Grant Wood John Duggleby 1996 Ages 9-14 and older

Aunt Harriet's Underground Railroad in the Sky Faith Ringgold 1992 Ages 6-11

Big Meeting Dee Parmer Woodtor 1996 Ages 3-8

Billy and Belle Sarah Garland 1992 Ag'es 3-6

Bras Button Crescent Dragonwagon 1997 Ages 6-8 and older

The Children of Topaz:The Story of a Japanese-American Michael aTunnell 1996 Ages 8-14 and older Internment Camp, Based on a Classroom Diary and George W. Chilcoat

Christmas in the Big House, Christmas in the Quarters Patricia C. and 1994 Ages 8-13 and older Fredrick L McKissack

Christmas Tree Memories Aliki 1991 Ages 3-6

Coming Home:From the Life of Langston Hughes Floyd Cooper 1994 Ages 4-12

Compost Critters Bianca Lavies 1993 Ages 7-11

Dear Benjamin Banneker Andrea Davis Pinkney 1994 Ages 5-9

Dear Rebecca, Winter Is Here Jean Craighead George 1993 Ages 3-7

Dia's Story Cloth:The Hmong People's Journey to Freedom Dia Cha 1996 Ages 8-11 and older

Dream Catcher:The Legend and the Lady Karen Hartman 1992 Ages 6-13

Eleanor Barbara Cooney 1996 Ages 7-10

End of Winter Sharon Chmielarz 1992 Ages 6-9

73 Everglades: Buffalo Tiger and the River of Grass Peter Lourie 1994 Ages 9-11 and older

Faith Ringgold and Frida Kahlo Robyn Montana Turner 1993 Ages 7-12

Fire at the Triangle Factory Holly Littlefield 1996 Ages 8-11 and older

Four Seasons of Corn:A Winnebago Tradition Sally M. Hunter 1996 Ages 7-11

Frozen Man David Getz 1994 Ages 8-16 and older

Georgia O'Keefe Linda Lowery 1996 Ages 6-8

Going Back Home Michelle Wood 1996 Ages 9-12 with Toymi Igus

The Green Frogs:A Korean Folktale Yumi Heo, reteller 1996 Ages 3-8 and illustrator

Growing Up in Coal Country Susan Campbell Bartoletti 1996 Ages 9-16

Hanna's Cold Winter Trish Marx 1993 Ages 6-9 and older

Happy Birthday, Martin Luther King Jean Marzollo 1993 Ages 3-8

Harlem:A Poem Christopher Myers 1997 Age 12 and older

Harvest Year Cris Peterson 1996 Ages 6-8

Hiawatha:Messenger of Peace Dennis Brindell Fradin 1992 Ages 7-11 and older

NI See You in My Dreams Mavis Jukes 1993 Ages 4-8

I've Got an Idea:The Story of Frederick McKinley Jones Gloria M. Swanson 1994 Ages 9-11 and older and Margaret V. Ott

Kisses from Rosa Petra Mathers 1995 Ages 4-8

Laura Ingalls Wilder Country William Anderson 1990 Age 7 and older

Life around the Lake:Embroideries by the Maricel E. Presssilla 1996 Ages 9-12 and older Women of Lake Patzcuaro and Gloria Soto

The Lily Cupboard Shulamith Levey 1992 Ages 5-8 Oppenheim

Many Thousand Gone:African Americans from Virginia Hamilton 1993 All ages Slavery to Freedom

Marvin's Best Christmas Present Ever Katherine Paterson 1997 Ages 4-7

The Milkman's Boy Donald Hall 1997 Ages 5-9

Minty:The Story of Young Harriet Tubman Alan Schroeder 1996 Ages 7-10

74 Mirette on the High Wire Emily Arnold McCully 1992 Ages 6-9

Monarch Butterflies: Mysterious Travelers Bianca Lavies 1992 Ages 9-12 and older

My Place Nadia Wheatley 1990 Ages 6-12 and older and Donna Rawlins

Native American Rock Art: Messages from the Past Yvette La Pierre 1994 Ages 8-12 and older

Oh, Freedom! Kids Talk about the Civil Rights Movement Casey King and 1997 Ages 8-14 and older with the People Who Made It Happen Linda Barrett Osborn

The Old Dog Charlotte Zolotow 1995 Ages 3-8

On the Wings of Peace:Writers and Illustrators Speak Out Sheila Hamanaka, 1995 Age 8 and older for Peace in Memory of Hiroshima and Nagasaki coordinator

Orphan Train Rider:One Boy's True Story Andrea Warren 1996 Ages 9-16 and older

Peacebound Trains Haeme Balgassi 1996 Ages 8-12 and older

Polar,The Titanic Bear Daisy Corning Stone 1994 Ages 7-9 and older Spedden

Radio Boy Sharon Phillips Dens low 1995 Ages 7-10 and older

Red Scarf Girl: A Memoir of the Cultural Revolution Ji-Li Jiang 1997 Age 12 and older

The Return of the Buffaloes:A Plains Indian Story about Paul Goble, 1996 Ages 8-12 Famine and Rene lital of the Earth reteller and illustrator

Rocket! How a Toy Launched the Space Age Richard Maurer 1995 Ages 8-12

Rosa Bonheur Robyn Montana Turner 1991 Ages 7-12

Ruth Law Thrills a Nation Don Brown 1993 Ages 4-8 and older

Sadako Eleanor Coerr 1993 Ages 8-11

Sky Pioneer:A Photobiography of Amelia Earhart Corinne Szabo 1997 Ages 7-11 and older

Snowed In Barbara M. Lucas 1993 Ages 4-7

Surtsey:The Newest Place on Earth Kathryn Lasky 1992 Ages 9-14 and older

Teammates Peter Golenbock 1990 Ages 5-10

Thirteen Moons on Turtles:A Native American Year of Moons Joseph Bruchac 1992 Ages 4-9 and older and Jonathan London

Uncertain Roads:Searching for the Gypsies Yale Strom 1993 Ages 9-14 and older

The Uninvited Guest and Other Jewish Holiday Tales Nina Jaffe 1993 Ages 5-10 and older

7 4 Visions: Stories about Women Artists Leslie Sills 1993 Ages 9-14 and older

Waiting for Christmas Monica Greenfield 1996 Ages 3-6

Weaving a California Tradition:A Native American Basketmaker Linda Yamane 1996 Ages 7-11

What's in Aunt Mary's Room? Elizabeth Fitzgerald 1996 Ages 4-7 Howard

When Birds Could Talk and Bats Could Sing:The Adventures of Virginia Hamilton, reteller1996 Ages 7-12 and older Bruh Sparrow, Sis Wren, and Their Friends

When I Left My Village Maxine Rose Schur 1996 Ages 8-10 and older

When Jo Louis Won the Title Belinda Rochelle 1994 Ages 5-8

The Widow's Broom Chris Van Allsburg 1992 Ages 6-11

Wilma Mankiller Linda Lowery 1996 Ages 6-8 and older

Wilma Unlimited: How Wilma Rudolph Became the Kathleen Krull 1996 Ages 5-10 and older World's Fastest Woman

Window Jeannie Baker 1991 Age 9 and older

With Love from Koko Faith McNulty 1990 Ages 8-10

With Needle and Thread Raymond Bial 1996 Ages 9-16 and older

Children's Trade Books with Time, Continuity, and Change asa Third Thematic Strand The title index on pp. 173-180 lists the number of the page on which each book is annotated.

Back Home Gloria Jean Pinkney 1992 Ages 4-8

The Ballot Box Battle Emily Arnold McCully 1996 Ages 5-8

Baseball Saved Us Ken Mochizuki 1993 Ages 7-11 and older

The Bobbin Girl Emily Arnold McCully 1996 Ages 8-11 and older

Buffalo Days Diane Hoyt-Goldsmith 1997 Ages 7-11

The Day Gogo Went to Vote:South Africa, April 1994 Elinor Batezat Sisulu 1996 Ages 7-10 and older

Earth, Fire, Water, Air Mary Hoffman 1995 Ages 8-14

Eleanor Roosevelt:A Life of Discovery Russell Freedman 1993 Ages 9-14 and older

Everglades Jean Craighead George 1995 Ages 7-10 and older

Follow That Trash! All about Recycling Francine Jacobs 1996 Ages 5-7

Fort Chipewyan Homecoming:A Journey to Native Canada Morningstar Mercredi 1997 Ages 8-11 76 i 5 Georgia O'Keefe Robyn Montana Turner 1991 Ages 7-12

Gonna Sing My Head Off!: American Folk Songs for Children Kathleen Krull 1992 All ages, especially ages 8-12

Good-Bye, Curtis Kevin Henkes 1995 Ages 3-6

The Great Migration:An American Story Jacob Lawrence 1993 Age 9 and older

Her Stories:African American Folktales, Fairy Tales, and True TalesVirginia Hamilton 1995 Ages 7-14 and older

A House by the River William Miller 1997 Ages 5-8

I Have a Dream Martin Luther King, Jr. 1997 Age 5 and older

I Was a Teenage Professional Wrestler Ted Lewin 1993 Ages 8-14

In the Heart of the Village:The World of the Indian Banyan Tree Barbara Bash 1996 Ages 8-11

In the Street of the Temple Cloth Printers Dorothy Field 1996 Ages 9-14

Jacques-Henri Lartigue: Boy with a Camera John Cech 1994 Ages 8-11

Kids at Work Lewis Hine and the Crusade Against Child Labor Russell Freedman 1994 Ages 8-14 and older

Little White Cabin Ferguson Plain 1992 Ages 5-8

Lives of the Musicians Kathleen Krull 1993 Ages 7-14 and older

Lukas Quilt Georgia Guback 1994 Ages 4-8

Mary Cassatt Robyn Montana Turner 1992 Ages 7-12

Mimi's Tutu Tynia Thomassie 1996 Ages 3-5

My Fellow Americans:A Family Album Alice Provensen 1995 Ages 5-14 and older

A Picture Book ofJesse Owens David A. Adler 1992 Ages 5-9

Quilted Landscape:Conversations with Young Immigrants Yale Strom 1996 Ages 11-14 and older

Remember That Les lea Newman 1996 Ages 4-8

Rome Antics David Macaulay 1997 Ages 9-12

Sami and the Time of the Troubles Florence Parry Heide 1992 Ages 8-11 and Judith Heide Gilliland

The Seasons Sewn:A Year in Patchwork Ann Whitford Paul 1996 Ages 9-12

The Snow Waiker Margaret K. Wetterer 1996 Ages 7-10 and Charles M.Wetterer

Star of Fear, Star of Hope Jo Hoestlandt 1995 Ages 7-10 and older

77 7 6 The Tie Man's Miracle Steven Schnur 1995 Ages 5-8

Toussaint L'Ouverture:The Fight for Haiti's Freedom Walter Dean Myers 1996 Ages 9-12

The Ugly Menorah Marisa Moss 1996 Ages 5-8

Up North at the Cabin Marsha Wilson Chall 1992 Ages 4-9

The Wright Brothers: How They Invented the Airplane Russell Freedman 1991 Ages 9-14 and older

7 7

78 CHAMP1TEEEIR SIEVE CHILDREN'S TRADE BOOKSWITH PEOPLE, PLACES, AND ENVIRONMENTS AS THE MAJOR THEMATIC STRAND

ABUELA AKIAK: A TALE FROM THE IDITAROD Arthur DORM Illustrated by Elisa Kleven. (Dutton Children's Robert J.BIake (Philomel,1997) 32 pages.ISBN:0-399-22798-9. Books,1991) 40 pages.ISBN:0-525-44750-4. Level:Ages 4-Z Level:Ages 7-11. Rosalma and her Spanish-speaking abuela (grand- Akiak has been at the head of her team for seven Iditarod mother) spend the day together in a city park where races. She knows the1,151miles of Alaskan terrain be- the two of them share an imaginary flightover the tween Anchorage and Nome better than any other dog, city All of Abuela's comments and observations are perhaps even better than Mick, the woman whose sled made in Spanish, while either the context or Rosalma's she pulls. In all those tries, they've never won; the dosest translations into English make her statements clear they've come is second. In this eighth attempt, the ten- for non-Spanish speakers. Kleven's vibrant, mixed- year-old Akiak has her final chance to win. But Mick must media collages add colorful whimsy to this visual and pull Akiak out of the race on day four because of an verbal delight. injured paw, and the team heads on without her. On day 0 five, Akiak breaks free from the volunteers who are sup- posed to fly her home and sets off down the Iditarod ABUELITA'S PARADISE r ailalone, in pursuit of her team, in pursuit of her vic- Carmen Santiago Nodarillustrated by Diane Paterson. (Albert tory. Blake's dramatic story is powerfully illustrated with Whitman,1992) 32 pages.LSBN:0-8075-0129-8.Level:Ages 4-7. sweeping oil paintings that span each two page spread, After her abuelita (grandmother) dies, Marita cuddlesup capturing a fierce and stunning frozen landscape and the in the rocking chair and faded blanket that Abuelita has spirit of those who cross it. left to her. As she rocks, she remembers stories her grand- 0 mother told her about her childhood in Puerto Rico,a time and place that seemed like a paradise to her. Brightly ANTARCTICA:THE LAST UNSPOILED colored watercolor illustrations skillfully blend the CONTINENT present, recent past, and a distant past into a visual con- Laurence Pringle. (Simon &Schuster,1992) 56 pages.ISBN: 0- tinuum of family traditions. 671-73850-X Level:Ages 8-12 and older. 000 Once called terra incognitathe unknown landAnt- arctica has only recently become accessible to scien- AFRO-BETS FIRST BOOK ABOUT AFRICA tists from many countries as they study the continent's Veronica Freeman Ellisillustrated byGeorge Ford (Just Us Books, unique biosystem. The author describes the discov- 1990)32 pagesiSBN:0-940975-12-2.LevekAges 6-12 ery and exploration of Antarctica, the treaties that A Ghanaian visitor to a classroom answers questions control it, and current scientific, tourist, and private about his continent posed by a group of curious African use of the area, as well as its physical features and plant American children. Mr. Amegashi's natural-sounding and animal life. conversation with the children provides a wealth of in- 000 formation about Africa's history, geography, and cultures, stressing the diversity of this rich continent. Outstand- APPALACHIA:THE VOICES OF SLEEPING BIRDS ing page designs use full-color illustrations anda combi- Cynthia Rylant. Illustrated by Barry Moser. (Harcourt Brace nation of color and black-and-white photographs, all Jovanovich, 1991) 32 pages. ISBN: 0-15-201605-8. Level: dearly reproduced and perfectly placed. Ages 7-11. 000 A short essay eloquently characterizes the people of Appalachia as inexorably tied to the landscape and each

78 79 other. Moser's softly colored watercolor illustrations BASEBALL IN THE BARRIOS realistically capture ordinary movements in ordinary Henry Horenstein.(Gulliver/Harcourt Brace1997) 36 pages. lives. The text and pictures combine topresent a lov- ISBN:0-15-200499-8. Level:Ages 8-11. ing and respectful, slightly romanticized, portrait ofa Hubaldo Antonie Romero Paez falls asleep each night people and place frequently misunderstood andste- dreaming of cheering fans. In his imagination, he is reotyped by outsiders. the hero, hitting the home run that means the national 00 victory for his baseball team. Hubaldo's dream is one shared by many U.S. children, but this nine-year-old ARCTIC HUNTER boy lives in Venezuela, where beisbol is more thana Diane Hoyt-Goldsmith. Photographs by Lawrence Migdale. national pastimeit's a national passion. In Hubaldo's (Holiday House, 1992) 30 pages. ISBN: 0-8234-0972-4. Level: own barrio (neighborhood), children of all ages play Ages 9-13. many types of baseball, and when they're not playing For most of the year, ten-year-old Reggie lives with his the game or practicing, they are often trading cards family in a modern three-bedroom house in Kotzebue, and talking about their favorite players and teams in Alaska, but every summer, he and his family spendsev- the country's two professional leagues. Active color eral weeks in a traditional Inupiaq camp where they fish photographs of Hubaldo and his friends and repro- and hunt to store up food for the long winter months ductions of Venezuelan team logos and baseball cards ahead. Through color photographs and first-personnar- add to the visual interest of a book in whichyoung ration, Reggie introduces the basic values and traditions Hubaldo describes the love of baseball in this South of his people, the Inupiat, which represent perhaps the American country. (Hubaldo notes that the fact that most ingenious human adaptations to an ungiving natu- baseball is played in both North and South America ral environment. makes it a truly all-American sport.) Baseball fans will 000 especially enjoy learning about different types of baseball played by Venezuelan children and the Spanish ARCTIC SON language words for many baseball terms, whichare Jean Craighead George.fflustrated by Wendell Minot(Hyperion, provided in a glossary at the back. 1997)32 pages. ISBN:0-7868-2255-4.Level:Ages 5-9. 00 On the day Luke is born in the Arctic, his parentsare visited by an Inupiat friend, Aalak, who offers the baby BEACH FEET an Inupiat name. "His name may be 'Kupaaq,' for my Lynn Reiser. (Greenwillow,1996) 32 pages.ISBN: 0-688-14401-2. papa," Aalak tells them, "an Eskimo name togo with Level:Ages 3-8. his English name." George's restrained, lyricaltext There's more to this book than first meets the eye cycles through the seasons of a harsh and beautiful or foot! On one level, it's a simple rhyming story about landscape, and through the years of ayoung boy's life. feet on the beach ("Scrunch feet, squash feet / squish Kupaaq grows from infant to toddler to school-age feet, splash feet.. ."). But on every page we also find child, learning the ways of the Arctic, and theways of several "foot notes" that provide information about the Eskimo, from Aalak and others in the village. He marine biology, and each of these is cleverly related witnesses the northern lights in the cold of winter, to the human feet described in the rhyming story. The and welcomes back the sun. He sees millions of birds footnote accompanying "squash feet," for example, returning in the spring, and helps on a whale huntas tells us that the air bladder on sargassum seaweedpops the weather begins to warm. This fictional work that when stepped on. Reiser's expert design holds it all looks at contemporary life in an Arctic village is based together and makes it easy to read in several different on the experience of the author's grandson, who lives ways. All in all, a remarkable feat! with his parents in the Arctic and was givenan Inupiat 0 name when he was born. The text is graced by Minor's richly colored illustrations that emphasize themany moods of dark and light in the far northernpart of 00the world. 7 9 80 A BELLBIRD IN A FLAME TREE THE BLOCK Kilmeny Niland (Tambourine Books,1991) 32 pages.ISBN:0- Langston Hughes.Collage by Romare Bearden. (The Metropoli- 688-10798-2.LevekAll ages. tan Museum of Art1995)32 pages.ISBN:0-670-86501-X.Level: A rollicking, full-color send-up of "The Twelve Days Agell and older. of Christmas" features koalas, lizards, dingoes, Full-color reproductions from Bearden's 1971 mural "The numbats, quokkas, mice, penguins, crocodiles, peli- Block" are accompanied by twelve poems by Hughes. In cans, lorikeets, and wallabies. The creatures sing car- his introduction to the elegant, almost cinematic volume ols, open gifts, parade with candy canes, hang up stock- measuring 121/4 x 91/4 in., Bill Cosby relates how the mu- ings, bake cookies, and engage in other secular activi- ral reflects the people and events of a busy, exciting ties requisite to the season. An easy notation for the Harlem neighborhood. He comments that "it is also a music and a tree pyramid visually summarizing the universal place, a recognizable and familiar environment fmal chorus are at the end of this Australian slant on for many people from around the world," pointing out the traditional English cumulative song. that while "Bearden shows us the sights, Hughes gives 0 0 us the sounds." A full-page biography of each man with his photograph completes this singular book. BIRDIE'S LIGHTHOUSE 000 Deborah Hopkinson.Illustrated by Kimberly Bulcken Root (Anne Schwatz/Atheneum,1997) 32 pages.ISBN:0-689-81052-0. Level: B UF FALO DAYS Ages 7-la Diane Goldsmith-Hoyt. Photographs by Lawrence Migdale. Diary entries firom January 1855 to January 1856 docu- (Holiday House, 1997) 32 pages. ISBN: 0-8234-1327-6. Level: ment a year in the life of a fictional girl based on a Ages 7-11. composite of the many true-life female lighthouse Clarence Three Irons, Jr., a member of the Crow tribe, keepers. Her family's move to a new lighthouse island, loves riding horseback and helping out on his family's the departure of her older brother, Nate, and increas- forty-acre ranch. Ten-year-old Clarence, his father, and ing responsibilities for ten-year-old Birdie are the high- older brothers also participate in the Crow's annual buf- lights of her year. Exquisite pen-and-ink and water- falo roundup, a crucial part of the nation's efforts to re- color illustrations enliven an already adventurous tale, store the buffalo to reservation lands. And each summer, bound in a 61/4 x 111/2 in. volume that resembles, ap- Clarence and his entire family take part in Buffalo Days, a propriately, a lighthouse. Crow fair and rodeo that celebrates American Indian tradi- 0 tions. A brief history of the Crow, induding the aitical role that wild buffalo once played in their survival and the devas- BITTER BANANAS tation that the slaughtering of the buffalo by settlers Isaac Olaleyalustrated by Ed Young (Boyds Mills Press,1994) 32 brought to their way of life in the nineteenth century, is pages.ISBN:1-56397-039-2.Level: Ages 4-8. summarized as part of the text of this lively, hopeful pro- Set in the heart of the African rain forest, this original file of an American Indian boy who is taking part in his story by a Nigerian writer has many folldoric quali- nation's efforts to build hope for the present and future ties. Young Yusef gathers palm sap to sell at the mar- by restoring and honoring the ways of the past. ket but notices with dismay that someone has been 000 raiding his stores. When he discovers that the thieves are a family of baboons, he devises a scheme to dis- BUILDING AN IGLOO courage them from stealing from him. Frequent rep- Ulli Steltzer. (Henry Holt 1995)32 pages.ISBN:0-8050-3753-5. etition of the phrases "Oh no! Oh no!" and "Oh yes! Level:Ages 7-11. Oh yes!" to signal a bad or good turn of events, along In the frozen arctic landscape on Ellsmere Island in northern with a generous use of onomatopoeia, makes this a Canada, Inuit Tookillkee Kiguktak builds an igloo with his great read-aloud. Young's stunning artwork features sonjopee, for shelter during a winter hunting expedition. It his pastel and watercolor paintings, used with a cut- is a skill he learned as a child, and one he has taught his own paper technique that layers images to give a three-di- children. Full-page black-and-white photographs as sharp as mensional sense of the dense rain forest. the winter's cold show Tookillkee and Jopee at work. A brief 0 text describes their progress as the igloo takes shape. 0 0 81 BUTTERFLY BOY nicking, and finding constellations in the dear nightsky Virginia Kroll. Illustrated by Gerado Suzdn. (Boyds Mills,1997)32 made up for any inconveniences, making thesometimes pages.1SBN:1-56397-371-5. Level: Ages 5-8. damp, sometimes dark Temple of the Sun beginto feel Even though his grandfather canno longer speak or smile, homey. Emilio can sense Abuelo's pleasureat the sight of the red 00 admiral butterflies that fly into their yard.Every summer afternoon Emilio wheels Abuelo outside so theycan CHIBI: A TRUE STORY FROM JAPAN watch them together. When the weather cools and the Barbara Brenner and Julia Takaya.Illustrated byJuneOtani. butterffies disappear, Emilio brings home a library book (Clarion,1996)63 pages.ISBN:0-395-69623-2. Level:Ages7-10. so he can tell Abuelo more about red admirals: how they An inviting design and engaging story distinguish this chap- hibernate in the winter butreturn in the spring, and how ter book in which a mother duck hatches and raises her they are attracted to brighter white surfaces, like the ducklings in the midst of a Tokyo business park. Thebook family's garage. Kroll's warm, charming story depicts a is based on a true story, and the authorwas one of the rich relationship between a young boy and his grandfa- thousands of Tokyo residents who waited andwatched ther in the context of a loving Latino family, all magnifi- each day for the moment the mother duck wouldlead her cently illustrated by Suzan. The vibrant, stylizedpaint- ducklings across a busy congested roadwayto the pond ings aptly suggest magical realism and show the bond on the other side. Mr. Sato, a news photographer sentto between Emilio and Abuelo witha joyous sense of cel- cover the story, names the smallest duckling Chibi, which ebration. At the same time they reveal thatbehind means "tiny" in Japanese. The ducks make a safe journey Abuelo's silence is a lively, active mind that soars with but when a typhoon strikes, Mr. Sato and othersgo for imagination and love. 0 days not knowing the fate of Chibior his family Full-color illustrations in water color and inkon each double-page spread are a charming accompanimentto a warm, dra- C IS FOR CITY matic, satisfying story for young readers. Nikki Grimes.fflustrated by Pat Cummings.(Lothrop, Lee & 00 Shepard1995)40 pages.ISBN:0-688-11809-Z Level:Ages3-6. Rhyming verses for each letter of the alphabetcelebrate CHILDREN OF CLAY:A FAMILY OF PUEBLO the sights and sounds ofa lively Manhattan neighbor- POTTERS hood. Cummings's shimmering color illustrations extend Rina SwentzelL Photographs by Bill Steen. (Lerner,1992)40 the text even further by adding several objects for chil- pages.ISBN:0-8225-2654-9. Level: Ages 7-13. dren to identify in each picture. At the end of the book, Eliza, Zachary and Devonnaare Tewa children living in she has provided an alphabetical key that lists the illus- Santa Clara Pueblo, New Mexico, whoare learning the trated objects corresponding to each letter, right down traditions of making clay pottery from theirgrand- to the names of typefaces she has used (Airkraft, Benguiat, mother, Gia Rose. Together the family membersdig for Cooper Black, etc.), which also go in corresponding al- day, dean it, and mix it with sandto make it ready for phabetical order. sculpting. Later they will sand, polish, and firethe pot- 00 tery they have made. Even the youngest children in this large, extended family havea job to do, and everyone is CAMPING IN THE TEMPLE OF THE SUN delighted to see the fmal results of all their hardwork. Deborah Gould. Illustrated by Diane Paterson.(Bradbury,7992) 000 32 pages.ISBN:0-02-736355-4.Level:Ages3-7. The orange and yellow dometent named by Dad "Temple CHRISTMAS AT LONG POND of the Sun" seems right fora family of two children and William T George. Illustrated by Lindsay BarrettGeorge. two adults taking their first camping trip. But Jeannie and (Greenwillow, 1992) 32 pages. ISBN: 0-688-09214-4. Level: her parents discover that camping involvesmore than se- Ages 4-8. lecting a tent. Baby Billy needs to be comforted when ev- A father and son pull a toboggan carrying thespruce tree eryone else is sleepy, the tent has to be kept dry inside dur- they just selected and cut. Tryingnot to disturb the win- ing a downpour, and walking to the bathroom building at ter creatures of frozen Long Pond, they also fellan old night is an excursion in itself. But hiking, swimming, pic- poplar to create something for deerto eat and start the 82 81 growth of new shoots by spring. While coming and go- forgettable yet private experience. With very few words, ing, they hear a woodpecker, see deer, notice fox prints, the author has managed to reveal truths and complexities and listen to activity within a beaver lodge. Gouache of human relationships that many novelists fail to elicit paints were used for the full-color art detailing the win- perhaps that's what happens when you set out to climb a ter landscape and its inhabitants and visitors in this lovely Kansas mountain. picture book, the Georges' fourth about Long Pond. Lind- 00 say Barrett George's superior draftsmanship and personal understanding of her subjects bring to life the wildlife COMPOST CRIMRS and vegetation on each page, while William T George Bianca Lavies. (Dutton,1993) 32 pages. ISBN:0-525-44763-6. writes with an equally sensitive pen. Level:Ages 7-11. 0 The mysteries of nature are once again revealed by Lavies, who this time focuses her camera on the dozens of liv- CINNAMON, MINT, & MOTHBALLS: A VISIT TO ing creatures, many too small for the unassisted eye to GRANDMOTHER'S HOUSE see, which turn our daily bread (and many other things) Ruth Tiller. Illustrated by Aki Sogabe.(Browndeer Press/Harcourt into rich, fertile soil through the compost process. In- Brace Jovanovich,1993) 32 pages.ISBN:0-15-276617-0.Level: credible photographs reveal a minute world of hard- Ages4-8. working "critters," from sow bugs to earthworms, bac- A city child's description of her grandmother's rural home teria to fungi, all of which are part of our world, too, includes ordinary derails that she herself finds extraordi- helping to keep it dean. The informative text is written nary: the pantry the bathtub with feet, the dirt-floor in the in straightforward language that children will find any- cellar and, of course, the cistern out back. Coziness and thing but dull (because tomatoes really are mushy, and quiet comfort are the hallmarks of her overnight visit with the hyphae of mold really is white and hairy looking). her grandma and great aunt. Stunning illustrations were 00 created from black paper cut freehand and placed over sheets of painted ricepaper, giving an ethereal quality to COUNTRY FAIR everyday places and occurrences. Outstanding reproduc- Elisha Cooper. (Greenwillow,1997)40 pages.ISBN: 0-688-15531- tion and distinguished book design enhance the mood of 6.Level:Ages 3-8. sharing a special place with a beloved family member. Early one summer morning, trucks, tractors, and trail- Grandmother is depicted in the illustrations as Asian Ameri- ers rumble into an empty field and workers begin to set can, while her grandchildren are biracial (Asian/white). up tents for the country fair that will take place that day. 00 Some farmers groom their prize animals to get them ready for the competition, while others wrestle "unco- CLIMBING KANSAS MOUNTAINS operative pumpkins" in preparation for the vegetable George Shannon.Illustrated byThomasB.AlIen.(Bradbury, weigh-in. A judge samples banana bread. A bald man 1993) 32 pages.ISBN:0-02-782181-1. Level:Ages 4-8. shears sheep. A yellow jacket hovers around a man eat- When they made a flour-dough map of their home state, ing an enormous lunch. In every little comer a small Kansas, there was hardly a bump on it, so what in the world drama takes place. Collectively, they add up to a lively was his dad talking about when he invited Sam to go moun- country fair, gracefully captured in Cooper's understated tain-climbing one Sunday afternoon? Out of curiosity and watercolor paintings and matter-of-fact, yet witty prose. boredom, Sam agreed to go but he couldn't see any moun- 0 0 tains, not even when his dad stopped the car next to the grain elevators where he worked. 'The thing that makes a DARKNESS mountain is a high, quiet view" his dad tells him, after he Mildred Pits Walter:Illustrated by Marcia lameson.(Simon & grins his "got you" grin. Viewing Kansas from their Schuster,1995) 24 pages.ISBN:0-689-80305-2.Level:Ages 3-Z mountaintop" Sam sees that it looks the sameand dif Many small children who are afraid of the dark will find ferent. And driving home across the flat landscape, the fa- reassurance in this evocative story that reminds us of all ther and son together are the sameand different. An ex- the good things darkness brings us: our shadows and cool quisitely eloquent story uses humor and metaphorical lan- shade, soothing rain from dark clouds, dreamtime, and guage to bring two characters to life as they share an un- the bright stars that can only be seen at night. The corn-

9 83 forting, poetic text is nicely interpreted by Jameson's ab- summer. Details from the brief letter are shown in full- stract acrylic paintings that contrast deep shades of blue color illustrations created with gouacheopaque water- and purple with occasional touches oforange and gold color and colored pencil for the 9 by 101/4 in. book. to express the beauty of darkness. 0 0 0 DRYLONGSO A DAY AT DAMP CAMP Virginia Hamilton. Illustrated by Jerry Pinkney. (Harcourt George Ella Lyon. illustrated by Peter Catalanotto. (Orchard Brace Jovanovich,1992) 54 pages. ISBN:0-15-224241-4. 1996) 28 pages.ISBN:0-531-09504-5.Level:Ages6-9. Level:Ages 7-11. Three pairs of rhyming one-syllable wordson each Growing up on a farm in the drought-stricken Midwest double-page spread highlight theups and downs of life of the 1970s, Lindy can barely remembera time when at summer camp (e.g., "Damp camp / Green screen/Hot mud and cloudbursts were ordinary features of her land- cot"). Catalanotto illustrates each pair withseparate paint- scape. She is sustained by the memories of her gentle, ings, layered one on top of another likea stack of post- loving parents who patiently answer Lindy's questions cards or like windows on a web site. This techniquegives about life in easier times past. But even her parents'sto- viewers a sense of zeroing in on the small detailssug- ries haven't prepared her for the day of the windstorm gestedby the rhymes. Together the text and illustrations when a strange young man named Drylongso literally create an effective picture of a typical fast-paced, regi- blows into their lives. Full-page, full-color pastel andwater- mented day in a young camper's life. color paintings appear on nearly every double-page spread 0 0 of this powerful story about hope, hard work, and gifted people who can make something out of nothing. THE DAY OF AHMED'S SECRET 0 Florence Pany Heide and Judith Heide Gilliland. illustrated by Ted Lewin. (Lothrop, Lee & Shepard,1990) 32pages.ISBN:0-688- EAGLE 08895-3.Level:Ages 5-9. Judy Allen.Illustrated byTudor Humphries.(Candlewick Press, As Ahmed drives a donkey cart through busystreets and 1994)24 pages.ISBN:1-56402-143-2. Level:Ages 4-8. delivers heavy canisters filled with butanegas, he thinks Despite his teacher's assurances, young Miguel worries that of his father's advice: "Hurry to grow strong ... But do he'll be attacked by an eagle when he and his dass makea not hurry to grow old." Contemporary Cairo is theset- field trip to the Philippine rain forestnear their schooL His ting for a young "butagaz boy" to tell thestory of the obsessive fear nearly ruins the trip for Miguel and just about day on which he learns to write hisown name. Well- everyone else, until a chance encounter with a real eagle patterned sentences shaped intoa wonderfully paced absolves the boy of his wonies. Softly colored realistic paint- narrative are extended with full-color watercolor illus- ings skillfully capture the drama of Miguel's story,as well as trations detailing cultural information. the majesty of the rain forest. 0 0 0 0

DEAR REBECCA,WINTER IS HERE EMEKA'S GIFT:AN AFRICAN COUNTING STORY Jean Craighead George. Illustrated by Loretta Krupinski. Ifeoma Onyefulu.(Cobblehill &Dutton,1995)20 pages.ISBN: 0- (HarperCollins, 1993) 32 pages. ISBN: 0-02-021140-7. Level: 525-65205-1.Level:Ages 4-7. Ages 3-7. Photographic images of village lifeamong the Igala In a letter dated December 21st, a grandmother livingin people in Nigeria shine from the pages of this unique the Northern Hemisphere writes to her grandchild about countingbook that follows the short journey ofone small seasonal changes marking winter, even though "you can't boy to his grandmother's house. Along theway, Emeka touch it or ... make it do anything. But it makes us do all passes people and objects numbered from two to ten (four sorts of things. I turn on my lights. You puton your mit- brooms, six beaded necldaces, seven musical instruments, tens. The birds fly to the sunny underside of the Earth." etc.). Brief sidebars provide informationon the items and She writes about streams turning to ice andcreatures activities shown in the lively color photographs in this hibernating, observing how,on December 22nd, "little wonderful companion to the author's earlier work A IS hands of light begin to push back the edges ofdarkness FOR AFRICA (Cobblehill & Dutton, 1993). minute by minute" to begin the natural cycle leadinglicr) 000 84 EVERGLADES FLOOD Jean Craighead George. Illustrated by Wendell Minor. Maly Calhounillustrated by Erick Ingraham.(Morrow,1997) 40 (HatperColllins,1995) 32 pages. MN: 0-06-021228-4. Level:Ages pages.ISBN:0-688-13919-1.Level:Ages 5-8. 7-10 and older. If she stands on her tiptoes, Sarajean can just reach the Five children in a dugout canoe listen to the words of high water mark on the wall of the fire station in her the storyteller as he poles the canoe through the wa- small Iowa town. Sarajean's grandmother remembers the ters of the vanishing Everglades. He tells them the Big Flood that left it there when Sarajean's father was history of this "living kaleidoscope of color and just a baby. Now everyone in her town is preparing for beauty" from the earliest days in the Age of Seashells another big flood. Calhoun's somber picture story is filled up to our present time, which threatens to destroy it. with everyday details of an ordinary Midwestern family George's poetic words combine with Minor's lush that is hoping for the best but preparing for the worst. watercolor paintings to inspire reverence for this frag- Her tone is perfectly matched by Ingraham's realistic ile ecosystem. pastel pencil and watercolor illustrations that show 000 Sarajean's family as strong, distinctive individuals, busy- ing themselves with the small things that need to be done, EVERGLADES: BUFFALO TIGER AND THE RIVER all action taking place against the ominous backdrop of OF GRASS a bruised sky Peter Lourie.(Boyds Mills Press,1994) 47 pages.ISBN:1-878093- 000 91-6. Level:Ages 9-11 and older. Writer-photographer Peter Lourie's desire to learn FORT CHIPEWYAN HOMECOMING:A JOURNEY about the Everglades takes him on a journey into the TO NATIVE CANADA "River of Grass." His guide is Buffalo Tiger, chief of Momingstar Mercredi.Photographs by Darren McNal4f (We Are the Miccosukee Indians, who grew up in the Ever- Still Here). (Lemer,1997) 48 pages.ISBN: 0-8225-2659-X. Level: glades more than sixty years ago, when the area was Ages 8-11. not yet polluted and the tribe could still live off the Twelve-year-old Matthew Dunn accompanies his land. Lourie's appreciation for this unique and fragile mother, author Morningstar Mercredi, to her home- environment, and for Buffalo Tiger's willingness to town of Fort Chipewyan, Alberta, to visit family and share his personal experience and expertise, unfolds friends. For Matthew, whose parents are divorced and through full-color photos and a text that skillfully who lives every other year with his father, who is white, weaves a brief, fascinating history of the Miccosukee the trip also provides the opportunity for his mother into a compelling portrait of nature in the "grassy to share more about their Native heritage, a mixture water," an environment which is in danger of dying. of Cree, Denedeh (Chipewyan), and Métis. In a visit 000 with a Métis elder who does traditional beadwork, Matthew learns more about Native arts. A Cree fam- THE FIDDLER OF THE NORTHERN LIGHTS ily cousin takes Matthew and his mom for a boat ride Natalie Kinsey-Wamock Illustrated by Leslie W Bowman. and talks about Native respect for animals and the (CobblehilVIDutton,1996) 32 pages.ISBN:0-525-65215-9. Level: environment. When Matthew goes fishing with a Ages7-ia Chipewyan friend of his mother's, he sees firsthand Eight-year-old Henry had heard just about all of the way Native people once lived off the land. Grandpa Pepin's wild stories, and he didn't believe Matthew's visit culminates with Treaty Days, an anthem, either. How was he to know that when he and nual Fort Chipewyan event that honors the treaty sign- Grandpa went skating up the frozen river one winter ing that gave Native peoples in large parts of Canada night they would actually see the Northern Lights reservations lands and hunting and fishing rights. At dance? Could he have imagined that later they would Treaty Days, Matthew participates in games, dances be visited by the legendary fiddler? When the wind is to the drums, and shares in the celebration of Native howling, this fanciful winter story might come to traditions. This informative photo-documentary pro- mind. If so, listen for the sound of a fiddle. Striking vides another welcome profile of a contemporary artwork in full color suggests a winter landscape in an Native child. earlier time. 000 0 8 4 85 GOING HOME GABRIELLA'S SONG Eve Buntingillustrated by David Diaz (HatperCo1lin41996) 32 Candace Fleming.fflustrated by Giselle Potter. (Anne Schwanz& pages.ISBN:0-06-026296-6. Level:Ages 5-9. Atheneum,1997) 32 pages.1SBN:0-689-80973-5. Level:Ages 4-7. After sleeping under the stars for three nights, Carlos and As she walks through Venice, young Gabriella hearsmu- his family finally arrive by car in time to celebrate Christ- sic in the hustle and bustle of city life. The tune she hums mas in La Perla, Mexico. Even though there is no work for has been inspired by the calls of street vendors, church Mama and Papa in their village, La Perla is still home for bells, and the sound of boats gently bumping against the them. Mama even blows kisses "at the sun-filled winter canal walls. Her infectious song is pickedup and passed sky" as soon as the family car crosses the border from the along from one person to another, until it reaches theears United States into Mexico. Warm welcomes and celebra- of the brilliant composer Giuseppe Del Pietro whoturns tions of Christmas await the family in La Perla, along with it into a full symphony. Porter's distinctive watercolor paint- expressions of pride in the English language Carlos and ings use curved lines and leaning figures to givea sense of his sisters have acquired since their last visit. The walls of music wafting through the streets of Venice. Grandfather's La Perla house "bulge with talk and 0 0 rememberings." Distant La Perla has never felt like home to five-year-old Nora, ten-year-old Delores, and young THE GARDENER Carlos. Home for them is the house where they live all Sarah Stewartillustrated by David Small. (Farrar,Straus,Giroux year while working in the fields with their parents. During 1997)36 pages.ISBN:0-374-32517-0.Level:Ages 5-9. this visit, Carlos begins to understand about the "oppor- At the height of the US. Depression, Lydia Grace Finch tunities" his parents and grandparents hold in such high must leave home to spend a year living with her stodgy regard. Exuberant paintings superimposedover full-color uncle in the city to help out in his bakery. Thestory of photographs of folk art assemblages detail the specific how she transforms his tenementapartment (and eventu- people and locales of a joyous reunion. The composition ally her uncle) with her gardening skills is told througha of several paintings suggests the traditional Christmasstory. series of letters she writes from August 27, 1935, to July 11, A font designed especially for the dialogue-filled text isset 1936, and through Small's detailed pen-and-ink illustrations, on sun-colored pages. This rich story for all seasons has as well. Small's linework, in particular, shows the deter- multidimensional characters and a plot that doesnot mini- mination of the plucky young heroine, contrasted with mize hard labor at the expense of hope. the gruff character of her hard-working unde. 0 000 GRANDFATHER'S JOURNEY GIVING THANKS: A NATIVE AMERICAN GOOD Allen Say (Houghton-Mifflin,1993) 32 pages.ISBN: 0-395- MORNING MESSAGE 57035-2. Level:Ages 8-12. Chief:lake Swamp.Illustrated by Erwin Printup. (Lee & Low,1995) Wearing European clothes for the first time,a youngJapa- 24 pages. ISBN:1-880000-15-6. Level:Ages 5-10. nese man travels alone across the Pacific and then Based on what is known as the Iroquois Nation's Thanks- throughout the United States during the early twentieth giving Address, the text of this picture book caries the "an- century. He marvels at the expanses of ocean and land. cient message of peace and appreciation of Mother Earth "The endless farm fields reminded him of theocean he and all her inhabitants" to her family The wordsare still had crossed." Finally returning to Japanyears later with his used at contemporary governmental and ceremonial gath- wife and daughter, he establishes a life in his birth nation and erings of the Six Nations: Mohawk, Oneida, Cayuga, culture but never quite settles there emotionally. Thisyoung Onondaga, Seneca, and Tuscarora. Children of theseNa- man was the grandfather of the narrator/artist who, like his tive peoples are taught the concept of greeting the world elder, now understands longing for the home left behind and each morning by saying thankyou to all living things, which yet living where one has also experienced wonder. The jux- is what this picture book expresses. Swamp has delivered taposition of deep feeling with emotional distanceun- the Thanksgiving Address at the United Nationsand derscores the theme. Say's full-page watercolor paintings throughout the world. The illustrations rendered in acrylic present an 11 V. by 9 V. in. album-like sequence of land- on canvas show images of Native people with Earth's crea- scapes and people with effective uses of light in this tures. Printup is a Cayuga /Tuscarora painter. unique perspective on immigration. 0 0 0 0 86 8 5 GRANDPAPPY late some readers to ask long-lived community members NancyWhiteCarlstrom.fflustrated by Laurel Molk (Little Brown, to recount personal threshing anecdotes or to compare 1990)32 pages.ISBN:0-316-12855-4.Level:Ages 5-8. those experiences with ones in this book. During Nate's visit, he and his grandfather share quiet 000 beach walks, trips to town for supplies, and a midnight look at the stars. No matter whether the affectionate story HARVEST YEAR takes place now or decades earlier, the central idea is time- Cris Peterson. Photographs by Alvis Upitis. (Boyds Mills,1996) 32 less: live "as a light in a dark place." Grandpappy does. pages. ISBN:1-56397-571-8.Level:Ages 6-8. 0 0 Wisconsin author Cris Peterson teams with photographer Alvis Upitis to look at harvest time across the na- THE GREAT MIGRATION:AN AMERICAN STORY tion throughout the calendar year in a simple, effective Jacob Lawrence.(HarperCollins,1993) 48 pages.ISBN:0-06- photodocumentary. Each two-page spread focuses on one 023038-X Level:Ages 9 and older. month's harvest with color photographs, crisp, enticing According to Lawrence, his sequence of paintings, be- prose, and a map that highlights the mentioned states. gun in1940when he was twenty-two years old, involves The purpose is not to show every food crop in every state, the "exodus of African-Americans who left their home but rather to give readers a sense of the many kinds of and farms in the South around the time of World War I food that are grown or harvested throughout the coun- and traveled to northern industrial cities in search of bet- try as well as the endless cycle of the harvest year. ter lives." This book that reproduces the entire series in 0 0 full color was published on the occasion of the1993ex- hibition "Jacob Lawrence: The Migration Series." Images HAYSTACK of dignity and hope are mingled with those.of hard work Bonnie Geisert and Arthur Geisert. (Houghton Miifiin,1995) 32 and harsh experience into panels depicting an epic sweep pages.ISBN:0-395-69722-0.Level:Ages 4-9. of a people on the move. Lawrence's introduction and Bonnie Geisert's carefully crafted words paired with brief narrative accompanying the paintings offer insights Arthur Geisert's fmely detailed color etchings paint a into this aspect of US. history and his immediate family's delicate and satisfying portrait of life on a Midwest farm migration experience. The dosing page of this signifi- "in a time not so long ago" when "haystacks stood high, cant book contains a poem by Walter Dean Myers in long, and wide on the prairie." Following the cycle of which tribute is paid to the theme of the paintings and to the seasons, Haystack begins in the spring, when every- the people they represent. one on the farm pitches in to harvest and stack the hay. 000 Through summer's heat and the cold bite of fall and winter, the haystack provides food and shelter for the ani- GREAT-GRANDMA TELLS OF THRESHING DAY mals. In the greening of a new spring, the last remnants Verda Cross. Illustrated by Gail Owens. (Albert Whitman, of hay are eaten, and rich manure from the field where 1992)40 pages. ISBN:0-8075-3042-5. Level:Ages 5-8, or the haystack once stood is spread so that new hay will older for oral history purposes. grow. An unusual and engaging entry into the past is pre- During the early twentieth century the annual harvest sented in this haystack-shaped 71/2 x12in. volume. in many parts of the United States typically required the 000 labor of the entire farm family, and represented a cooperative, intergenerational, rural neighborhood effort to A HOUSE BY THE RIVER bring in a crop. Some Great Plains landowners of today William Miller. Illustrated by Cornelius Van Wright and Ying- display the machines that became the dinosaurs of thresh- Hwa Hu. (Lee & Low,1997) 32 pages. ISBN: 1-880000-48-2. ing, and certain historical museums interpret the social Level:Ages 5-8. and economic dimensions of threshing as well. Cross's Belinda dislikes the old house down by the river where autobiographical account of winter wheat threshing in she lives with her mother. She wishes she could live up one part of Missouri provides impressions of an earlier on higher ground as her school friends do, so that she time, telling about the hard work in which relatives and and her mother wouldn't have to worry about their house neighbors usually had gender-determined roles and also getting flooded when the rains come. During a big sum- about that work's unexpected pleasures. Illustrated with mer storm, as they prepare to wait out the flood by head- nostalgic full-color paintings, the picture story can stimu- ing for the attic, Belinda's mother explains to her why 86 87 the house is important to her family how her daddy worked HUNTING THE WHITE COW so hard to buy it, just as her great-grandfather Elias had Tres Seymour:Illustrated by WendyAnderson.(Orchard1993) 32 worked during slavery times, and that, like Belinda's family pages.ISBN:0-531-05496-9.Level:Ages 3-8. the house is stronger than the storm. Realistic watercolor When a white cow gets loose froma Kentucky family's illustrations show Belinda and her mother preparingto pasture, first Daddy and Mr. Matthew try to catch it and ride out the storm as her mother comforts her witha can't; then Daddy, Mr. Matthew, Uncle Bill, and Uncle story that can be understood either literally or metaphori- Bob go after it and miss; and fmally Daddy, Mr. Matthew, cally in the context of African American history Unde Bill, Unde Bob, and Papaw try to fmd it and fail. 000 "That cow is one tough dude," comments Mr. Matthew after every unsuccessful attempt. A white Southern cadence A HOUSE BY THE SEA adds character and humor to the delightful story traits that Joanne Ryder:Illustrated by Melissa Sweet (Morrow,1994) 32 are further enhanced with distinctive derAils in the softly pages.ISBN:0-688-12676-6.Level:Ages 3-5. shaded watercolor and pencil illustrations. Multiple layers of "If I could live in a little house /I'd live ina house by the plot am skillfully depicted in the illustrations, whichare them- sea ..." Ryder's gentle, rhyming text voices the dreams selves layered to show simultaneous actions. For example,a of a small boy and his sister who long for the everyday single spread shows the hunting party setting out while the adventure and excitement a seaside home would provide. cow grazes peacefully in a field beyond them and a child sits Charming watercolor paintings of thetwo brown- impatiently on the front porch behind them. skinned siblings deftly depict their wildly imaginative and 0 playful vision of a perfect life. 0 IN FOR WINTER, OUT FOR SPRING Arnold Adolf. Illustrated by Jerry Pinkney. (Harcourt Brace HOUSES OF ADOBE:THE SOUTHWEST Jovanovich, 1991) 48 pages. ISBN: 0-15-238637-8. Level: Bonnie Shemie. (Tundra,1995) 24 pages.ISBN:0-88776-353-Z Ages 5-8. Level:Ages 9-11. The youngest child in a rural African American familyex- The "great houses" of Chaco Canyon, the diff dwellings piesses her delight with the Earth's vivid show in the ever- of Mesa Verde, and Hopi pueblosare examples of the changing cycle of seasons. Twenty-six poems written ina enduring architectural structures builtover hundreds of young girl's voice celebrate the beauty of nature and the se- years by the indigenous people of what is now the south- cutity of family Pinkney's detailed pencil, watercolor, and west United States. These buildings and what is known pastel paintings perfectly complement the child's exuberant about the peoples who constructed themare the subject moods within the cozy circle of her family of an appreciative paperback text emphasizing theunique 0 0 function and form of the ingenious designs. Like those in her other excellent books in this valuable series, IN THE HEART OF THE VILLAGE:THE WORLD OF Shemie's black-and-white drawings illustrateart and ar- THE INDIAN BANYAN TREE chitectural elements, and two-page color spreads show Barbara Bash.(Sierra Club,1996) 32 pages.ISBN:0-87156-575-7. how people lived in the buildings. Level:Ages 8-11. 0 0 Beneath a banyan tree's broad, expansive covering, the people of a small village in India find a center for community 1&. HOUSES OF BARK: TIPI, WIGWAM AND School children gather for a Han traders exchange goods, and LONGHOUSE villagers seek shelter from the mid-daysun. Later in the day Bonnie Shemie. (Tundra Books,1990) 24 pages.ISBN:0-88776- children will play in and around the tree and elders will gather 246-8. Level:Ages 6-9. to tak All the while, high up in its branches, egrets and owls Line drawings accompany a brief text which describes nest, langur monkeys play and rose finches, fairy bluebittls, the three basic vaditional types of shelters built by Wood- and other birdlife feast on ripe red figs. The human and wild- land Indians. Pictures show bothan exterior and interior life activity in and around this tree that is sacredto the people view of each dwelling while the text explains how the of India is followed fr0/11 dawn to duskto dawn in a singular, structures were built and why they were particularly well informative text with full-color ilhistrations that stretchacross suited to the environment. 00 000each two-page spread. 88 8 IN THE WOODS:WHO'S BEEN HERE? JULY Lindsay Barrett George (Greenwillow,1995) pages.ISBN: 0- James Stevenson. (Greenwillow,1990) 32 pages. ISBN: 0-688- 688-12319-8.Levet Ages 3-6. 08822-8.Level:Ages 5-9. While walking through the woods on an early autumn "When I was young, each month was like a glacier slowly

afternoon, Cammy and her older brother see many signs melting..." begins a largely visual autobiographical nar- of animals who have preceded them, including a red squir- rative about the summers fifty years ago when this popu- rel, a blue jay, and a family of foxes. Double-page spreads lar New Yorker cartoonist and children's book humorist show the clues and ask the question "Who's been here?" spent a month with this grandparents at their beach while alternating pages give a visual and verbal reply. The house. New rules, old summer friends, varying oceanside same device is used with Cammy and William's winter weather, sticky toasted marshmallows, and almost-scary walk in George's IN THE SNOW: WHO'S BEEN HERE? stories are remembered in a spare, witty narrative punc- also published in 1995. tuated with small watercolor paintings reproduced in full color. WHEN I WAS NINE (Greenwillow, 1986) and HIGHER ON THE DOOR (Greenwillow, 1987) are com- INTO THE DEEP FOREST WITH HENRY DAVID panion picture book volumes. THOREAU 0 Jim Murphy Illustrated by Kate Kesler. (Clarion,1995) 39 pages. ISBN:0-395-60522-9.Level:Ages 10-16 and older. KOFI AND HIS MAGIC Carefully excerpted entries from Thoreau's journals con- Maya Angelou. Photographs by Margaret Courtney-Clarke cerning his third and earlier trips into the wilderness of Designed by Alexander Isley Design.(Clarkson Potter,1996) 36 Maine provide valuable insights from this reverent ob- pages.ISBN:0-517-704530-6.LevetAges 6-8. server of nature. Murphy's note about the text indicates A dazzling photoessay combines an energizing, poetic that he tried to use a light hand when creating transi- text with crisp, colorful photographs and an engaging, tions and other necessary alterations within Thoreau's playful design. Seven-year-old Kofi lives in Bonwire, the original writing. The brief passages written in third per- Ghanian village known for its beautiful Kente cloth. Kofi son are effectively illustrated with Kiesler's oil paintings likes to weave, and he likes to travel. "I sit down, Close and pencil drawings. my eyes, Open my mind," Kofi explains, and he is transported to other places in Africa that he has always wanted to see. Kofi's magic is his vivid imagination, but his jour- JACKAL WOMAN: EXPLORING THE WORLD OF ney comes alive for readers through words and images JACKALS depicting both his own life and each place he visits with a Laurence Pringle Photographs by Patrida D. Moehlman. joyous sense of appreciation and discovery (Scribners,1993) 42 pages.ISBN:0-684-19435-X Level:Ages 7-13. 0 Behavioral ecologist Patricia Moehlman's two decades of field observations of two jackal species on the LAST LEAF FIRST SNOWFLAKE TO FALL Serengeti Plain of Tanzania in East Africa are summa- Leo Yerxa. (Orchard,1994) 32 pages.ISBN:0-531-06824-2 Level: rized in language easily understood by anyone unfamil- Age 10 and older. iar with this community of creatures and with the find- A Woodland Indian child travels by canoe and on foot ings of this world authority on jackals. Moehlman's color with a parent to an island campsite. During a day and photographs of her subjects offer superb support to a night, autumn becomes winter. Details of the famil- Pringle's absorbing report of Moehlman's work and stud- iar transition seem new within a wondrous, sophisti- ies showing that jackal behavior differs from what is com- cated account distinctive in design and voice. First, a monly attributed to them in folklore and fiction. Pringle lengthy poetic commentary on creation: "before see- explains Moehlman's reluctance to use the radio collars ing, before being/before valentines and wild flowers and dart guns often used to track and study many wild- ... snow wasborn," and thena unique naturalistic life species, and he tells of her conservation work with first person narrative. Neither uses conventional punc- others in Tanzania. tuation. "The blanket of leaves that yesterday / covered 0 0 the earth/was now covered with a blanket/of snow/ to keep her warm during her long winter sleep of yes-

1 Is 88 EST C* AVAII LE 89 terday /I arose from the earth/and walkedinto the A MILLION FISH... MORE OR LESS light / of a new season." Stunning full-colorcollage Patricia CMdassaacklIlustrated by Dena Schutzer(Alfred A assemblages sometimes fill double-page spreads and Knopf,1992) 32 pages.ISBN:0-679-80692-X Level:Ages 4-7. at other times decorate one corner of a fullpage of Inspired by the tall tales of Papa-Daddy and Elder text. Illuminated letters and images of falling leaves Abbajon, young Hugh Thomas recountsa whopper assist in expressing the delicate instant when thesea- of a fish tale of his own after a day of fishingon the son changes. Bayou Clapateaux. On his way home after having 0 caught a million fish, he loses half of themto a wily alligator, half of the remaining lot toa band of pirate LAURA INGALLS WILDER COUNTRY raccoons, and several thousand more to a flock of at- William Anderson. Photographs by Leslie A Kel4r. (Harper tacking crows before running into his neighbor's PerenniaWarperCollins,1990)119 pages.ISBN:0-06-097346-3. greedy cat. A well-paced, wildly funnystory set in the Level:Age 7 and older. Louisiana bayou and whimsically illustrated with Numerous color photographs and black-and-white boldly colored oil paintings. documentary photographs depict the people and 0 0 places of Laura Ingalls Wilder's well-knownseries based on her early life in Wisconsin, Minnesota,Kan- MONARCH BUTTERFUES: MYSTERIOUS TRAVELERS sas, Iowa, and South Dakota. Brief explanatory text Bianca Lavies. (Dutton,1992) 32 pages.ISBN: 0-525-44905-1. and reproductions of Little House illustrationsby Level:Ages 9-12 andolder. Helen Sewell, Mildred Boyle, and Garth Williamsserve After introducing the egg-to-butterfly cyde ofa Mon- to link Wilder's fiction with the real people and places arch butterfly, the author describes the work ofDr. that inspired her work. Fred Urquhart and Norah Urquhart, scientists who 00 have spent their lives researching the migratory behavior of these insects. When Ken and Cathy Burgger THE LIVING EARTH first located a central Mexican wintering site of the Eleonore Schmid (North-South,1994) 28 pages. ISBN:1-55858- Monarch, the Urquharts and the author-photographer 298-3.Level:Ages 4-8. arrived soon after to study and document this long- "There are more living organisms in a single handful awaited discovery. Full-page photographs aptlycon- of soil than there are peopleon the entire earth." An vey the overwhelming number of butterflies found at appealing, highly visual science book introducesyoung the mountain site. readers to the busy, intriguing world that livesjust 00 beneath their feet and describes how this worldis affected by human activityon the surface just above it. THE MOON WAS THE BEST 00 Charlotte Zolotow.Photographs byTana Hoban. (Greenwillow, 1993) 32 pages.ISBN:0-688-09941-6. Level:Ages3-5. LOST When a little girl's parents leave fora trip to Paris, she Paul Brett Johnson and Celeste Lewis. Illustrated by PaulBrett tells them, "Remember the special thingsto tell me Johnson. (Orchard1996) 32 pages.ISBN:0-531-09501-0.Level: ...the things I'd like if I were there... So the mother Ages4-Z remembered." This beautifully composed book pairs While camping in the desert,a little girl and her dad Zolotow's quiet, gentle narrative with full-page pho- lose their beagle, Flag, and for weeks theydo every- tographs by Hoban in which each of the mother'strea- thing they can to try to fmd him. Finally, aftera month, sured memories is visually realized. An enlarged de- they are reunited. Written in the first-personvoice of tail of the photo appearing opposite enhances each the girl, line drawingson the right-hand side on the page of text. The perfect resolution of this warm, lov- page show their search efforts while full-color painting book will leave those who experience it sighing ings on the left-hand side of thepage show what Flag with pleasure and satisfaction. is actually doing in the desertto survive while they 00 are searching for him.

90 MORNING MILKING MY PRAIRIE CHRISTMAS Linda Lowe Morris. Illustrated by David Deran. (Picture Book Brett Harvey.Illustrated by Deborah Kogan Ray. (Holiday House, Studio,1991) 32 pages. ISBN:0-88708-173-8. Level: Ages 7-11. 1990)32 pages.ISBN:0-8234-0827-2. Level:Ages 4-8. Although she doesn't have to get up when she is awak- "I loved our new home on the prairie, sitting in the middle ened by her parents' alarm dock before dawn, a young of its ocean of grass. But how would we celebrate Christ- girl living on a dairy farm in northern Maryland forces mas?" Mama knows. Cornhusks are twisted into decora- herself out of bed. A lyrical first-person narrative de- tions. Popcorn strings become a substitute for the cran- scribes the small details of the morning milking rou- berries strung for past Christmas trees in Maine. Mama tine that make it a special time shared by a father and and the three children trudge through deep snow to get daughter. Softly colored, realistic watercolor paintings a cottonwood even though they are frantic because Papa aptly reflect the quiet yearning of a child's wish to hold didn't return home before a blizzard began. Full-color onto the perfect moments at the start of every day. illustrations evoke the open prairie, late-nineteenth cen- 0 0 tury homesteading life and the loving family of young Eleanore's first prairie December. The companion book, MY PLACE MY PRAIRIE YEAR (Holiday, 1986), is also based on a Nadia Wheatley and Donna Rawlins. (Kane-Miller, 1990) 48 diary written by Eleanore Plaisted. pages. ISBN:0-7328-0010-2. Level: Ages 6-12 and older. 0 0 A powerful cultural history of a fictional Australian neighborhood begins in 1988. This and subsequent MY STEPS double-page spreads are written, designed, and illus- Sal6/ Derby. Illustrated by Adjoa iBurrowes.(Lee & Low, 32 trated according to a pattern: "My name's Laura, and pages.ISBN:1-880000-40-7 Level:Ages3-6. this is my place... Ourhouse is the one with the flag An African American girl describes all the fun she has on the window ... This is a map of my place. We've year round (but especially in summer) playing on the front got a McDonalds right on the corner. In the ... yard, steps of her house in a busy urban neighborhood with there's this big tree...There's a canal... Mumsaid it her friends Essie and Nicholas. Two elements work par- must have been a creek once. It's too dirty to swim in ticularly well to bring the book to life: the realistic voice ..." The visual chronology moves backward ten years of the child narrator and the bright cut-paper collages at a time through twenty-one decades of Australian used to illustrate the story. The collages give both tex- immigrations (Asian, German, Irish, English prison- ture and dimension to the illustrations, making every ers); world events (Vietnam War, World Wars, U.S. scene look like a real front stoop. gold rush); and economic changes (land ownerships 0 and uses, Labor movement) affecting ordinary families. Differences and effects of cultures and classes are NATIVE AMERICAN ROCK ART: MESSAGES FROM suggested. The tree and the water represent steady THE PAST points of reference and subtle change in each decade. Yvette La Pierreillustrated by Lois Sloan. (Thomasson-Grant The people indigenous to Australia daim the dramatic 1994)48 pages.ISBN:1-56566-064-1. Level:Ages 8-12 and older. final double-page spread showing a rural sunset be- Petroglyphs and pictographscarvings and paintings on fore contact with the British. This stunning intellec- rocksdone by the earliest human inhabitants of North tual and political reiteration of the Aboriginal flag America, can be found from Nova Scotia to the deserts mentioned and seen at the beginning of this outstand- of the Southwest. La Pierre explores what is known and ing, award-winning 101/4 x 93/4 in. book invites already- how it was determined, as well as what is not known, intrigued readers into repeated experiences with the about these ancient forms of art and communication and narrations and detailed images. the people who created them. Though the illustrations 000 and the fictionalized scenarios that open each chapter seem to assume that rock artists were always male, the unique information presented here makes this a valuable text, which includes photographs of rock art throughout North America. 0 0

Ck 91 NIGHT ON NEIGHBORHOOD STREET ON THE PAMPAS Eloise Greenfield.Illustrated by Jan Spivey Gilchrist. (Dial Books Maria Cristina Brusca. (Henry Holt 1991) 32 pages.ISBN:0-8050- for Young Readers,1991) 32 pages.ISBN:0-8037-0778-9.Levek 1548-5.Level:Ages 4-8. Ages 3-9. A young girl from Buenos Aires, Argentina, spends Each of the seventeen poems in this collection offers the summer on her grandfather's ranchon the pam- glimpses into the lives of African Americanchildren pas, enjoying a thrilling camaraderie with her cousin on a single night in an urban neighborhood. Nerissa is and age-mate, Susainita, who knows "everythingabout telling her parents bedtime jokes; Tonya is hosting a horses, cows, and all the other animals that liveon the sleepover. Darnell is afraid of nighttime noises; inde- pampas." Together the two girls ride horses,go swim- pendent Lawanda is determined not to let her daddy ming, search for nandu eggs, and listento the gau- carry her from the car to the front dooreven though chos tell ghost stories. Thereare plenty of activities she's very sleepy; Juma is talking his daddyinto let- to fill the days of these tireless and adventuresome ting him stay up just a little longer; and Buddy is al- cousins, both of whom aspire to be gauchossome day ready asleep and dreaming of impressing the world themselves. This autobiographical reminiscenceby with his wonderful, amazing self Gilchrist'sfull-color Argentinean Maria Cristina Brusca is filled with visual gouache paintings evokea perfect nighttime mood in and textual details about lifeon a South American Greenfield's celebratory tributeto African American ranch. 000families and communities. 0 0 ONLY A PIGEON NIGHT OWLS Jane Kurtz and Christopher Kurtz illustrated by E.B.Lewis. Sharon Phillips Denslow Illustrated by Jill Kastner(Bradbury, (Simon &Schuster,1997)40 pages.ISBN:0-689-80077-0. Level: 1990) 32 pages.ISBN:0-02-728681-9.Level:Ages 4-Z Ages4-8. Aunt Charlene "has always been afraid she willmiss some- Ondu-ahlem goes to school every morning and spends thing wonderful if she goes to bed too early" She and his afternoons shining shoes in the marketarea to earn her nephew William enjoy being night owls together some spending money. Busy as he is, his thoughtsare during his summer visits. Theyroast corn over a bonfire, never far from the homing pigeons he is raising. He count the night songs of crickets and frogs, climba tree, spends most of his free time caring for themcheck- and decorate the night with soap bubbles. A colorful loving on the eggs that are just about readyto hatch and ing account of a colorful loving relationship. 0 protecting them from the peskymongoose who visits frequently at night. Inspired by the experiences ofa real boy Jane and Christopher Kurtzmet in Addis NIGHT TREE Ababa, Ethiopia, the story captures the child'sdeep Eve Buntingillustrated byTed Rand (Harcourt BraceJovanovich, devotion to his pigeons. Lewis's rich watercolor illus- 1991) 32 pages.ISBN: 0-15-257425-5. Level:Ages 3-Z trations shimmer with small details of Ondu-ahlem's On the cold night before Christmas,a mother, father, everyday life. and two children drive their pickuptruck out from 000 the city to a forested areato find a perfect Christmas tree. Instead of cutting it down, however, they deco- PLACES OF REFUGE:OUR NATIONAL WILDLIFE rate it with apples, tangerines, balls of sunflower seeds REFUGE SYSTEM and pressed millet, and a popcorn chain. They enjoy a Dorothy Hinshaw Patent. Photographs by WilliamMunoz. picnic by moonlight before leaving the tree as a gift to (Clarion, 1992) 80 pages. ISBN: 0-899-19-846-5. Level:Ages 9- the forest animals. The deep solitude ofthe forest on 12 and older. a winter night is aptly depicted with dark blues and The United States Wildlife Refuge Systemis described greens in double-page watercolor illustrations, high- from its inception in1903by President Theodore lighted with bright red and pink clothing worn by the Roosevelt to its current state. Varioustypes of refuges, family members. This understated story provides a including national parks, national forests,national re- satisfying blend of traditional values andoriginal ex- source lands, and wilderness areas, are defined and pressions of generosity and celebration. 00 their differences outlined. An emphasison human uses 92 of refuge land is present throughout the text, as the of contemporary natural scientists (Bat Man, Bear author discusses the impact of logging, farming, min- Man, Jackal Woman), Pringle turns our attention to ing, hunting, and recreational activities on these pro- desert biologist Gary Polis. This scientist's studies of tected areas and their animal inhabitants. Numerous scorpions living in their natural habitat, along with color photographs are clearly captioned. Pringle's cogent description of the scorpion's life cyde, 0 0 do much to belie the creature's universally bad reputation. Accompanied by full-color pictures of Gary RAPTOR RESCUE! AN EAGLE FLIES FREE Polis at work, as well as some dazzling close-up shots Sylvia Alohnson. Photographs by Ron Winch. (Dutton,1995) 32 of scorpions in the wild, it's sure to be a hit with young pages.ISBN:0-525-45301-6.Level:Ages 7-11. readers interested in "scary" animals. When a bald eagle wounded by shotgun pellets is found 0 in a roadside ditch by a conservation officer, he is taken to the Gabbert Raptor Center at the University of Min- THE SEASHORE BOOK nesota. This compelling photoessay follows the steps Charlotte ZolotowIllustrated by Wendell Minor (HarperCollins, taken by the Raptor Center staff to heal patient S-137's 1992)32 pages.ISBN:0-06-020213-0.Level:Ages 3-8. wounds and eventually return him to the wild. To answer his question about the seashore, a little boy's 0 0 mother invites him to pretend to "pick up a stone washed smooth by the sea" and notice tiny oyster ROME ANTICS shells "crusty gray outside and smooth, pearly pink David Macaulay. (Houghton Mifflin,1997) 79 pages.ISBN:0- inside." By suggesting sensory ways to experience a 395-82279-3. Level:Ages 9-12 and older. specific place, Zolotow's affectionate text bids children Macaulay's bird's-eye view of modern-day Rome follows to use imagination to recapture experience and/ or the journey of a homing pigeon released by a woman in companionship. Minor's full-page illustrations for this the hills outside the city. The pigeon decides to take the lovely 111/4 x 91/4 in. book for all seasons were painted scenic route on her way to deliver her message. As the with gouache and watercolors on cold-press water- pigeon travels, she ffies over a city where ancient ruins, color board. historic sites, and thoroughly modern life coexist. 0 0 Macaulay reveals all three in his distinctive black-and- white drawings that fill the oversized pages. The pigeon's THE SEASONS SEWN:A YEAR IN PATCHWORK path through the city is marked by a bold red line that Ann Whitford Paul. Illustrated by Michael McCurdy. loops and curves, zips and arcs across the otherwise col- (Browndeer/Harcourt Brace,1996) 40 pages. ISBN: 0-1 5- orless pages. A droll narrative gives insight into what the 276918-8. Level:Ages 9-12. pigeon is thinl(ing ("She firmly resolves to stay on course, In three opening pages, the author invites readers to at least until she reaches this piazza") in addition to docu- imagine the life and work of a rural family in the north- menting her adventures and mishaps. This wholly origi- ern United States throughout one year more than a nal book includes information about the sites the pigeon hundred years ago. She then suggests that patchwork sees: each building or ruin is labeled at the bottom of the patterns and their names give clues about life in ear- full-page illustrations, and a brief description of each one lier centuries. The central portion of this book is or- is provided at the book's end. And as for the pigeon mes- ganized according to the four seasons. Each seasonal sage? She delivers it at last, to an anxious man in Rome. section is introduced by colored scratchboard artwork It is one word: "Yes." on a double page spread. Paul discusses six quilt pat- 0 0 terns for each season. In her one-paragraph accompa- niment for each pattern, she speculates about its pos- SCORPION MAN: EXPLORING THE WORLD OF sible historical origin. That historic activity or event is SCORPIONS pictured in McCurdy's scratchboard art on the top half Pringle, Laurence. Photographs by Gary A. Polis. (Charles of each page. This nicely designed 101/4 in. square Scribner's Sons,1994) 42 pages. ISBN: 0-684-19560-7. Level: book includes a selective bibliography. Ages 8-12. 000 Continuing his line of books about the life and works

93 QT2' SNOW ON SNOW ON SNOW SNOWED IN Cheryl Chapman.Illustrated bySynthia Saint James. (Dial, Barbara M. Lucas. Illustrated byCatherine Stock (Bradbury, 1994) 32 pages. ISBN: 0-8037-1457-2.Level:Ages 3-6. 1993) 32 pages. ISBN: 0-02-761465-4.Level:Ages 4-7. Inspired by Christina Rossetti'spoem "In the Bleak As winter begins in Wyomingin 1915, young Grace Midwinter," this picturestory begins "Once upon a and Luke said good-byeto their teacher for the sea- winter's day/I woke up / under blanketsunder blan- son and go by horse and wagon with their kets under blankets." Using father to repeating prepositional town to stock up on pencils and phrases, Chapman's paper at the store and young narrator tells of going out borrow a box of books from the with a dog and sled to play. Although library. These prepa- the dog disap- rations for winter's inevitable isolation pears for a moment, all live "happily provide the ever after ever children with certain after ever after." Saint James' resources for studying, with their artwork picturinga parents as teachers, and enjoying the reading brown-skinned child and mother with that takes abstract features them beyond Wyomingwinter confinement. The was rendered in oil and acrylicon canvas. Her land- watercolor illustrations and thespare text for the 81/2 scapes are filled with bright skies anda rainbow of by 101/2 in. book playmates and snowsuits. were influenced by LETTERS OF A 0 WOMAN HOMESTEADER, byElinore Pruitt Stewart (University of Nebraska 0 0 Press, 1961). THE SNOW WALKER Margaret K.Wetterer and Charles M.Wetterer. Illustrated by SPILL! THE STORY OF THE EXXONVALDEZ Mary O'Keefe Young. (On My Own)(Carolrhoda, 1996) 48 Terry Carr. (Frankllin Watts,1991) 64pages.ISBN: 0-531- pages. ISBN:0-87614-891-7. Level:Ages 7-10. 15217-0. Level:Ages 9-14 and older. During the record-breaking blizzardof 1888 in the An editorial writer for the AnchorageDaily News docu- Northeast, a twelve-year-old namedMilton Daub and his father make ments events before and after the historiccollision. snow shoes because Milton wantsto He describes the impact of the go out and get milk needed at home. resulting oil spill on He ends up do- the ecosystem. Vivid color ing errands for snowbound neighbors photographs on every page in the Bronx at amplify the details. Volunteer great risk of becoming a blizzard victim. efforts to rescue and re- This easy-to- cover affected wildlife are also emphasized. read story about a real boy in OldNew York who found 0 0 a way to earn money despitesevere weather is illustrated in full color 000 on every page spread. STARRY NIGHT David Spohn. (Lothrop, Lee & Shepard,1992)32 pages. ISBN: 0-688-111714 Level:Ages3-7. THE SNOW WHALE When Nate, Matt, and Dadgo camping near their house Caroline Pitcher. Illustrated by JackieMorris (Sierra Club, in August, everyone helps with 1996) 24 pages. ISBN:0-87156-915-9. preparations. Nate as- Level: Ages 3-6. sembles snacks, Matt packs his stuffed After a snowstorm, Laurie and animal, and Dad her little brother, Leo, takes a harmonica. They establish build a great white whale their campsite, build in the snow. "Where does a fire, and settle in for singing, stories, and the snow come from?" locating the Leo asks, and Laurie, inan ex- Big Dipper, the Great Bear, and asperated, big-sisterly Cassiopeia. Observant tone, tells him how "the water readers will notice practical details rises up from the about camping un- ocean and goes into the clouds"to obtrusively woven within the brief, fall down again quiet 8 x 61/4 in. book as rain or snow. The children'ssnow about two boys and their father. whale is a gentle and magnificent The same biracial (Af- beast that spurs their rican American/white) family pictured imaginations until the weather in the full-color warms and a heart- illustrations appears in NATE'S broken Laurie asks "Where has TREASURE AND the whale gone?"to WINTER WOOD (Lothrop, 1991). which Leo gently replies, "Snowwhale's gone home." 0 0 A captivating story is matchedby outstanding design and lovely full-color illustrations. 0

94 93 STREET MUSIC: CITY POEMS face after days of burning beneath the waves. Stun- Amold Addl. Illustrated by Karen Barbour. (HarperCollins,1995) ning photographs and a fascinating text describe the 32 pages.ISBN:0-06-021522-4.Level:Ages 7-11. events of the next several years as the newest island Feel the cold shiver of water from a hydrant spray re- on earth forms and evolves into a habitat capable of lief on a steaming summer day. Listen as the clang supporting plant and animal life. and bang of a garbage truck sounds the alarm for 0 0 morning. See the woman and her young daughters sharing fruit in the doorway of the cash machine, TAR BEACH where they spend each day in search of survival. A Faith Ringgold (Crown Publishers,1991) 32 pages. ISBN: 0-517- child offers images and observations of life in the big 58030-6. Level:Ages 5-11. city in this collection of fifteen original poems that In one of the most visually exciting books to appear vibrate with edginess and excitement. Barbour's illus- in a long time, artist Faith Ringgold has created a pic- trations echo the energy of the poems and pulse with ture book based on her story quilt "Tar Beach." Eight- the intensity and abandon of city life. year-old Cassie Lightfoot and her baby brother Be Be 000 lie stretched out on a mattress on the rooftop of their Harlem apartment while her parents play cards with SUNFLAKES: POEMS FOR CHILDREN their next-door neighbors. During that magical time Lilian Moore Illustrated by.lan Ormerod.(Clarion,1992) 96 that comes between wakefulness and sleep, the adult pages.ISBN:0-395-58833-2.Level:Ages 2-7. conversation blends into Cassie's daydream as she en- The poet-anthologist states that poems can assist chil- visions herself flying high above the city, claiming that dren to "connect with feelings of others, to hear the she owns it all and can change anything to make life music of language and to see the details in the world come out the way she wants it to be. Ringgold's boldly around them more vividly, more truthfully" Moore imaginative acrylic paintings brilliantly capture the writes her own poems and collects the poems of oth- power of a child's soaring imagination on the twilight ers with grace. Her accurate scenes of very young edge of dreams. Set in1939,Tar Beach succeeds as an children are reflected in her names for sections of this appealing story for children illustrated with fine art, collection: I Am Very Fond Of Bugs, I Like To Look an astute societal commentary, and a new variation In Puddles, Me And Potato Chips, The Night Is Long on a traditional African American liberation motif. But Fur Is Deep, and Breathing On The Window Pane 0 0 In Winter. Ormerod's full-color illustrations enliven each page with images that do not limit a poem's pos- THIRTEEN MOONS ON TURTLE'S BACK: A NATIVE sibility. Poets represented in the seventy-five poems AMERICAN YEAR OF MOONS include Arnold Adoff, Frank Asch, Margaret Wise Joseph Bruchac and Jonathan London. Illustrated byThomas Brown, John Ciardi, Eloise Greenfield, Mary Ann Locker. (Philomel,1992) 32 pages.ISBN: 0-399-22141-7. Level: Hoberman, Edward Lear, Dennis Lee, Eve Merriam, Ages 4-9 and older. Kazue Mizumura, Jack Prelutsky, Nancy Willard, Jane In many Native cultures, seasonal changes in the natu- Yolen, and Charlotte Zolotow. ral world are noted by naming a month with a de- 0 0 scriptive phrase. The Micmac, for example, call the ninth month "the moose-calling moon" while the SURTSEY:THE NEWEST PLACE ON EARTH Cherokee call the tenth "the moon of falling leaves." Kathryn Lasky. Photographs by Christopher G. Knight. (Hyperion, Each of the thirteen months included in this book is 1992)64 pages.ISBN:1-56282-300-0.Level:Ages 9-14 and older. illustrated with an oil painting accompanied by a three- When the crew of an Icelandic fishing vessel smells verse poem about the distinctive features that led to sulfur early on the morning of November14, 1963, its name. Potawatomi, Anishnabe (Ojibway), they radio the coast guard to see if any ships in the Menominee, and Winnebago are four of the thirteen area are reporting a fire. The crew soon discovers that tribes represented. the fire they are smelling is originating from a nearby 0 0 submarine volcano that has reached the water's sur-

94 95 TOMORROW ON ROCKY POND UP NORTH AT THE CABIN Lynn Reiser.(Greenwillow,1993) 32 pagesISBN:0-688-10673-0. Marsha Wilson Chall. Illustrated by Steve Johnson. (Lothrop,Lee Level:Ages 3-6. & Shepard1992) 32 pages.ISBN:0-688-09733-2. Level:Ages 4-9. Tucked in bed at night, a young girl is filled with ex- Chall and Johnson successfully pinpoint theexperi- citement about the fishing trip her family has planned ences of many who regularly vacation "up north." "I for the next day. She runs through a mental list of the know the way by heart: /past the big walleyestatue special fishing clothes they'llwear and the equipment on Lake Mille Lacs, /a few more miles to the Live Deer they'll carry, the animals they'll hear and plants they'll Park, / till all the trees are birch and pine / andhouses see on their walk through the woods to reach their are made from logs that look like shiny pretzels.. .", a canoe, and then all the bird and fish they'll encounter girl says as she anticipates anothersummer at a fam- once they reach the lake. All the exuberance of a child's ily cottage. She thinks of herselfas a smart angler (fish- anticipation of good times ahead is deftly expressed ing), a great gray dolphin (diving),a fearless voyager in text and pictures that make this family fishingtrip (portaging with a canoe), anda daredevil appropriately idealized. GO (waterskiing). This non-Indian child realizes that the Ojibway people were once the only inhabitantsof this woods-and-lakes region enjoyed today by others. The TONIGHT IS CARNAVAL details in Johnson's fourteen full-colorpaintings add Arthur Dorros.fflustrated with arpillerassewn by the Club de immediacy clarifying Chall's skillfully employed figu- Madres Virgen del Carmen of Lima,Peru. (Dutton Children's rative language; his art is also noteworthy inits inter- Books,1991) 24 pages.ISBN:0-525-44641-9.Level:Ages4-8. pretations of various types of summer light. A Peruvian child describes family andcommunity 000 preparations during a three-day period priorto the first night of Carnaval. His story is illustrated withbrightly WAKE UP, CITY! colored folk-art wall hangings (arpilleras), which were AMn TresseltIllustrated by Car* Ewing.(Lothrop, Lee& sewn by women in Lima, Peru. A final double-page Shepard1990) 32 pagesiSBN:0-688-08652-Z Level:Ages3-Z spread titled "How Arpilleras Are Made" includescap- People stir and wake up on an early morningin a city. tioned color photographs of the artistsat work, add- "In a harbor a great freighter fromacross the world ing another dimension of cultural detail to the book. comes in on the morning tide..." Food is unloaded A Spanish language edition of this book was also pub- at noisy markets. Buses run. A pajama-dad childno- lished in 1991. GO tices birds at the window feeder. The catgoes inside. Nothing and everything happens. All children,workers, police officers, and others represent the ordinary TWO LANDS, ONE HEART: AN AMERICANBOY'S busyness and racial diversitycommon to a city New, JOURNEY TO HIS MOTHER'S VIETNAM full-color illustrations updatea picture book text more Jeremy Schmidt and TedWood.Photographs by Ted Wood. than thirty years old. (Walker,1995) 44 pages.ISBN:0-8027-8357-0.Level:Ages 7-10. 000 Seven-year-old T. J. Sharp is accompanying hismother on a journey to Vietnamthe homeland she fledas a WATER BUFFALO DAYS:GROWING UP IN VIETNAM child in the midst of thewar. T. J. is eager to meet his Quang Nhuong Huynhillustrated bylean and Mou-SienTseng. Vietnamese grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins (HarperCollins,1997)116 pages.ISBN:0-06-024957-9. Level: and see the country about which he has beenhearing Ages 9-11. for so long. Color photographs and text document T. Huynli Quang Nhuong's memories of his childhoodin J.'s experience as he travels to a far-away land that holds Vietnam are fresh, appealing stories perfectly suitedto the familiar embrace of family even though the lan- child readers. The narratives focuson Nhuong's rela- guage and customs differ from his own. tionship as a child with the water buffalo bullsowned 000 by his family. Tank, whom Nhuong's fatheracquired as a calf after the bull Water Jug's death, growsto be Nhuong's friend and protectoras well as his companion in adventure. Nhuong's charming recollectionsgive 96 95 a sense of the peaceful, quiet agrarian life that his own WHERE DOES THE TRAIL LEAD? and many other families were living in Vietnam during Burton Albert.Illustrated by Brian Pinkney. (Simon & Schuster, the years just prior to the war that would tear the coun- 1991)32 pages. ISBN:0-671-73409-1. Level:Ages 4-7. try in two. The war does finally intrude in Nhuong's A short, lyrical text traces the steps of an African life in the book's final chapter, and with it's arrival he American boy on Summer Island as he follows a rus- loses a very good friend. Children will understand why tic trail along the beach until he reaches his family at a Nhuong felt his life would never be the same again af- seaside picnic. Pinkney's scratchboard illustrations are ter the death of his beloved Tank. That it was not the colored with aqua, green, brown, and purple oil pas- same again for many other reasons, and that Nhuong tels, providing the perfect ambiance for the quiet story would face many other losses in his life, is only hinted of a solitary journey. at in a narrative that movingly concludes "How could 0 future losses surprise me now that I knew a single mis- placed bullet could destroy...such a benevolent being, WHERE ONCE THERE WAS A WOOD such a good friend?" Denise Fleming. (Henry Holt,1996) 28 pages. ISBN: 0-8050- 000 3761-6. Level:Ages 5-10. When a wood, meadow, and creek vanish due to mod- WHEELS ern development of the land, the flora and fauna are Shirley Hughes. (Lothrop, Lee & Shepard Books,1991) 24 also directly affected. Children will notice more animals, pages. ISBN: 0-688-09880-0. Level:Ages 3-8. birds, reptiles, and plants than the few named in the Trotter Street is full of Spring motion and locomotion. brief, lyrical text of a provocative picture book. The fi- Sanjit Lal has roller skates; Barney, a skateboard; and nal four pages contain detailed directions for creating a Mae's baby sister, a stroller. Carlos deals gamely with family backyard wildlife habitat. Fleming's trademark the disappointment of receiving perfectly fine birthday illustrations were created with cotton rag fiber. The bold presents but no bike like Billy's. Mum had warned shapes and distinctive full-color images can be easily Carlos in advance about this, but he was completely seen in a large group setting. unprepared for his brother Marco's handmade surprise. 0 This gift and a subsequent neighborhood non-bicycle race exhibit the small moments of high drama at which WINDOW Hughes eircels. Hughes's full-color artwork harmonizes Jeannie Baker. (Greenwillow Books,1991) 32 pages. ISBN: 0- wonderfully with the down-to-earth fictional Trotter 688-08917-8. Level: Age 9 and older. Street community she has populated with appealing Complex, full-color collage constructions in a thirteen- folks living their daily lives next to each other. An out- part sequence show the view from one person's win- standing addition to a great series. dow. At the beginning, an adult holding an infant is 000 inside. Several years elapse between each turn of the page, and the child grows up as the book's images WHEN I GO CAMPING WITH GRANDMA unfold. Over the years, each neighborhood change is Marion Dane Bauer. Illustrated by Allen Garns. (Bridge seen as exacting a cumulative toll on the landscape. Water,1995) 32 pages. ISBN:0-8167-3448-8. Level:Ages 3-6. What was once a green residential area becomes a A young girl lyrically describes the quiet moments she commercial district throughout two or three decades. and her grandmother share when they camp together: A final double-page spread displays the former child, sleeping in a tent, fishing from a canoe, roasting hot now a parent himself, looking out the window of his dogs and marshmallows over an open campfire. new home located beyond the suburbs. Distant green Throughout the busy day, there is still plenty of time hills appear to be newly scarred by construction. This and space for them to observe the wonders of nature. disturbing, provocative wordless essay invites reflec- Garns's soft, hazy illustrations provide just the right tion and discussion as well as real-life observation and mood for this evocative story action. 0 0 0 0

9 6 97 WINTER POEMS Barbara Rogasky, selector. Illustrated by Trina Schart Hyman. (Scholastic,1994) 40 pages. ISBN:0-590-42872-1. Level:Ages 5-14. Twenty-five poems evoke possibilities of theseasonits weather, bird-watching, skiing,moon, deer, geese, even its germs, as well as its indoor warmth. It's thewarmth that readers of this incomparable anthologycan experience, the warmth resulting from reading or hearingsu- perb dassic poetry in many voices and forms; fromsee- ing pictures of a home, its people, its work, and its pleasure; from noticing landscapes and families in newways. Hyman's paintings reproduced in full coloron every page were rendered in acrylics on illustration board, contributing 0significantly to the excellence of the appealing volume.

WINTER RESCUE D.Valgardsonillustrated by AngeZhang.(Mnargaret K McElderry,1995)40 pages.ISBN:0-689-80094-0. Level:Ages 6-9. This picture story adventure takes placeon Lake Wmnipeg during a frigid day when Grandfather decides Thor is old enough to help himset nets. The boy will miss his Saturday TV cartoonsa seriousmatter. Zhang's illustrations done with colored pencil detail how thetwo transport an icehouse fitted with skis so far outon the large frozen lake that they will needa compass to get back. Explosive sounds made by crackingice and Grandfather's explanations ofpressure ridges remind Thor to watch for cracks and not fall in. Readerssee an experienced ice fisherman at work, and they witness fast- driving snowmobiles getting into troubleon thin ice. They discover that a child can mustermore courage than 000a Saturday morning cartoon hero.

THE YEAR OF NO MORE CORN Helen Ketteman. illustrated by Robert Andrew. (Orchard1993) 32 pages.ISBN:0-531-05950-2.LevetAges 4-8. Because Beanie is too young to help with thecorn planting and Old Grampa's too old, the two of them sharea story on the frontporch instead. Old Cramps tells Beanie abouta planting season long ago when the farmerswere besieged with first a flood, then a tornado, nexta hot spell, and finally crows, so that every last kernel of corn had been carriedaway by one natural disaster or another. Ever resourceful, Old Grampa had whittled corn to plant thatyear. Parker's expressive watercolor paintings accompany a text that is half tall tale,half family story and completely entertaining. 0 0 98 Children's Trade Books with People, Places, and Environments as a Second Thematic Strand The title index on pp. 173-180 lists the number of the page on which each book is annotated.

TITLE AUTHOR DATE AGE LEVEL

Amelia's Road Linda Jacobs Altman 1993 Ages 7-9

Back Home Gloria Jean Pinkney 1992 Ages 4-8

Bat in the Dining Room Crescent Dragonwagon 1997 Ages 4-8

Batman:Exploring the World of Bats Laurence Pringle 1991 Ages 9-11

A Bear for All Seasons Diane Marcia] Fuchs 1995 Ages 3-7

A Blue Butterfly:A Story about Claude Monet Bijou Le Tord 1995 Ages 5-8

Bread Is for Eating David Gershator 1995 Ages 4-8

Calling the Doves/El Canto de las Palomas Juan Felipe Herrera 1995 Ages 4-8

The Circle of Thanks:Native American Poems Joseph Bruchac 1996 Ages 7-11 and older and Songs of Thanksgiving

Cocoa Ice Diana Applebaum 1997 Ages 5-9

Cuckoo:A Mexican Folktale/Cucii Lois Ehlert 1997 Ages 3-9

The Dancing Fox:Arctic Folktales John Bierhorst 1997 Ages 9-14 and older

The Days before Now:An Autobiographical Note Joan W. Blos, Adapter 1994 Ages 3-9 by Margaret Wise Brown

Dick King-Smith's Animal Friends:Thirty-One True Life Stories Dick King-Smith 1996 Ages 4-12

Diego Jonah Winter 1991 Ages 5-9

Diez Deditos/Ten Little Fingers and Other Play Rhymes Jose-Luis Orozco 1997 Babies-age 8, adults and Action Songs from Latin America

Dolphin Man:Exploring the World of Dolphins Laurence Pringle 1995 Ages 7-11

Dreamcatcher Audrey Osofsky 1992 Ages 4-9

Earth, Fire, Water, Air Mary Hoffman 1995 Ages 8-14

Extra Cheese, Please! Mozzarella's Journey from Cow to Pizza Cris Peterson 1994 Ages 5-8

Farmer's Market Paul Brett Johnson 1997 Ages 4-7

Fire in the Forest:A Cycle of Growth and Renewal Laurence Pringle 1995 Ages 7-11

Gathering the Sun:An Alphabet in Spanish and English Alma Flor Ada 1997 Ages 5-10

Global Warming Laurence Pringle 1990 Ages 7-10 99 The Golden Lion Tamarin Comes Home George Ancona 1994 Ages 7-11

Harlem:A Poem Walter Dean Myers 1997 Age 12 and older

Hattie and the Wild Waves:A Story from Brooklyn Barbara Cooney 1990 Ages 6-9

lbe Heart of the Wood Marguerite W. Davol 1992 Ages 3-8

Here Comes the Mail Gloria Skurzynski 1992 Ages 4-8

Home Place Crescent Dragonwagon 1990 Ages 7-10

Hopscotch around the World Mary D. Lankford 1992 Ages 6-9

Kodomo: Children of Japan Susan Kuklin 1995 Ages 5-11

Laura Loves Horses Joan Hewett 1990 Ages 4-9

Luka's Quilt Georgia Guback 1994 Ages 4-8

Mac & Marie & the Train Toss Surprise Elizabeth Fitzgerald 1993 Ages 5-8 Howard

Marven of the Great North Woods Kathryn Lasky 1997 Ages 6-9 and older

Meet Danitra Brown Nikki Grimes 1994 Ages 7-10

Moon Festival Ching Yeung Russell 1997 Ages 6-9

The Most Beautiful Roof in the World: Kathryn Lasky 1997 Ages 7-11 and older Exploring the Rainforest Canopy

My Mexico/Mexico Mio Tony Johnston 1996 Ages 5-8

Nana's Birthday Party Amy Hest 1993 Ages 4-8

Night Driving John Coy 1996 Ages 4-8

Our House:The Stories of Levittown Pam Conrad 1995 Ages 9-12 and older

Our Journey from Tibet:Based on a True Story Laurie Dolphin 1997 Ages 9-12 and older

Pueblo Storyteller Diane Hoyt-Goldsmith 1991 Ages 6-10

Quilted Landscape:Conversations with Young Immigrants Yale Strom 1996 Ages 11-14 and older

The Sacred Harvest: Ojibway Wild Rice Gathering Gordon Regguinti 1992 Ages 7-13

Sami and the Time of the Troubles Florence Parry Heide 1992 Ages 8-11 and Judith Heide GiHiland

Senor Cat's Romance and Other Favorite Stories Lucia M. Gonzalez 1997 Ages 4-11 from Latin America

100 9 9 Sitti's Secrets Naomi Shihab Nye 1994 Ages 6-10

TaxilTaxi! Cad Best 1994 Ages 4-8

The Third Planet Exploring the Earth from Space Sally Ride 1994 Ages 7-11 and Tam O'Shaughnessy

Tree of Cranes Allen Say 1991 Ages 5-7

Tunnels,Tracks, and Trains:Building a Subway Joan Hewett 1995 Ages 7-10

Turtle Bay Saviour Pirotta 1997 Ages 5-8

V for Vanishing; An Alphabet of Endangered Animals Patricia Mullins 1994 Ages 5-10

The Whispering Cloth Pegi Deitz Shea 1995 Ages 7-11

Children's Trade Books with People, Places, and Environments as a Third Thematic Strand The title index on pp. 173-180 lists the number of the page on which each book is annotated.

Abuela's Weave Omar S. Castaneda 1993 Ages 6-9

Alphabet City Stephen T.Johnson 1995 Ages 3-6

At the Beach Huy Voun Lee 1994 Ages 6-10

Be Patient, Abdul Dolores Sandoval 1996 Ages 5-7

Bravo,Tanya Patricia Lee Gauch 1992 Ages 4-7

Chicken Soup Boots Maria Kalman 1993 Ages 4-8

Christmas in the Big House, Christmas in the Quarters Patricia C. and 1994 Ages 8-13 and older Fredrick L McKissack

Clambake:A Wampanoag Tradition Russell M. Peters 1992 Ages 7-13

Down the Road Alice Schertle 1995 Ages 4-7

End of Winter Sharon Chmielarz 1992 Ages 6-9

Faith Ringgold and Frida Kahlo Robyn Montana Turner 1993 Ages 7-12

Father's Rubber Shoes Yumi Heo 1995 Ages 4-8

Four Seasons of Corn:A Winnebago Tradition Sally M. Hunter 1996 Ages 7-11

The Gift of Changing Woman Tryntje Van Ness Seymour 1993 Ages 9-14 and older

Grandaddy's Stars Helen V. Griffith 1995 Ages 6-8

Grandmother Bryant's Pocket Jacqueline Brigs Martin 1996 Ages 5-7

101 Homeplace Anne Shelby 1995 Ages 4-8 and older

Life around the Lake: Embroideries by the Maricel E. Presilla 1996 Ages 9-12 and older Women of Lake Patcuaro and Gloria Soto

My Mama Had a Dancing Heart Libba Moore Gray 1995 Ages 7-10

Mayeros: A Yucatec Maya Family George Ancona 1997 Ages 7-11

Patrick Desjarlait Conversations with a Native American Artist Neva Williams 1995 Ages 8-14 and older

Serena Kat Charlotte Pomerantz 1992 Ages 4-7

Songs from the Loom:A Navajo Girl Learns to Weave Monty Roessel 1995 Ages 7-11

Sugaring Season: Making Maple Syrup Diane LBurns 1990 Ages 6-10

Visions: Stories about Women Artists Leslie Sills 1993 Ages 9-14 and older

Wearing a California Tradition:A Native American Basketmaker Linda Yamane 1996 Ages 7-11

What a Wonderful World Ashley Bryan, illustrator 1995 Ages 2-8

Working Cotton Sher ley Anne Williams 1992 Ages 6-9

101 102 CHAPTHER EOGE-01T CHILDREN'S TRADE BOOKSwrm INDIVIDUAL DEVELOPMENT AND IDENTITY ASTHE MAJOR THEMATIC STRAND

ALL THE LIGHTS IN THE NIGHT weaverssymbols that incorporate elements of Mayan Arthur A Levine Illustrated byJames E. Ransome. (Tambourine spiritual beliefs and traditions into weaving. Angela's sam- 1991)32 pages.ISBN:0-688-10107-0.Level:Ages .5-9. pler must also reflect her ability to weave these symbols Mter the tsar spreads word that the Jews are responsible and their meaningsinto an original, unified pattern, a for the country's poverty an ugly mood overwhelms a pattern inspired by a dream. Only when Angela has mas- Russian village just before Hanukkah begins. Just in time, tered the technique and dreamed her first weaver's dream a family receives a letter containing what it thinks will be is she ready to make her first sampler. Accompanying a adequate money for Moses and Benjamin to join their text that describes the years of Angela's education as a older brOther in Palestine. As they travel, the lonely boys weaver are well-captioned photographs showing Angela use their grandmother's brass lamp to gain needed com- and other weavers at work, and lovely up-dose looks at fort, to sustain their faith, and, fmally, to secure passage Mayan weavings. A welcome, well-written glossary of for the fmal leg of their perilous journey Oil paintings terms relating to weaving and other facets of Angela's life reproduced in full color illustrate a story based on the experi- is also provided. ences in 1914of the author's grandfather and great-unde. 00 000 ARTIST IN OVERALLS:THE LIFE OF GRANT AMELIA'S ROAD WOOD Linda Jacobs Altmanillustrated by Enrique 0.Sanchez (Lee & John Duggleby.(Chronicle1996) 56 pages.ISBN:0-8118-1242-1. Low,1993) 32 pages.ISBN:1-880000-04-0.LevekAges 7-9. Level:Ages 9-14 and older. A young child living in a Mexican migrant family hates Although Grant Wood's 'American Gothic" is known "the road," which to her symbolizes another round of throughout the world, little or nothing about the art- backbreaking work, degradation, and insecurity. More ist who painted it has been written for children prior than anything else she would like to feel a sense of be- to now. This biography is worthy of attention. It in- longing in one place, but it is unlikely that will ever hap- cludes more than a dozen reproductions of his works pen. Then she discovers the "accidental road," an over- in full color and several black-and-white photographs grown path that leads to a place no one else frequents, of other works and of Wood himself. The conversa- and she daims it for her own. This poignant yet realistic tional tone of the narrative will engage readers in find- story of a plucky young girl who comes up with her own ing out about the Iowa artist who elevated the places solution to a problem is stunningly illustrated with full- and people around him in his paintings during a time color acrylic paintings. when the style of art called Regionalism had not 000 reached a respected status. Source documentation and an index should have been included in this wonder- ANGELA WEAVES A DREAM:THE STORY OF A fully designed book, which is, otherwise, exemplary. YOUNG MAYA ARTIST 000 Michelle Sold. Photographs byleffrey.lay (Hyperion,1997) 47 pages.ISBN: 0-7868-2060-8. Level:Ages 8-11. AUNT FLOSSIE'S HATS (AND CRAB CAKES LATER) From the time she was a small child, Angela has been learn- Elizabeth Fitzgerald Howard. Illustrated by James E. ing the skills of a weaver. Now this young Mayan girl has Ransome. (Clarion Books, 1991) 32 pages. ISBN: 0-395- prepared her first sampler and is about to enter it in a weav- 54682-6. Level:Ages 4-9. ing competition. But it is far more than technical expertise Susan and her sister Sarah love to visit their Great Aunt on which Angela will be judged. Angela's work must show Flossie's house each Sunday afternoon because Aunt she understands the seven sacred designs of San Andreas Flossie lives in "a house crowded full of stuff and

103 things." The sisters are particularly intrigued with Aunt BATMAN: EXPLORING THE WORLD OF BATS Flossie's collection of hatsshe has savedevery hat Laurence Pringle. Photographs by Merlin Tuttle. (Charles she has ever owned and each one reminds her ofa Scribner's Sons,1991) 42 pages. ISBN: 0-684-19232-2. Level: story from her past. Ransome's elegant oil paintings Ages 9-11. move easily from the present to the past as he illus- Bats, constituting nearly one-quarter of all mammals on trates Aunt Flossie's stories, as well as the context in earth, are often maligned and feared as revolting pests. which she is telling them. A skillfuluse of dialogue Beginning in high school, Merlin Tuttle, an internation- aptly portrays a strong intergenerational relationship ally recognized bat expert, devoted his life to the study in an African American family. of bats, and later to increasing human understanding of 00 . bat characteristics, behaviors, and their contributionsto the ecosystem. Tuttle trains bats to come when called BACK HOME and to respond to simple hand signals, demonstrating Gloria Jean Pinkney.Illustrated by leny Pinkney.(Dia1,1992)40 their amazing intelligence. Human threats to batpopu- pageOSBN:0-8037-1168-9. Level:Ages 4-8. lations are discussed and the formation and continuing Eight-year-old Ernestine travels south by train fora efforts of Bat Conservation International's protection mid-twentieth century summer visit with relatives in program is outlined. Striking dear color photographs of rural North Carolina. Except for Cousin Jack'steas- several species of bats help to promote glade's goal of ing, she immediately feels at home in her mother's seeing bats as the unique, appealing creatures they are. childhood environs. Ernestine tries to overlook Jack's 00 condescending attitude while exploring the farm, learning about its animals, visiting a familycemetery, A BEAR FOR ALL SEASONS and seeing the house where shewas born. Period de- Diane Marcial Fuchs.Illustrated by Kathryn Brown. (Henry Hok tails support the text and can also be found in house- 1995)32 pages.ISBN:0-8050-2139-6.Level:Ages3-Z hold objects, clothing, and vehiclesso faithfully pic- Drowsy Bear is ready to snuggle beneath a thick quilt for tured in Pinkney's luminous illustrations created with the winter when Fox appears at the door, full ofenergy pencil, Colored pencils, and watercolor. Heritage, and ready to discuss the merits of the seasons. Agreeable memory, renewal, and family ties are linked in a strong Bear remembers why he enjoys each one in a fluid text vignette about an African American family'swarm with pleasant repetitions. "Are you sure?" Fox always asks, welcome to their city relative. because he can only recall the problems a seasonpre- 000 sents: mud, mosquitoes, and chilly winds. Bear decides that "The company of a good friend is what I love best BAT IN THE DINING ROOM no matter what the season." Hilarious images of big Crescent Dragonwagonillustrated by S.D.Schindler. (Marshall Bear's hairy front sticking out of his vest and bathrobe Cavendish,1997) 32 pages.ISBN:0-7614-5007-6. Level: Ages 4-8. are just one aspect of the comical pictures that show how Pandemonium breaks out when a batswoops into a Bear enjoys himself and Fox doesn't. Brown uses water- hotel restaurant. While the staff triesto keep the cus- colors and color pencil to create the cheerful pictures of tomers calm, young Melissa imagines what the situa- two congenial woodland gents at ease. tion must feel like to the bat. Her empathy and quick 00 thinking help her to figure out just whatto do to help the bat fmd its way back outside. Schindler's colored BEIN' WITH YOU THIS WAY pencil and watercolor illustrations humorously show Nikola-Lisallustrated by Michael Bryant (Lee& Low,1994) 32 the contrast between the panic-stricken diners and pages.1SBN:1-880000-05-9.Level:Ages 3-6. quiet, observant Melissa. A rhyming, patterned text celebrates human diversity 00 with an otherwise straightforward series of observations about physical differences. Energetic watercolor and colored pencil illustrations show children of various colors and sizes at play in a busy city park. 0

104 103 BILLY THE GREAT BROWN HONEY IN BROOMWHEAT TEA Rosa Guy Illustrated by Caroline Binch.(Delacorte1992) 32 Joyce Carol Thomas.Illustrated by Floyd Cooper. (HarperCollins, pages.ISBN: 0-385-30666-0. Level:Ages 4-8. 1993)32 pages.I.S811:0-06-021088-5. Level:Ages 5-10. From the time he was a baby, Billy's parents have had African American experience is depicted in twelve big plans for his future. When Billy was six, ten-year original poems that exquisitely express feelings of old Rod moved in next door. Billy's parents think Rod pride, joy, love, wonder, sorrow, and hope, and deli- plays too roughly and they are wary of Rod's dad be- cately extract and magnify moments imbedded in ev- cause he's a truck driver with broad shoulders and tat- eryday life. "I spring up from mother earth/She toos on his arms. But Billy thinks Rod is wonderful! clothed me in her own colors /I was nourished by fa- After all, Rod always treats him like a big kid and ther sun/He glazed the pottery of my skin," begins teaches him how to do a handstand after just three the affirming opening poem, "Cherish Me." The sim- tries. This appealing picture story deals with the issue plest gestures take on the significance of ritual in of class prejudice in an urban British neighborhood. "Mama": "She bows to the plant for permission / Binch's marvelous watercolor paintings of Billy (who Prunes a small twig/Carries it like a healing flower / is black) from babyhood through young childhood Over and over the rising road." "Family Tree" mourns capture the childlike energy and openness that make loses of the past: "This forest down by the blue-green him truly great. water/ That first separated us/Mother from son /Fa- 0 0 ther from daughter/Sister from sister. .. Ilook across water/And cry for our trembling/Family tree," while THE BLUSHFUL HIPPOPOTAMUS the title poem, speaking of the present, cautions, Chris Raschka.(Orchard1996)32 pages.ISBN:0-531-09532-0. "There are those who /Have brewed a /Bitter potion Level:Ages2-5. for/Children kissed long by the sun." The final offer- When Roosevelt, a baby hippopotamus, gets things ing, "Becoming the Tea," assures that "like the steep- wrong (as he often does), his older sister is always standing brew /The longer I stand/ The stronger I stay." ing by to point out his mistakes. "Are you blushing again, Cooper's intimate paintings warmly reflect and extend baby brother?" she asks him, looming large, and he usu- the theme of the text. Steeped in tones of brown, rust, ally is. He turns pink with embarrassment whenever and gold, they are themselves a celebration of African she teases him. Lombard, Roosevelt's feathered friend, American life. restores his ego by assuring him he's not blushful; he's 000 "hopeful, mindful, thoughtful, skillful and wonderful." With every positive adjective, Roosevelt's sister gets a CALVIN'S CHRISTMAS WISH little smaller and the background color gets a little less Calvin Milesillustrated by Dolores Johnson. (Viking,1993) 32 pink. Raschka excels at reinforcing meaning with subtle pages.ISBN:0-670-84295-8. Level:Ages 5-8. changes in shape and color. While cutting a fresh tree, collecting holly, and gath- 0 ering pine cones for decorations, Calvin and his sister imagine what Santa will bring, even though Calvin BRAVO,TANYA not only suspects there is no Santa but also thinks that Patricia Lee Gauch.fflustrated by Satomi Ichikawa. (Philomel, his family cannot afford a bike. This first-person story 1992)32 pages. ISM 0-399-22145-XLevel:Ages 4-7. about a memorable Christmas during the 1950s in The star of DANCE, TANYA (Philomel,1989)still rural North Carolina suggests that a strong sense of loves to dance and now she's old enough to attend family can be more important than having things, no ballet dasses as a bonafide member. But she finds that matter how much one wants a specific bicycle with dancing is hard work and, though she manages to keep all the extras. The author is inspirational in telling his up with her classmates, she still prefers dancing out- own story of how he studied with Literacy Volunteers doors to the music in her head. Ichikawa's softly col- at age 39 to learn to read and write. Full-color paint- ored illustrations capture the exuberance and enthu- ings provide period and regional detail and bring the siasm of an energetic child who loves to dance. autobiographical African American characters to life 000 in this 81/4 by 101/4 in. picture book. 0 0 104 105 CLAMBAKE: A WAMPANOAG TRADITION the new American Ballet Theatre performanceof "Swan Russell M. Peters.Photographs by John Madama.(Lemer,1992) Lake." Gregory's commentary brings readersdown-to- 48 pages.ISBN:0-8225-2651-4.Level:Ages 7-13. earth elements of ballet dancers typicallyseen by audi- One of the first titles in an excellent new series about the ences as "perfect creatures who seem to float and fly with observance of tribal traditions bycontemporary Native no effort at all." children features a Wampanoag boy in Plymouth,Mas- 000 sachusetts. Twelve-year-old Steven learns thetraditions of the appanaug (clambake) from hisgrandfather who DEAR BEAR has been selected as the "bakemaster" for this special cer- Joanna Harrison. (Carolrhoda,1994) 32 pages.ISBN: 0-87614- emony to honor an important person in the tribe. Both 839-9.Level:Ages 4-8. the text and the color photographsreinforce Steven's Katieis afraid of the bear she imagines living in the closet sense of pride in his heritage, his closeness to family and under the stairs, so hermom suggests she write him a friends, and his great respect for his elders and the knowl- letter telling him to goaway. Thus begins an engaging edge they share with him. correspondence between the two and, aftera series of 000 letters, Katie is no longer afraid. In fact, sheis anxious to meet the bear, who turns out to be a lonely teddy. Per- CLOUDS FOR DINNER ceptive readers will no doubt realize that Katie'sparents Lynne Rae Perkins. (Greenwillow,1997) 32 pages.ISBN:0-688- are behind it all, helping to channel Katie's imagination 14903-0.Level:Ages 4-8. along a more positive route. Inany case, it all works, Growing up in an unconventional family, Janet is certain thanks to Harrison's adept use of illustrationsto show her life would be better if her parents were ordinary like Katie's mental images of the bear growing friendlierwith her Aunt Peppy and Uncle Tim. Whenshe spends the each turn of the page. weekend at her cousins' house, she admiresthe predict- 00 able routine of their daily life, especially thefact that they all sit around a table to eat threesquare meals a day Janet DIGBY romanticizes every mundane detail of AuntPeppy's Barbara Shook Hazen.Illustrated by Barbara J.Phillips-Duke.(An household, from her constantly ringing telephoneto her I Can Read Book) (HarperCollins,1997) 32 pages.ISBN:0-06- recliner chair, and she voices her desireto live with her 026253-2.Level:Ages 4-6. all the time. "Kids always think that about their aunts," A small brown-skinned boy learns from his oldersister Aunt Peppy assures her. But when Janet witnesses a natu- that even though their dog can'trun and jump and play ral wonder early one morning while she's still at her aunt's ball like she once did, Digbycan still be a wonderful friend. house, she realizes that it is her poetic mother who will This text depicts a warm sibling relationship andis per- appreciate her account of it. Perkins's gentle story fect for beginning readers, with short, simplesentences grounded in psychological truth, is enlivened with and colorful illustrations that distinguish whichchild is touches of realistic humor in both thetext and the de- speaking on each page. 00tailed watercolor illustrations. 0 DOLPHIN MAN: EXPLORING THE WORLDOF CYNTHIA GREGORY DANCES SWANLAKE DOLPHINS Cynthia Gregory. Photographs by Martha Swope. (Simon and Laurence Pringle.Photographs by Randall S.Wells. (Atheneum, Schuster Books forYoung Readers,1990) 48 pages.ISBN: 0-671- 1995)41 pages.ISBN:0-689-80299-4. Level:Ages 7-11. 68786-7.Level:Ages 5-11. The fifth volume in Pringle's series aboutcontemporary Readers literally peer backstage and beyond during one biologists at work focuses on the life and workof Randy day of a working ballerina's career. In full-color photo- Wells, manager of the Marine MammalResearch Pro- graphs and Gregory's words, they glimpseher participat- gram based in Sarasota, Florida. Accompanied by color ing in a morning ballet class, meeting the wardrobe mis- photographs, a concise text describes these scientists'day- tress for a final costume fitting, giving a telephone inter- to-day work, in addition to what their researchhas taught view to a dance critic, rehearsing for the evening perfor- them about the free-ranging dolphincommunity mance, taking advantage of opportunities to be home with 000 her family, getting readyto go onstage, and celebrating 106 105 DOWN THE ROAD justice and peace within the nation and beyond. They Alice Schertlalustrated by E B. Lewis. (Browndeer / Harcourt have to interpret the social dimensions of the times Bracg,1995) 40 pages.ISBN:0-15-276622-7. Level:Ages 4-Z when Eleanor was young, during World War II, and Hetty's first solo errand is to walk down the country road while the United Nations was a fledgling organization. to the store to buy a dozen eggs and carry them safely They have to picture some of the ways she exempli- back home. Solemn with responsibility, Hetty walks very fied and championed racial equity while segregation carefully both ways and almost makes it home without still dominated public and private life. Freedman met breaking a single egg until she happens on an apple tree these challenges through skillful organization of an bearing ripe delicious fruit. This enchanting story of a abundance of material, a thoughtful selection of per- contemporary African American rural family is well sonal details, and a compelling prose narrative. His matched with Lewis's sun-dappled watercolor illustra- account presents documented facts and emotional tions that brilliantly capture the determination of a young truths to bring this dynamic, principled woman to life. girl out to prove herself. An abundance of black-and-white archival photo- 000 graphs, material about Eleanor's personal home at Val- Kill, and Freedman's well-developed bibliographic es- ELEANOR say about materials written for adults also distinguish Barbara Cooney. (Viking,1996) 40 pages.ISBN:0-670-86159-6. this splendid biography. Level:Ages 7-10. 000 Powerful visual design and skillfully understated text combine to introduce young readers to Eleanor Roosevelt EMILY before she became one of the most influential women Michael Bedard. Illustrated by Barbara Cooney. (Doubleday, of the twentieth century In paintings that brilliantly echo 1992)38 pages.ISBN:0-385-30697-0.Level:Ages5-8. the emotional tenor of the story while capturing asense A small girl, fearful and yet fascinated by the reclusive of the time and place in which she lived and the eco- woman who lives in the yellow house across the street nomically privileged dass to which she belonged, Eleanor from her, asks to go along with her mother when she is is pictured as a small, almost incidental figure in many of invited to come play the piano for "the Mystery" Al- the illustrations. It is the way she felt while growing up, though the shy hostess never shows herself during their but when she leaves her family and America to attend visit, the child creeps up the stairs and encounters her boarding school in England at the age of fifteen, Eleanor sitting on a chair in the upstairs corridor. A lyrical story, begins a transformation. Under the guidance of her head- based on an imagined meeting between Emily Dickinson mistress and mentor, Mademoiselle Souvestre, and in the and a neighbor child, is exquisitely illustrated with softly loving, supportive, challenging atmosphere that her textured acrylic and pastel paintings on China silk. school, Allenwood, provides, she gains assuredness and self-esteem. "Mlle. Souvestre had opened the world to Eleanor." And Eleanor had opened herself to the world, FATHER AND SON as Cooney's paintings reflect, carrying herself with dig- Denize Lauturalustrated by.lonathan Green. (Philomel,1992) nity into whatever the future would bring. 32 pages.ISBN: 0-399-21867-X.Level:Ages 4-9. 00 A new understanding of a fundamental relationship springs from the brevity of one poem and its unity ELEANOR ROOSEVELT:A LIFE OF DISCOVERY with oil paintings that illustrate each of its lines. Speci- Russell Freedman. (Clarion,1993)198 pages.ISBN:0-89919-862- ficity of setting and race are balanced by the universal LevekAges 9-14 and older. theme expressed in this elegant full-color picture book. Eleanor Roosevelt's biographers are challenged toun- The poet's dedication statement emphasizes the re- fold how her interests and opinions affected her sponsibility of "ever decent man" to the children of husband's administration between 1932and 1945and today: "The shadow of one / Touching / The shadow how her example created a new image both of the of the other." Lauture is a native of rural Haiti whose First Lady and of women in general. They must show works appear in three languages; this book represents Eleanor's evolution from uncertain child into the the first work for children by this poet and artist. woman whose public leadership became a force for 00

106 107 GEORGIA O'KEEFFE GINGERBREAD DAYS Linda Loweryfflustrated by Rochelle Draper(Carolrhoda,1996) Joyce Carol Thornasillustrated by Floyd Cooper. (Joanna Cotler 47 pages.ISBN: 0-87614-860-7. Level:Ages 6-8. Books/ HarperCollins,1995) 32 pages.ISBN: 0-06-023469-5. "Georgia O'Keeffe held the bone up high. She peered Level:Ages 3-7. through the hole in the middle." Lowery's uncomplicated From a "gingered" January to a firelit December, a prose captures the spirit of O'Keeffe's life and art in this boy experiences who he is: a beloved son and grand- welcome biography for young readers. As an art student, son, a unique individual, and a proud young man of O'Keeffe, who was born in Sun Prairie, Wisconsin,was African American heritage. In January, Grandma tells skilled at pleasing others, but it wasn't until she decided the boy that the gingerbread man looks just like him. to draw to please herself that her true talent and vision During August, "Grandpa spreads a pallet / stitched began to emerge. Color illustrations depicting O'Keeffe, with Buffalo Soldiers /for a bed rOklahoma cowboys,' her friends and companions, and her artappear on each he says, /With a dark man at the head.'" And in De- double-page spread of this profile that emphasizes her cember, Daddy's "chapped hands are brave /With fulfillment as an artist and her singularcareer. work/ Rough with knowing/How to keep a family 0 0 from freezing/ How to keep a young mind growing." Cooper's paintings and Thomas's poems form a pic- GEORGIA O'KEEFFE ture-book companion to their earlier collection fea- Robyn Montana Turner. (Littl4 Brown & Co.,1991) 32pages. turing a girl, BROWN HONEY IN BROOMWHEAT ISBN:0-316-856495-7.Level:Ages 7-12. TEA (HarperCollins, 1993). Biographical details about O'Keeffe's childhood in Sun 0 0 Prairie, Wisconsin, adolescence in Chatham, Virginia, and adulthood in New York City and New Mexicoare woven GREAT WOMEN IN THE STRUGGLE into a fine introduction to her art. Thmer stresses lifeevents Toyomi Igus,editor.(Just Us Books,1991)107 pages.ISBN:0- that influenced the development of O'Keeffe's distinctive 940975-27-0.Level:Age 7 and older. style and unique vision, in addition to her strugglesto prove The accomplishments of eighty-four African and Af- herself as an artist in a world that did not welcomecre- rican American women from past centuries and ative women. Several of O'Keeffe's most famous paint- present decades are chronicled in eighty-four inspir- ings are reproduced in full color to illustrate the range of ing, straight-forward paragraphs, each illustrated with her artistic ingenuity a black-and-white photographic or hand-rendered 000 portrait. Chapter headings convey the import and spirit of their achievements: Freedom Fighters THE GIFT OF CHANGING WOMAN Breaking Down Barriers, EducatorsBuilding Strong TryntjeVan Ness Seymour:Illustrated by Apache artists. (Henry Foundations, Writers & Fine ArtistsThe Power of Holt,1993) 38 pages.ISBN:0-8050-2577-4.Level: Ages 9-14 and Creativity, Performing ArtistsBearing Witness older. Through Self-Expression, AthletesThe Spirit of A coming of age ritual that transforms Apache girls into Champions, EntrepreneursTaking Care of Business, women is the focus of an unusual book respectfully writ- Lawyers & Policy MakersForging Equal Justice, and ten by a non-Native woman with the permission, coop- Scientists & HealersExploring Without Boundaries. eration, and approval of Apache elders. Although the first An African American historical chronology, a bibliog- two days of the ceremony are private and sacred (and raphy of related children's books, an index, andsource are not described in the book for this reason), the last notes for quoted material enrich this book for read- two days consist of a public celebration. First-person ac- ing, reference, and reflection. counts by Apache women recalling details of their own 0 0 ceremonies and explanations of ritual meaning by Apache medicine man Philip Cassadore are woven together with HAIRS / PELITOS a straightforward narrative by the author who has been Sandra Cisneros. illustrated byTerryYbanez (Apple Soup/Alfred an invited guest at many of the ceremonies. Visual inter- AKnopf,1994) 32 pages.ISBN:0-679-96171-2. Level:Ages3-7. pretations of the proceedings by ten Apache artists add A young Latino lyrically describes the hair ofevery 000another layer of authenticity member of her family, as each is distinctively unique. 108 167 She especially delights in her mama's hair, which has HOW MY FAMILY LIVES IN AMERICA "the warm smell of bread before you bake it /...the Susan Kuklin. (Bradbuty,1992) 32 pages.ISBN:0-02-751239-8. smell when she makes room for you on her side of Level:Ages 4-7. the bed." This eloquently spare celebration of differ- Three young children whose parents immigrated to the ences within one close-knit, loving family first ap- United States (from Senegal, Puerto Rico, and Taiwan) are peared as a short chapter in Cisneros' adult novella featured in this appealing photo-essay that allows the chil- House On Mango Street. For this picture-book edition dren to speak for themselves about what they are learning the text is printed in Spanish and English and the strik- from their parents and grandparents. In an author's note ing illustrations playfully extend the theme of indi- at the end of the book, Kuklin explains her intention: "To viduality show how families impart a sense of identity to their young 0 children." The book condudes with a simple recipe from each child's culture. HATTIE AND THE WILD WAVES:A STORY FROM 000 BROOKLYN Barbara Cooney. (Viking,1990) 40 pages.ISBN: 0-670-83056-9. HOW YOU WERE BORN Level:Ages 6-9. Joanna Cole Photographs by Margaret Miller. (Morrow,1993) Little Hattie always loved painting. Every experience 48 pages.ISBN: 0-688-12060-1. Level:Ages3-6. gave her new images to put into her pictures. The spe- "Before you were born, you grew in a special place in- cific details of a German-born family's increasing side your mother's body called her uterus, or womb." luxury on the East Coast a century agoare meticu- Written with simple, direct language, Cole's book for lously recorded in full-color paintings. Hattie's in-born parents to share with children was designed to help an- vocation is expressed through her developing sense of swer the question "Where did I come from?" Cole ex- independence and individuality as a privileged woman plains the biological aspects of reproduction and fetal living in a time when sheer will is required to listento development with the help of simple drawings showing one's heart... and to the wild waves which represent the union of an ovum and sperm and remarkable photo- Hattie's inner turmoil. graphs taken inside the womb. The happiness and ex- 000 citement parents feel over a child's birth is also discussed, accompanied by color photographs showing parents pre- HOW I WAS ADOPTED paring for and then celebrating the arrival of a child. This Joanna Colalustrated by Maxie Chambliss.(Morrow,1995)48 newly revised and updated edition shows parents and pages.ISBN:0-688-11930-1. Level:Ages3-7. babies of diverse racial backgrounds and firmly estab- In what is undoubtedly one of the most upbeat and lishes the importance of the one special child with whom positive books for young children about adoption,an the book is being shared. outgoing little girl named Samantha tells the straight- 0 forward story of how she was adopted. Cole's simple first-person text moves back and forth betweengen- I AM A JESSE WHITE TUMBLER eral and specific, sometimes pausing to directa ques- Diane Schmidt. (Albert Whitman,1990)40 pages. ISBN: 0-8075- tion at the reader ("Do you know how oldyou were 3444-7. Level: Ages 7-12 when you were adopted?"). Engaging watercolor il- Kenyon Conner tells about being a member of the Chi- lustrations suggest a biracial protagonist,as well as an cago-based tumbling team. The combination of personal interracial extended family. In a five-page "Note to discipline, tumbling expertise, team cooperation, and Families" at the book's opening, the author givesgen- showmanship requited of all Jesse White Tumblers is eral information about answering children's questions dear in thirty-four color photographs showing the inter- in addition to suggestions for extending the text to nationally respected Tumblers performing at city neigh- encourage family discussion about adoption. borhood events as well as in metropolitan arenas. 000 Kenyon's upbeat awareness of the far-reaching impact of team activity for his life and for others developsan important dimension of an absorbing 81/4 x 9 in. 000photodocumentary book. 108 109 I HAD A LOT OF WISHES I'LL SEE YOU IN MY DREAMS James Stevenson. (Greenwillow,1995) 32 pages. ISBN: 0-688- Mavis Jukes.fflustrated by Stacey Schuett. (Alfred A Knopf,1993) 13706-Z Level: Ages 10 and older. 32 pages.ISBN:0-679-82690-4. Level:Ages 4-8. Stevenson's gentle, perceptive recollections of childhood A young girl contemplates how she will say goodbye to are brimming with the anticipation, disappointments, and her dying uncle in this original, sensitive short fiction satisfaction that all children know come with wishing for work about a child dealing with grief and loss. First, everything from the smallest of treasures to the biggest she imagines what she would do if she could: "If she of hopes. Delicate watercolor illustrations enhance the were a skywriter ... Across the face of the moon she'd intimacy of this autobiographical picture book thatwas writein silver letters: 'I love you.' And then: 'I'll see preceded by earlier memoirs, also published by you in my dreams. Later, she thinks about what it will Greenwillow, including WHEN I WAS NINE (1986), really be like when she goes to see him: "She would fly HIGHER ON THE DOOR (1987), July (1990), DON'T across the country on an airliner with a vapor trail be- YOU KNOW THERE'S A WAR ON? (1992), and FUN- hind ita 767 like her uncle used to fly" Ina brilliantly NO FUN (1994). styled and structured story, Jukes uses two simplesen- 0 tences firmly stated ("She was not a skywriter. She was a little kid.") to connect the first and second parts of I WANT TO BE the story like the fuselage connects the wings ofa plane. Thylias Mosaustrated by.leny Pinkney.(Dia1,1993) 32pages. Jukes uses conditionally stated action to placea slight ISBN:0-8037-1287-1. Level: Ages 3-6. temporal distance between the child and theover- A young African American girl ponders theanswer to whelming reality she is about to face, makinga diffi- the question "What do you want to be?" and her imagi- cult, frightening experience less threatening. Soft,ex- nation is alive with possibility: "I want to be big but not quisitely colored full-page illustrations enhance the so big that a mountain or a mosque or a synagogue seems warmth of this unique book. small. /I want to be strong but not so strong thata kite 0 0 seems weak." Each stirring dream is expressed in Moss's exquisite, sensual writing that sends the child's strands IMANI'S GIFT AT KWANZAA of thought soaring into a realm where anything ispos- Denise Burden-Patmon. Illustrated by Floyd Cooper. (Simon & sible, and then tethers them to concrete images that make Schuster,1992) 23 pages.ISBN:0-671-79841-3.Level:Ages3-8. what can only be imagined something tangible after all. While Imani's grandmother M'dear braids small red, Pinkney's illustrations, grounded in the writer's images, black, and green beads into her hair, they talk about are filled with movement, color, and light. the seven-day African American December celebration 0 they'll soon begin with family and friends. Imani looks forward to everything except being with Enna,a mean I WAS A TEENAGE PROFESSIONAL WRESTLER tease. How can Imani give formal Kwanzaa apprecia- Ted Lewin. (Orchard,1993)128 pages.158N: 0-531-05477-2. tion to Enna, one of the watoto (children) comingto Level:Ages 8-14. their home tonight? M'dear tells Imani that Enna hasn't Portrait of the Artist as a Young... pro wrestler? It's true! known much love: "She has had no one to believe in Before he ever signed a contract to illustratea children's her... totell her who she is and where she came book, Lewin was a teenage professional wrestler. Itwas from." Cooper's full-color illustrations show Kwanzaa a profession he came by naturally; he had a wrestler's build details and complement this warm story createdun- and his two older brothers, Mark and Donn,were in the der the auspices of the Children's Museum in Boston. business, as was his brother-in-law, Dangerous Danny A glossary defmes the fifteen Swahili words integrated McShain. But between matches, in lockermoms, and at ring- within the English text. The Seven Principlesare listed side, he was always sketching and painting pictures of the at the end of this durable paperback edition. other wrestlers. With humor and understanding, Lewin 000 gives us a first-hand look at the world of the professional wrestler back in the early 1950s. Numerous documentary black-and-white photographs and, of course, origi- 000nal sketches and oil paintings roundout the portrait. 1 u ii 110 IN DADDY'S ARMS I AM TALL:AFRICAN AMERI- JACQUES-HENRI LARTIGUE: BOY WITH A CAMERA CANS CELEBRATING FATHERS John Cech. (Four Winds Pres41994) 32 pages.ISBN:0-02- Javaka Steptoeillustrator(Lee & Low,1997) 32 pages.ISBN:1- 718136-7. Level:Ages 8-11. 880000-31-8.Level:Age 8 and older. Born in Paris in 1902, Jacques-Henri Lartigue got his Thirteen African American writers explore and cel- first camera when he was seven. "I know thatmany, ebrate Black fathers in a collection that is illustrated many things are going to ask me to have their pictures with power and distinction by artist Javaka Steptoe. taken and I will take them all," he wrote in his diary In poems that feel intensely personal at thesame time Young Lartigue's keen eye and innate sense of when they speak to broader cultural experiences, thepoets to click the shutter resulted in photographs that sus- write from the perspective of "child" in varying voices. pend movement and transcend time. He captured his Sometimes the choice is childlike and youthful and family and friends in the midst of action and forever filled with pride and delight, as in the titlepoem, "in froze the moment, creating images thatare humor- daddy's arms," by Folami Abiade or "Tickle Tickle" ous, exciting, and sometimes even eerie. Lartigue's by Dakari Hru; and sometimes it speaks straight from black-and-white photographs are the cornerstone of adulthood or echoes adult understanding ofa world a wholly approachable and engaging text telling about in which Black men face great struggle,as in Davida his early life and the pictures he took. Adedjoouma's 'Artist to Artist" or "The Things in 000 Black Men's Closets" by E. Ethelbert Miller. Collec- tively these works speak to dignity andgrace, com- KINAALDA: A NAVAJO GIRL GROWS UP fort and guidance, joy and heartbreak. Thepoems are Monty RoesseL(Lemer,1993)48 pages. ISBN:0-8225-2655-7. paired with singular collage illustrations by Steptoe. Level:Ages 7-11 and older. His artwork takes each poem to heart and to mind, Thirteen-year-old Celinda McKelvey is about to partici- revealing insights into the words and extending the pate in her Kinaalda, a Navajo coming-of-age ceremony emotional experience on every two-page spread. for girls. Over two days, with the support of her extended Steptoe used a wide range of media to create the col- family and friends, she will run arace, prepare a corncake lages, from torn paper and paint to found objects such to be baked in the earth, and stay up through the night as as sand, seeds, nails, and pennies. Like the words they traditional prayers are sung, all the while learningmore accompany, the illustrations are connected to life in a about the Navajo culture. Celinda's preparations for and way that is both immediate and revealing. participation in this important event are recorded through 0 0 documentary photographs and text that unite the history of the ceremony and the Navajo people with a girls' INSECTS ARE MY LIFE transition into womanhood. Megan McDonald Illustrated by Paul Brett Johnson. (Orchard, 000 1995)32 pages.ISBN:0-531-06874-9.Level:Ages 4-7. Amanda Frankenstein is a sturdy little girl with glasses KISSES FROM ROSA and a singular passion: "Insectsare my life," she tells Petra Withers. (Apple Soup/ Knopf,1995) 40 pages. ISBN: 0-679- everyone she meets, and indeed they are. 'When she's 82686-6.Level:Ages 4-8. not observing live bugs or collecting dead ones, she When Rosa's mother gets sick, Rosa issent to live with dreams of insects, and her obsessions sometimes relatives she barely knows: her Aunt Mookie and Cousin makes life difficult. With gentle humor stemming from Birgit who live on a farm in the Black Forest. Even skillful use of exaggeration, McDonald celebrates the though she misses her mother terribly, Rosasoon be- spirit of a young child bent on one particular interest gins to feel at home on the farm as she gets to know while Johnson's sunny illustrations perfectlycapture the people and animals around her, and she has her Amanda in her many moods. weekly letters from Marni to look forwardto. Mathers 0 has based the story on her own childhood experiences; she was often sent away while her mother struggled with tuberculosis. Her stylized gouache paintings skillfully express a combination of nostalgia, homesickness, and a childlike excitement at first-timeencounters. 0 0 LIVES OF THE ATHLETES:THRILLS, SPILLS (AND LOU GEHRIG: THE LUCKIEST MAN WHAT THE NEIGHBORS THOUGHT) David A. Adler. Illustrated byTerry Widener. (Gulliver/ Kathleen Krull. Illustrated by Kathryn Hewitt. (Harcourt, Harcourt Brace,1997) 32 pages. ISBN: 0-15-200523-4. Level: Brace,1997) 96 pages. ISBN:0-15-200806-3. Level:Ages 11- Ages 7-11 and older. 14 and older. Adler's picture-book biography deftly characterizes the Skater Sonja Henie found "a life without whirling was hard work and uncomplicated integrity that made 'colorless' and 'pointless. To prepare Jackie Robinson baseball player Lou Gehrig a man viewed with genu- for the racism and hostility he would face as the first ine respect and affection by his teammates and fans. black man to play in major league baseball, his team As a child, Gehrig didn't miss a day of school in eight manager and others jeered and staged ugly scenes. years. As an adult, "The boy who never missed a day When track-and-field superstar Wilma Rudolph first of grade school became a man who never missed a began speaking in public, "it scared her more than game." Gehrig fmally benched himself "for the good Olympic competition." These are just a few of the fas- of the team" when his play suffered from the as-yet- cinating tidbits that Krull has compiled for the latest undiagnosed amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS (to- "Lives of" book, in which she once again teams with day also known as Lou Gehrig's Disease). Adler also artist Kathryn Hewitt to provide offbeat looks at the writes of the dignity with which Gehrig faced death. lives of famous people. The short vignettes in this book "We have much to be thankful for," he would write in profile twenty athletes from a variety of sports. Krull cards to his friends at a time when the disease was has a gift for digging up interesting facts and condens- rapidly progressing. Accompanying Adler's under- ing them into a rapid-fire narrative that is guaranteed stated text are Widener's bold acrylic paintings. The to hold the attention of young readers, regardless of stylized art perfectly captures a feeling of the past at their interest in sports. the same time as it embraces Gehrig's humanity 00 0

LOVE LETTERS MAC & MARIE & THE TRAIN TOSS SURPRISE Amold Adoff Illustrated by Lisa Dersimini.(Blue Sky/Scholastic Elizabeth Fitzgerald Howard. Illustrated by Gail Gordon 1997)32 pages.ISBN:0-590-48478-8.Level:Ages 9-12. Carter. (Four Winds,1993) 32 pages. ISBN:0-02-744640-9. Moving through the worlds of school, home, and neigh- Level:Ages 5-8. borhood, twenty short poems from Adoff look at dass- Anticipation builds on a warm summer night long ago room crushes, playground romances, the essence of fam- as Mac and Marie wait eagerly for the Florida train mak- ily relationships, and more with humor and touching sin- ing its way north to rumble by the big house where they cerity. Each poem is structured as a love letter, complete live near Baltimore. Uncle Clem has a job on the train with salutation and closure. "Dear Playground Snow Girl" and has promised to toss them a surprise as it passes! Big begins one poem that is signed "Your Frozen Friend: / brother Mac isn't as fidgety as Marie, but even he has a Frosty the Snow Boy" Another that starts "Dear Teacher" hard time waiting. As the two children pass the time, and is written in the voice of a shy student doses with Mac dreams of the day when he, too, will work on the "Yours As a Mouse." The poems focusing on families railroad as a fireman or an engineer, traveling across the indude "Dear Gram:" in which a boy who loves his land. Skillfully paced text measures the waiting time per- grandmother's cookies condudes, "I am/even/full of fectly slowly building to the moment when the train fi- love /when all your/jars are empty" With illustrations nally approaches, and marking its passing in a rush of rendered in a variety of media, from torn paper and words that leaves the reader breathless. Afterwards, there found-object collage to painting to photographs, is Mac and Marie's discovery of Uncle Clem's package. Desimini has created a distinctive, dever work of art to The beautiful shell inside is a solid reminder to Mac of accompany each amusing, appealing poem. the places he will someday see. Lovely colored pencil and 0 watercolor illustrations by Carter illuminate the beauty and mystery of this midsummer night, and echo the warmth of the African American family's relationships 000depicted in the text.

112 1 1 MARY CASSATT dance across the pages of this 113/4 x 93/4 in. bookas he Robyn Montana Turner.(Little, Brown,1992) 32 pages.ISBN:0- skillfully and beautifully brings his vision of Minty'sstory 316-85650-9. Level:Ages 7-12 to life. "I rejected conventional art. I began to live." These words 0 0 by Mary Cassatt open a picture book biography about an American artist whose paintings and career broke new MIRETTE ON THE HIGH WIRE ground in the history of art and of women. Throughout Emily.Arnold McCul4r. (G. P Putnam's Sons,1992) 32 pages. ISBN: her career, Cassatt encountered many barriers because 0-399-22130-1.Level:Ages 6-9. she was female, but yet she preferred her art to the social Mirette works daily in her mother's boardinghouse do- life open to her through her family. Carefully reproduced ing laundry deaning, assisting in the kitchen, andrun- full-color paintings, well-written appreciative comments, ning errands. Most of the guests come from the enter- and an emphasis on life events influencing Cassatt'sar- tainment world, so someone finally recognizes the man tistic development mark this and Turner's other excel- who had wanted to take his meals alone in his seduded lent books about women artists published in1991,Rosa room. After seeing him balance himself on the clothes- Bonheur and Georgia O'Keeffe. line, Mirette begs the retired high-wire walker to teach 000 her that skill. "Once you start, your feetare never happy again on the ground," he tells the child who then prac- MEET DANITRA BROWN tices in secret. Nineteenth-century Paris is the setting for Nikki eimeilllustrat ed byFloyd Cooper(Lothroplee and Sheparct this full-color story about overcoming fear, taking risks, 1994) 32 pages.ISBN:0-688-12074-1.LeveMges 7-10. and establishing trust. Thirteen poems tell about the friendship of twoyoung 0 0 African American girls living in a city neighborhood. Title character Danitra Brown has a strongsense of heritage, MOTHER GAVE A SHOUT:POEMS BY WOMEN self, and self-respect, giving her a dynamicpresence. Her AND GIRLS best friend, Zuri Jackson, is shy and less confident, but it Susanna Steele and Morag Styles, editors.fflustrated by.lane Ray. is her narrative voice that carries each poem, the themes (Vokano Press,1991) 126 pages.ISBN:0-912078-90-1.Level: of which extend from their friendship and familiesto Ages 9-13 and older. growing up African American and female. Together, One hundred poems about identity, nature, women's Grimes's free-verse text and Cooper's warm-toned paint- work, dreaming, grandmothers, mothers, and daughters ings capture the moments of joy and moments of sad- are gathered from a wide range of traditional and con- ness that best friends share. temporary sources, featuring such poets as Maya 000 Angelou, Nikki Giovanni, Judy Grahn, Grace Nichols, Sylvia Plath, Sappho, Alice Walker, and Charlotte MINTY:THE STORY OF YOUNG HARRIET Zolotow. Exquisite black-and-white vignettes reinforce TUBMAN the multicultural focus and enhance the celebratory tone. Alan Schroeder. Illustrated by kny Pinkney. (Dia1,1996) 40 0 0 pages.ISBN:0-8037-1889-6. Level:Ages 7-10. "I'm gonna run away" the sad, angry Minty tells her MY BUDDY mother after the Missus throws herrag doll into the fire. AudreyOsofsky.illustrated byTed Rand.(HenryHolt,1992) 32 Later, after she is beaten by the overseer, theyoung girl pages.ISBN:0-8050-1747-X Level:Ages 4-9. who is a slave on a Maryland plantation tells herparents A wheelchair-mobile boy with muscular dystrophy feels once again that she will flee. Realizing their daughter's excited about getting his first service dog, a goldenre- determination, they subtly but deliberately beginto show triever named Buddy. After he undergoes two weeks of her things she will need to know to survive: howto find training at a special camp that teaches him how to com- her way north by moss on trees andone shining star, mand Buddy, he's ready to take the dog home and adjust how to swim a river, how to fmd food in the forest. to the differences Buddy makes in his life around the Schroeder's moving story never strays from what ispos- house, in school, and out in the neighborhood. Realistic sible in this fictional biography of the life ofyoung Harriet watercolor paintings illustrate this fine story about a spir- Tubman. Pinkney's full-color paintingsare rendered in ited young boy and his trusted companion. pencil, colored pencil, and watercolor. Light and dark 000 113 11 2 MY FELLOW AMERICANS:A FAMILY ALBUM Then my mama sings me the same soft blues her Alice Provensen.(Browndeer/ Harcourt Brace1995)61 pages. mama taught her. Low and slow, the wavery tune ISBN:0-15-276642-1. Level:Ages 5-14 and older. smoothes the warm sheets in my tiny room." A po- Provensen writes, "Like all families, my American fam- etic text describes the loving relationship between a ily has its rich uncles and poor relations, its atheists young African American boy and his single-parent and believers, its scoundrels and bigots, its gifted and mother, and the special role that music plays in their compassionate...these relatives are individuals, idio- lives. When the mother loses her job, she comes home syncratic and exceptional...somehow larger than too sad to sing, and in his need for reassurance the life and have come to represent our myths and leg- little boy imagines his own song to make his mother ends, our fantasies and foibles." A detailed table of happy again. Speidel's warm, colorful paintings fill contents, end pages with portraiture, and a fmal writ- many of the two-page spreads. In some instances, the ten narrative further embellish the hundreds of im- paintings make it difficult to read the words from a ages Provensen created using India ink and oil paint distance, but it will not detract from sharing this lyri- in this 113/4 x 113/4 in. text. The scope of hermonu- cally written picture book one on one. mental approach to interpreting the American Expe- 0 0 rience can be seen in Provensen's provocative organization of her material. The first four titles of her MY NAME IS MARIA ISABEL twenty-three album themes demonstrate this: Free Alma FlorAdallustrated by IC DybleThompson.(Atheneum, Spirits, Rebel Voices; Pilgrims and Puritans, Quakers 1993)57 pages.ISBN:0-689-31517-1. Level:Ages 7-9. and Shakers; Maverick Ministers, Guiding Lights; and "We already have two Marias in this class. Why don'twe Impassioned Fights for Freedom and Equal Rights. call you Mary instead?" So begins the first day ata new Sequoyah, "Native American Scholar," appears along school for nine-year-old Maria Isabel Salazar Lopez, who with Anne Sullivan as guiding lights. Little Big Man is is proud of her real name and the Puerto Rican family listed among the warriors and patriots. Margaret heritage it represents. Maria Isabel can't get used to the Sanger emerges with other radical reformers and hu- strange new name, Mary Lopez, but she is shy and doesn't manitarians, while J. Edgar Hoover is pictured with know how to tell her teacher. If that weren't enough, her villains and rogues, unnamed female moonshiners, and mother gets a job and is no longer at home when Maria celebrity hoodlums. Lassie shares a page with Mae Isabel finishes school each day. Maria Isabel's struggle to West and Jack Benny. Satchel Paige can be discovered, adapt to changes, and to find her voice, is at the center of and so can Gertrude Stein, Jim Henson, and George this inviting story exploring important issues of identity Washington. Like all albums, this treasury is worth and understanding. countless browsing hours by children of varyingages. 0 0 Although they and their adults will have varying opinions on the comparative importance, indusion, and/ NANA'S BIRTHDAY PARTY or exclusion of these "fellow Americans," all will be Amy HestIllustrated by AmySchwartz (Morrow,1993) 32 pages. stimulated to think, find out more, and maybeeven ISBN:0-688-07498-7.Level:Ages 4-8. create their own categories and lists. Every year just before her birthday, Nana posts a list 000 for her children and grandchildren regarding the family celebration: "No gum. No jeans. No presents (ex- MY MAMA SINGS cept those you make yourself)." And every year Jeanne Whitehouse Peterson. Illustrated by Sandra SpeideL Maggie and her cousin Brette compete with each other (HarperCollins,1994) 32 pages. ISM: 0-06-023859-3. Level: to see who can make the best gift. Maggie is good at Ages 4-7. writing stories and Brette is good at painting pictures, "My mama sings me no new songs. We get along with and just when the competition is becoming unbear- used tunes from the radio, and hymns she learned with able for both girls, they decide to collaborate and make the Harmony Choir....She has one song for when the best present ever. Schwartz's watercolor paintings daffodils are blooming, and winter isover, and are filled with details of life within a close-knit ex- everything's turning green, green, greenandone for tended family living in New York City. hot, hot summer nights when I'm too sticky to sleep. 0 0

114 113 NIGHT DRIVING with a solution that makes everyone happy. Blackpen John Coy.fflustrated by Peter McCarty. (Henry Holt 19%) 32 and watercolor paintings add touches of humorto the pages.ISBN:0-8050-2931-1.Level:Ages 4-8. marvelously plotted, skillfully worded story with uni- A first-time author and a first-time illustrator makea versal appeal for the heroic little mouse inevery child. promising debut in a gentle, realistic portrayal ofa 0 father-son relationship. The baseball-cappednarrator describes a car trip with his dad in which the two drive A PICTURE BOOK OF JESSE OWENS all night to get to the mountains fora camping trip. David A.Adletillustrated by Robert Casilla. (Holiday Hous4 Listening to a baseball game on the radio eatsup the 1992)32 pages.ISBN:0-8234-0966-X Level:Ages 5-9. miles for a while but once they get out of the station's An easy biography of the Olympic medal-winning range, the two must work together to keep each other sprinter and champion of the long jump recounts awake by telling stories, singing cowboysongs, and some of the childhood barriers overcome by this amaz- playing alphabet games. It's clear that they woulden- ing African American athlete with "lucky legs." Jesse joy each other's company at any time, but the night Owens' accomplishments at the 1936 Olympics in driving awakens a sense of adventure and heightens Berlin led to him being called the "World's Fastest the closeness between them. McCarty's dramatic Human" for many years. Adler's brief biography and black-and-white pencil illustrations aptly depictscenes page of notes point out racist and anti-Semitic occur- lit only by headlights and moonlight, echoing the inti- rences during the 193601ympics, as well as the fact mate mood of the text. that this honored son of a former sharecropper faced 00 prejudice afterward at home. Profusely illustrated with Casilla's watercolor paintings, the text also indudesa THE OLD DOG brief chronology Charlotte Zo/otow. Illustrated by James Ransome. 000 (HarperCollins, 1995) 32 pages. ISBN: 0-06-024409-7. Level: Ages3-8. ROSA BONHEUR When Ben awakens one morning, he fmds that his Robyn Montana Turner. (Little, Brown & Co., 1991) 32pages. dog doesn't respond with the usual tail wagging when ISBN:0-316-85648-7. Level:Ages 7-12. he pets her. He calls his father from the breakfast table Known for her strikingly realistic paintings of animals to ask why. "She's dead," his father says. All day long and nature, Rosa Bonheur became the most celebrated Ben thinks of his dog and the things they usedto do member of an artistic family living in nineteenthcen- together. Zolotow's outstanding text explains and tury France. In the 1830s, painter Raymond Bonheur comforts simultaneously while Ransome's detailed oil recognized that his young daughter Rosa wasan enor- paintings aptly show the sadness of a young African mously gifted artist. Throughout her childhood and American boy grieving the death of a beloved pet. adolescence, he saw to it that she received the formal 00 art education generally denied to girls and women. By the time she was twenty-three years old, she had OWEN already achieved fame in the art world andwas able Kevin Henkes. (Greenwillow,1993) 24 pages. ISBN: 0-688- to earn her living as an artist for the rest of her life. 11450-4. Level:Ages 3-8. Turner's concise biography, generously illustrated Owen the mouse and Fuzzy the blanket have beencon- with reproductions of the Bonheur family artwork, stant companions for a lifetime. "Fuzzy goes where I traces the life and work of a true visionary who over- go," Owen asserts. And Fuzzy does with little fussor came many barriers to pursue the work she loved best. bother until nosy Mrs. Tweezers from next-doorcom- 000 ments that Owen is too old to cling to a security blanket. With their neighbor's helpful advice, Owen'sparents try every trick in the book to separate the two, but Owen always manages to outsmart them. The situation seems hopeless until Owen's mothercomes up 114 115 THE SECRET BOX SKY PIONEER:A PHOTOBIOGRAPHY OF AMELIA Gail Pearson. (Jean Karl/Atheneum,1997)119 pages.ISBN:0- EARHART 689-81379-1. Level: Ages 10-13 and older. Corinne Szabo. Foreword by Linda Finch. (National Geographic Five loosely connected short stories capture moments Society, 1997) 62 pagesJSBN: 0-7922-3737-4. Level: Ages 7-11 of revelation in the lives of their young protagonists. In and older. The Secret Box," twelve-year-old Taylor hasa crush on Beautiful production distinguishes this photobiography of her fifteen-year-old brother's best friend. When they in- aviatorAmelia Earhart. The stunningjacket, the embossed vite her to an outing in San Francisco, however, she sees airplane on the cover of the bound book, and sky-blue her brother and his friend in a newand painfullight. endpapers all are an inviting starting point for a journey Taylor's friend Lindsey gets a surprising new perspective through Earhart's life. A wonderful graphic design has on her own big brother, Eric, in the hilarious "Cousin placed one or more large black-and-white photos, tinted a Dolores" when a somber funeral for her aunt's dog cloud-like shade of blue, on every two-page spread. The (Cousin Dolores) turns into an outrageous embarrass- photos are sometimes accompanied by maps or quotes ment for Lindsey, until she is saved by Eric's unexpected from Earhart, and always carefully captioned. The skill- kindness. In "The Year of the Pie and "Teacher of the fully written text, like the photographs, documents Year," Eric must deal with embarrassments of hisown, Earhart's life from childhood to her final flight and disap- trying to maintain his dignity and composure, first dur- pearance and is especially suited to young readers with its ing a bout of serious, unrequited love, and later when engaging, appreciative tone. A chronology and sources are dealing with the hurt and confusion that comes whenan provided at the book's end, as well as an afterword that idolized teacher proves to be fallible. The final offering, details theories about what happened to Earhart on her "The Magic Box," picks up the strands of the opening last flight and condudes that the real afterword to Earhart's story as Taylor longs for her brother's attention at the story is not her disappearance but her legacy as a pioneer- same time as she struggles to make sense of his growing ing woman of the air. anger. When he lashes out at a defenseless cat that Tay- 0 0 0 lor has befriended, Taylor strikes back in a singularact of nonviolence that carries the weight of ritual and the mo- THE SNOW LADY mentary power of transformation. Pearson has created Shirley Hughes. (Lothrop, Lee & Shepard,1990) 24 pages.ISBN: 0- a set of wholly believable characters and relationships in 688-09874-6. Level:Ages3-7. this fine collection of stories. Until Mum returns each day, Samantha spends the 0 time after school with their next-door neighbor Mrs. Dean. Sam's dog Micawber is defmitely not welcome SHORTCUT near the dean, orderly home and neither are any other Donald Crews. (Greenwillow,1992) 32 pages. ISBN:0-688- lively Trotter Street children or their pets. One after- 06436-1. Level:Ages 6-9. noon before Christmas, Sam and her friend Barney In a companion book to BIGMAMAs (Greenwillow, create a snow lady and name it "Mrs. Mean." Sam later 1991),Crews recounts a dramatic event remembered realizes that the labeled snow figure is hurtful and from a childhood summer on Bigmama's farm. As dark- makes a valiant effort to keep Mrs. Dean from seeing ness falls one night, seven children decide to take a dan- it. The neighborhood community of ANGEL MAE gerous shortcut home along the train tracks to save time. (Lothrop, 1989) and BIG CONCRETE LORRY When they hear the distant whistle of a freight train, they (Lothrop, 1990) is the locale for the small, ordinary at first try to outrun the approaching train, but are fi- incident from which Sam grows in a big way. nally forced to slide down the steep slope at the side of 0 the tracks to avoid catastrophe. Five wordless double- page spreads of the passing train cars underscore the re- SUN & SPOON lief and the terror of the children who are humbled by Kevin Henkes.(Greenwillow,1997)135 pages.ISBN: 0-688- their dose brush with disaster. "We walked home with- 15232-5. Level:Ages 9-12. out a word ... We didn't tell anyone. We didn't talk about Although the rest of his family seems to have adjusted what happened for a very long time." to Gram's death, ten-year-old Spoon continues to 0 1 I t7 grieve quietly two months later. His fear that he will

116 begin to forget his grandmother becomes almostan photograph (usually a school picture of theyoung obsession with him as he searches for the perfectme- artist) and a photograph of the artist today as wellas mento, something private that will always remind him one reproduction of childhood art and one or two rep- of her. He thinks he has found just the right thing when resenting their picture book art. Terrific organization he takes her favorite deck of playing cards, theone and compelling subject matter make this unusual look with a picture of a sun on the back of each card, from at artists' lives and careers good for general browsing the bottom drawer in her dining room cabinet. And, and difficult to put down. at first, things seem perfect: sleeping with the deck 0 0 under his pillow inspires dreams of Gram and sharp- ens his memory But when his grandfather announces TANYA AND EMILY IN A DANCE FOR TWO that the deck is missing, Spoon is filled withremorse Patrida Lee Gauch.(Philome1,1994) 32 pages.1SBN: 0-399- and worry Henkes's eloquently spare novel shows his 22688-5.Level:Ages3-7. deep understanding of the inner life of the child, which In this 111/2 x 83/4 in. picture story about a small wiggly comes through in his outstanding characterization of child who wants to be a ballet dancer, Tanya meets Spoon, who is both moody and thoughtful,a middle Emily, one of those kids with inborn coordination and child who sees himself as nobody's favorite since his grace. But Emily is also new to the class and always grandma died. Henkes enriches the narrative with alone afterwards. The indomitable Tanya approaches subtle imagery relating to sunlight and shadow, Emily, demonstrating to "dance" an ostrich anda fla- changes in weather and in emotions, and the natural mingo, even though it's difficult for Emily to do that growth that results from it all. when they are called a jete or an equilbire. Gauch and 0 0 Ichikawa's best book yet shows the action, imagination, and fun of two children, each talented in differ- TAKING FLIGHT: MY STORY ent ways. 14cki Van Meter with Dan Gutman. (1/iking1995)134 pages. 0 0 ISBN: 0-670-86260-6. Level:Ages 10-12. In 1993, at the age of twelve, Vicki Van Meter became TOMAS AND THE LIBRARY LADY the youngest girl at that time to pilotan airplane across Pat Morallustrated by Raul Colón. (Alfred A Knopt1997) 32 the United States. One year later, she flewacross the At- pages.ISBN:0-679-80401-3.Level:Ages 4-7. lantic Ocean. In a fresh, natural, engaging voice, Vicki When a family of migrant farm workers from Texas describes her determination to becomea pilot and stops in Iowa to pick corn, Tomas's grandfather, Papa chronides each of her landmark flights. Thetext incor- Grande, suggests that he spend part of each day at the porates de ails that readers will love, from how Vicki felt public library because it is filled with stories hecan as the only kid in flight school to technical details of plan- read and then bring back to share with the familyat ning a ffight to her media appearances and dreams of night. While Tomas expects to fmd good booksat the becoming an astronaut. library haloesn't expect to find a new friendbut he 000 does. From the beginning, the librarian welcomes him. She shows him where the water fountain is, suggests TALKING WITH ARTISTS: CONVERSATIONS WITH books he might enjoy, and helps Tomas feel at home VICTORIA CHESS, PAT CUMMINGS, whenever he comes to the library In return, Tomas LEO AND DIANE DILLON, RICHARD EGIELSKI, teaches her some Spanish phrases and she is ableto LOIS EHLERT, LISA CAMPBELL ERNST,TOM greet Papa Grande in Spanish when Tomas brings him FEELINGS, STEVEN KELLOGG,JERRY PINKNEY, to the library to meet his new friend. Based on an event AMY SCHWARTZ, LANE SMITH, CHRIS that occurred in the childhood of national education VAN ALLSBURG AND DAVID WIESNER leader Dr. Tomas Rivera, Mora brings thestory to life Pat Cummings, compiler. (Bradbury,1992) 96 pages.ISBN: 0-02- through excellent characterization and natural-sound- 724245-5. Level:Ages 6-14 andolder. ing dialogue. Colon's warm, earthtone illustrations Fourteen picture-book artists each respond to thesame give a strong sense of action occurring in the past. frequently asked questions. Each artists tells about 0 her /his childhood; this section featuresa childhood

116 117 TOTEM POLE WHEN JO LOUIS WON THE TITLE Diane Hoyt-Goldsmith. Photographs by Lawrence Migdale. Belinda Rochellalustrated by Lany.lohnson (Houghton Mifflin, (Holiday House,1990) 32 pages. ISBN: 0-8234-0809-4. Level: 1994)32 pages.1SBN:0-395-614-Z Level:Ages 5-8. Ages 5-10. Jo Louis is so tired of people making fun of her name David is a Tsimshian boy whose pride in his father's art- that she dreads her first day in a new school. But her istry as a wood-carver and creator of a new totem pole grandpa manages to raise her spirits by telling her the provides the focus for a 10 x 10 in first-person narrative. story behind her name, a story that begins when he was The history and culture of David's paternal elders, the a young man and had just arrived in Harlem on the day Eagle Clan from Metlakada on Alaska's Annette Island, of the fighter Joe Louis's great victory. Artist Larry are described and shown in full-color photographs, as is a Johnson is so skillful with a paint brush that he manages brief background of the Klallam Indians of the Northwest to pull feeling and drama from the stance of a listening Coast. Written and visual explanations detail the steps child, and he aptly characterizes the grandfather and David's father takes to find a straight, tall cedar tree and granddaughter with expressions of great mutual affec- carve the Klallam Thunderbird, Raven, Whale, Bear, and tion and respect. other symbolic images into its trunk The community's 0 0 involvement in raising and celebrating the pole's placement on the Klallam Reservation is also pictured. David's ma- WILMA MANKILLER ternal ancestors emigrated to the United States from Eu- Linda Lowery.fflustrated by.lanice Lee Porter. (Carolrhoda,1996) rope generations ago. The boy's Tsimshian heritage and 56 pages.1SBN: 0-87614-880-1. Level:Ages 6-8 and older. Eagle Clan membership are interpreted in several ways, The first woman chief to lead the Cherokee Nation did including the one-page retelling of the "Legend of the not have an easy path to her distinguished office. She Eagle and the Young Child." A glossary condudes this endured displacement and racism as a child, as well as unusual and absorbing photo documentary account. continued prejudice, including sexism, among her fellow 000 Cherokee as she reached adulthood. But Mankiller learned to believe in herself and her ability to help her A VISIT TO AMY-CLAIRE people. Lowery uses short, simple sentences to skillfully Claudia Mills.fflustrated by Sheila Hamanaka.(Macmillan,1992) tell Mankiller's story, resulting in an inspiring biography 32 pages.ISBN: 0-02-766991-2. Level: Ages 4-7. for new readers. Porter's distinguished full-color artwork Five-year-old Rachel can't wait to get to her seven-year- appears on each two-page spread. old cousin's house. She is anxious to repeat all the fun 0 0 she remembers having with her the previous summer taking bubble baths, swinging on a tire swing, and play- WILMA UNLIMITED: HOW WILMA RUDOLPH ing school. But once she and her family get to Amy- BECAME THE WORLD'S FASTEST WOMAN Claire's house, Rachel is in for a major disappointment Kathleen Kru11.111ustrated by David Diaz (Harcourt Brace,1996) because all Amy-Claire wants to do is play with Rachel's 40 pages.ISBN:0-15-201267-2.Level:Ages 5-10 and older. two-year-old sister, Jessie. Hamanaka's bold, sun-dappled Wilma Rudolph defied the odds to win three gold med- oil paintings depict Amy-Claire as Asian American while als at the 1960 Summer Olympics in Rome, a record for her cousins are biradal (Asian / white) in a realistic story American women. Rudolph's Olympic achievement re- about imaginary play and shifting family relationships. sulted from incredible determination and in this strik- 0 0 ingly illustrated picture book biography, she is profiled as an individual of remarkable energy and fortitude. Dis- WE CAN DO IT! abled by polio as a child, it was thought that Rudolph Laura Dwight. (Checkerboard Press,1992) 32 pages.ISBN:1- would never walk again, let alone run her way into the 56288-301-1.Level:Ages 3-6. history books. With bold, full-color illustrations set Captioned color photographs introduce five preschoolers against intriguing sepia-toned photographs that depict with disabilities, each of whom dtes several things heor the text's background elements, artist Diaz captures she likes to do. The brief, upbeat first-person statements Rudolph's spirit, power, and pride, as well as the loving, focus on individual personalities and accomplishments. supportive African American family and community in 0 0 I which she was raised. Author Krull grounds the story 118 with details of Rudolph's family life, her wishes and anecdotes of Koko's interactions with the author during dreams, and the times in which she lived, so that the her visit with the gorilla. Koko is presented with respect athlete's extraordinary accomplishments never over- and integrity and a brief afterword discusses the human 00whelm the human story that is at the heart of the book. threat to gorilla habitats in Africa. Softly shaded, large 00illustrations are generously scattered throughout the text. THE WINDOW Michael Donis(Hyperion,1997)106 pagesISBN:0-7868-2240-6. WOMEN WORKING A TO Z Level:Ages10-13 and older. Maria A Kunstadter. Photographs by Shari Stanbeny. Rayona Taylor was first introduced at age fifteen in A (Highsmith Press,1994) 32 pages ISBN: 0-917846-25-Z Level: YELLOW RAFT IN BLUE WATER (Henry Holt, Ages 5-8. 1987) .This book describes earlier events in the fictional "When you grow up, what do you want to be? A girl can Rayona's life as the eleven-year-old biracial (American be anything from A to Z. Look through this book and Indian/black) girl discovers that her family heritage is see the many things girls just like you have become. Then, more complex than she knew. When Rayona's mother, think some more. Your opportunities are endless." with whom she lives, goes into treatment for alcohol- TWenty-five women in traditional and nontraditional ism, her father places her at first in foster care, un- vocations such as airplane pilot, engineer, mother, post- ableor unwillingto make the adjustments in his master, and zookeeper ate briefly profiled in this text that own life that taking care of Rayona would mean. indudes two photos of each womanone of her at work When the foster placements don't work out, he takes today, and one of her as a child. The entry for the letter Y Rayona to his familyrelatives she's never known. It is "You...When you grow up, just like the girls in this is on the flight to meet them that he reveals the secret book, you can use your special talents to be anything you he has kept from Rayona and her mother: he is half want to be." white, "Irish, actually" For Rayona, the news is stun- 00 ning, all the more so because she senses there is something he isn't telling her about how her grandparents A YOUNG PAINTER:THE LIFE AND PAINTINGS met and how his fatherher African American grand- OF WANG YANICHINA'S EXTRAORDINARY fatherdied. As Rayona gets to know her white grand- YOUNG ARTIST mother, great-grandmother, and great-aunt, shesees Zheng Zhensun and Alice LowPhotographs byZheng Zhensun. how her father has, in one sense, rejected them, leav- (A Byron Preiss/New China Pictures Book,1991) 80 pages.ISBN: ing a hole in their lives that she momentarily wonders 0-590-44906-0.Level:Age 8 and older. if she can fill. But she feels loyalty to her own mother, The artistic genius of Wang Yani was recognized when too, and to her father, whose trust she wants to earn she was only three years old, and just a year later she had by keeping the secret he has guarded so long from her her first major exhibition in Shanghai. Since that time mother and others in his life. It is her feelings more she has created more than ten thousand paintings and than the facts that ultimately make a difference to has had exhibitions throughout Asia, Europe, and North Rayona in this portrait of a child at the center of com- America. At age sixteen, she began a successful transi- plex family events. tion from child prodigy to adult artist who works in the 000 xieyi hua (free style) school of traditional Chinese painting. An absorbing photo-essay traces the growth and WITH LOVE FROM KOKO development of Wang Yani as an artist and as an extraor- Faith McNulty. Illustrated by Annie Cannon. (Scholastic/ dinary young woman dealing with the pressures of world Hardcover, 1990) 32 pages. ISBN: 0-590-42774-1. Level: Ages attention, fame, and high expectations. Numerous color 8-1a photographs of Yani at work and at home give young Raised by humans since she was six months old, Koko readers a dose-up of her life in southern China. Fine, was the first gorilla taught to communicate using Ameri- full-color reproductions of more than fifty of her paint- can Sign Language (ASL). Scientist Penny Patterson's ings created from age two and one half to age sixteen history of teaching ASL to Koko and general informa- show Yani's development as a gifted young artist. tion about gorilla behavior are interspersed with lively 00

11c) 119 ZORA HURSTON AND THE CHINABERRY TREE William Miller. Illustrated by Cornelius Van Wright and l'ing- Hwa Hu. (Lee & Low,1994) 32 pages. ISBN:1-880000-14-8. Level:Ages 6-9. This picture-book account of the childhood of African American writer Zora Neale Hurston focuses on the influence of her mother, who told Hurston that all the world belonged to her, contrary to themessages she got from her father and society at large. When her mother died, young Zora, who liked climbingtrees, wearing pants, and listening to old men spin theirsto- ries at the town store or around a night-time camp fire, promised herself that she would live up to her mother's expectations. Miller has chosen small, significant details to give a sense of Hurston's intellect and personality through his spare account of her childhood. Somber pencil and watercolor paintings provide the perfect match for the text and depict Hurston asa strong, active girl, even when she appears in the backgroundas 000an observer.

ilu

120 Children's Trade Books with Individual Development and Identity as a Second Thematic Strand The title index on pp. 173-180 lists the number of the page on which each book is annotated.

TITLE AUTHOR DATE AGE LEVEL

Abuela's Weave Omar S. Castaneda 1993 Ages 6-9

The Amazing Paper Cuttings of Hans Christian Andersen Beth Wagner Brust 1994 Ages 8-12 and older

Apple Juice Tea Martha Weston 1994 Ages 3-6

Betsy Ross:Patriot of Philadelphia Judith St.George 1997 Ages 9-11 and older

A Boy Becomes a Man at Wounded Knee Ted Wood and 1992 Ages 8-13 and older Wanbli Numpa Afraid of Hawk

Brothers & Sisters Ellen B. Senisi 1993 Ages 3-6

Canto Familiar Gary Soto 1995 Ages 9-12

Champions:Stories of Ten Remarkable Athletes Bill Littlefield 1993 Ages 7-12

Chasing Redbird Sharon Creech 1997 Ages 9-14 and older

Clean Your Room, Harvey Moon! Pat Cummings 1991 Ages 3-6

Climbing Kansas Mountains George Shannon 1993 Ages 4-8

Come Home with Me:A Multicultural Treasure Hunt Aylette Jenness 1993 Ages 7-12 and older

Daddy and Me:A Photo Story of Arthur Ashe and Jeanne 1993 Ages 3-5 His Daughter's Camera Moutoussamy-Ashe

Drumbeat... Heartbeat A Celebration of the Powwow Susan Braine 1995 Ages 7-11 (We Are Still Here)

Eagle Judy Allen 1994 Ages 4-8

Eagle Song Joseph Bruchae 1997 Ages 9-11 and older

Elijah's Angel:A Story for Chanukah and Christmas Michael J. Rosen 1992 Ages 7-11

Flight The Journey of Charles Lindbergh Robert Burleigh 1991 Ages 5-10

Girls and Young Women Inventing:Twenty True Stories about Frances A. Karnes 1995 Ages 10-14 and older Inventors, Plus How You Can Be One Yourself and Suzanne M. Bean

Grandaddy's Stars Helen V. Griffith 1995 Ages 6-8

Grandfather's Journey Allen Say 1993 Ages 8-12

Grandmother Bryant's Pocket Jacqueline Briggs Martin 1996 Ages 5-7

Hoang Anh: A Vietnamese-American Boy Diane Hoyt-Goldsmith 1992 Ages 8-12

Home Lovely Lynne Rae Perkins 1995 Ages 4-7

121 Homeplace Anne Shelby 1995 Ages 4-8 and older

A House by the River William Miller 1997 Ages 5-8

I Thought My Soul Would Rise and Fly:The Diary of Patsy, Joyce Hansen 1997 Ages 10-13 and older a Freed Girl

Indigo and Moonlight Gold Jan Spivey Gilchrist 1993 Ages 5-8

L'chaim:The Story of a Russian Emigre Boy Tricia Brown 1994 Ages 8-11

The Leaving Morning Angela Johnson 1992 Ages 3-6

Let's Talk about Divorce Kevin Henkes 1996 Ages 2-5

Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse Fred Rogers 1996 Ages 4-8

Lion Dancer:Ernie Wan's Chinese New Year Kate Waters and 1990 Ages 4-11 Madeline Slovenz-Low

The Little Lama of Tibet Lois Raimondo 1994 Ages 7-10

The Little Ships:The Heroic Rescue at Dunkirk in World War II Louise Borden 1997 Ages 8-12 and older

Lives of the Musicians Kathleen Krull 1993 Ages 7-14 and older

Ma Dear's Aprons Patricia C. McKissack 1997 Ages 4-7

Mama Bear Chyng Feng Sun 1994 Ages 4-8 and older

Mom Can't See Me Sally Hobart Alexander 1990 Ages 6-11

Morning Milking Linda Lowe Morris 1991 Ages 7-11

My Mama Had a Dancing Heart Libba Moore Gray 1995 Ages 7-10 and older

My Painted House, My Friendly Chicken, and Me Maya Angelou 1994 Ages 5-8

My Two Uncles Judith Vigna 1995 Ages 4-8 and older

Neighborhood Odes Gary Soto 1992 Age 8 and older

Nim and the War Effort Milly Lee 1997 Ages 7-10 and older

One Nation, Many Tribes:How Kids Live in Kathleen Krull 1995 Ages 8-12 Milwaukee's Indian Community

Only a Pigeon Jane and Christopher Kurtz 1997 Ages 4-8

Our People Angela Shelf Medearis 1994 Ages 4-8

Pass It On; African-American Poetry for Children Wade Hudson, selector 1993 Ages 4-9

The Real McCoy:The Life of an African-American Inventor Wendy Towle 1993 Ages 7-10 and older

Red Dog, Blue Fly:Football Poems 2 1 Sharon Bell Mathis 1991 Ages 7-11 122 Run Away Home Patricia C. McKissack 1997 Ages 10-12

Sam and the Lucky Money Karen Chinn 1995 Ages 47

Sam Is My Half Brother Lizi Boyd 1990 Ages 3-6

Seedfolks Paul Fleischman 1997 Ages 9-13 and older

Serena Katz Charlotte Pomerantz 1992 Ages 4-7

Shannon:An Ojibway Dancer Sandra King 1993 Ages 7-11

Smoky Night Eve Bunting 1994 Ages 6-10

Sofie's Role Amy Heath 1992 Ages 48

Some of the Pieces Melissa Madenski 1991 Ages 4-8

Songs from the Loom:A Navajo Girl Learns to Weave Monty Roessel 1995 Ages 7-11

The Spirit of Tio Fernando:A Day of the Dead Story / Janice Levy 1995 Ages 6-9 El Espiritu dello Fernando:Una Historia del Dia de Los Muertos

Star of Fear, Star of Hope Jo Hoestlandt 1995 Ages 7-10 and older

Stories from the Classical Ballet Belinda Hollyer 1995 Ages 6-11 and older

The Sunday Outing Pat Cummings, editor 1994 Ages 5-8

Talking with Artists Gloria Jean Pinkney 1995 Ages 6-14 and older

This Land Is My Land George Littlechild 1993 Ages 9-14 and older

The Two Mrs.Gibsons Igus Toyomi 1996 Ages 3-7

Up North at the Cabin Marsha Wilson Chall 1992 Ages 4-9

Vejigante Masquerader Lulu Delacre 1993 Ages 5-9

Voices from the Fields:Children of Migrant Farmworkers S. Beth Atkin 1993 Ages 9-14 and older Tell Their Stories

The Wall Eve Bunting 1990 Ages 4-9 and older

Water Buffalo Days: Growing Up in Vietnam Quang Nhuong Huyah 1997 Ages 9-11

What Instrument Is This? Rosmarie Hausherr 1992 Ages 48

What Zeesie Saw on Delancey Street Elsa Okon Rael 1996 Ages 5-8

Wheels Shirley Hughes 1991 Ages 3-8

When I Go Camping with Grandma Marion Dane Bauer 1995 Ages 3-6

Winter Rescue W. D. Valgardson 1995 Ages 6-9

The Wright Brothers: How They Invented the Airplane Russell Freedman 1991 Ages 9-14 and older 123 14 2 Children's Trade Books with Individual Development andIdentity as a Third Thematic Strand The title index on pp 173-180 lists the number of thepage on which each book is annotated.

Anastasia's Album Hugh Brewster 1996 Ages 10-13 and older

Batboy:An Inside Look at Spring Training Joan Anderson 1996 Ages 8-12

Calling the Doves / El Canto de las Palomas Juan Felipe Herrera 1995 Ages 4-8

Celebrating Kwanzaa Diane Hoyt-Goldsmith 1993 Ages 5-12

Coming Home:From the Life of Langston Hughes Floyd Cooper 1994 Ages 4-12

Day of Delight:A Jewish Sabbath in Ethiopia Maxine Rose Schur 1994 Ages 5-9

The Days before Now:An Autobiographical Note Joan W. Bios, Adapter 1994 Ages 3-9 by Margaret Wise Brown

Dick King-Smith's Animal Friends:Thirty-One True Life Stories Dick King-Smith 1996 Ages 4-12

Farmer's Market Paul Brett Johns 1997 Ages 4-7

Flood Mary Calhoun 1997 Ages 5-8

A Forever Family Roslyn Banish 1992 Ages 6-11 and Jennifer Jordan-Wong

Hard to Be Six Arnold Adoff 1991 Ages 4-6

Kids Making Quilts for Kids ABC Quilts 1992 Ages 8-14

Laura Loves Horses Joan Hewett 1990 Ages 4-9

Marven of the Great North Woods Kathryn Lasky 1997 Ages 6-9 and older

Neve Shalom/Wahat Al-Salam:Oasis of Peace Laurie Dolphin 1995 Ages 7-10

Orphan Train Rider:One Boy's True Story Andrea Warren 1996 Ages 9-16 and older

Powwow George Ancona 1993 Ages 5-11

Sitti's Secrets Naomi Shihab Nye 1994 Ages 6-10

Treemonisha Angela Shelf Medearis 1995 Ages 9-12 and older

Turtle Bay Saviour Pirotta 1997 Ages 5-8

Twinnies Eve Bimtomg 1997 Ages 4-7

Two Lands, One Heart:An American Boy's Jeremy Schmidt 1995 Ages 7-10 Journey to His Mother's Vietnam and Ted Wood

War Game Michael Foreman 1994 Ages 8-12 and older

124 r> CO-OA/31MM NOME CHILDREN'S TRADE BOOKSWITH INDIVIDUALS, GROUPS, AND INSTITUTIONS AS THE MAJOR THEMATIC STRAND

A IS FOR AFRICA and her mom and dada, she seems like a stranger and Ifeoma Onyefulu. (Cobblehil1,1993) 28 pages.ISEIN: 0-525- Polly is reluctant to include her in her life. But Gran is 65147-0. Level:Ages 3-Z obviously an old pro with children and she knows just A Nigerian photographer selected twenty-six photographs the right way to give Polly the time and space she needs from her homeland to illustrate this introduction to Af- to get acquainted. The muted tones of Weston's pen- rica. Although the images she chose are specific to Nige- and-ink and watercolor illustrations perfectly comple- ria, she states in an author's note that she attempted to ment her understated story about the challenges of be- capture what the people of Africa have in common: "tra- ing a family together and apart. ditional village life, warm family ties, and above all the hos- 00 pitality for which Africans are famous." The color photographs were also chosen with the interests of young chil- BASEBALL SAVED US dren in mind, as they show objects (drums, lamps, houses) Ken Mochizukillustrated by Don Lee. (Lee & Low,1993) 32 and individuals (children) that will greatly appeal to them. pages.ISBN:1-880000-01-6. Level:Ages 7-11 and older. 00 The treatment of Japanese Americans during World War II is the subject of this remarkable picture book. "Shorty" ALEF-BET: A HEBREW ALPHABET BOOK a young Japanese American boy, has a hard time under- Michelle Edwards. (Lothrop, Lee & Shepard,1992) 32 pages.ISBN: standing why he and his family had to move out of their 0-688-09724-3. Level:Ages 2-8. house and into a camp in the desert. "We weren't in a A family composed of two adults and three children that camp that was fun, like summer camp. Ours was in the might live in contemporary Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, New York middle of nowhere, and we were behind a barbed-wire

or Amsterdam introduces daily uses of modem Hebrew in fence. Soldiers with guns made sure we stayed there.. ." a nearly wordless picture story Signs of home-created en- Everything at camp is differentand more difficultthan tertainment, especially that involving the arts and play-act- life back home; there are dust storms, the buildings have ing, are everywhere, showing this to be a priority for the no privacy (even for going to the bathroom), and there is down-to-earth, energetic, affectionate household. Outside nothing for anyone to do. The day Shorty's dad decides activities vary with the seasons while everyone has a visible they need a baseball diamond marks a turning point in role in sledding, leaf gathering, and night sky-watching. One camp life as, first building the field and later competing of the three happily active children uses a wheelchair to move in the games themselves, adults and children fmally have from place to place. A letter of the Hebrew alphabet ap- something for which to hope and work. Shorty, who has pears in the upper left corner of each page, and Hebrew never been good at baseball, practices hard and eventu- words with phonetic pronunciations are shown on the lower ally makes a game-winning hit in the camp champion- left of each page. Roman transliterations and English trans- ship. "But it wasn't as if everything was all fixed." Re- lations are also provided. Edwards succeeds in developing a turning home after the war, he finds that he still must fresh approach to the concept of family and to creating a persevere against prejudice and his own fears to succeed. book about a specific language. The straightforward narrative movingly captures a young 00 boy's bewilderment over events that make no logical sense to adults, let alone to children. Sepia-toned color APPLE JUICE TEA illustrations by Lee evoke a sense of a past that is washed Martha Weston. (Clarion,1994) 32 pages. ISBN:0-395-65480-7. in sadness. Level:Ages3-6. 000 Because her grandmother lives far away, Polly doesn't see her very often. When she does come to visit Polly

12 4 125 BILLY AND BELLE BROTHERS & SISTERS Sarah Garland (ReinhardtNiking,1992) 32 pages.ISBN: 0-670- Ellen B.Senisi. (Scholastic 1993) 32 pages.ISBN:0-590-46419-1. 84396-2. Level:Ages 3-6. LevekAges 3-6. School-aged Billy must take his preschool-aged sister Belle The ups and downs of sibling relationshipsare explored to class with him while Dad takes Mum to the hospital in color photographs of sibling pairs thatare accompa- for the birth of a new baby. It's an exciting and extraordi- nied by comments from the childrenon what it is like nary day for both of themnot just because they're get- having a brother or sister who isyounger than you, older ting a new brother or sister but because it'spet day at than you, or even the same age. One brother/sisterpair school. Even with just a last minute notice, Belleman- sums it up best: "Sometimes we're best friends. And ages to muster up a pet of her own to take to school:a sometimes we're worst enemies." spider! The full-color illustrations set ina comic-strip for- 00 mat are filled with amusing details of a bustling home life and a refreshingly disorderly school. Billy and Belle CALLING THE DOVES / EL CANTO DE LAS (and baby Adam) are biracial: their mother is white and PALOMAS their dad is black. Juan Felipe Herrera. Illustrated by Elfr Simmons. (Children's Book 00 Press,1995) 32 pages.ISBN:0-89239-132-4. Level:Ages 4-8. In lyrical bilingual prose (Spanish / English), Chicano THE BIRTHDAY SWAP poet Herrera recalls his childhood growing up in a Loretta Lopez.(Lee & Low,1997) 32 pages.ISBN:1-880000-47-4. family of migrant farmworkers. "The road changed Level:Ages 5-8. with the seasons," he observes, butsome things stayed Six-year-old Lori lives in a border town between the the same: his mother's love of poetry and music and United States and Mexico. She wants to give her older his father's ability to whistlea tune that would attract sister exactly the right birthday present, but what should doves. Colored pencil and acrylic paintingsexpress the it be? Lori and her mother visit Tia Sabina who is deco- warmth and security felt by a child growingup in a rating a cake and go to the Mercado whereeven items in loving household. the curio shop won't do. On the day of her sister's birth- 000 day, the family attends church before goingto a family gathering where Lori discovers a party planned for her. CELEBRATING FAMILIES Her older sister has decided to exchange birthdaysea- Rosmarie Hausherr. (Scholastic, 1997) 32 pages. ISBN: 0-590- sons, so December-born Lori can have a summer pool 48937-2. Level: Ages 4-9. party for a change. Tia Sabina's cake had been baked for No two family structures are alike in this engagingpor- her, and the Mercado trip gave her mother the ideaLori trait of fourteen American families. Christina lives with would enjoy a donkey piñata. Cultural elements abound her older brother Sherron and their grandmother. Lind- in a richly detailed series of full-color illustrationscre- say and her sister Masha live part of the time with their ated in gouache and colored pencil. A five-phraseglos- mother and part of the time with their father. Joseph sary provides definitions. lives on a farm with his parents, aunt and unde, grand- 0 0 parents, and great-grandparents. Justin lives with his dad. Chris lives with his mom, and every Sunday theygo visit BRASS BUTTON Chris's dad in prison. Alexandra and Sarah live with their Crescent Dragonwagon. Illustrated by Susan Paradise. lesbian moms. Each double-page spread is devotedto an (Atheneum, 1997) 40 pages. ISBN: 0-689-80582-9. Level: individual child and his or her family, depicted ina cre- Ages 6-8 and older. atively compound family portrait thatuses color photo- Ten brief chapters follow the chain ofevents that occur graphs. On the facing page, a brief text describes the dis- when Mrs. Moffatt unknowingly losesa shiny brass but- tinguishing characteristics of the living situation and tells ton off her new winter coat. It passes from personto one or two things that the family members enjoy doing person throughout the neighborhood and finally back together, using a black-and-white photographas an illus- to Mrs. Moffatt before she has even noticed it missing. tration. No single family is presentedas the norm here, The clever episodic story is lavishly illustrated withde- and all are celebrated for their strength and diversity 00tailed gouache paintings. 1 25 0 126 CHASING REDBIRD A CRACK IN THE WALL Sharon Creech. (Joanna Cotler/HaiperCollins,1997)261 pages. Mary Elizabeth Haggertylllustrated by Ruben De Ando. (Lee & ISBN: 0-06-026987-1. Level:Ages 9-14 and older. Low,1993) 32 pages.ISBN:1-880000-03-2. Level:Ages 4-8. In the middle of a large and loving family, thirteen- Until Carlos's mom fmds another job, she can afford only year-old Zinny Taylor sometimes feels like an outsider. a small, dingy apartment for the two of them. Carlos She is a quiet girl who 'often prefers the calm of her tries to brighten it up, first by painting leaves on a crack Aunt Jessie and Uncle Nate's house next door to the in the wall to make it look like a tree branch, then by constant activity in her own family's home. The sooth- placing shining stars made out of gum wrappers on the ing quiet of the rural Kentucky countryside is also a branch. But each day his mom returns from her job hunt source of solitude for her. The outdoors offers even so exhausted that she never notices Carlos's handiwork. greater solace for Zinny after Aunt Jessie dies unex- This realistic story about one child's attempts to cheer pectedly. An old, overgrown trail on the edge of her up a discouraged parent in a time of stress has a wonder- family's farm provides Zinny with a focus for her grief, ful surprise ending. her energy, and her imagination as she determines to 00 uncover the trail and follow it to its source. But Zinny unwittingly begins to unearth more than just the trail DADDY AND ME:A PHOTO STORY OF ARTHUR as she works. There are her confused feelings about ASHE AND HIS DAUGHTER CAMERA Jake Boone, an older boy who has recently returned Jeanne Moutoussamy-Ashe. (Alfred A Knop( ,1993)40 pages. to Bybanks, not to mention her mixed-up feelings ISBN:0-679-95096-6.Level:Ages3-5. about her family. And there are also secretsfamily Moutoussamy-Ashe's black-and-white photographs of secretsthat are rooted in an earlier family grief and her husband Arthur and her daughter Camera were are waiting for discovery. The further Zinny travels taken in the years before Arthur died of AIDS in Feb- from home, the closer she comes to knowing just how ruary1993,when Camera was five. They capture a much strength and love there is that binds her to her warm father/ daughter relationship. Although Arthur's family. Creech has once again created a book of fine illness is a factor in their livessometimes draining emotional tenor and quiet humor. his energy or hospitalizing himit is never a factor in 00 their love. Text accompanying the photographs is written in Camera's first person voice. She describes her THE CHRISTMAS TREE / EL ARBOL DE NAVIDAD: life with her father this way: "Daddy has some bad A CHRISTMAS RHYME IN ENGLISH AND SPANISH days and lots of good days... On good days we go to Alma Flor Adallustrated byTenyYbdnez (Hyperion,1997) 32 the tennis court... Or we sit in the sun and sing ... pages.ISBN:0-7868-2123-X.Level:Ages On Daddy's bad days, I take care of him. I give him A cumulative bilingual (English/ Spanish) story begins his pills. I take his temperature. I make him wait until "Daddy brought a Christmas tree" followed by a word- the thermometer beeps, just like he does for me." This less double-page spread showing him carrying the tree text provides a remarkable portrait of children's ca- into the home. Brief declarative sentences encourage pacity for understanding, compassion, and love. careful looks at each way the tree becomes decorated 00 in turn by Grandma, Grandpa, Uncle Irineo, Brother Alfonzo, Aunt Mireya, and Mommy. The language in ELUAH'S ANGEL:A STORY FOR CHANUKAH AND each new section is minimal, and the artwork, created CHRISTMAS in acrylic paint on black paper, is darkly hued, unclut- Michael J. Rosen.Illustrated byAminah Brenda Lynn Robinson. tered, and cheerful. Ada's one-page note at the end (Harcourt Brace Jovanovich,1992) 32 pages. ISBN:0-15-225394- tells about bombas, posadas, Papa Noel, Nochebuena, Z Level:Ages 7-11. and the visit on January 5of los Reyes Magos during A first-person narrator tells of the year he, a nine-year- her childhood in Cuba. old Jewish boy, regularly visited the shop of an eighty- 00 four year-old African American barber and woodcarver. His parents told their son that some of Elijah Pierce's carvings from the Bible represented what might be considered "graven images." The boy never spoke of this

126 127 while he and Elijah shared "time together theway GOOD NIGHT, STELLA Chanukah and Christmas shared thesame day that Kate McMullan.Illustrated by Emma Chichester Cladc. year." One December after Elijahgave him a polka-dot- (Candlewick Press,1994) 24 pages.ISBN:1-56402-065-7.Level: ted guardian angel, the boy hid it. Hisparents helped Ages 5-8. him to cherish the gift as an angel of friendship; in that With all sorts of questions running through her head spirit, the boy gave Elijah a menorah he madeat He- (Can your eyeballs fall out? If a vampire bites you, will brew school. Rosen based the moving personalstory water spurt out your neck when you try to drink?), Stella on the "character and vision" of Elijah Pierce (1892- just can't fall asleep. Even her dad's suggestion ("Try dos- 1984), a woodcarver, lay minister, barber, and personal ing your eyes") doesn't help. And besides, she can't stop friend to many of his visitors. Robinsongrew up in the swallowing! Kate McMullan has perfectly characterized same Columbus, Ohio, neighborhood and spent long the mind-set of an imaginative, restless child who has hours in Elijah's barbershop modeling day and quilt- more energy than anyone else in her household. Luck- ing while he carved and varnished. Her full-colorpaint- ily, Stella has an equally imaginative dad whocomes up ings were done in house paint on scraprag. with a solution that suits everyone. The amusing illus- 000 trations show a wide-eyed Stella whose brain stays switched on long after everyone else hasgone to sleep. FAMILIES; A CELEBRATION OF DIVERSITY, 0 COMMITMENT AND LOVE Aylette knness. (Houghton Mifflin,1990) 48pages. ISBN: 0-395- GRANDADDY'S STARS 47038-2 Level:Ages 5-12. Helen V.GriffithIllustrated by.lames Stevenson. (Greenwillow, Seventeen young people each briefly commenton the 1995)32 pages.ISBN:0-688-13655-9. Level:Ages 6-8. composition of their families in a photoessay that origi- In the fourth volume in this series of easy chapter books, nated as an interactive exhibition at the Children's Mu- Grandaddy is traveling from Georgia to Baltimoreto visit seum in Boston. One strength of this unique book rests Janetta for a change. Janetta, true to form, worriescon- in its organizational pattern: no one type of family unit stantly about the visit: What if Grandaddy misses the is presented as standard, or correct, or "other." Blended, train? What if he sleeps through his stop? What if he adoptive, mixed-racial, biracial, two parent,one parent, finds everything Janetta plans to show him boring? And gay and lesbian, collective, and extended families from Grandaddy, true to form, arrives raring togo, with a rep- diverse racial, ethnic, and economic backgroundsare pic- ertoire of funny stories and wry observations thatsoon tured. Child-expressed defmitions of "family" anda list set Janetta's mind at ease. Griffith excels at creating dis- of books for further reading are additional features of tinctive, fully rounded characters through dialogue, while 00this important book. Stevenson's understated line drawings with watercolor 000washes provide the perfect complement. A FOREVER FAMILY Roslyn Banish and Jenniferlordan-Wong.(HarperCollins,1992) GRANDMA'S BASEBALL 44 pages. ISBN: 0-060-021674-3. Level:Ages 6-11. Gavin Curtis. (Crown,1990) 32 pages.ISBN:0-517-57389-XLevel: An eight-year-old Amerasian girl briefly describesevents Ages4-Z leading up to her adoption the previousyear by an interra- A young grandson notices Grandma's grumpymanner cial (Asian/white) couple. The first-personaccount, accom- now that she's moved from far away to live with him and panied by black-and-white photographs, indudes details his parents. There is oatmeal for breakfast, little after of the court proceedings, as wellas of her earlier life with school leisure, and, above all, no slamming of thescreen her African American foster family and hercurrent life with door. The autographed baseball from Grandpa's dayson her new extended family the Monarchs provides the first opportunity for thetwo 000 to mutually enjoy each other. A contemporary African American family is pictured in the full-color illustrations. 0 1 7 128 HOME FIELD LET'S TALK ABOUT DIVORCE David Spohn. (Lothrop, Lee &Shepard,1993) 32 pages.ISBN: 0- Fred Rogers.Photographs by.lim Judkis. (Putnam,1996) 32 688-11173-4.LevetAges 3-Z pages.ISBN:0-399-22449-1.LevekAges 2-5. Bare spots in the grass serve as bases, maple trees be- Preschoolers whose parents are divorcing will fmd reas- hind home plate provide a backstop, and barn swal- surance in this photoessay that they will still have a fam- lows are like fans in bleachers when young Matt and ily to help them feel safe, give them food, take care of his dad get in a quick game of baseball before early them, and love them. Rogers's low-key statements ar- morning farm chores. With his dad coaching him, ticulate children's typical concerns with characteristic Matt is perfecting his stance and his hitting this sum- insight and suggest healthy ways to express the feelings mer, but his real growth can probably be attributed to most children experience. Color photographs show three the fact that dad makes time for a little one-on-one families of differing racial heritages. baseball before the hectic pace of daily life takes over. 0 0 Spohn's understated, gentle story of a father and son relationship in a rural, interracial family is itself a little LILLY'S PURPLE PLASTIC PURSE solace in a busy world. Kevin Henkes. (Greenwillow,1996) 32 pages. ISBN: 0-688-12897- 0 0 1.Level:Ages 4-8. Lilly loves schoolher "pointy pencils," the "squeaky IN MY FAMILY / EN MI FAMILIA chalk," the "clickety-dickety-dack" sounds her red cow- Carmen Lomas Garza. Edited by David Schecter.Translated by girl boots make in the halls, and "the privacy of her very Frandsco XAlarcon. (Children's Book Press,1996) 32 pages.ISBN: own desk." Lilly especially loves her teacher, Mr. Slinger, 0-89239-138-3. LevetAge 5 and older. who "is sharp as a tack," wears "a different colored tie each Brilliantly colored oil, acrylic, and gouache paintings day of the week," and provides cheesy snacks. The nor- illustrate scenes from this Chicana artist's childhood mally loquacious Lilly is almost speechless when she tries in Kingsville, Texas, near the border with Mexico. She to say why Mr. Slinger is such a good teacher: "Wow. That comments on growing up in her Mexican-American was just about all she could say. Wow" One day Lilly brings family in single-page narratives that accompany each a new purple plastic purse, movie star sunglasses, and three work of art reproduced in the book. Children who shiny quarters to school. Her new possessions become such cannot read yet can still see empariadas being made, a distractions to her that Mr. Slinger sets them on his desk birthday celebration complete with a barbecue and a during the day. Lilly's mean-spirited retaliation to such in- piriata, Easter egg decorations, a wedding blessing, and justice soon makes her miserable. Her parents and Mr. much more. The artist answers questions typically Slinger help this basically warm-hearted, strong-willed child asked about her work in two pages at the end. The to move beyond the anxious episode. It's relatively easy narrative passages are printed in Spanish and in En- for young children to forget that Lilly and the other char- glish. A welcome continuation of her first book, FAM- acters are rodents, because author/artist Henkes has them ILY PICTURES / CUADROS DE FAMILIA, published behaving as most humans might under similar circum- in1990. stances. It could be easy for adults to overlook Henkes's 000 mastery of picture book narrative, splendid watercolor illustrations, and superb page designs becauselike Mr. L'CHAIM:THE STORY OF A RUSSIAN EMIGRE BOY Slinger and Lilly's parentshe makes what he does so su- Trida Brown. Photographs by Kenneth Kobre (Henry Holt 1994) perbly look effortless. Wow. 44 pages.ISBN:0-8050-2354-2. Level: Ages &11. 0 0 Zev Tsukerman is a young émigré from the Ukraine whose family has settled in San Francisco. A narrative THE urns LAMA OF TIBET written in Zev's first-person voice and accompanied Lois Raimondo. (Scholastic 1994)40 pages.ISBN:0-590-46167-2 by lively full-color photographs depicts Zev's life in Level:Ages 7-10. his new country, where he attends *wish day school, A child is recognized as the new incarnation of Ling takes kung fu lessons, plays computer games, and Ilinpoche, the late tutor of the Dalai Lama. He lives learns about the religion he was never before able to in exile in the mountains of Dharamsala, India, study- 000practice. ing scriptures, reading religious stories, and otherwise 128 129 BEST COPY AVAILABLE preparing spiritually to pass on Buddhist teachingsto MOM CAN'T SEE ME his people. This young monk was six years old the year Sally HobartAlexanderPhotographs by GeorgeAncona Raimondo was granted permission to interview and (Macmillan,1990)48pages.ISBN:0-02-700401-5.Level:Ages6-11. photograph him. Her photographs are reproduced in Leslie, a nine-year-old girl, describes day-to-day lifeliv- full color, providing unparalleled glimpses of his daily ing with her mom who has been blind sinceage discipline and that of those who teach him.The Ti- twenty-six. While Leslie describes how her family does betan alphabet is reproducedon the endpapers. things differently to accommodate her mom's special 000 needs and speaks candidly about times hermom has embarrassed her, the overall focus of this photoessay LITTLE WHITE CABIN is her mom's active life. She takes Leslieto dance and Ferguson Plain. (Pemmican Publications,1992) 24pages. ISBN: gymnastic dasses, volunteers at her school, attends 0-921827-26-1. Level:Ages 5-8. soccer games, and plays baseball with her kids. Waaboozoons is an Ojibway boy whopasses by a little 000 white cabin nearly every day when he'sout walking. Some days he sees an elder known as 01' Danny sittingon the MORNING, NOON, AND NIGHT: POEMS TO FILL cabin's front porch, and when Waaboozoonssees him, the YOUR DAY boy always calls out "Aniish naa?" (How are you?). He gets Sharon TaberskL Illustrated by Nancy Doniget(Mondo,1996)32 used to the fact that 01' Danny never responds to his greet- pages.ISBN:1-57255-128-3. Level:Ages 5-8. ing. Much to the boy's surprise, however, one day the old This energizing anthology ofpoems for young readers man answers him, and from that day on the two become takes them through a day filled withcat kisses, shad- good friends, with 01' Danny teaching Waaboozoons ows, missing socks, crayons, a fight with a friend, a bed- much about the old ways. This quiet picturestory illus- time story and many other things. Lively, colorful col- trated in distinctive dark blue and white paintings by a self- lage illustrations are a celebration of eachpoetic mo- taught Ojibway artist, shows the importance ofrespect ment that might be part of any school child's day. 000for elders in the Native American valuesystem. 00 MY MAMA HAD A DANCING HEART MAYEROS: A YUCATEC MAYA FAMILY Libba Moore Grayillustrated by Raul Colon. (Orchard,1995)32 George Ancona. (Lothrop,Lee &Shepard,1997) 40 pages. ISBN: pages.ISBN:0-531-09470-Z Level:Ages 7-la 0-688-13465-3.Level:Ages7-11. "My mama had a dancing heart and she shared thatheart Photographer Geotge Ancona returnsto his roots, a small with me." A young woman looks backon her mother's Mayan village in Yucatan, Mexico, to document thelives joyous embrace of life in a memory-rich picture bookthat of one family who lives there, as seen through the eyes recalls the many times in her childhood they dancedto- of their two young sons, Armando andGaspar. The in- gether to celebrate the seasons. Gray's tender celebration tegration of traditional Mayan customs with contempo- of a warm and cherished mother-daughter relationshipis rary Mexican life is evident in every aspect of their daily movingly illustrated by Colon's graceful, deep-tonedpaint- living, as Ancona explains in hiscogent text. Through- ings that are burnished with plum and golden hues. out the book, his excellent color photographsare accom- 000 panied by reproductions of ancient Mayanartwork, showing Armando and Gaspar'sancestors engaged in MYCCA'S BABY exactly the same pursuit, from grinding spiceswith a Rinda M8yers.Illustrated by David Tamura. (Orchard Books, metate, to carrying a heavy load with a tumpline,to sit- 1990) 32 pages.ISBN: 0-531-05828-X Level:Ages 4-Z ting at a desk in school, writing. Mycca can hardly wait for the arrival of her Aunt Rose's 000 new baby and, even though she's been assured that the baby will belong to her, too, she wonders just howmuch she'll be allowed to help out. The warmth andsecurity of a loving extended familyare captured in both the text and in the illustrations, the style and the palette of which are reminiscent of Mexican muralists. 0 130 1.2 NINE CANDLES 200,000 children into homes where often they were ex- Maria Testafilustrated by Amanda Schaffer. (Camlrhoda,1996) pected to provide hard labor without receiving comfort 32 pages.ISBN: 0-87614-940-9. Level:Ages 4-Z or real family status in return. While Raymond and his dad prepare for their weekly Sun- 000 day car trip to prison to visit his mother, the boy worries that she will forget that this is his seventh birthdaybut RED DOG, BLUE FLY: FOOTBALL POEMS she doesn't. Realistic emotions and circumstances sur- Sharon Bell Mathisillustrated byJan SpiveyGilchrist (Viking, rounding visits to family members in correctional institu- 1991)32 pages.ISBN:0-670-83623-0.Level: Ages 7-11. tions are interspersed with the birthday story Testa's note The first-person voice of these thirteen poems is a sev- at the end distinguishes between the typical and the un- enty-pound quarterback who describes the ups and usual in this story. From her background as an attorney downs of a championship season. Some of the ecstasies with clinical experience in prison legal services, Testa sug- of this youthful player are a touchdown, a playoff pizza, gests the importance of being a friend to someone with a a coach's compliment, and, of course, winning the tro- parent in prison. Full-color paintings effectively illustrate phy. And some of the agonies are trying to keep the sig- this picture story. nals straight at practice, playing a game against his cousin's 0 team, and catching a glimpse of the face of a player on the losing team: "His face /grab something/ from/ my OGBO: SHARING LIFE IN AN AFRICAN VILLAGE win." The action-packed, full-color illustrations show all Ifeoma Onyefulu. (U.S. edition: Gulliver/Harcourt 1996)24 team members, coaches, and cheerleaders as African pages.ISBN: 0-15-200498-X Level:Ages 7-1 a American. This singular, shining book features Obioma, a six-year- 000 old girl in eastern Nigeria who tells readers about ogbos, or age groups, in her community From the time they REMEMBER THAT are young, diildren of the same general age identify with Leslea Newman. Illustrated by Karen Ritz (Clarion,1996) 32 their ogbos, which extend beyond family ties to embrace pages.158N:0-395-661 56-a Level:Ages 4-8. the community as a whole. Members of ogbos play and When this picture story begins, Bubbe lives in an apart- work together and help one another in time of need. It is ment across the street from her family. "Everyone who a connection that lasts throughout their lives, regardless wants to eat has to help out a little. Remember that," of where they later live. Through text accompanied by Bubbe says to her granddaughter while preparing their lively color photographs, Obioma tells about the ogbo Sabbath dinner each Friday: 'Always rest when you're to which each member of her immediate family belongs tired. Remember that," Bubbe advises the girl when she in this beautifully designed and realized book. herself doesn't feel well. As her health changes, Bubbe 0 0 moves in with the family and then to a nursing home. Regardless of where she lives, Bubbe can be depended ORPHAN TRAIN RIDER:ONE BOY'S TRUE STORY upon to celebrate Shhabbos, offer pithy wisdom based Andrea Warren. (Houghton Mifflin,1996) 80 pages. ISBN: 0-395- upon her life experience, andbest of alltell her grand- 69822-Z LevekAges 9-16 and older. daughter she loves her. Most of all, remember that. This Orphan trains were part of so-called "placing out" pro- cheerful, gentle picture story about an aging elder con- grams in New York City and other Eastern cities between tains watercolor illustrations. 1854 and 1930, an effort to fmd homes for white children 000 without parental support. Lee Nailling was one of these children. In 1926, Nailling rode with his younger brother SAM IS MY HALF BROTHER on an "orphan train" to Texas. His story is skillfully in- Lizi Boyd. (Viking,1990) 32 pages.ISBN:0-670-83046-1. Level: terlaced with Warren's chilling overview of these social Ages 3-6. service programs. Because even today many survivors Now that baby Sam has joined the family, Hessie has are unwilling to identify themselves as former "train kids," trouble sharing parental attention with him when she goes Nailling's witness offers a rare glimpse into the lifelong to spend the summer with her father and stepmother. impact of his experiences. Black-and-white archival pho- Distinctive full-color illustrations accompany this univer- tos and Nailling family photos give human faces to infor- sal story of sibling rivalry with a contemporary twist. mation about the formal system that sent more than 0 0 131 SMOKY NIGHT early twentieth century, providea view of one middle- Eve Bunting.Illustrated by David Diaz (Harcourt Brace,1994)36 dass African American family'smeans of keeping in touch pages. ISBN:0-15-269954-6. Level:Ages 6-10. and passing down family traditionsto their children. In A young African American child describesa night of fear the story the Pinkneys depict Ernestine's dose relation- when rioting occurs in his city neighborhood."Rioting ship with her Aunt Odessa through their mutual interest can happen when people get angry" his mother explains in trains and adventure. A wise elder, Aunt Odessa knows to him. "They want to smash and destroy. They don't exactly how to encourage Ernestine's buddingsense of care anymore what's right and what's wrong." In the independence and assure that the child will be ableto middle of the night, a fire forces the boy and hismother make the long train trip back home by herself. to flee their apartment building and take refuge ina shel- 0 0 ter, where African American, Korean American, and Latino neighbors, some of whomare strangers to one TAXI!TAXI! another, have gathered in the confusion.Tensions be- Cari Best.Illuitrated by Dale Gottlieb.(Little,Brown,1994) 32 tween African American and Korean American residents pages.ISBN:0-316-09259-2 Level:Ages 4-8. of the neighborhood are specifically addressed.The Tina, a school-aged daughter of divorcedparents, looks child's anxiety is soothed but not extinguishedby his forwarcl to the Sunday afternoons she spends with her papi, mother's deliberate calm for the sake of her child,and driver of the most yellow twd in New York City Each Sun- these are the most powerful elements of thetext. Diaz's day, Tina and Papi drive to the country to tend their flower explosive artwork is a powerful componenthesets his and vegetable garden and to enjoy quiet times in each intense paintings against a multimedia backdrop thatis other's company. Spanish words and phrasesare sprinkled suggested by elements of the text and created withitems throughout this realistic picture of life ina bilingual, di- culled from everyday life. 0 0 vorced family Boldly colored pastel paintings enhance the spirited account of a loving relationship betweena father and daughter. SNOW DAY! 0 0 Barbara M.loosse Illustrated byJennifer Plecas.(Clarion,1995) 32 pages.ISBN: 0-395-66588-4. Level:Ages 3-6. TEAMMATES "The snow came at night, swirling and swishing./ It piled Peter Golenbock Illustrated by Paul Bacon. (Harcourt Brace on the ground in big, whipped peaks. /In the morning, Jovanovich,1990) 28 pages. ISBN:0-15-200603-6. Level: the plow could not get through. / Neither could theschool Ages 5-10. bus." No school? Robby makes hisown breakfast and This brief 111/4 x 83A in. account of segregation, racism, runs outside to slide with Zippy, the dog. Louise begins humiliation, and personal courage takes placeat a time the day by watching TV but is soon outside making snow in the United States "when automobileswere black and angels with Robby. Heather is toogrown-up to be ex- looked like tanks and the laundrywas white and hung cited, so she sleeps late, becoming involved withthe snow on clotheslines to dry" It features the former Negro fort that emerges after theirparents shovel the walk. Ev- Leagues, Brooklyn Dodgers General Manager Branch eryone plays, and the family ends the day with cocoa and Rickey, Dodgers first baseman Jackie Robinson, and short- a warm fireplace. Joosse's cheerful prose recreates howa stop Pee Wee Reese. Archival photographs and full-color snow day becomes a time out of time. Executed in wa- illustrations tell as much about the 1947 baseballseason tercolor, gouache, colored pencil, and pastel, Plecas's for Jackie Robinson, the first African American Major light-hearted illustrations mesh perfectly withthe brief League player, as does the short text. text of this 914 x 81/2 in. story 0 0 000 TWINNIES THE SUNDAY OUTING Eve Buntingillustrated by Nancy Catpenter. (Harcourt Brace Gloria Jean Pinkney.Illustrated by Jerry Pinkney (Dial,1994) 32 1997)32 pages.ISBN:0-15-291592-3.Level:Ages 4-Z pagesJSBN:0-8037-1198-0. Level:Ages 5-8. Twin baby sisters elicit a wide range of emotionsin a A prequel to BACK HOME (Dial, 1992), this bookshows young girl. She is frustrated by all the space they take up the days and steps leading up to Ernestine's visit to her and jealous of the attention they receive from theirpar- relatives' rural southern home. Bothstories, set in the ents, as well as from strangers. She is resigned to, and 132 0 1 proud of, helping her mother out. ("She doesn't know between two African American sisters and their great- what she'd do without me. I don't either. She'd be really great aunt. Here Susan and Sarah help Aunt Flossie open truly overwhelmed.") And she is intrigued by the babies' up a long-locked (and somewhat mysterious) room that play and accomplishments. ("Boo and Gwendolyn laugh had once belonged to their Aunt Mary to look for an old even when nothing is funny. So we laugh with them.") family Bible so the girls can add their own names to the Above all, however, she is fiercely protective, and "really, family tree. Howard builds suspense through the girls' truly overwhelmed" by how much she loves them. natural curiosity about what's in the room. Lucas's soft Bunting hits the mark in this story that describes the ups pastel illustrations complement the author's tone by get- and downs of big sisterhood in a warm and loving fam- ting across a sense of family intimacy in this original pic- ily. Carpenter's illustrafions, rendered in oil, are especially ture story dealing with African American heritage. effective in showing a contemporary family that is bound 0 0 by the love expressed in everyday moments. 0 0 WHEN I AM OLD WITH YOU Angela Johnson.fflustrated by David Soman. (Orchard Books, THE TWO MRS. GIBSONS 1990) 32 pages.ISBN:0-531-05884-0.Level:Ages3-6. Toyomi lgusillustrated by Daryl Wells.(Children's Book Press, A warm, tender relationship between a grandfather and 1996) 32 pages.ISBN:0-89239-135-9. Level:Ages 3-7. his young grandson is recounted through the child's ver- The two Mrs. Gibsons don't seem to have much in com- balized projections of all the things they'll do together monone is tall, has dark skin, and was born in Tennes- when the child is as old as Grandaddy: 'When I am old see, and the other is short, light-skinned, and was born with you, Grandaddy, we will play cards all day under- in Japan. The narrator of this story describes the two by neath that old tree by the road. /We'll drink cool water pointing out all their differences, but in the end, they have from a jug and wave at all the cars that go by" Gentle, one important thing in common: "They both loved my softly colored watercolor paintings show the African daddy and they both loved me." This lyrical and unusu- American grandfather and grandson doing today all the ally direct story of an interracial family focuses on the things they look forward to doing together in the future. child's joyful acceptance of differences. 0 0 000 THE WIDOW'S BROOM WHAT ZEESIE SAW ON DELANCEY STREET Chris Van Allsburg. (Houghton Miftlin,1992) 32 pages. ISBN: 0- Elsa Okon Radfflustrated by Madorie Priceman. (Simon & 395-64051-2.LevekAges 6-11. Schuster,1996) 32 pages.ISBN:0-689-80549-ZLevekAges When a witch's broom loses its power mid-ffight and falls, On her ninth birthday, Zeesie attends a package party rider and all, into Widow Shaw's vegetable patch, the with her parents, relatives, and neighbors. In the midst kindly widow swallows her own fear and takes the of all the excitement, she notices men taking turns go- wounded witch into her farmhouse. The witch leaves as ing into a mysterious room. Her father tells her it's a soon as she has healed herself; just as Widow Shaw ex- money room where the heads of households can either pected, but leaves the useless broom behind. The broom leave or take money according to their family's needs. soon proves itself to be far from uselessit feeds the Imagining that it must be.filled with sparkling jewels and chickens, chops wood, fetches water, and, of course, treasure, Zeesie sneaks in to take a peek, and what she sees never tires of sweeping. In fact, it becomes something of a inspires an act of gmat generosity on her part Set in a thriv- local celebrity until some of the townspeople feel that the ingJewish neighborhood in the1930s,both the story and the broom is evil and demand that it be destroyed. This haunt- lively illustrations are filled with ethnic and historical details. ing tale appears to take place about two hundred years ago, 000 although the theme of intolerance is especially pertinent to the late twentieth century Van Allsburg's gritty, soft-edged WHAT'S IN AUNT MARY'S ROOM? black-and-white illustrations continually shift perspectives Elizabeth Fitzgerald Howard.fflustrated byCedric Lucas.(Clarion, and perfectly capture contrasting responses to the unex- 1996) 32 pages.ISBN:0-395-69845-6.Level:Ages 4-Z pecteddelight and fear. Meticulous attention to detail The characters who first appeared in AUNT FLOSSIE'S is evident on every page, right down to the physical shape HATS (AND CRAB CAKES LATER!) (Clarion, 1991) are of the book: tall and slender like a broom. back in an equally charming story about the relationship 0 0 133 Children's Trade Books with Individuals,Groups, and Institutions as a Second ThematicStrand The title index on pp. 173-180 lists the number ofthe page on which each book is annotated.

TITLE AUTHOR DATE AGE LEVEL

Anthony Reynoso: Born to Rope Ginger Gordon 1996 Ages 7-10 and Martha Cooper

At the Beach Huy Voun Lee 1994 Ages 6-10

Aunt Flossie's Hats (And Crab Cakes Later!) Elizabeth Fitzgerald 1991 Ages 4-9 Howard

Baseball in the Barrios Henry Horenstein 1997 Ages 8-11

Batboy:An Inside Look at Spring Training Joan Anderson 1996 Ages 8-12

Be Patient, Abdul Dolores Sandoval 1996 Ages 5-7

Billy the Great Rosa Guy 1992 Ages 6-10

Blessed Are You:Traditional Everyday Hebrew Prayers Michelle Edwards 1993 Ages 3-6

Brown Angels:An Album of Pictures and Verse Walter Dean Myers 1993 All ages

Brown Honey in Broomwheat Tea Joyce Carol Thomas 1993 Ages 5-10

Camping in the Temple of the Sun Deborah Gould 1992 Ages 3-7

The Carolers Georgia Guback 1992 Ages 2-8

Christmas Counting Lynn Reiser 1992 Ages 2-5

Cinnamon, Mint, & Mothballs:A Visit to Grandmother's House Ruth Tiller 1993 Ages 4-8

A Day at Damp Camp George Ella Lyon 1996 Ages 6-9

Dear Bear Joanna Harrison 1994 Ages 4-8

Down the Road Alice Schertle 1995 Ages 4-7

Eagle Drum:On the Powwow Trail with a Young Grass Dancer Robert Crum 1994 Ages 7-11

Family Pictures/Cuadros de Familia Carmen Lomas Garza 1990 Age 7 and older

Father and Son Denize Lauture 1992 Ages 4-9

Flood Mary Calhoun 1997 Ages 5-8

The Gift of Changing Woman Tryntje Van Ness Seymour 1993 Ages 9-14

Giving Thanks:A Native American Good Morning Message Chief Jake Swamp 1995 Ages 5-10

Glorious Angels:A Celebration of Children Walter Dean Myers 1995 Age 3 and older 134 1 3 Going Home Eve Bunting 1996 Ages 5-9

Grandaddy and Janetta Helen V.Griffith 1993 Ages 4-8

Grandpappy Nancy White Carlstrom 1990 Ages 5-8

Gus and Grandpa and the Christmas Cookies Claudia Mills 1997 Ages 4-6

Habari Gani? / What's the News?: A Kwanzaa Story Sundaira Morninghouse 1992 Ages 4-9

Hairs / Pelitos Sandra Cisneros 1994 Ages 3-7

Halmoni and the Picnic Sook Nyul Choi 1993 Ages 5-8

Hanukkah! Roni Schotter 1990 Ages 4-6

Hard to Be Six Arnold Adoff 1991 Ages 2-5

Her Stories:African American Folktales, Fairy Tales, and True Tales Virginia Hamilton, 1995 Ages 7-14 and older reteller and author

How I Was Adopted Joanna Cole 1995 Ages 3-7

In Daddy's Arms I Am Tall:African Americans Celebrating FathersJavaka Steptoe 1997 Age 8 and older

In for Winter, Out for Spring Arnold Adolf 1991 Ages 5-8

Kwanzaa: A Family Affair Mildred Pitts Walter 1995 Age 9 and older

Martha Calling Susan Meddaugh 1994 Ages 4-8

Mary Cassatt Robyn Montana Turner 1992 Ages 7-12

Me, Dad and Number 6 Dana Andrew Jennings 1997 Ages 6-8

Mimi's Tutu Tynia Thomassie 1996 Ages 3-5

My First Kwanzaa Book Deborah M. Newton 1992 Ages 2-7 Chocolate

My Prairie Christmas Brett Harvey 1990 Ages 4-8

Night on Neighborhood Street Eloise Greenfield 1991 Ages 3-9

On Passover Cathy Goldberg Fishman 1997 Ages 4-8

On Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur Cathy Goldberg Fishman 1997 Ages 4-8

The Other Side:How Kids Live in a California Latino NeighborhoodKathleen Krull 1994 Ages 7-11

Pablo Remembers:The Fiesta of The Day of The Dead George Ancona 1993 Ages 5-9

Patrick Desjarlait: Conversations with a Native American Artist Neva Williams 1995 Ages 8-14 and older

134 135 Potato:A Tale from the Great Depression Kate Lied 1997 Ages 6-8 and older

Powwow George Ancona 1993 Ages 5-11

Powwow Summer:A Family Celebrates the Circle of Life Marcie R. Rendon 1996 Ages 7-11

The Seashore Book Charlotte Zolotow 1992 Ages 3-8

Seven Days of Kwanzaa Ella Grier 1997 Ages 3-8 and older

Starry Night David Spohn 1992 Ages 3-7

Sun and Spoon Kevin Herbes 1997 Ages 4-8

Take Me Out to the Ballgame Jack Norworth 1992 Age 3 and older

The Tie Man's Miracle Steven Schnur 1995 Ages 5-8

Tomorrow on Rocky Pond Lynn Reiser 1993 Ages 3-6

Two Lands, One Heart:An American Boy's Journey to His Jeremy Schmidt 1995 Ages 7-10 Mother's Vietnam and Ted Wood

The Ugly Menorah Marissa Moss 1996 Ages 5-8

Uncle Jed's Barbershop Margaree King Mitchell 1993 Ages 5-9 and older

A Visit to Amy-Claire Claudia Mills 1992 Ages 4-7

The Window Michael Dorris 1997 Ages 10-13 and older

Working Cotton Sher ley Anne Williams 1992 Ages 6-9

The Year of No More Corn Helen Ketteman 1993 Ages 4-8

Zora Hurston and the Chinaberry Tree William Miller 1994 Ages 6-9

Children's Trade Books with Individuals,Groups, and Institutions as a Third Thematic Strand The title index on pp. 173 -180 lists the number ofthe page on which each book is annotated.

Abuelita's Paradise Carmen Santiago Nodar 1992 Ages 4-7

All the Lights in the Night Arthur A. Levine 1991 Ages 5-9

The Block Langston Hughes 1995 Age 11 and older

Bloomers! Rhoda Blumberg 1993 Ages 7-10 and older

Children of Clay:A Family of Pueblo Potters Rina Swentzell 1992 Ages 7-13

The Children of Topaz:The Story ofa Japanese-American Michael 0.Tunnell 1996 Ages 8-14 and older Internment Camp, Based on a Classroom Diary and George W.Chilcoat

136 135 Christmas Tree Memories Aliki 1991 Ages 3-6

Come Back, Salmon:How a Group of Dedicated Kids Molly Cone 1992 Ages 6-10 Adopted Pigeon Creek and Brought It Back to Life

Dolphin Man:Exploring the World of Dolphins Laurence Pringle 1995 Ages 7-11

Drumbeat... Heartbeat:A Celebration of the Powwow Susan Braine 1995 Ages 7-11 (We Are Still Here)

Emeka's Gift:An African Counting Story Ifeoma Onyefulu 1995 Ages 4-7

Home Place Crescent Dragonwagon 1990 Ages 7-10

Hopscotch around the World Mary D. Lankford 1992 Ages 6-9

How My Family Lives in America Susan Kuklin 1992 Ages 4-7

I Am a Jesse White Tumbler Diane Schmidt 1990 Ages 7-12

Kinaalda: A Navajo Girl Grows Up Monty Roessel 1993 Ages 7-11 and older

Mac & Marie & the Train Toss Surprise Elizabeth Fitzgerald 1993 Ages 5-8 Howard

The Magic Moonberry Jump Ropes Dakari Hru 1996 Ages 4-7

My Daddy Was a Soldier:A World War ll Story Deborah Kogan Ray 1990 Ages 7-10

My Two Uncles Judith Vigna 1995 Ages 4-8 and older

Seven Candles for Kwanzaa Andrea Davis Pinkney 1993 Ages 3-9

Shannon: An Ojibway Dancer Sandra King 1993 Ages 7-11

Six Words, Many Turtles, and Three Days in Hong Kong Patricia McMahon 1997 Ages 8-11

Taking Flight:My Story Vicki Van Meter 1995 Ages 10-12 with Dan Gutman

Totem Pole Diane Hoyt-Goldsmith 1990 Ages 5-10

Wheels Shirley Hughes 1991 Ages 3-8

136 137 t> CHAPTER TEN CHILDREN'S TRADE BOOKS wrni POWER, AUTHORITY, AND GOVERNANCE AS THE MAJOR TI-MMAIIC STRAND

AIDA ANASTASIA'S ALBUM Leonlyne Pric4 retellerfflustrated by Leo and Diane Dillon Hugh Brewster. (U.S.edition: Madison Press/Hyperion,1996) 64 (Harcourt Brace lovanovich,1990) 32 pages.ISBN:0-15-200405-X pages.ISBN:0-7868-0292-8. Level:Ages 10-13 and older. Level:Ages 7-14 and older. The inviting design and layout of this 10 x 10 in. biogra- This handsome 111/4 x 101/4 in. volume provides readers phy of Anastasia Romanov, the youngest daughter of Tsar with an internationally respected African American op- Nicholas II of Russia, features dozens of photographs of era star's retelling of this opera narrative, which, she the young grand duchess and her family. Samplings of states, has given her "great inspiration onstage and off." Anastasia's accomplished artistic efforts also grace many In a storyteller's note at the end of the book, Price cites pages. Brewster writes of Anastasia and her family with the qualities she admires in the Ethiopian Princess who an eye on the everyday aspects of these highly privileged was my best friend operatically and was a natural for individuals' lives, but does not ignore the political over- me because my skin was my costume." These qualities tones that led to their ultimate tragedy Excerpts from her include Aida's "deep devotion and love for her country letters to teachers and friends serve to bring this portrait and peopleher nobility strength and courage." They of Anastasia into even sharper focus, while mention of are expressed in the Dillons' rich colors, dramatic the questions that still surround her death may send in- costumings of characters, inventive stagings of action, trigued readers in search of additional information. and multiple uses of ancient Egyptian images. The tragic 000 enslavement central to the opera is not romanticized, although the story contains romantic elements. Tradi- THE CHILDREN OF TOPAZ:THE STORY OF A tional typography combined with the elegance of con- JAPANESE-AMERICAN INTERNMENT CAMP, temporary book design and production complement the BASED ON A CLASSROOM DIARY Dillons' contemporary illustrative style. Michael 0.Tunnell and George W.Chilcoat (Holiday House, 0 1996)74 pages.ISBN: 0-8234-1239-3. LevetAges 8-14 and older. Journal entries kept by Miss Hori's third grade class from THE AMISTAD SLAVE REVOLT AND AMERICAN March 8 to August 12, 1943, provide the springboard for ABOLITION an account of day-to-day life in the Topaz Relocation Karen Zeinert. (Linnet Books,1997)101 pages. Pbk ISBN:0-208- Center as it was experienced by Japanese American chil- 02439-5. Level:Age 11 and older. dren. Their brief, upbeat entries describing camp life stand An account of this historic revolt on the ship LaAmistalin in stark contrast to the grim realities described in the text 1839 led by the indomitable Mende man known both as and shown in the accompanying black-and-white docu- Cinque and as Senge Pieh, and of abolitionist legal cases mentary photographs. arising afterwards, was written ftom primary source mate- 000 rials at the Amistad Itesearrh Center and the New Haven Colony Historical Society The intricacies of the court cases THE COPPER LADY and the principal figures in all stages of this prolonged se- Alice Ross and Kent Ross.fflustrated by Leslie Bowman.(On My quence of events are explained with clarity Footnotes, two Own). (Carolrhoda,1997) 48 pages.ISBN: 0-87614-934-4. Level: bibliographies, a map, archival visual material, and a sum- Ages6-9. mary of the aftermath for leading individuals add to the Living in Paris in the 1880s, Andre, a nine-year-old who value of a compact report. The title contains a misnomer: was taken in by a neighbor after his parents died, earns "slave revolt." The thirty-five survivors of the tortuous trip his keep by helping Mr. Malet deliver coal. On his rare from Sierra Leone, the subsequent revolt on the ship La breaks from work, he sneaks down the street to a shop Amistad, and various imprisonments were never enslaved. where Mr. Bartholdi is supervising the construction of a 0 0 13 7 139 gigantic lady made of copper. It is meant to be a gift read fictional account of one girl's awakeningpolitical from the people of France to the people ofthe United consciousness introduces the historical struggle for States, they tell him. Fascinated by theprocess, Andre women's voting rights. returns day after day to watch and,as he watches, he 0 develops a great curiosity about the placeto which the completed statue will be delivered. Whenit is finally MAN AND MUSTANG shipped to the United States, Andre decides to travel with George Ancona. (Macmillan,1992) 48 pages. ISBN:0-02-700802- it on the same shipas a stowaway. AlthoughAndre is a 9. Level:Ages 8-13. fictional character, the details about the building of the This photoessay with numerous black-and-whitepho- Statue of Liberty and its perilous journey overseas are tographs describes the way in which the U.S.Bureau of based on facts. Children who are making the transition Land Management (BLM) controls themustang popu- from beginning reading to longer chapter books will find lation in order to maintainan ecological balance in the a lot of drama and a surprising amount of depth in this Great Basin. After the wild horsesare rounded up, they extremely accessible story. are turned over to penitentiaries where prisonerscan 00 volunteer to work with horsesas part of job training. After a horse is gentled, it is readyto be adopted by a HIAWATHA: MESSENGER OF PEACE family as part of the BLM's Adopt-A-Horseproject. Dennis Brindell Fradin.(McEldeny Books,1992) 40 pages.15BN: Ancona goes through the step-by-stepprocess of a com- 0-689-50519-1. Level:Ages 7-11 and older. plicated government program that will be ofgreat in- After briefly explaining the series of historicalerrors terest to many young horse enthusiasts. and misunderstandings that ledto the fictional char- 0 acter of Longfellow's famous poem, the authorprovides a concise account of the life ofthe flesh-and- OFFICER BUCKLE AND GLORIA blood Hiawatha. Along with his Huron friend, Peggy Rathmann. (Putnam, 1995) 32pages. ISBN: 0-399-22616- Degandawida, Hiawatha convinced fivewarring tribes 8. Level:Ages3-Z (Mohawk, Oneida, Onondaga, Cayuga, and Seneca) Whenever Officer Buckle visits elementary schoolsto to lay down their weapons and form the Iroquois Fed- give his lecture on personal safety his audiences driftoff eration, a representative system of government that to sleep. But once his trusty police dog Gloria beginsto is often credited with providing a model for American accompany him, suddenly his show is a hit! Little does colonists three hundred years later. In addition to re- Officer Buckle know, however, that his new-foundpopu- productions of historical prints by European and larity is actually due to Gloria's upstaging himbehind his American artists, the text is illustrated withpaintings backliterallyas she enacts a dramatic interpretation by four contemporary Iroquois artists: John Fadden, of each of Officer Buckle's tips. Lively pen-and-inkdraw- Arnold Jacobs, Cleveland Sandy, and 000 Ernest Smith. ings with watercolor washes add humorto this modern 00cautionary tale. A LONG WAY TO GO Zibby ()neat illustrated by Michael Dooling.(Viking,1990) 54 OUR JOURNEY FROM TIBET:BASEDON A TRUE pages.ISBN:0-670-82532-8. Level: Ages 7-10 and older. STORY Eight-year-old Lila is the pampered eldest daughter in an Laurie Dolphin. Photographs by Nancy _Jo Johnson.Witha letter upper-class family living in New York City during World from His Holiness the Dalai Lama. Afterword by RinchenK War I. Although she bristles under seemingly unreason- ChoegyaL(Dutton,1997)40 pages. ISBN: 0-525-45577-9. Level: able rules about how she should behave,it has never oc- Ages 9-12 and older. curred to her to question her father's authority until she Dolphin and Johnson recreate the journey ofSonam, a fmds out that her grandmother has been arrested at a young girl who flees Tibet with her siblingsto escape Women's Suffrage demonstration. When her parents the oppression of Chinese rule. Thetext begins with a refuse to talk to her about it, Lila finds her own ways to brief summary of the Chinese takeoverof Tibet and the learn more about her grandmother's political activity and absence of religious, political, and educationalfreedom even marches in a demonstration herself. This easy-to- under the Chinese government. Itgoes on to describe

140 Tibetans' devotion to His Holiness the Dalai Lama, their PUBLIC DEFENDER: LAWYER FOR THE PEOPLE exiled spiritual and political leader who advocates non- Joan Hewett Photographs by Richard Hewett (Lodestar Bool.4 violence in the Tibetan quest for freedom. Sonam then 1991)48 pages.ISBN:0-525-67340-Z Level:Ages 9-14. recalls her journey with an older brother and two sisters This photoessay describes typical activities in the from Tibet to Dharamsala, India, where free schools have worklife of Janice Fukai, an Asian American lawyer in been established for Tibetan refugee children. It is a deci- Los Angeles County. Black-and-white photographs sion that Sonarn's parents make for their children's fu- accompany the straightforward account of an indi- ture, even though Sonam knows she may never see them vidual public defender's work with clients who have again. The decision to write the entire text in Sonam's been charged with serious crimes. first-person voice makes the narrative feel a bit too con- 0 0 trived at times, but the facts and emotions it conveys are authentic. Likewise, the color photographs accompany- RED SCARF GIRL:A MEMOIR OF THE CULTURAL ing the description of Sonam's flight from her homeland REVOLUTION appear to be documentary photographs of other chil- il-U Jiang. Foreword by David Henry Hwang. (HarperCollins, dren and other escapes from Tibet, but they are presented 1997)28. 5 pages.ISBN:0-06-027585-5. Level: Age 12 and older. in a way that minimizes confusion and captures the cour- Readers won't need prior knowledge of the Chinese age and trepidation that any such journey involves. A let- Cultural Revolution in the 1960s to be compelled by ter from His Holiness the Fourteenth Dalai Lama that this gripping description of the revolution's impact on concludes the book assures readers that the oppression the life of twelve-year-old ji-Li Jiang and her family, or of Tibetans in their own country and the journey of to come away with an understanding of the ideas that Sonam, her siblings, and so many other refugee children fueled the revolution and the personal price paid by and families, is very real indeed. thousands as those ideas were carried out by Chair- 0 0 man Mao and his government. In the New China of the revolution, family connections are all it takes to PEACEBOUND TRAINS condemn someone, even if the "sin" of the family took Haemi Balgassi. Illustrated by Chris K Soentpiet (Clarion,1996) place many years ago. As a result, because her grand- 46 pages.ISBN: 0-395-72093-1. Level: Ages 8-12 and older. parents were landlords, Ji-Li and her family are sus- During these years while her mother, or umma, is pect. Ji-Li, a bright and eager student before the revo- away in the U.S. Army, young Sumi lives with her lution began, starts to dread going to school, where grandmother, or harmuny. Sumi feels particularly Party loyalty now means more than academic achieve- lonesome for Umma one day, so Harmuny tells the ment. She is humiliated when her name appears in a girl what happened when Umma was a baby in Seoul, da-zi-bao, a type of propaganda poster that raises sus- Korea, in 1951. Fleeing from Seoul and increasing dan- picions about people's actions without any basis of gers, Harmuny and Sumi's grandfather, or harabujy, truth. And she is frightened when her father is detained took their children and the belongings they could carry for weeks by the government for refusing to confess and started walking toward far away Pusan. Finally to a "crime" he did not commit; indeed, he does not Harabujy decided that the best chance his wife and even know what it is they want him to admit to. IM- their children might have for survival would be to ride tially, Ji-Li had been swept up in revolutionary fervor, with hundreds of other desperate refugees on top of eagerly identifying "four olds"old ideas, old customs, the last train going south. The family made it safely, old cultures, and old habitsto be destroyed. But now but they never saw Harabujy again. The story is based she is torn and confused. Her teachers tell her she is on actual experiences in the lives of Balgassi's mother an "educable" child who can overcome her back- and grandmother. Both she and Soentpiet were born ground if she denounces her family, but this, Ji-Li rein Seoul. Soentpiet's marvelous watercolors grace each alizes, she is not prepared or willing to do. RED SCARF page, expanding the contemporary and historical GIRL is Ji-Li Jiang's true story not Orwellian fiction. scenes and specifying cultural details. This compelling Her voice is as real as the events it describes in this fictional account is divided into eight short sections. important, illuminating memoir. 0 0 0 0 139 141 STAR OF FEAR, STAR OF HOPE where they wait and hope that Israel willcome to their Jo Hoestlandt. Illustrated by Johanna Kang.(Walker,1995) rescue. Menelik's story is grounded in cultural details, 32 pages. ISBN: 0-8027-8373-2. Level: Ages 7-10 and older. as well as the fervent hope for freedom. Menelik was Helen looks back with regret and sadnesson events in introduced in an earlier story, DAY OF DELIGHT her childhood during the Nazi occupation ofFrance. (Dial, 1994). As a small girl, she was unable to comprehend the fear 000 and injustice experienced by her best friend, Lydia, who was Jewish. To Helen, the yellowstar was pretty" and Lydia's decision to go home aftera frightening event rather than spend the night for Helen's birthday was hurtful. The day after her birthday, Helen has forgiven Lydia for leaving, but it'stoo late. The Germans have come, and Lydia and her familyare gone. Stark, full-page illustrations accompany a pain- 000ful, somber story about the Holocaust.

TOUSSAINT L'OUVERTURE:THE FIGHT FOR HAITI'S FREEDOM Walter Dean Myers. Illustrated by Jacob Lawrence. (Simon & Schuster,1996) 40 pages. ISBN: 0-689-80126-2. Level: Ages 9-12. Toussaint L'Ouverture dreamed of freedom for the people of African descent in Haiti, and when Blacks started to revolt against their French and Spanishop- pressors in the late eighteenth century, he proved to be a brilliant military strategist whose leadershipwas invaluable and inspiring to his people. Lawrencecre- ated forty-one bold, harrowing paintingsto tell the story of Toussaint and slavery and the struggle for freedom in Haiti. His dramatic, emotionalart is balanced by Myers's skillful, measured narrative thatserves to tell riveting story while pacing therunaway power of 000the images.

WHEN I LEFT MY VILLAGE Maxine Rose Schur:Illustrated by Brian Pinkney.(Dia1,1996) 62 pages. ISBN: 0-8037-1562-5. Level:Ages 8-10 and older. Young Menelik describes the dangerous journey he and his family make in an effort to flee Ethiopia, where they face intense oppression andscorn because they are Jewish. The forced ffight of thousands of the Beta Israel, the Jews of Ethiopia, to Israel in the mid1980s and early1990s was the inspiration for this perilous story in which Menelik tells of his family's efforts to escape by foot down the mountains and across the plains. Fighting exhaustion andnear starvation, Menelik and his family finally reacha border camp,

142 Children's Trade Books with Power, Authority,and Governance as a Second Thematic Strand The title index on pp. 173-180 lists the number of thepage on which each book is annotated.

TITLE AUTHOR YEAR AGE LEVEL

The Ballot Box Battle Emily Arnold McCully 1996 Ages 5-8

Baseball Saved Us Ken Mochizuki 1993 Ages 7-11 and older

Big Annie of Calumet: A True Story of the Industrial Revolution Jerry Stanley 1996 Ages 10-15 and older

Bloomers! Rhoda Blumberg 1993 Ages 7-10 and older

The Boys'War: Confederate and Union Soldiers Jim Murphy 1990 Age 9 and older Talk about the Civil War

The Day Gogo Went to Vote:South Africa, 1994 Elinor Batezat Sisulu 1996 Ages 7-10 and older

Eleanor Roosevelt A Life of Discovery Russell Freedman 1993 Ages 9-14 and older

The Feather-Bed Journey Paula Kurzband Feder 1995 Ages 5-8 and older

A Forever Family Roslyn Banish and 1992 Ages 6-11 Jennifer Jordan-Wong

The Journey:Japanese Americans, Racism and Renewal Sheila Hamanaka 1990 Age 9 and older

The Kid's Guide to Social Action:How to Solve the Barbara Lewis 1991 Age 8 and older Social Problems You ChooseAnd Turn Creative Thinking into Positive Action

Places of Refuge:Our National Wildlife Refuge System Dorothy Hinshaw Patent 1992 Ages 9-12 and older

A Separate Battle:Women and the Civil War Ina Chang 1991 Age 9 and older

Tell Them We Remember:The Story of the Holocaust Susan D. Baachrach 1994 Age 9 and older

Children's Trade Books with Power, Authority, andGovernance as a Third Thematic Strand The title index on pp. 173-180 lists the number of thepage on which each book is annotated.

Antarctica:The Last Unspoiled Continent Laurence Pringle 1992 Ages 8-12 and older

Here Comes the Mail Gloria Skurzynski 1992 Ages 4-8

Many Thousand Gone:African Americans from Virginia Hamilton 1993 All ages Slavery to Freedom

Martha Calling Susan Meddaugh 1994 Ages 4-8

Oh, Freedom! Kids Talk about the Civil Rights Movement Casey King and 1997 Ages 8-14 with the People Who Made It Happen Linda Barrett Osborn

143 1> CH/MU EILEVIEN CHILDREN'S TRADE BOOKSWITH PRODUCTION, DISTRIBUTION, AND CONSUMPTIONAS THE MAJOR THEMATIC STRAND

BATBOY:AN INSIDE LOOK AT SPRING TRAINING trailers that are pulled behind, color photographs, new Joan Anderson. Photographs by Matthew Cavanaugh. to this revised edition, reveal the many makes, mod- (Lodestar,1996) 48 pages.ISBN:0-525-67511-6. Level:Ages 8-12 els, and uses of "big rigs." Brief text on each page pro- Kenny Garibaldi is a batboy for the San Francisco Gi- vides an explanation of the truck pictured, including, ants during spring training in Scottsdale, Arizona. It's when it has one, its nickname among truckers (a short a lot of work for the thirteen-year-old, who must pre- trailer, for example, is called a "pup"). A glossary of pare uniforms and equipment before each game, be some of the CB radio terms used by truckers when ready to predict and meet the needs of individual play- they're on the road is induded in a section at the end ers, and help clean up the locker room at the end of of this book that will thrill young wheel enthusiasts. each tiring day. But in return, Kenny gets to work side- 0 by-side with some of the biggest names in major league baseball, and make friends with potential stars THE BOBBIN GIRL of the future, as he learns about the long, hard road EmilyArnold McCully. (Dial,1996) 32 pages.ISBN: 0-8037-1828- to the major leagues. Text and color photographs put 4.Level:Ages 8-1 1 and older. greater emphasis on the hard work involved and less Ten-year-old Rebecca Putney has to stand on a box to on the glamour of life as a professional athlete. reach the company ledger and sign her name after 000 working all week with other girls and women in a New England textile mill in the1830s. Rebecca is less naive BE PATIENT, ABDUL than she might appear because innocence disappears Dolores Sandoval.(Margaret K McElderry,1996) 32 pages.ISBN: quickly in a workplace replete with injustices, inju- 0-689-50607-4. Level:Ages5-Z ries, and twelve-hour workdays. Loosely basing the Abdul lives in Freetown, the capital of Sierra Leone. story on the well-documented childhood experiences The seven-year-old sells oranges to earn money for of Harriet Hanson Robinson, McCully focuses on the his school fees, but when business is slow, he has a mill workers' first strike in Lowell, Massachusetts. Wa- hard time being patienthe loves to learn and wants tercolors and pastels illustrate each page of a picture to be sure he'll be able to continue his education. The book story full of written and visual historical details. day that Momma marches in the big parade to cel- A page of historical information concludes the book. ebrate the anriiversary of Sierra Leone's independence, 000 Abdul's worries come to an end, but not before he's learned to appreciate what patience can bring, and not BREAD IS FOR EATING before readers have learned a little about contempo- David Gershator and Phil lis. Illustrated by Emma Shaw rary life for a child in this West African nation. This Smith. (Henry Holt, 1995) 28 pages. ISBN:0-8050-3173-1. picture book features full-page, full-color acrylic illus- Level:Ages 4-8. trations and a text well-suited for emergent readers. When her little boy leaves bread on his plate, Marnita 000 says, "Bread is for eating." Gently she reminds him of the elements ripening the seeds and the people harvest- BIG RIGS ing grain. She sings of these things, of millers and bak- Hope Irvin Marston. (Cobblehill,1993) 48 pages. ISBN: 0-525- ers, of family members working to earn money to buy 65123-3. Level:Ages3-6. bread, and "of people around the world, dreaming of Trucks, trucks, and more trucks, all of them BIG, are bread." Readers are invited to think in new ways because the subjects of this book filled with photographs and of the warm, rich colors of the ink drawings on every facts. From under the hood to inside the cab to the page. Spanish and English words are provided along with 142 145 a musical notation for the short title song, the Spanish better life for the next generation. Heo combines oil paint- language refrain of which is part of the English language ings, pencil drawings, and collage to create her distinc- text. The book's restrained energy combined with the tive art style. Her innovative use of color and perspective unusual perspectives and detailed borders of itsart makes reflects Yungsu's moods throughout the book. 00it one to re-read, sing, and remember. 000 FIRE AT THE TRIANGLE FACTORY EXTRA CHEESE, PLEASE! MOZZARELLA'S Holly Littlefield. Illustrated by Mary O'Keefe Young. (On My Own) JOURNEY FROM COW TO PIZZA (Carolrhoda,1996) 48 pages.15BN: 0-87614-868-2. Level:Ages 8- Cris Peterson.Photographs by Alvis Upitis (Boyds Mills Press, 11 and older. 1994)32 pages.158N:1-56397-177-1.Level:Ages 5-8. The circumstances of the Triangle Shirtwaist Company Author Cris Peterson explains how the milk from her Fire of 1911are related through the fictional experiences dairy farm in Grantsburg, Wisconsin, becomes cheese of Minnie Levine, a fourteen-year-old Jewish girl whose that tops the home-made pizza which isa Friday-night father was born in Poland, and Tesa Monnetti, her Catho- tradition in her home. The simple, appealingnarra- lic coworker from an Italian family. The girls' working tive, accompanied by full-color photographs, describes conditions and experiences at the time of the fireare what happens from farm to factory in orderto turn based on reports of survivors. Briefpages with historical milk into cheese. background that are more challenging to read precede 000 and follow the story This extremely easy-to-readstory introduces some of the prejudices of that time and situ- FARMERS' MARKET ation. Full-color watercolor illustrations onevery page Paul Brett Johnson. (Orchard,1997) 32 pages.158N:0-531- further enliven this special format for findingout about 30014-5. Level:Ages 4-Z a tragic event in U.S. history On summer Saturdays, Laura and her familyare up 000 before sunrise to load their pick-up truck with theveg- etables they will sell at the farmers' market inLexing- FIRE TRUCK NUTS AND BOLTS ton. It is still dark when they arrive at Vme Street to Jerry Boucher. (Carolrhoda,1993)40 pages.158N:0-87614-783- set up their stand and put out the vegetables: "We do XLevel:Ages 5-10. it the same every week," she observes. As dawn breaks How is a fire truck built? Step by step and piece by piece. and customers start to file by, Laura helpsout by keep- Simple text and large color photographs detail thepro- ing the vegetable baskets on display well stocked,as duction of one of these huge trucks, starting with the her brother and parents each have theirown responsi- design process and ending witha shiny red pumper en- bilities with the stand. But just beforenoon, when gine ready for the road. things have started to slow down, Mom tells her that 00 she's earned some free time and Lauraruns off to find her "Saturday friend," a girl herage whose mother GOOD-BYE, CURTIS has a flower stand. Detailed acrylic paintings realisti- Kevin Henke& illustrated by Marisabina Russo. (Greenwillow, cally portray a busy farmers' market froma child's 1995)24 pagesiSBN:0-688-12828-9. Level:Ages 3-6. point of view. Retiring after forty-two years as a mail carrier, Curtis's 000 last day making his rounds is filled with memories, good wishes, and small gifts from an appreciative community. FATHER'S RUBBER SHOES "We'll miss you, Curtis," they all tell him, and it is obvi- Yumi Heo.(Orchard,1995) 32 pages.ISBN: 0-531-06873-0. Level: ous that Curtis will miss his customers, too. Henkes's Ages4-8. simple, patterned text will hookyoung listeners who are Yungsu has difficulty adjusting to life in the United States already tuned in to the comforting predictability of neigh- after his family moves from Korea. Since theywere all borhood routines. Russo's brightly colored gouache paint- happy in Korea, he can't understand why they left. When ings bring the neighborhood filled with shops and houses, his father tells him a story from hisown childhood, it children and grownups, and cats and dogsto life. helps him to understanda parent's desire to provide a 000 14 146 GROWING UP IN COAL COUNTRY tions of their designs. The modestly produced 83/8x 107/8 Susan Campbell Bartoletti.(Houghton Mifilin,1996)127 pages. in. book printed in two colors contains a wealth of ac- ISBN:0-395-77847-6. Level:Ages 9-16. cessible information about this art form. This account of work and childhood chronicles the hor- 000 rific circumstances in which children labored and lived in the coal mining towns of northeastern Pennsylvania JELLY BEANS FOR SALE during the late 1800s and early 1900s. Stimulated by hear- Bruce McMillan. (Scholastic 1996)32 pages.ISBN:0-590-86584- ing the personal stories of her late husband's grandpar- 6.Level:Ages 4-8. ents, the author began to record many oral histories. She A jelly bean stand staffed by two children provides the read old mining records, visited museums, and studied basis for an introduction to the monetary values of pen- old photographs. She reports how women and children nies, nickels, dimes, and quarters. With jelly beans that worked at home, how children's schooling and health cost one cent apiece, McMillan is able to show the val- suffered, and how the cycle was repeated from genera- ues of various coins by showing different coin combi- tion to generation. Bartoletti's masterfully developed nations next to their exact value in jelly beans. Appeal- narrative allows her human subjects to speak for them- ing full-color photographs on facing pages show the selves. The varied array of memorable black-and-white young customers enjoying their purchases. Added notes photos documents their experience. at the back include information on the history of jelly 000 beans and a description of the seven-day manufacturing process used to make jelly beans today. THE HEART OF THE WOOD Marguerite W. Davol. Illustrated by Sheila Hamanaka. (Simon & Schuster,1992) 32 pages.ISBN: 0-671-74778-9.LevekAges 3-8. KIDS AT WORK: LEWIS HINE AND THE CRUSADE Illustrations created in oil paints on bark paper celebrate AGAINST CHILD LABOR the artistry and multiple procedures leading toa joyous Russell Freedman. (Clarion,1994)104 pages. ISBN: 0-395-58703- celebration complete with "music, now high, now low, / 4. Level:Ages 8-14 and older. made by the fiddler with fmgers and bow, /playing the As an investigative reporter for the National Child Labor fiddle created to find / the song in the heart of the wood, / Committee during the early twentieth century, photog- shaped by the woodcarver with music in mind." The lan- rapher Lewis Hine documented the fact that children guage pattern for THE HOUSE THAT JACK BUILT were being exploited in factories, mills, mines, and fields serves Davol's theme of creativity while Hamanaka's in- across the nation. Just as Hine had found ways earlier to clusive vision of community embraces all in this set up his camera quicldy to record the faces of immi- celebratory full-color picture book. grant families in the harsh, poorly lit circumstances of 000 Ellis Island, he brashly entered areas where he was un- welcome to document evidence of little boys and girls IN THE STREET OF THE TEMPLE CLOTH PRINTERS laboring. Fifty-nine of Hine's photographs are repro- Dorothy Field.(Pacific Educational Press,1996) 36 pages. duced here with great technical skill. His works retain (Paperback with perfect binding) ISBN:1-895766-07-9. Level: the power to astonish and anger, as does Freedman's ac- Ages 9-14. count of the psychological and physical oppression of The families who create temple cloths live and work in children used as beasts of burden. Freedman's written one section of old Ahmedabad, India. Temple cloths are portrait of Hine at work is equally moving. associated with the worship of the Hindu Mother God- 0 VII 0 dess whose image is in the center of each hand colored assemblage of blockprints. Stories unfold on dothas read- MAMA BEAR ers follow the exacting work of Vaghi, Otamben, Dilip, Chyng Feng Sun. illustrated by Lo16, Robinson. (Houghton Jagadish, Babu, Kacharaji, and others whose families be- Mifflin,1994) 32 pages.ISBN:0-395-63412-1. Level:Ages 4-8. fore them also created drawings and block prints for the From the moment she first saw it in the toy shop win- temple cloths. Folldoristic and other cultural dimensions dow, Mei-Mei has desperately wanted the huge stuffed of textile printing are explained and then shown ina va- bear, even though she knows her mama doesn't earn riety of photographs of people at work and reproduc- enough money in her job at the neighborhood Chinese

147 144 restaurant to buy such extravagant luxuries. Mei-Mei the garage. The understated, poetic text brilliantlycap- manages to earn some money of her own with occa- tures the rhythm of routine as Pilkey highlights small sional odd jobs around the restaurant, but she still can't but evocative details, such as the snap ofgreen rubber save enough to buy "the softest, warmest bear in the bands and the awkwardness of riding a bicyde whilecar- whole world." Luckily, Mei-Mei's mama is soft andwarm rying a cloth bag filled with newspapers. As the paper- and gives great bear hugs, and that is themost important boy and his dog make their rounds through the dark, thing of all. The warm, quiet tone of this refreshingly familiar streets, the early morning sky gradually light- realistic story is echoed in the softly colored illustrations ens. It is streaked with bright orange and pink hues by that accompany it. the time all the newspapers are delivered, and thepaper- 0 boy must pull down his window shade to shutout the light when he returns to his own warm bed. Pilkey'sex- THE MILKMAN'S BOY pressive acrylic paintings playfully use light and dark con- Donald HalL Illustrated by Greg Shed (Walker,1997) 32pages. trasts to provide a delicious sense of being awake and ISBN:0-8027-8465-8. Level: Ages 5-9. active in a sleeping world. His paintings carry the mood Paul's father delivers a route of bottled milkto individual through to the story's condusion where we find thepa- doorsteps, an older brother delivers anotherroute, and his perboy asleep and dreaming in the wide-awake world. mother manages the business end of the family's liveli- hood. Everyone washes bottles, andyoung Paul watches for cracks and chips. Farmer neighbors bring the milk dur- POTATO: A TALE FROM THE GREAT DEPRESSION ing the early evening, and after the family fills the bottles Kate Lied. Illustrated by Lisa Campbell Ernst. (National at 4:00 a.m. Paul pushes paper caps into bottle tops. Hall Geographic Society,1997) 32 pages,ISBN:0-7922-3521-5. Level: describes a time when families keptcows in their back- Ages 6-8 and older. yands, when people depended on horse-drawnwagons, This picture story enveloped in brown involvesa family when small business owners knew theircustomers by who finds two weeks of work digging potatoes in De- name, and when a person would die from a high fever pression-era Idaho. "This is a story about my grandfa- occasionally Later it became known that sucha fever might ther and my grandmother. It is also a story about the have originated from drinkingraw milk. Historic derails Great Depression and how hard things were," begins this about dairying fill a picture story about the Graves Family story written when the author, now twelve, was eight Dairy in Connecticut. Shed's paintings capture the feeling years old. Written from the viewpoint of a very young of the early twentieth century andare rendered in gouache girl and bordered in brown, the narrativemoves the fam- on canvas. An endnote relates Hall's childhood connec- ily from a round-the-dock two-week stint ofpotato dig- tiori to a family dairy and suggests additional changes af- ging in Idaho back home to Iowa where they trade pota- fecting former family dairy businesses. James Cross Giblin's toes for necessities and continue to work "very hard to book MILK THE FIGHT FOR PURITY (Crowell,1986) live on what little they had." provides substantial verification of this fictionalaccount Cs 0 about a family dairy 111) 0 THE SACRED HARVEST: OJIBWAY WILD RICE GATHERING THE PAPERBOY Gordon Regguinti.Photographs by Dale Kakkak (Lerner,1992) Dav Pilkey.(Orchard,1996) 32 pages.ISBN: 0-531-09506-1. Level: 48 pages.ISBN:0-8225-2650-6. Level: Ages 7-13. Ages3-Z Narrative by an Ojibway writer and color photographs On the wordless opening double-page spreads,we see a by a Menominee photographer recount eleven-year-old truck leaving the loading dock of the Morning StarGa- Glen Jackson's first time gathering wild rice with his fa- zette and traveling through residential streets to the house ther near their home on the Leech Lake Reservation in where the paperboy is just getting out of bed. Themoon Minnesota. In addition to showing the harvest from start and stars shine brightly in the pitch black skyas the pa- to fmish, the author continually links the tradition to perboy and his dog go through their early morningritu- Glen's Ojibway heritage with the teachings of his elders, als of preparing for their route: moving quietly through placing the harvest in a broader cultural context. the house, eating breakfast, and foldingnewspapers in 0

148 145 SOFIE'S ROLE WORKING COTTON Amy Heathillustrated by Sheila Hamanaka.(Four Winds Press, Sherley Anne Williams.fflustrated by Carole Byard.(Harcourt 1992) 32 pages.ISBN:0-02-743505-9.Level:Ages 4-8. Brace lovanovich,1992) 32 pages.ISBN:0-15-299624-9. Level: The family bakery will be extremely busy on December Ages6-9. 24th. Before dawn, Sofie goes with her parents to help Sherlan, the next-to-the-youngest daughter in an African out. She fills pastry cases, bags orders, answers the phone, American family describes a typical day working in the and even waits on a few customers "out front" once the fields with her parents and three sisters. Although theau- shop opens. This spunky brown-skinned girl enjoys a one thor has fond memories of her family (most particularly time stint in the busy bakery especially when a girl from her father), there is not the smallest hint of nostalgia in school is one of her customers. An appetite-whetting this reminiscence of her childhood spent as a migrant array of baked goods is pictured in Hamanaka's oil-on- worker. Byard's expressive full-color paintings brilliantly canvas paintings reproduced in full color. The illustra- evoke the summer heat, the immensity of the cotton fields, tions display bakery workers and customers from diverse and the strain of hard work on both child and adult. In the backgrounds and enliven Heath's story about a child's midst of adversity the strength of Sherlan's familycomes foray into an adult world of work. Recipes for marzipan through in both the lyrical language and the illustrations. and cinnamon star cookies are induded. 000 0 0

SUGARING SEASON: MAKING MAPLE SYRUP Diane L Bums. Photographs by Cheryl Walsh BelMlle. (Carolrhoda,1990) 48 pages.ISBN: 0-87614-422-9. Level:Ages 6- 10. Scenic and close-up color photographs, charts, and maps augment a ten-part explanation of a late twentieth century maple sap harvest: the trees, sap, sugar bush, preparations, tapping, run, cooking, grading, packaging, and the season's end. A glossary and author's noteconcern- ing the relative health and future of sugar maple trees in 000the United States and Canada add a helpful dimension.

UNCLE JED'S BARBERSHOP Margaree King Mitchell. Illustrated by _lames Ransome. (Simon & Schuster,1993) 32 pages.ISBN: 0-671-76969-3. Level:Ages 5-9 and older. Mitchell's first-person narrative relates how her granddaddy's brother Jedediah Johnson, the only black barber in the county, was her favorite relative. She tells about his Wednesday night visits to her family, how he paid for the operation she needed to save her life, and how the Depression caused him to lose money he saved for a barbershop. This heartwarming story is thepor- trait of a generous, indomitable man whose personal dream is finally fulfilled when he is seventy-nineyears old. The 11 3/4 by 9IA in. picture story providesa straightforward account of segregation and its impacton one family during a crisis, and shows one man plying his trade to make a living. Ransome's dramatic illustrations created with oil paint on paper are reproduced in full color. 0 0 146 149 Children's Trade Books with Production, Distribution, and Consumptionas a Second Thematic Strand The title index on pp 173-180 lists the number of the pageon which each book is annotated.

TITLE AUTHOR DATE AGE LEVEL

Chicken Soup Boots Maria Kalman 1993 Ages 4-8

A Crack in the Wall Mary Elizabeth Haggerty 1993 Ages 4-8

Cutters, Carvers & the Cathedral George Ancona 1995 Ages 8-12

Cynthia Gregory Dances Swan Lake Cynthia Gregory 1990 Ages 5-11

Day of Delight:A Jewish Sabbath in Ethiopia Maxine Rose Schur 1994 Ages 5-9

The Great Migration:An American Story Jacob Lawrence 1993 Ages 9 and older

Great-Grandma Tells of Threshing Day Verda Cross 1992 Ages 5-8, or older for oral history purposes

Haystack Bonnie Geisert and 1995 Ages 4-9 Arthur Geisert

Look Alive:Behind the Scenes of an Animated Film Elaine Scott 1992 Ages 7-11 and older

May'naise Sandwiches & Sunshine Tea Sandra Belton 1994 Ages 5-8

My Mama Sings Jeanne Whitehouse 1994 Ages 4-7 Peterson

The Piñata Maker / El Pifiatero George Ancona 1994 Ages 8-10

Till Year's Good End:A Calendar of Medieval Labors W. Nikola-Lisa 1997 Ages 7-11

Women Working A to Z Maria A. Kunstadter 1994 Ages 5-8

150 Children's Trade Books with Production, Distribution,and Consumption as a Third Thematic Strand The title index on pp. 173-180 lists the number of thepage on which each book is annotated.

TITLE AUTHOR DATE AGE LEVEL

Amelia's Road Linda Jacobs Altman 1993 Ages 7-9

Big Annie of Calumet: A True Story of the Industrial Revolution Jerry Stanley 1996 Ages 10-15 and older

Eagle Drum:On the Powwow Trail with a Young Grass Dancer Robert Crum 1994 Ages 7-11

Gathering the Sun:An Alphabet in Spanish and English Alma Flor Ada 1997 Ages 5-10

I've Got an Idea:The Story of Frederick McKinley Jones Gloria M. Swanson and 1994 Ages 9-11 and older Margaret V. Ott

The Other Side:How Kids Live in a California Latino Neighborhood Kathleen Krull 1994 Ages 7-11

Polar,The Titanic Bear Daisy Corning Stone 1994 Ages 7-9 and older Spedden

The Return of the Buffaloes:A Plains Indian Story about Paul Goble, reteller 1996 Ages 8-12 Famine and Renewal of the Earth and illustrator

Rosa Bonheur Robyn Montana Turner 1991 Ages 7-12

Voices from the Fields; Children of Migrant Farmworkers S.Beth Atkin 1993 Ages 9-14 and older Tell Their Stories

Wake Up, City! Alvin Tresselt 1990 Ages 3-7

1:18

151 CHAPITER TWEIVE CHILDREN'S TRADE BOOKSwrni SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY,AND SOCIETY AS ME MAJOR THEMATIC STRAND

ALMOST THE REAL THING: SIMULATION IN YOUR are hauled away. Glass, paper, and plastic are followed to HIGH-TECH WORLD plants where they are processed. The text and simple Gloria Skurzynski. (Bradbury Press,1991) 64 pages.ISBN:0-02- color illustrations also highlight some of the products 778072-4. LevekAges 9-12. into which they are later transformed. Physical and computer simulations, or "imitations of eOO things that exist in the real world," are dearly described in this written text, and stunningly visualized in numer- GIRLS AND YOUNG WOMEN INVENTING: ous, full-color photographs. Physical simulations dis- TWENTY TRUE STORIES ABOUT INVENTORS, cussed indude uses of wind tunnels (both historical and PLUS HOW YOU CAN BE ONE YOURSELF contemporary), disaster simulations, and weightlessness. Frances A.Karnes and Suzanne M.Bean. (Free Spirit 1995) 168 Some of the computer simulations covered are flight pages.ISBN: 0-915793-89-X Level: Ages 10-14 and older. simulators, dimate models, and molecular structure. An engaging, inspiring profile of twenty girls and young Descriptions of forthcoming technology that will allow women who are pioneers in the field of ideas demystifies users to experience a "virtual reality" involving computer- the concept of "inventing' and affirms the ability of chil- generated images are thoroughly fascinating. dren to create. The young people in GIRLS AND YOUNG WOMEN INVENTING have designed and developed products that range from broom handles to pa- DEAR BENJAMIN BANNEKER perweights to computer programs. Many of them have Andrea Davis Pinkney.fflustrated by Brian Pinkney. (Gulliver won prizes in Invent America! contests across the nation, Books/ Harcourt Brace,1994) 32 pages.ISBN:0-15-200417-3. and some of them even have patents. But their ideas most LevetAges 5-9. often come from their everyday lives. Each young inven- Beginning to teach himself mathematics and astronomy tor talks about how she got the idea for her invention at age fifty-seven, Benjamin Banneker later became and how she designed and developed a prototype. They known for his scientifically developed predictionscon- also offer advice to other girls about inventing and fol- cerning the weather. He was the first black person to lowing their dreams. A section on "How to Be an Inven- create a published almanac. Banneker can also be remem- tor" takes readers through the invention process, from bered for the forthright letter he wrote in 1791 to Secre- ways to come up with an idea to designing and, if de- tary of State Thomas Jefferson concerning slavery and sired, seeking a patent. the need for equal opportunity for all people. This 11Ax COO 8A in. picture biography created by a wife-and-husband team brings to life Banneker's early years and later ac- HERE COMES THE MAIL complishments. The full-color illustrations were rendered Gloria Skurzynski. (Bradbury,1992) 32 pages.15BN: 0-02-782916- using scratchboard colored with oil paint. 2. Level:Ages 4-8. Captioned color photographs trace a letter that young Stephanie mails in New Mexico to her cousin Kathy living FOLLOW THAT TRASH! ALL ABOUT RECYCLING in Utah. Because Stephanie painstakingly writes her Francine lacobs.fflustrated by Mavis Smith. (All Aboard cousin's name in the large lettering of a novice writer on Reading). (Grosset & Dunlap,1996) 48 pages.ISBN: 0-448-41601- the back of the envelope, it is quite easy to literally trace its 8.Level: Ages 5-Z journey through the US. postal system. Skurzynski pro- Many children may already be familiar with recycling in vides an interesting look behind the scenes of a process a general way if they sort cans, bottles, and paper at home we take for granted. or in school. This beginning reader describes why recy- elDoo cling is important and what happens after the recydables 149 153 I'VE GOT AN IDEA:THE STORY OF FREDERICK let inaccessibility stand in her way. She uses technical rock MCKINLEY JONES climbing equipment to reach an elaborate system of plat- Gloria M.Swanson and Margaret VOtt. (Runestone Press/ forms in order to gather specimens. The extremes to Lerner,1994) 95 pages.ISBN:0-8225-3174-7.LevetAges 9-11 which she goes frequently pay off as she has been able to andolder. make firsthand observations of an ecosystem about From the time he was a small child taking apart his father's which little is known. Lush photographs of the scientist watch, Frederick McKinley Jones showed a fascination and at work accompany Lasky's eloquent text. Her account genius for things mechanical. By the time he was four- interweaves Lowman's field work, documentation and teen, the young African American was admired for his ex- analysis, and her home life with two young sons who pertise with car engines. By the time he was seventeen, he share their mother's passion for the rainforest. was designing and building racing cars. Jones's inventive 0 0 mind was never quiet, and over the course of his life from 1893 to 1961, he acquired over sixty patents for his ideas, POLAR, THE TITANIC BEAR which ranged from movie theater ticket machines and Daisy Coming Stone Spedden. Illustrated by Laurie McGaw. sound systems to mobile refrigeration units that enabled (Link Brown,1994)64 pages. ISBN: 0-316-80625-0. Level:Ages 7- perishable food to be carried long distances. This is anap- 9 and older. pealing biography focusing on his personal and professional Once upon a time, a little American boy's mother, Daisy life and containing numerous black-and-white photos of Spedden, created a book for him, a book about his Steiff Jones in his wide and varied creative pursuits. bear, a story about a boy whose stuffed animal had trav- 0 0 0 eled with him on the Titanic and survived. Created in 1913, the book was discovered decades later in Daisy's LOOK ALIVE: BEHIND THE SCENES OF AN trunk. That homemade volume became the core of ANIMATED FILM POLAR, an astonishing record of the disaster as well as a Elaine Scott. Photographs by Richard Hewett. (William Morrow, social history POLAR can be understood on one or more 1992)68 pages.ISBN:0-688-09936-X. Level: Ages 7-11 and older. levels. Most children will read it from the perspective of The making ofRalph S. Mouse,the animated film that a child passenger on the Titanic. Some may see POLAR won the first ALA Carnegie Medal for Excellence in as an example of the economic privilege of the few who Children's Video in 1991, is detailed in black-and-white could afford that voyage. Older readers will notice the photographs, diagrams, sketches, and movie stills. This epilogue that foreshadows the transience of such leisure. account of the adaptation of Beverly Cleary's popular Archival photos of toys from the era, family pictures, book RALPH S. MOUSE (William Morrow, 1982) even entries from Daisy Spedden's diaries, and facts about the offers a first-hand example of animation via what one Titanic are successfully integrated within this intriguing can see while quiddy ffipping the pages. Technical infor- volume. Because the juvenile appearing jacket art does not mation and historical background are presented with- do justice to the content, the children who can appreciate it out dampening the high interest of the subject. the most will probably not notice the book on their awn. 0 0 0 0 0 0

THE MOST BEAUTIFUL ROOF IN THE WORLD: RADIO BOY EXPLORING THE RAINFOREST CANOPY SharonPhillipsDenslow. Illustratedby Alec Gillman.(Simon & Kathryn Lasky. Photographs by Christopher G. Knight. (GullWer Schuster,1995) 32 pages.ISBN:0-689-80295-1. Level:Ages 7-10 Green/Harcourt, Brace,1997)46 pages.ISBN: 0-15-200893-4. and older. Level:Ages 7-11 and older. Nathan B. Stubblefield, inventor of the radio, sensed the Since she was six years old, Meg Lowman has known future even as a boy. Growing up in the small town of that she wanted to be a scientist who studied the natural Murray, Kentucky, in the 1870s, Nathan was forever tink- world. Inspired by the life work of two role models, ering and experimenting with coils, wires, and other Harriet Tubman (whom Lowman calls a "pioneer field "electricals." A ficdonalized account of Nathan's boyhood naturalist") and scientist Rachel Carson, she has dedicated passion for invention is enhanced by illustrations rendered her life to exploring the unknown world of the rainforest in pen-and-ink and watercolor that provide a warm sense canopy, unknown because it has been more inaccessible of this singular figure in his small town's life. to scientists than the ocean floor. But Lowman doesn't 0 0 154 130 THE REAL MCCOY:THE LIFE OF AN AFRICAN- SAMUEL TODD'S BOOK OF GREAT INVENTIONS AMERICAN INVENTOR E. L Konigsburg. (Atheneum Publishers,1991) 32 pages.ISBN:0- WendyTowle. (Scholastic 1993) 32 pages.ISBN:0-590-43.596-5. 689-31680-1. Level:Ages 3-6. Level:Ages 7-10 and older. Samuel Todd, who was first introduced in SAMUEL Born in Canada in 1844, Elijah McCoy, the son of former TODD'S BOOK OF GREAT COLORS (Atheneum, slaves, patented more than fifty inventions throughout 1990), is back, this time to extol the virtues of his favorite his life. This simply told history of an African American inventions. Unlike his parents, who think that the tele- inventor focuses on McCoy's achievements without mini- phone and television are the greatest inventions, Samuel mizing the barriers he faced because he was black. Full- Todd appreciates belt loops, backpacks, step stools, birth- page illustrations by Clay show a man wholly dedicated day-cake candles, training wheels, and security blankets. to his work and his dreams. A role model for many Afri- His comments on the necessity and usefulness of each can Americans while he was alive, McCoy is once again invention are amusingly direct and childlike: "Hallow- a source of pride and inspiration. een was invented so that no one has to go trick-or-treat- 0 ing as his or her same old self" 0 ROCKET! HOW A TOY LAUNCHED THE SPACE AGE THE THIRD PLANET: EXPLORING THE EARTH Richard Maurer. (Crown,199.5) 64 pages. ISBN:0-517-59628-8. FROM SPACE Level:Ages 8-12. Sal6 'Ride and Tam O'Shaughnessy.(Crown,1994)48 pages. A concise, generously illustrated history of rockets be- ISBN: 0-517-59361-0. Level:Ages 7-11. gins with their invention one thousand years ago in China Using color photographs from NASA, physicist and as- when they were initially constructed as toys for children tronaut Sally Ride introduces the scientific methods used before being adapted for warfare. Since they were never when studying Earth from afar, and describes what data very accurate, they were not considered a very useful have revealed about the atmosphere, water, and land that weapon, however, and it was not until the early twenti- make up our biosphere. eth century that true rocket science was born as a means 0 to shoot astronauts into space. Much of this history focuses on the life work of Robert Goddard who, as a boy, TUNNELS, TRACKS, AND TRAINS: BUILDING A was inspired to dream by the nineteenth century science SUBWAY fiction of Jules Verne and H. G. Wells. Joan Hewett. Photographs by Richard Hewett. (Lodestar,199.5) eO 48 pages.ISBN:0-525-67466-ZLevekAges 7-10. There is abundant activity both above and below the RUTH LAW THRILLS A NATION ground as work on the Los Angeles subway continues: Don Brown. (Ticknor & Fields,1993) 32 pages.ISBN: 0-395- crews dig trenches for equipment, miners bore a tunnel 66404-Z Level:Ages 4-8 and older. in the ground, archeologists excavate ruins at a station "On November 19, 1916, Ruth Law tried to fly from Chi- site, and artists plan artwork for station and tunnel walls. cago to New York City in one day. It had never been done In a fascinating documentary, Hewett describes the many before." She had practiced for the cold by sleepingon the aspects of work involved in building the Los Angeles sub- roof of a hotel. Although she wore woolen and leather way system as she introduces readers to some of the pant suits while flying, in public she covered these flying people who are doing the many and varied jobs required. garments with a skirt because of conventions dictating Color photographs capture the work-in-progress, from what women should wear. Even though she seta record deep within the newly dug tunnels to a supervisor's of- that day by flying a five-hundred mile nonstop lap, neither fice high above the ground. Ruth Law nor that feat is well known today because dark- O ness came while New York City was still two hours away. Brown's pen-and-ink and watercolor illustrations reproduced in full color provide a strong sense of thewoman and the flight. His first published book reads aloud with grace and its 81/4 by 103/8 in. size invites hands-on interest. G

/51 155 THE WRIGHT BROTHERS: HOW THEY INVENTED THE AIRPLANE Russell Freedman. (Holiday House1991) 129 pages. ISBN:0- 8234-0875-2. Level:Ages 9-14 and older. Orville and Wilbur Wright diligently photographed each phase of their experiments in order to learn from their mistakes as well as keep a pictorial record of their progress. Because of their almost obsessive attention to detail, an amazing record of their accomplishments still exists. Freedman's incorporation ofsome of this archival material brings a dynamic visual dimension to previous accounts about the two brothers' efforts to create a machine that could be flown. The author's skillful use of unfamiliar details about the lives oftwo siblings who worked, lived, and even "thoughtto- gether" makes for compelling reading. His lucidex- planation of the physics of flight rounds out this interpretation of an important technological milestone achieved by two very human beings. 0 0 0

156 152 Children's Trade Books with Science,Technology, and Societyas a Second Thematic Strand The title index on pp. 173 lists the number of thepage on which each book is annotated.

TITLE AUTHOR DATE AGE LEVEL

Alphabet City Stephen T. Johnson 1995 Ages 3-6

Big Rigs Hope Irvin Marston 1993 Ages 3-6

Come Back, Salmon:How a Group of Dedicated Kids Molly Cone 1992 Ages 6-10 Adopted Pigeon Creek and Brought It Back to Life

Fire Truck Nuts and Bolts Jerry Boucher 1993 Ages 5-10

Jacques-Henri Lartigue: Boy with a Camera John Cech 1994 Ages 8-11

Kids at Work Lewis Hine and the Crusade against Child Labor Russell Freedman 1994 Ages 8-14 and older

Kids Making Quilts for Kids ABC Quilts 1992 Ages 8-14

The Milkman's Boy Donald Hall 1997 Ages 5-9

On Board the Titanic Shelley Tanaka 1996 Ages 8-14

Raptor Rescue! An Eagle Flies Free Sylvia A. Johnson 1995 Ages 7-11

Sugaring Season; Making Maple Syrup Diane L Burns 1990 Ages 6-10

Taking Flight:My Story Vicki Van Meter 1995 Ages 10-12 with Dan Gutman

We Can Do It! Laura Dwight 1992 Ages 3-6

Children's Trade Books with Science,Technology, and Societyas a Third Thematic Strand The title index on pp. 173 lists the number of thepage on which each book is annotated.

Cutters, Carvers & the Cathedral George Ancona 1995 Ages 8-12

Extra Cheese, Please! Mozzarella's Journey from Cow to Pizza Cris Peterson 1994 Ages 5-8

Fire at the Triangle Factory Holly Littlefield 1996 Ages 8-11 and older

Frozen Man David Getz 1994 Ages 8-16 and older

The Golden Lion Tamarin Comes Home George Ancona 1994 Ages 7-11

Haystack Bonnie Geisert 1995 Ages 4-9 and Arthur Geisert

My Buddy Audrey Osofsky 1992 Ages 4-9

Sky Pioneer:A Photobiography of Amelia Earhart Corine Szabo 1997 Ages 7-11 and older

What Instrument Is This? Rosmarie Hausherr 1992 Ages 4-8 153 157 CHAPTER1THORTEEN CHILDREN'S TRADE BOOKSWITH GLOBAL CONNECTIONS AS THE MAJOR THEMATIC STRAND

AANI AND THE TREE HUGGERS in Maine could eat chocolate ices on lazy summer after- Jeannine Atkinsillustrated by Venantius Pinto.(Lee & Low, noons, just as they do in this story" Cut paper pictures 1995)32 pages. ISBN:1-880000-24-5.Level:Ages 4-9. unfold a connected, parallel picture story involving two This fictionalized picture story told from the point of girls who never meet yet have one specific thing in com- view of young Aani, recounts the origins of the Chipko mon despite many differences. Andolan (Hug the Tree) Movement in northern India in 00 the 1970s. When men from the city came into rural areas to cut down trees, women villagers successfully COMMON GROUND:THE WATER, EARTH, AND stopped them by embracing individual trees. Indian art- AIR WE SHARE ist Venantius J. Pinto explains in a note at the end how MollyBang. (Blue Sky/Scholastic 1997)32 pages.158N:0-590- and why his pictures for this book were influenced by 10056-4.Level:Ages 5-8 and older. five different styles of traditional miniature painting that Our common ground is the earth we all share. Bang's were used in northern India in the seventeenth century introduction to environmental issues gives young read- 0 0 ers a simple, accessible means for understanding the dif ference between reddess consumption and careful use THE BIG BOOK FOR PEACE and conservation of the earth's natural resources. Look- Ann Durell and Mari6In Sachs,editors.(Dutton,1990)120 pages. ing at fish, trees, fossil fuels, and water, Bang explains ISBN:0-525-44605-2.Level:All ages. how consuming them for short-term benefits such as This unique family anthology offers pieces by thirty- more fish to sell, more money to make, and more prod- one contemporary children's book creators, including ucts to buy only hurts all living things in the long run. writers Mildred Pitts Walter and Yoshiko Uchida; Unlike the village common of long ago, when those who reteller John Bierhorst; and artists Leo and Diane didn't want to share the land could fmd someplace else Dillon, Jerry Pinkney, and Allen Say. Walter's power- to go, there is no place else to go for the people of our ful short account concerning a nonviolent African planet. That is why, Bang tells readers, we must all work American civil rights demonstration in Washington, together to protect the earth's resources. Bang has illus- D.C., and Uchida's epistolary fictional narrative origi- trated her short text with bright, colorful art that is both nating in a Japanese American internment camp ex- intimate and grand in scale and feelingjust like the tend the concept of peace to embrace social justice message she conveys in this small (9x61/4 in.) and heart- issues. Jacket art by Maurice Sendak introduces the felt book. compilation, which intends to offer alternate resolu- 00 tions to various barriers to understanding and justice. 0 DIA'S STORY CLOTH:THE HMONG PEOPLE'S JOURNEY TO FREEDOM COCOA ICE Dia Cha.Story cloth stitched by Chue and NhiaThaoCha. Diana Applebaum.illustrated by Hol4/ Meade. (Orchard,1997) (Denver Museum of Natural History/Lee& Low,1996)24 pages. pages.1.58N:0-531-30040-4. Level:Ages 5-9. ISBN:0-880000-34-2.Level:Ages 8-11 and older. More than one hundred years ago, ice was harvested in From a refugee camp in Thailand, Dia Cha's aunt and Maine, and cocoa was harvested in Santo Domingo, uncle, Chue and Nhia Thao Cha, sent her the story cloth Dominican Republic. What do the two have in common? that is the inspiration and the centerpiece for this impor- The former cocoa ice trade. In the 1870s, "Yankee trad- tant11x 8in. book about the Hmong. The cloth they ing schooners brought ice, manufactured goods, andre- stitched depicts the history of the Hmong, whose cul- fined sugar to Santo Domingo to trade forcocoa and ture reaches back thousands of years to China, and coffee beans...children in Santo Domingo and children stretches from Asia to North America, where more than

159 5 4 100,000 Hmong have settled in the years since the Viet- power and celebrating the ideas they have inspired. Her nam War (including many in Wisconsin). Hmong means narrative is set against Ray's exquisite illustrations: bur- "free people," Cha writes in her introduction. "This story nished, beautifully detailed expressions of nature's power cloth will tell you about our life." In the text, Cha simply and the creativity of the human mind. and skillfully threads her own story into that of the 000 Hmong people as she tells about farming with her family as a child in Laos, and then the violent upheaval of GLOBAL WARMING the Vietnam War that caused the death or displacement Laurence Pringle. (Arcade/Little Brown,1990) 46 pages.ISBN:1- of thousands of Hmong in Southeast Asia. This book 55970-012-2. Level:Ages 7-1a includes a discussion of Hmong history culture, andar- In this concise, dearly written text, Pringle describes glo- tistic traditions by the curator of ethnology at the Den- bal warming, the factors contributing to it, and possible ver Museum of Natural History solutions to the worldwide problem. Color photographs 000 and diagrams illustrate this readable account, and a glossary defmes scientific terms used. DIEZ DEDITOS /TEN LITTLE FINGERS, AND 0 0 OTHER PLAY RHYMES AND ACTION SONGS FROM LATIN AMERICA GLORIOUS ANGELS:A CELEBRATION OF CHILDREN José-Luis Orozcallustrated by Elisa Kleven.(Dutton,1997) 56 Walter Dean Myers. (HatperCollins,1995) 40 pages.ISBN:0-06- pages. ISBN:0-525-45736-4. Level: Babies-age 8, adults. 024822-X Level:Age 3 and older. Thirty-four traditional and original action songs are abun- Myers, a distinguished author of novels and biographies dantly illustrated with Kleven's trademark collageassem- for teen readers and stories for young children, is also a blages filled with happy children, interacting families, and poet and collector of antique photographic portraits. In people with individual faces and skin colors. The fmger the sepia-toned portraits in this work, most children will games are graphically represented with brief written di- be able to find at least one old photo dose to their own rections and clear diagrams. Music notations suggest the heritage. Myers's first photo-poetry album, BROWN tunes and can be played on a guitar or recorder by older ANGELS (HarperCollins, 1993), celebrated African children and adults quite new to these instruments. A American children who lived almost a century ago. The bilingual subject index cites entries under Animals, Body elegant bookmaking of each volume underscores Myers's Parts (8), Call-and-Response (2), Clapping (7), Counting respect for all children of yesterday, along with his hopes (4), Dances (5), Family (3), Farewell (2), Finger Play (8), for all children of tomorrow. His photos and poemsare Food (4), Friendship (3), Greetings (3), Group Play (5), reminders that angels are in front of us today. Musical Instruments (2), Professions (1), Self-Esteem (5), 0 0 Sorrow (1), Special Celebrations (3), Tickling (2), Time (1), Transportation (1), Vowel Sounds (1), and Weather THE GOLDEN LION TAMARIN COMES HOME (2). Everything about this cheerful book is child friendly. George Ancona. (Macmillan,1994) 40 pages.ISBN:0-02-700905- It's Spanish-language friendly, toowith Spanish words X Level:Ages 7-11. under the music and nearest to the graphic fmgergames, The coastal rain forest in southeastern Brazil is the only the English translations are secondary known natural habitat of the mico, or golden lion tama- 0 0 tin, a small monkey about the size of a squirrel. With 98 percent of the Brazilian rain forest depleted, wild micos EARTH, FIRE,WATER, AIR are becoming scarce. But thanks to the tireless efforts of Mary Hoffman. Illustratedby lane Ray.(Viking,1995) 68 pages. Andreia Martins and other Brazilian conservationists, ISBN: 0-525-45420-9. Level:Ages 8-14 micos born in captivity in zoos are slowly and success- Hoffman looks at how earth, fire, water, and air have fully being introduced back into the wild. This lively text been essential elements as well as fuel for human imagi- and color photographs document the painstaking work nation throughout time. Exploring history folldore, and of Martins, in addition to describing the habits of the customs of cultures around the world, as well as scien- mico and the reasoning behind human efforts to protect tific and environmental perspectives, she looks at each its native home. of the elements in turn, acknowledging their innate 0 0

160 155 HOPSCOTCH AROUND THE WORLD Kyoko Mori, Junko Morimoto, Walter Dean Myers, Mary D.Lankford.Illustrated by Karen Milone (William Motrow, Keiko Narahashi, Katherine Paterson, Jerry Pinkney, 1992)47 pages.ISBN:0-688-08420-6.Level:Ages 6-9. James E. Ransome, Enrique 0. Sanchez, Virginia Driving Hopscotch has a long history worldwide, and children in Hawk Sneve, Rigoberta Menchu Tum, Martin Waddell, Yoko most parts of the world still play it today. Directions for Kawashima Watkins, and Ed Young. Royalties from sales of nineteen hopscotch variants played in sixteen nations ON THE WINGS OF PEACE are designated for three orga- follow brief notes that place each of the variants in its nizations devoted to these issues. historical and geographical contexts. Each description is 0 0 illustrated with a full-page, full-color illustration of contemporary children playing the game. QUILTED LANDSCAPE: CONVERSATIONS WITH 000 YOUNG IMMIGRANTS Yale Strom. (Simon & Schuster,1996) 80 pages.ISBN: 0-689- THE MAGIC MOONBERRY JUMP ROPE 80074-6.Level:Ages 11-14 and older. Dakar' Hru.Illustrated by E B. Lewis. (Dial,1996) 32 pages.ISBN: Writer and photographer Strom turns a keen and under- 0-8037-1755-5. Level:Ages 4-7. standing eye on children and young adults who are recent Sisters Erica and April want to jump Double Dutch but immigrants to the United States. Twenty-six youngpeople they can't get any of their friends to join them, and their who range in age from eleven to seventeen discuss when, little sister Carmen is too small to twirl the ropes. When how, and why they came to the United States; what their Unde Zambezi returns from Tanzania, he brings them life is like here; who and what they left behind; and their some magic moonberry ropes, daiming they will grant plans and hopes for the future. Though the children come them a wish. Of course, the girls wish for a third jumper from twenty-six countries all over the world, and from di- and, of course, their wish comes true when a new fam- verse social and economic backgrounds, their experiences ily moves in next door. But are the ropes really magic? in this country are often similar as they confront the chal- Hru's gentle, humorous tale of the endless days of sum- lenges of culture and language barriers, discrimination, mer and the seriousness of child's play is aptly illustrated and prejudice, and deal with the conflicts that can arise with Lewis's sun-dappled watercolor paintings. Jump in! when family and cultural expectations dash with a new 000 way of life. Each profile includes black-and-white photographs of the child and a brief summary of facts about ON THE WINGS OF PEACE:WRITERS AND the country from which he or she came. This important ILLUSTRATORS SPEAK OUT FOR PEACE IN book encourages readers to consider what it means to be MEMORY OF HIROSHIMA AND NAGASAKI a newcomer and what sustains us as a nation. Sheila Hamanaka,coordinator(Clarion,1995)144 pages.ISBN: 000 0-395-72619-0. Level:Age 8 and older. Writing and art from sixty authors and artists forms a SADAKO stunning anthology concerning the 1945 bombings of Eleanor Coerrillustrated by Ed Young.(Putnam,1993) 48 pages. Hiroshima and Nagasaki and visions of peace. Handsome ISBN:0-399-21771-1. Level:Ages 8-11. full-color art created in a variety of media accompanies Sadako Sasaki is the child honored by the monument of history poetry short stories, and memoirs. This impor- a girl holding a large origami crane in the Hiroshima tant assemblage can be read a bit at a time, in any order, Peace Park. The monument is a strong call for peace, in any year. As a whole, the volume energizes, rather representing the many who perished in Japan as a result than assessing blame or creating melancholy. A reliable of the atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and resource list for children and adults suggests further read- Nagasaki in 1945. As she suffered from radiation sick- ing. Brief biographical information placed next to tiny ness, Sadako and her friends are reported to have folded black and white photos marks the credentials of contribu- origami cranes, in accordance with the Japanese legend tors. They include Marjorie Agosin, Joseph Bruchac, that if a sick person folds one thousand cranes, the gods Ashley Bryan, Omar S. Castaneda, Peter Catalanotto, will restore her health. The same author who wrote the Peter E. Clarke, Edwidge Danticat, Jean Durandisse, Tom moving short fiction book SADAKO AND THE THOU- Feelings, Shinya Fukatsu, Nikki Grimes, Hushang Moradi SAND PAPER CRANES (Putnam, 1977) presents this Kermani, Marie G. Lee, George Littlechild, Ana Maria adaptation of the script for a film of the same name. The Machado, Kam Mak, Milton Meltzer, Wendell Minor, striking 91/4 by 111/4 in. book includes a selection of the 156 161 almost three hundred images artist Ed Young created for THE TALKING CLOTH the film using pastels, many of which reflect images of Rhonda MitchelL (Orcharct1997) 32 pages.ISBN:0-531-30004-8. origami cranes or those from nature. Level:Ages 4-Z 00 Amber likes to visit her Aunt Phoebe whoowns "things and things and things." She calls it her "collection of life," SITTI'S SECRETS but Amber's father calls it "junk" Aunt Phoebecan tell Naomi Shihab Nye. illustrated by Nancy Carpenter.(Four. Winds the history of everything she owns. Much of itcomes Prez 1994) 32 pages.ISBN:0-02-768460-1.Levet Ages 6-la from the African continent and is part of her family heri- Mona's grandmother, Sitti, lives "on the other side of tage. Amber is especially intrigued with Aunt Phoebe's the earth" in a Palestinian village on the West Bank. De- "talking doth"adinkra doth from Ghanabecauseev- spite their uncommon language, Mona and her grand- ery color and every symbol has a meaning. Sharp oil paint- mother share daily life and special moments together ings reflect the pride that Amber feels in her heritage and when Mona and her father take a trip to visit Sitti. Upon the enthusiasm for it that she shares with heraunt. her return to the United States, Mona writesa letter to 0 the president: "If the people of the United States could meet Sitti, they'd like her for sure. You'd like her, too." TURTLE BAY Paired with Carpenter's sun-drenched illustrations, Nye's Saviour Pirotta. Illustrated by Nilesh Mistry. U.S.edition. (Farrar, poetic text explores a child's feelings and fears abouta Straus and Girourc1997) 28 pages.ISBN:0-374-37888-6.Level: grandparent living far away in a part of the world that Ages 5-8. most children in the United States know only one dimen- An elderly Japanese man shares his secrets of the natural sionally, if at all, through reports in thenews. world with two young Japanese children ina story that 000 blends their growing appreciation of nature with their deepening understanding of another human being. Taro SIX WORDS, MANY TURTLES, AND THREE DAYS has always liked Jiro-san, but his sister, Yuko, thinks the IN HONG KONG old man is weird. Taro thinks Yuko might be right after Patricia McMahon. Photographs by Susan G.Drinker. all when he arrives at the beach and fmds Jiro-sansweep- (Houghton Mifflin,1997)45 pages.ISEIN: 0-395-68621-0. Level: ing the sand in preparation for the arrival of his "friends." Ages 8-11. But Jiro-san's friends turn out to be endangered giant Tsz Yan is an eight-year-old Chinese girl living in Hong loggerhead turtles, and the children are thrilled to wit- Kong. Many facets of her life are similar to those of chil- ness their arrival on the beach, the laying of their eggs, dren in the United States: she rides the bus to and from and later the hatching of the babies. This charming story school, goes to a neighbor's house for daycare, and both that appreciates the mysteries of human nature and the her parents work. And like many US. children, Tsz Yan larger world is illustrated with quiet, full-color paintings eagerly looks forward to the weekend, and definitely does that span each two-page spread. not like making homework part of her weekend plans. 000 On this particular weekend, Tsz Yan's assignment isto learn how to write and understand sixnew words in V FOR VANISHING: AN ALPHABET OF ENDAN- English; happy, hungry, friend, scared, family, and noisy. GERED ANIMALS Over the course of three days (Friday evening, Saturday, Patricia Mullins. (HarperCollins, 1994) 32 pages.ISBN: 0-06- and Sunday), Tsz Yan fmds ways to apply the six words 023556-X LevetAges 5-10. she must learn to her weekend activities, from spending Mullins' incredibly detailed collage artwork highlights ani- time with her parents (which makes her HAPPY), to feed- mals that are in danger of becoming extinct in this alpha- ing the HUNGRY turtles near her apartment building betbook with an environmental twist. From A (Pink Fairy (which was SCARY), to seeing her extended FAMILY. The Armadillo) to Z (Cape Mountain Zebra), eachpage is author works many derails of life incontemporary Hong- alive with natural color and form. Information provided Kong into the text, which is accompanied bynumerous for the animals indudes their common and scientific full-color photographs of Tsz Yan, her family, and the names and the countries or regions in which they are city in which she lives. 000 00foundfor now. 162 1_57 Children's Trade Books with Global Connections as a Second Thematic Strand The title index on pp. 173-180 lists the number of the page on which each book is annotated.

TITLE AUTHOR YEAR AGE LEVEL

Alef-Bet: A Hebrew Alphabet Book Michelle Edwards 1992 Ages 2-8

Antarctica:The Last Unspoiled Continent Laurence Pringle 1992 Ages 8-12 and older

The Copper Lady Alice and Kent Ross 1997 Ages 6-9

Everglades Jean Craighead George 1995 Ages 7-10 and older

Father's Rubber Shoes Yumi Heo 1995 Ages 4-8

The Hunterman and the Crocodile:A West African Folktale Baba Wague Diakit1 1997 Ages 5-9

Jackal Woman:Exploring the World ofJackals Laurence Pringle 1993 Ages 7-13

The Living Earth Eleonore Schmid 1994 Ages 4-8

The Moon Was the Best Charlotte Zolotow 1993 Ages 3-5

My Daddy Was a Soldier:A World War ll Story Deborah Kogan Ray 1990 Ages 7-10

Popcorn at the Palace Emily Arnold McCully 1997 Ages 6-9

Save the Earth:An Action Handbook for Kids Betty Miles 1991 Ages 8-12

Seven Candles for Kwanzaa Andrea Davis Pinkney 1993 Ages 3-9

Silent Night:The Song from Heaven Linda Granfield 1997 Age 7 and older

Spill! The Story of the Exxon Valdez Terry Carr 1991 Ages 9-14 and older

Wake Up, City! Alvin Tresselt 1990 Ages 3-7

War Game Michael Foreman 1994 Ages 8-12 and older

What a Wonderful World Ashley Bryan, illustrator 1995 Ages 2-8

158 163 Children's Trade Books with Global Connectionsas a Third Thematic Strand The title index on pp. 173-180 lists the number ofthe page on which each book is annotated.

A Blue Butterfly:A Story about Claude Monet Bijou Le Tord 1995 Ages 5-8

The Feather-Bed Journey Paula Kurzband Feder 1995 Ages 5-8 and older

Going Home Eve Bunting 1996 Ages 5-9

Halmoni and the Picnic Sook Nyul Choi 1993 Ages 5-8

In My Family / En Mi Familia Carmen Garza Lomas 1996 Age 5 and older with Harriet Rohmer

My First Kwanzaa Book Deborah M. Newton 1992 Ages 2-7

My Place Nadia Wheatley 1990 Ages 6-12 and older and Donna Rawlins

The Piñata Maker / El Pifiatero George Ancona 1994 Ages 8-10

Seedfolks Paul Fleischman 1997 Ages 9-13 and older

Street Music:City Poems Arnold Adoff 1995 Ages 7-11

Tell Them We Remember:The Story of the Holocaust Susan D. Baachrach 1994 Age 9 and older

The Two Mrs. Gibsons Toyomi Igus 1996 Ages 3-7

Water Buffalo Days:Growing Up in Vietnam Quang Nhuong Huynh 1997 Ages 9-11

When I Left My Village Maxine Rose Schur 1996 Ages 8-10 and older

The Whispering Cloth Pegi Deitz Shea 1995 Ages 7-11

150

164 CHAFITEF U TEE CHILDREN'S TRADE BOOKSWITH CIVIC IDEALS AND PRACTICES AS THE MAJOR THEIVIATIC STRAND

AUNT HARRIET'S UNDERGROUND RAILROAD IN visual, is understated but her message about equal THE SKY rights is clear. Most of today's young readers will no Faith Ringgold (Crown,1992) 32 pages.ISBN: 0-517-58767-X doubt be amazed that the right to vote was something Level:Ages 6-11. women fought long and hard to attain. Cassie Lightfoot, the eight-year-old who shared the glo- 000 ries of flying with little brother Be Be in TAR BEACH (Crown, 1991), is at it again. This time she and Be Be take BIG ANNIE OF CALUMET:A TRUE STORY OF THE a dream journey to the past where they travel through INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION history on the Underground Railroad with Harriet Jeny Stanley. (Crown,1996)102 pages.ISBN:0-517-70097-2. Tubman herself. Details about the harsh realities of sla- Level: Ages 10-15 and older. very and the dangers fugitives faced are balanced (but never A strike became inevitable in 1913 after Copper Coun- trivialized) by Ringgold's stunning oil paintings that show try mine owners refused a hearing to Upper Michigan Cassie's childlike, whimsical interpretations of Aunt miners organized to improve their wages and working Harriet's oral account of history; she pictures the Under- conditions. Seven days a week for more than five ground Railroad, for example, as a real train and Harriet months, twenty-five year-old Annie Clemenc marched Tubman dressed in a conductor's hat and apron. A two- carrying an American flag at the head of a protest pa- page note at the book's end offers biographical informa- rade. As a hospital worker, this woman had seen first- tion about Tubman as well as a list of resources. hand the injuries typically suffered by miners in cave- 0 0 ins. As the wife and daughter of miners, she knew much about the dangers and deaths. In the early twentieth THE BALLOT BOX BATTLE century US. workers had few legal rights to organize Emifr Amold McCul6/. (Alfred A Knopf, 1996) 32 pages. ISBN:0- for safe working conditions and higher wages. Thou- 679-87938-2. Level: Ages 5-8. sands of people ultimately became involved on both Cordelia, the heroine of this picture story which takes sides. The strike and ongoing parades led to bitter eco- place in 1880, loves horses so much that she willingly nomic repercussions for women and men engaged in volunteers to help her elderly neighbor Mrs. Stanton the protest. Violence and bloodshed became common. care for her horse in exchange for daily riding lessons. While mining families were gathered for a Christmas More than anything, Cordelia would like to learn to party a false fire alarm caused eighty children to die in jump a four-foot fence, although she can't imagine the the surge of people fleeing the building. By highlight- old woman teaching her to do something quite so dar- ing the basic rights for which Annie and the protesters ing. But Mrs. Stanton, it seems, is quite a dare-devil in struggled, Stanley underscores the relationship between her own right. In a smoothly executed flashback se- workers' rights and human rights. By focusing the nar- quence, the woman recounts some events from her rative on a previously unsung labor leader, he captures early nineteenth century childhood when she broke a the strength and importance of women in the labor social taboo by attending a boys' academy where she movement. The abundant archival black-and-white became one of the school's best pupils. This childhood photographs contribute an important dimension to the experience set her on her life-long struggle for compelling, fast-moving narrative. Informed adult read- women's rights. Mrs. Stanton, of course, is Elizabeth ers might wish the author had found a way to acknowl- Cady Stanton, shown here as both a child and as a edge the unsalaried domestic roles of the women pro- mature woman who triedunsuccessfullyto cast a testers, and they might also debate Stanley's generous ballot whenever there was an election. Through the version of Henry Ford's role. This important book eyes of young Cordelia, perceptive readers will see that brings to life an appalling, heartbreaking segment of Mrs. Stanton was every bit as courageous as those who U.S. labor history rarely detailed for young readers. jump four-foot fences. McCully's style, both verbal and 000 165 160 COME BACK, SALMON: HOW A GROUP OF his life at school has been miserable. Outside of the fourth DEDICATED KIDS ADOPTED PIGEON CREEK AND grade, things aren't always easy either. His father works BROUGHT IT BACK TO LIFE fifty stories up in the air on the iron beams of skyscrap- Mol4r Cone. Photographs by SidneeWheelwright.(Sierra Club ers under construction, a dangerous job that takes him Books for Children,1992) 48 pages.ISBN: 0-87156-572-2. Level: away from home for weeks at a time. No matter how Ages 6-10. much his parents love him and one another, andno mat- Beginning in 1984, a complex combination of activi- ter how much they encourage Danny to trust the Iroquois ties in an Everett, Washington, elementary school (i.e., way of life that says "if you believe in peace... an enemy an interactive, interdisciplinary science curriculum in- can become a friend," Danny can't find a way to feel at volving classroom experiments, firsthand observa- home in the world away from hisown home and people. tions, art activities, and community activism) ledto a In Bruchac's welcome novel abouta contemporary stream restoration project. Everyone deemed the American Indian child and family, a young boy's struggle project successful when the salmon raised in the dass- with the stereotypes and prejudice of hispeers begins to room from eyed eggs and released two years earlier turn around when he finds the strength inside himself to returned to Pigeon Creek. Detailed with color photo- extend a hand in friendship. graphs, background information, and dialogue-laced 000 narratives based on taped interviews with the participating children and teachers, this exemplary project GUS AND GRANDPA AND THE CHRISTMAS offers information, encouragement, and hope. COOKIES 0 0 Claudia Millsillustrated by Catherine Stock (Farrar, Straus and Giroux1997)47 pages.ISBN:0-374-32823-4.LevekAges 4-6. THE DAY GOGO WENT TO VOTE: SOUTH AFRICA, Gus spends the day at Grandpa's helping him rollout, APRIL 1994 bake, and decorate six dozen cutout cookies. Neigh- Elinor Batezat Sisulu.fflustrated by Sharon Wilson. (U.S. edition: bors who assume Grandpa doesn't bakestop by to Uttle,Brown, 32 pages.ISBN:0-316-70267-6. Level:Ages 7- share their home-baked cookies with him. Duringa 10 and older. trip with Grandpa to buy sprinkles, Gus overhearsa A six-year-old black child tells how her one-hundred man dressed as Santa saying, "God bless you" to people year-old gogo (grandmother) is determinedto vote in putting coins into a red kettle. Gus learns that chil- the first general election in South Africa. Gogohas dren in a homeless shelter don't have enough foodor not left home for years, not even to attend church. warm clothes, not to mention cookies, which gives The family is incredulous. "Doyou want me to die him and Grandpa a solution to their cookie surplus. not having voted?" Gogo asks her astonished relatives, Mills's four brief, easy-to-read chapters establish the and so she goes to the polls. The child's-eyeview of warm relationship berween Gus and Grandpa and the historic election is an effective device for includ- show an understated but credible introductionto two ing information in context about voting procedures ways of giving. Stock's full color illustrations expand in the unprecedented 1994 election. Sisuluwas born the story. in Zimbabwe and now lives in Capetown, South Af. 000 rica. Wilson visited South Africa before creating the artwork for this inspiring picture bookstory with pas- HANNA'S COLD WINTER tels on sanded board. Trish Marx Illustrated by Barbara Knutson. (Carokhoda,1993) 000 32 pages.ISBN:0-87614-772-4. Level:Ages 6-9 and older. This first-person story describes family outingsto the EAGLE SONG zoo to watch the hippo Hanna devour pitchforks of Joseph Bruchac Illustrations by Dan Andreasen. (Dia1,1997)80 hay on the Sundays before thewar, before the twin pages.ISBN:0-8037-1918-3.Level:Ages 9-11 and older. towns of Buda and Pest were occupied by soldiers "Chief" "Hiawatha." Danny hates that his dassmates fighting each other, and before food for both people tease him with these names. But ever since his family and zoo creatures became scarce. Thetext is based on moved away from the Mohawk reservationso that his an incident that took place during World War II in mother could take a job as a social worker inManhattan, Budapest, Hungary when the coldest winteron record

166 161 froze the river between the two towns. According to THE KID'S GUIDE TO SOCIAL ACTION: HOW TO the story told to the author, Papa, Mama, and their SOLVE THE SOCIAL PROBLEMS YOU CHOOSE three children took a straw doormat and an old pair AND TURN CREATIVE THINKING INTO POSITIVE of straw slippers to the zoo, broke them up with a ACTION pitchfork, and encouraged the starving hippos to eat. Barbara Lewis. (Free Spirit Publishing,1991)185 pages.ISBN:0- They ate, and by the time winter ended, more than 91.5793-29-6.LevetAge 8 and older. nine thousand hats, mats, and slippers had been given A well-organized, attractively designed, and accessible to the zoo to help the hippos survive the winter and handbook offers a wealth of information for young the war. Full-color illustrations on every page of a 101/4 people who want to change things. Written by a Salt Lake by 81/4 in. volume provide historical and regional de- City elementary school teacher whose students have ef- tails along with impressive pictures of Hanna and her fected impressive changes at local, state, and national lev- prodigious appetite in action. els, the step-by-step guide moves logically from the sim- 0 0 plest forms of action, such as writing a letter to the editor or circulating a student petition, to the more sophis- HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MARTIN LUTHER KING ticatedfor instance, lobbying federal government. Jean Marzollo. Illustrated byl.Brian Pinkney.(Scholastic1993) Lewis illustrates each model of social action with a true 32 pages.ISBN: 0-590-44065-9.LevetAges 3-8. story of a child activist who successfully used the method This 111/2 by 81/2 in. picture-book biography offers fresh to make a change. She also presents a realistic picture of and vibrant images of King's life and accomplishments. the hard work involved, outlining the steps from identi- An excellent selection of biographical details to inter- fying a problem and developing an action plan to gather- est young children makes very brief information about ing information, fund-raising, and getting publicity. King's life and contributions accessible and appealing. 0 0 Pinkney's lively illustrations created on scratchboard with oil pastels showcase young Martin as well as the KIDS MAKING QUILTS FOR KIDS mature leader. An author's note at the beginning ex- ABC Quilts (Quilt Digest Prez1992) 43 pages.ISBN: Paperback plains the reason for devoting a page in a book for such 0-913327-36-0.LevetAges 8-14. young children to the assassination of the Nobel Peace In many parts of the United States, youngsters in Scout Prize-winning African American leader. troops, Sunday School classes, 4-H clubs, and other 0 0 youth organizations are gathering together to make quilts to send to children who are HW positive as part I HAVE A DREAM of the ABC Quilt Project. Basic information about Martin Luther King,Jr. Foreword by Coretta Scott King. Illustrated getting started, as well as step-by-step instructions for by fifteen Coretta Scott King Award and Honor Book Artists. four types of quilt faces, are included in an attractive (Scholastic 1997)40 pages.ISBN: 0-590-20516-1. Level:Age 5 paperback illustrated with color photographs of kids and older. working on quilts and fmished quilts. Facts about AIDS An illustrated edition of Martin Luther King, Jr.'s, fa- and suggestions for adult-led discussion starters are mous speech during the March on Washington in 1963 appended. has been divided into fifteen sections, each one illus- 0 0 trated by award-winning artists. Artists' statements about their tributes following the speech offer insights THE LILY CUPBOARD about their art and their sense of this particular his- Shulamith Levey Oppenheimillustrated by Ronald Himler.(A tory. Their comments vary widely, as do their visual Charlotte Zolotow Book/Harper Collins,1992) 32 pages.ISBN: 0- interpretations of each section of text. The artists are 06-024669-3.LevekAges 5-8. Ashley Bryan, Carole Byard, Wil Clay, Floyd Cooper, The heroism of ordinary rural Dutch people unfolds in a Pat Cummings, Diane and Leo Dillon, Tom Feelings, first person fictional narrative about a child named Miriam, George Ford, Jan Spivey Gilchrist, Brian Pinkney, Jerry "hidden" with a non-Jewish family during the World War Pinkney, James E. Ransome, Teréa Shaffer, and II German occupation of Holland. Paintings rendered in Kathleen Atkins Wilson. watercolor and gouache illustrate the spare text of a pic- 0 0 ture-book glimpse into the bravery and sacrifice of Jewish

162 167 parents who entrusted their children's lives to strangers NEVE SHALOM /WAHAT AL-SALAM; OASIS OF within whose homes children like Miriam lived amidst PEACE constant danger. Laurie Dolphin. Photographs by Ben Dolphin. (Scholastic 1993) 0 0 48 pages.ISBN:0-590-45799-3.Level:Ages 7-10. Shlomo Franklin and Muhammad Jabar both live in THE LITTLE SHIPS:THE HEROIC RESCUE AT Israel. Shlomo, who is Jewish, lives in the village of DUNKIRK IN WORLD WAR II Nataf with other Jewish families and hasnever had Louise Borden. Illustrated by Michael Foreman. (Margaret K. any Arab friends. Muhammad, who is a Palestinian McElderry, 1997) 32 pages. ISBN: 0-689-80827-5. Level: Ages Moslem, lives in Abu Gosh, an old Arab village, and 8-12 and older. has never had any Jewish friends. The parents of each "In1940,I lived with my father in the town of Deal,on of these ten-year-old boys have decided to send their the Kent coast of England, safe from the thunder of sons to a remarkable school in a remarkable village the Germans' guns in France. Some days in May I could called Neve Shalom (Hebrew) / Wahat al-Salam (Ara- hear it, rolling in big booms across the English Chan- bic), or Oasis of Peace. At the school, Arab and Jewish nel. Some days I could feel it, rattling the glass in the teachers together teach Arab and Jewish children, who windows on our street." So writesa girl who climbed learn about the customs, history, and language of both into her brother's dothes and thenunbidden----onto cultures in a curriculum designed to foster friendship her father's fishing boat to becomepart of the "motley rather than fear. Text and photographs depicting first group of ships," an armada crossing the Channel to the separateness of Shlomo's and Muhammad's lives, rescue the British soldiers trapped on the sandy beaches and then their meeting and burgeoning friendship, of France. Thousands of soldierswere saved by that build understanding of the current tenor of Arab and now legendary civilian armada. Fright, drama, and Israeli relations and hope for a peaceful future. simple heroics are described almost poetically bya girl 000 looking all the while for her brother John but seeing, instead, the horrific details of anarmy in retreat. NIM AND THE WAR EFFORT Foreman's watercolors vividly expand the firstperson Milly Lee Illustrated by Yangsook Choi. (Frances Foster/Farrar, narrative, while the overall design of the volume adds Straus and Girourc1997) 36 pages.ISBN: 0-374-35523-1. Level: urgency. An author's note provides facts about this his- Ages 7-10 and older. toric effort and an excerpt from Winston Churchill's The story concerns a typical World War II school June4speech to Parliamentwelcome reality from project, a newspaper drive with a contest to see which pages otherwise too amazing to be believed. child can collect the most paper. Duringa last minute 0 0 scramble, Chinese American Nim confrontsa white male classmate who claims an 'American" will win MARTHA CALLING the contest. Nim wins, but according to her family's Susan Meddaugh. (Houghton Mifflin,1994) 32 pages. ISBN:0- values, she also loses. The paper drive is onlyone of 395-69825-1.Level:Ages 4-8. the ways Nim and her public school friends in San The dog who suddenly began speaking aftera bowl Francisco aid the war effort during World War II. Her of alphabet soup went to her brain instead of herstom- family is also part of the war effort, but they donot ach in MARTHA SPEAKS (Houghton, 1992) is back want to be mistaken as Japanese. Nim learns again. This time she's learning that there'sa down- Cantonese at home, practices calligraphy lessons, and side to communication. Not all wordsare pleasing, attends Chinese school in the late afternoons. The and three in particular are downright rude: "No dogs homefront is carefully detailed withina Chinese allowed." When Martha wins a vacationto a seaside American context in a relatively long illustratednar- resort in a telephone contest, she must suffer the ulti- rative filled with smoothly incorporated historical and mate indignity of being disguised as a human. Once cultural details. Lee raises several issues regardingpa- again, Meddaugh combines understatement, dialogue triotism, national pride, and culture. balloons, and humorously expressive illustrationsto 0 0 000allow Martha to speak for herself.

168 163 OH, FREEDOM! KIDS TALK ABOUT THE CIVIL tend to shoot, we pretend to die. I see my mother at a RIGHTS MOVEMENT WITH THE PEOPLE WHO stall buying flowers, and she frowns at me. She does not MADE IT HAPPEN like for me to play this game." Expressing the ambiguity Casey King and Linda Barrett Osborne. Foreword by Rosa of Sami's life and of a childhood in which maturity means Parks. Illustrated with photographs. (Alfred A. Knopf, using guns to fight a dvil war, this full-color picture story 1997)137 pages. ISBN: 0-679-85856-3; pbk: 0-679-89005- illuminates an experience transferable to other places in X. Level:Ages 8-14 and older. the world. Gilliland's firsthand experience in Beirut con- Brief interviews were conducted by thirty-four middle tributes a valuable dimension to the provocative book. school students with thirty-four adults who lived through 000 the US. civil rights movement. Some of the adults were active in the movement, others describe what life was SAVE THE EARTH: AN ACTION HANDBOOK FOR like when segregation was legal, and one former KKK KIDS member talks candidly about his own racist views prior Betty Miles. Illustrated by Nelle Davis. (Alfred A. Knopf to his religious conversion while in prison for bombing 1991) 118 pages. ISBN: 0-679-81731-X. Level: Ages 8-12. the home of *wish civil rights leader in Meridian, Mis- Accessible information about environmental issues sissippi. Each interview is accompanied by a photographic and activities is well-organized in seven chapters titled portrait of the interviewer with his or her subject, along "Land," 'Atmosphere," "Water," "Energy" "Plants & with documentary photographs of the activists at Animals," "People," and "Getting to Work." The first marches and sit-ins, revealing that many of them were six chapters focus on the named subject by providing middle school students themselves when they got in- factual background information, accounts of relevant volved in the movement. The conversational tone of the youth efforts currently taking place, detailed projects interviews will make them accessible and appealing to appropriate to the book's audience, and a "checklist" young readers and because the interviewers are children, of simple activities anyone can attempt. The final chap- they often ask their subjects to explain things adults take ter outlines helpful procedures applicable to a variety for granted: how a sit-in worked, for example, or what of issues, including finding information in the library, "rhetoric" means. The interviews are organized into three joining environmental groups, writing letters, speak- sections: life under segregation, the movement to end ing, and holding press conferences. A glossary, read- legalized segregation, and the struggle to end poverty ing list, and addresses of several environmental groups and discrimination. Each of these three sections opens are included. Interested readers will appreciate the with a cogent overview that provides a context for the book's "do-able," action-oriented approach. interviews that will follow. The third section includes 00 some remarkable interviews with people who were active in the Black Nationalist Movement and the Black Pan- SEEDFOLKS thers, a side of US. history and politics rarely seen in Paul Fleischman. (Joanna Cotler/HarperCollins, 1997) 69 children's books. pages. ISBN: 0-06-027471-9. Level: Ages 9-13 and older. 000 A young Vietnamese girl plants six lima bean seedlings in an overgrown, garbage-strewn, inner-city lot SAMI AND THE TIME OF THE TROUBLES in Cleveland. An elderly longtime resident of the Florence Parry Heide and Judith Heide Gilliland. neighborhood watches the child from a third-story Illustrated by Ted Lewin. (Clarion, 1992) 32 pages. ISBN: 0- apartment window, unsure of what the girl is doing 395-55964-2. Level:Ages 8-11. all alone in that abandoned lot, but suspicious. Life in Ten-year-old Sami and his family live in contemporary the neighborhood has taught the woman to be dis- Beirut, Lebanon. Sometimes the family picnics on a beach trustful of people, even of children, but when she dis- and goes to the market. Too often gunfire fills the streets, covers the girl has planted beans, she is startled and requiring family members to stay in a basement shelter moved by the tender act. Realizing it is far too early in where they try to remember sunsets, peach orchards, and the spring for such young plantings to survive, she calls happier times. After the shooting stops, Sami and his upon a friend to help her secretly tend them so the friend Amir help dean up rubble in the streets and then child's small garden will grow. From these small acts, play in their makeshift fort. "We run, we hide, we pre- a neighborhood begins to change. Where once there

164 MT COPY MEI IsLIE 169 was an old, abandoned lot, a garden emerges. Where once there were disconnected lives, a fragile sense of community begins to grow. Seedfolks takes place inan economically disadvantaged urban neighborhood comprising individuals from diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds, a neighborhood in whichsome of the residents are relative newcomers to the United States while others have lived on thosevery city blocks for most or all of their lives. Fleischman gives them voice, writing each chapter from the point of view ofa different individual in the neighborhood whogets involved in the garden. There are conflictsas well as connections that result from the garden's growth in Seedfolks, but ultimately there is hope, anda flowering 000of the human spirit.

165 170 Children's Trade Books with Civic Ideals and Practicesas a Second Thematic Strand The title index an pp 173-180 lists the number of the pageon which each book is annotated.

TITLE AUTHOR DATE AGE LEVEL

Aani and the Tree Huggers Jeannine Atkins 1995 Ages 4-9

The Bobbin Girl Emily Arnold McCully 1996 Ages 8-11 and older

Celebrating Kwanzaa Diane Hoyt-Goldsmith 1993 Ages 5-12

Common Ground:The Water, Earth, and Air We Share Molly Bang 1997 Ages 5-8 and older

Follow lhat Trash! All about Recycling Francine Jacobs 1996 Ages 5-7

The Gardener Sarah Stewart 1997 Ages 5-9

Kwanzaa A. P. Porter 1991 Ages 5-9

Lift Ev'ry Voice and Sing James Weldon Johnson 1995 Age 3-adult

Officer Buckle and Gloria Peggy Rathmann 1995 Ages 3-7

Public Defender:Lawyer for the People Joan Hewett 1991 Ages 9-14

The Snow Walker Margaret K. Wetterer 1996 Ages 7-10 and Charles M.Wetterer

Toussaint L'Ouverture:The Fight for Haiti's Freedom Walter Dean Myers 1996 Ages 9-12

Children's Trade Books with Civic Ideals and Practices as a Third Thematic Strand The title index on pp 173-180 lists the number of the page on which each book is annotated.

Christmas Counting Lynn Reiser 1992 Ages 2-5

Fire at the Triangle Factory Holly Littlefield 1996 Ages 8-11

Great-Grandma Tells of Threshing Day Verda Cross 1992 Ages 5-8, or older for oral history purposes

Growing Up in Coal Country Susan Campbell Bartoletti1996 Ages 9-16

Habari Gani? /What's the News?: A Kwanzaa Story Sundaira Morninghouse 1992 Ages 4-9

Imani's Gift at Kwanzaa Denise Burden-Patmon 1992 Ages 3-8

Sam and the Lucky Money Karen Chinn 1995 Ages 4-7

Winter Rescue W. D. Valgardson 1995 Ages 6-9

166 171 I> TITTLE 0 IIKEYS

How to Use the Index 0 CULTURE 27 Complete annotations for each children's book recom-o TIME, CONTINUTITY, & CHANGE 59 mended in this publication can be found listed alphabeti- o PEOPLE, PLACES, & ENVIRONMENTS 79 cally under each book's Major Thematic Strand (as iden- O INDIVIDUAL DEVELOPMENT & IDENTITY 103 tified in Chapter Three). For example, A Is for Africa can0 INDIVIDUALS, GROUPS & INSTITUTIONS 125 be found under 0 (Individuals, Groups, and Institutions),0 POWER, AUTHORITY & GOVERNANCE 139 on page 125. PRODUCRON, DISTRIBUTION & CONSUMPTION 145 0 SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY & SOCIETY 153 0 GLOBAL CONNECTIONS 159 0CIVIC IDEALS AND PRACTICES 165

I> A Ashley Bryan's ABC of African American Poetry 0 28 A Is for Africa 0 125 At Christmastime 0 59 Aani and the Tree Huggers 0 159 At the Beach 0 29 Abuela 0 79 Aunt Flossie's Hats (And Crab Cakes Later!) 0 103 Abuela's Weave 0 27 Aunt Harriet's Underground Railroad in the Sky 0 165 Abuelita's Paradise 0 79 Afro-Bets First Book about Africa 0 79 l> Ahyoka and the Talking Leaves 0 27 Back Home 0 104 Aida 0 139 The Ballot Box Battle 0 165 Akialc A Tale of the Iditarod 0 79 Baseball in the Barrios 0 80 Alef-Bet: A Hebrew Alphabet Book 0 125 Baseball Saved Us 0 125 All Night, All Day: A Child's First Book of African- Batboy: An Inside Look at Spring Training 0 145 American Spirituals 0 27 Bat in the Dining Room 0 104 All the Lights in the Night 0 103 Batman: Exploring the World of Bats 0 104 Almost the Real Thing: Simulation in Your High-Tech Be Patient, Abdul 0 145 World 0 153 Beach Feet 0 80 Alphabet City 0 27 A Bear for All Seasons 0 104 The Amazing Paper Cuttings of Hans Christian Bein' with You This Way 0 104 Andersen 0 27 A Bellbird in a Flame Tree 0 81 Amelia's Road 0 103 Betsy Ross: Patriot of Philadelphia 0 59 The American Eye: Eleven Artists of the Twentieth Big Annie of Calumet: A True Story of the Industrial Century 0 28 Revolution 0 165 The Amistad Slave Revolt and American Abolition0139 The Big Book for Peace 0 159 Anastasia's Album 0 139 Big Meeting 0 29 Angel's Kite / La Estrella de Angel 0 28 Big Rigs 0 145 Angela Weaves a Dream: The Story of a Young Maya Bill Pickett: Rodeo-Ridin' Cowboy 0 59 Artist 0 103 Billy and Belle 0 126 Antarctica: The Last Unspoiled Continent 0 79 Billy the Great 0 105 Anthony Reynoso: Born to Rope 0 28 Birdie's Lighthouse 0 81 Any Kind of Dog 0 28 The Birthday Swap 0 126 Appalachia: The Voices of Sleeping Birds 0 79 Bitter Bananas 0 81 Apple Juice Tea 0 125 Black Heroes of the Wild West 0 59 Arctic Hunter 0 80 Blessed Are You: Traditional Everyday Arctic Memories 0 28 Hebrew Prayers 0 29 Arctic Son 0 80 The Block 0 81 Artist in Overalls: The Life of Grant Wood 0 103 Bloomers! 0 59 167 173 A Blue Butterfly: A Story about Claude Monet 029 Clambake: A Wampanoag Tradition 0 106 The Blushful Hippopotamus 0 105 Clean Your Room, Harvey Moon! 0 32 The Bobbin Girl 0 145 Climbing Kansas Mountains 0 83 Boodil My Dog 0 30 Clouds for Dinner 0 106 A Boy Becomes a Man at Wounded Knee 060 Cocoa Ice 0 159 The Boys' War: Confederate and Union Soldiers Talk Come Back, Salmon: How a Group of about the Civil War 0 60 Dedicated Kids Adopted Pigeon Creek and Brass Button 0 126 Brought It Back to Lffe 0 166 Bravo, Tanya 0 105 Come Home with Me: A Multicultural Bread Is for Eating 0 145 Treasure Hunt 0 32 Brothers & Sisters 0 126 Coming Home: From the Life of Brown Angels: An Album of Pictures and Verse 030 Langston Hughes 0 32 Brown Honey in Broomwheat Tea 0 105 Common Ground: The Water, Earth and Buffalo Days 0 81 Air We Share 0 159 Building an Igloo 0 81 Compost Critters 0 83 Butterfly Boy 0 82 Confetti: Poems for Children 0 32 The Copper Lady 0 139 C Country Fair 0 83 C Is for City 0 82 A Crack in the Wall 0 127 Calling the Doves / El Canto de las Palomas 0126 Cuckoo: A Mexican Folktale / Un Cuento Calvin's Christmas Wish 0 105 Folklorico Mexicano 0 32 Camping in the Temple of the Sun 0 82 Cutters, Carvers & the Cathedral 0 33 Canto Familiar 0 30 Cynthia Gregory Dances Swan Lake 0 106 The Carolers 0 30

Celebrating Families 0 126 [ED Celebrating Kwanzaa 0 30 Daddy and Me: A Photo Story of Arthur Ashe and His Champions: Stories of Ten Remarkable Athletes 031 Daughter Camera 0 127 Chasing Redbird 0 127 The Dancing Fox: Arctic Folktales 0 33 Chato's Kitchen 0 31 Darkness 0 83 Cherokee Summer 0 60 A Day at Damp Camp 0 84 Chibi: A True Story from Japan 0 82 The Day Gogo Went to Vote: South Africa, April 1994 0166 Chicken Soup Boots 0 31 The Day of Ahmed's Secret 0 84 Children of Clay: A Family of Pueblo Potters 082 Day of Delight: A Jewish Sabbath in Ethiopia 0 33 Children of Promise: African-American Literature and The Days Before Now: An Autobiographical Note by Art for Young People 0 60 Margaret Wise Brown 0 61 The Children of Topaz: The Story ofa Japanese-Ameri- De Colores and Other Latin-American Folk Songs for can Internment Camp 0 139 Children 0 33 Christmas at Long Pond 0 82 Dear Bear 0 106 Christmas Counting 0 60 Dear Benjamin Banneker 0 153 Christmas in the Big House, Christmas in Dear Rebecca, Winter Is Here 0 84 the Quarters 0 31 Dia's Story Cloth: The Hmong People's Journeyto The Christmas Tree / El Arbol de Navidad: A Christmas Freedom 0 159 Rhyme in English and Spanish 0 127 Dick King-Smith's Animal Friends: Thirty-One True Life Christmas Tree Memories 0 31 Stories 0 61 The Christmas Tree Ship 0 61 Did You Hear Wind Sing Your Name? An Oneida Song Cinnamon, Mint, & Mothballs: A Visit to Grandmother's of Spring 0 34 House 0 83 Diego 0 34 The Cirde of Thanks: Native American Poems andSongs Diez Deditos / Ten Litde Fingers, and Other Play Rhymes of Thanksgiving 0 32 and Action Songs from Latin America 0 160 174 168 Digby 0 106 Four Seasons of Corn: A Winnebago Tradition 0 35 Discovering Christopher Columbus: How History Is Frida Kahlo 0 35 Invented 0 61 Frozen Man 0 35 Dolphin Man: Exploring the World of Dolphins 0 106 FunNo Fun 0 62 Don't You Know There's a War On? 0 61 Fun with 9umbers 0 62 Down the Road 0 107 Dream Catcher: The Legend and the Lady 0 34 l> G Dreamcatcher 0 34 Gabriella's Song 0 86 Drumbeat...Heartbeat: A Celebration of the Powwow The Gardener 0 86 (We Are Still Here) 0 34 Gathering the Sun 0 36 Drylongso 0 84 Georgia O'Keeffeby Linda Loway0 108 Georgia O'Keeffeby Robyn MontanaTurner 0 108 IE The Gift of Changing Women 0 108 Eagle 0 84 Gingerbread Days 0 108 Eagle Drum; On the Powwow Trail with a Young Grass Girls and Young Women Inventing Twenty True Stories Dancer 0 34 about Inventors, Plus How You Can Be One Yourself Eagle Song 0 166 153 Earth, Fire, Water, Air 0 106 Giving Thanks: A Native American Good Morning Eleanor 0 107 Message 0 86 Eleanor Roosevelt: A Life of Discovery 0 107 Global Warming 0 160 Elijah's Angel: A Story for Chanukah and Glorious Angels: A Celebration of Children 0 160 Christmas 0 127 Going Back Home: An Artist Returns to the South 0 36 Emeka's Gift: An African Counting Story 0 84 Going Home 0 86 Emily 0 107 The Golden Lion Tamarin Comes Home 0 160 End of Winter 0 35 Gonna Sing My Head Off!: American Folk Songs for Everglades 0 85 Children 0 36 Everglades: Buffalo Tiger and the River of Grass 0 85 Good Night, Stella 0 128 Extra Cheese, Please! Mozzarella's Journey from Cow Good-Bye, Curtis 0 146 to Pizza 0 146 Grandaddy and janetta 0 62 Grandaddy's Stars 0 128 l> Grandfather's Journey 0 86 Faith Ringgold 0 35 Grandma's Baseball 0 128 Families: A Celebration of Diversity, Commitment and Grandmother Bryant's Pocket 0 63 Love 0 128 Grandpappy 0 87 Family Pictures / Cuadros de Familia 0 35 The Great Migration: An American Story 0 87 Farmer's Market 0 146 A Great Miracle Happened There: A Chanukah Story 0 63 Father and Son 0 107 Great Women in the Struggle 0 108 Father's Rubber Shoes 0 146 Great-Grandma Tells of Threshing Day 0 87 The Feather-Bed Journey 0 62 The Green Frogs: A Korean Folktale 0 36 The Fiddler of the Northern Lights 0 85 Growing Up in Coal Country 0 147 Fire at the Triangle Factory 0 146 Gus and Grandpa and the Christmas Cookies 0 166 Fire in the Forest: A Cycle of Growth and Renewal 0 62 Fire Truck Nuts and Bolts 0 146 Flight: The Journey of Charles Lindbergh 0 62 Habari Gani? / What's the News?: Flood 0 85 A Kwanzaa Story 0 36 Follow That Trash! All about Recycling 0 153 Hairs / Pelitos 0 108 A Forever Family 0 128 Halmoni and the Picnic 0 36 Fort Chipewyan Homecoming: A Journey to Native The Handmade Alphabet 0 37 Canada 0 85 Hanna's Cold Wmter 0166

I9 175 Hanukkah! 0 37 Imani's Gift at Kwanzaa 0 110 Happy Birthday, Martin Luther King 0167 In Daddy's Arms I Am Tall: African Americans Hard to Be Six 0 63 Celebrating Fathers 0 111 Harlem: A Poem 0 37 In for Winter, Out for Spring 0 88 Harvest Year 0 87 In My Family / En Mi Familia 0 129 Hattie and the Wild Waves: A Story from Brooklyn 0109 In the Heart of the Village: The World of the Indian Haystack 0 87 Banyan Tree 0 88 The Heart of the Wood 0 147 In the Street of the Temple Cloth Printers 0147 Her Stories: African American Folktales, Fairy Tales,and In the Woods: Who's Been Here? 0 89 True Tales 0 37 The Indian Way: Learning to Communicate with The Heroine of the Titanic: A Tale BothTrue and Oth- Mother Earth 0 39 erwise of the Life of Molly Brown 0 63 Indigo and Moonlight Gold 0 64 Here Comes the Mail 0 153 The Inner City Mother Goose 0 64 Hiawatha: Messenger of Peace 0 140 Insects Are My Life 0 III The Hired Hand 0 63 Into the Deep Forest with Henry David Thoreau 089 The Hokey Pokey 0 37 It's Kwanzaa Time! 0 39 Hoang Anh: A Vietnamese-American Boy 037 I've Got an Idea: The Story of Frederick Mckinley Hold the Anchovies! A Book about Pizza 038 Jones 0 154 Home Field 0 129

Home Lovely 0 38 E> Home Place 0 64 Jackal Woman: Exploring the World of Jackals 089 Homeplace 0 64 Jacques-Henri Lartigue: Boy with a Camera 0 111 Hooray, a Pinata! 0 38 Jelly Beans for Sale 0 147 Hopscotch around the World 0161 John Henry 0 65 A House by the River 0 87 The Journey: Japanese Americans, Racism A House by the Sea 0 88 and Renewal 0 65 Houses of Adobe: The Southwest 088 July 0 89 Houses of Bark; Tipi, Wigwam and Longhouse 088 June 29, 1999 0 65 How I Was Adopted 0 109 How My Family Lives in America 0 109 I> K How Sweet the Sound: African-AmericanSongs for K Is for Kwanzaa: A Kwanzaa Alphabet Book 0 Children 0 38 39 Kennedy Assassinated! The World Mourns:A How You Were Born 0 109 Reporter's Story 0 65 The Hunterman and the Crocodile: A West African Kids at Work: Lewis Hine and the Crusadeagainst Folktale 0 38 Child Labor 0 147 Hunting the White Cow 0 88 The Kid's Guide to Social Action: Howto Solve the Hush! A Thai Lullaby 0 64 Social Problems You ChooseAnd Turn Creative Thinking into Positive Action 0 167 I> 11 Kids Making Quilts for Kids 0 167 I Am a Jesse White Tumbler 0 109 Kinaalda: A Navajo Girl Grows Up 0 111 I Had a Lot of Wishes 0 110 Kisses from Rosa 0 111 I Have a Dream 0 167 Kodomo: Children of Japan 0 39 "I Have a Song to Sing, 0!": An Introductionto the Songs KofI and His Magic 0 89 of Gilbert and Sullivan 0 39 Kwanzaa 0 39 I Thought My Soul Would Rise and Fly:The Diary of Kwanzaa: A Family Affair 0 40 Patsy, a Freed Girl 0 64

I Want to Be 0 110 B. I Was a Teenage Professional Wrestler 0110 L'chaim: The Story of a Russian Emigre Boy 0129 ni See You in My Dreams 0 110 La Boda: A Mexican Wedding Celebration 040

176 170 Last Leaf First Snowflake to Fall 0 89 The Mean Hyena: A Folktale from Malawi 0 42 Laughing Tomatoes, and Other Spring Poems / Jitomates Meet Danitra Brown 0 113 Risuerios y Otros Poemas de Primavera 0 40 The Milkman's Boy 0 148 Laura Ingalls Wilder Country 0 90 A Million Fish...More or Less 0 90 Laura Loves Horses 0 40 Mimi's Tutu 0 43 The Leaving Morning 0 66 Minty: The Story of Young Harriet Tubman 0 113 Let's Talk about Divorce 0 129 Mirette on the High Wire 0 113 Life around the Lake: Embroideries by the Women of Mom Can't See Me 0 130 Lake Patzcuaro 0 40 Monarch Butterffies: Mysterious Travelers 0 90 Lift Ev'ry Voice and Sing 0 41 Moon Festival 0 43 Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse 0 129 The Moon Was the Best 0 90 The Lily Cupboard 0 167 Morning Milking 0 91 Lion Dancer: Ernie Wan's Chinese New Year 0 41 Morning, Noon, and Night: Poems to Fill Your Day 0 The Little Lama of Tibet 0 129 130 The Little Ships: The Heroic Rescue at Dunkirk in The Most Beautiful Roof in the World: Exploring the World War II 0 168 Rainforest Canopy 154 Little White Cabin 0 130 Mother Gave a Shout: Poems by Women and Girls 0 Lives of the Artists: Masterpieces, Messes (And What the 113 Neighbors Thought) 0 41 Musicians of the Sun 0 43 Lives of the Athletes: Thrills, Spills (And What the My Buddy 0 113 Neighbors Thought) 0 112 My Daddy Was a Soldier: A World War II Story 0 67 Lives of the Musicians 0 41 My Fellow Americans: A Family Album 0 114 The Living Earth 0 90 My First Kwanzaa Book 0 43 A Long Way to Go 0 140 My Mama Had a Dancing Heart 0 130 Look Alive: Behind the Scenes of an Animated Film 0 154 My Mama Sings 0 114 Look to the North: A Wolf Pup's Diary 0 41 My Mexico / Mexico Mio 0 43 Lost 0 90 My Name Is Maria Isabel 0 114 Lou Gehrig: The Luckiest Man 0 112 My Painted House, My Friendly Chicken, and Me 0 43 Love Letters 0 112 My Place 0 91 Luka's Quilt 0 42 My Prairie Christmas 0 91 My Steps 0 91 Rid My Two Uncles 0 44 Ma Dear's Aprons 0 66 Mycca's Baby 0 130 Mac & Marie & The Train Toss Surprise 0 112 Mysterious Visitor: Stories of the Prophet Elijah 0 44 The Magic Moonberry Jump Ropes 0 161 Mailing May 0 66 i> Make a Joyful Sound: Poems for Children by African- Nana's Birthday Party 0 114 American Poets 0 42 Native American RockArt: Messages from the Past 0 91 Mama Bear 0 147 Neighborhood Odes 0 44 Man and Mustang 0 140 Neve Shalom /Wahat Al-Salam: Oasis of Peace 0 168 Many Thousand Gone: African Americans from Slavery Night Driving 0 115 to Freedom 0 42 Night on Neighborhood Street 0 92 Martha Calling 0 168 Night Owls 0 92 Marven of the Great North Woods 0 66 Night Tree 0 92 Marvin's Best Christmas Present Ever 0 42 Nim and the War Effort 0 168 Mary Cassatt 0 113 Nine Candles 0 131 Mayeros: A Yucatec Maya Family 0 130

May'naise Sandwiches & Sunshine Tea 0 42 131 Me, Dad and Number 6 0 66 Officer Buckle and Gloria 0 140

177 171 Ogbo: Sharing Life in an African Village 0 131 Raptor Rescue! An Eagle Flies Free 0 93 Oh Freedom! Kids Talk about the Civil Rights Movement Rapunzel 0 47 with the People Who Made It Happen 0 169 The Real McCoy: The Life of an African-American In- The Old Dog 0 115 ventor 0 155 On Board the Titanic 0 67 The Red Comb 0 68 On the Pampas 0 92 Red Dog, Blue Fly: Football Poems 0 131 On Passover 0 44 Red Scarf Girl: A Memoir of the Cultural Revolution 0 On Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur 0 44 141 On the Wings of Peace: Writers and Illustrators Speakout for Remember That 0 131 Peace in Memory of Hiroshima and Nagasaki 0 161 The Return of the Buffaloes: A Plains Indian Story about One Nation, Many Tribes: How Kids Live in Milwaukee's Famine and Renewal of the Earth 0 47 Indian Community 0 44 Rocket! How a Toy Launched the Space Age 0 155 Only a Pigeon 0 92 Rome Antics 0 93 Orphan Train Rider: One Boy's True Story 0 131 Rosa Bonheur 0 115 The Other Side: How Kids Live ina California Latino Run Away Home 0 68 Neighborhood 0 45 Ruth Law Thrills a Nation 0 155 Our House: The Stories of Levittown 0 67 Our Journey from Tibet: Based on a True Story 0140 D Our Old House 0 67 The Sacred Harvest: Ojibway Wild Rice Gathering 0 Our People 0 67 148 Owen 0 115 Sadako 0 161 Sam and the Lucky Money 0 47 P Sam Is My Half Brother 0 131 Pablo Remembers: The Fiesta of the Day of the Dead 045 Sami and the Time of the Troubles 0 169 The Paperboy 0 148 Samuel Todd's Book of Great Inventions 0 155 Pass It On: African-American Poetry for Children 0 45 Save the Earth: An Action Handbook for Kids 0 169 Patrick Desjarlait: Conversations Witha Native Ameri- Scorpion Man: Exploring the World of Scorpions 0 93 can Artist 0 45 The Seashore Book 0 93 Peacebound Trains 0 141 The Seasons Sewn: A Year in Patchwork 0 93 A Picture Book of Jesse Owens 0 115 The Secret Box 0 116 The Piriata Maker / El Piriatero 0 45 Seedfolks 0 169 Places of Refiige: Our National Wildlife Refuge System 0 Serior Cat's Romance and Other Favorite Stories from 92 Latin America 0 47 Polar, the Titanic Bear 0 154 A Separate Battle: Women and the Civil War 0 68 Popcorn at the Palace 0 67 Serena Katz 0 68 Potato: A Tale from the Great Depression 0 148 Seven Brave Women 0 69 Powwow 0 46 Seven Candles for Kwanzaa 0 47 Powwow Summer: A Family Celebrates the Circle of Seven Days of Kwanzaa 0 48 Life 0 46 Shannon: An Ojibway Dancer 0 48 Public Defender: Lawyer for the People 0 141 Shoes from Grandpa 0 48 Pueblo Storyteller 0 46 Shortcut by Donald Crews 0 116 Shortcut by David Macaulay 0 69 I> (Cp Silent Night: The Song from Heaven 0 69 Quilted Landscape: Conversations with Young Immi- Simple Signs 0 48 grants 0 161 Sitti's Secrets 0 162 Six Words, Many Turtles, and Three Days in HongKong 0 c> 162 Radio Boy 0 154 Sky Pioneer: A Photobiography of Amelia Earhart 0 Ramadan 0 46 116 178 172 Smoky Night 0 132 This Land Is My Land 0 70 Snapshots from the Wedding 0 48 The Tie Man's Miracle 0 50 Snow Day! 0 132 Till Year's Good End: A Calendar of Medieval Labors 0 The Snow Lady 0 116 70 Snow on Snow on Snow 0 94 Tomas and the Library Lady 0 117 The Snow Walker 0 94 Tommy Traveler in the World of Black History 0 70 The Snow Whale 0 94 Tomorrow on Rocky Pond 0 96 Snowed In 0 94 Tomorrow's Alphabet 0 71 Sofie's Role 0 149 Tonight Is Carnival 0 96 Solo Girl 0 48 Totem Pole 0 118 Some of the Pieces 0 69 Toussaint L'ouverture: The Fight for Haiti's Freedom 0 Songs from the Loom: A Navajo Ghi Learns to Weave 0 49 142 Spill! The Story of the Exxon Valdez 0 94 Tree of Cranes 0 50 The Spirit of Tio Fernando: A Day of the Dead Story / Treemonisha 0 71 El Espiritu de Tio Fernando: Una Historia del Dia de Tunnels, Tracks, and Trains: Building a Subway 0 155 Los Muertos 0 49 Turtle Bay 0 162 Star of Fear, Star of Hope 0 142 The Twelve Days of Christmas: A Song Rebus 0 50 Starry Night 0 94 Twinnies 0 132 Stories from the Classical Ballet 0 49 Two Lands, One Heart: An American Boy's Journey to Stories in Stone: RockArt Pictures by Early Americans 0 69 His Mother's Vietnam 0 96 Street Music: City Poems 0 95 The Two Mrs. Gibsons 0 133 Sugaring Season: Making Maple Syrup 0 149 Sun and Spoon 0 116 NQV The Sunday Outing 0 132 The Ugly Menorah 0 50 Sunflakes: Poems for Children 0 95 Uncertain Roads: Searching for the Gypsies 0 50 Surtsey: The Newest Place on Earth 0 95 Uncle Jed's Barbershop 0 149 Sweet Words So Brave: The Story of African American The Uninvited Guest and Other Jewish Holiday Tales 0 51 Literature 0 70 Up North at the Cabin 0 96

l> Take Me Out to the Ballgame 0 49 VforVanishingAnAlphabetof EndangeredAnimals 0 162 Taking Flight: My Story 0 117 Vejigante Masquerader 0 51 The Talking Cloth 0 162 Visions: Stories about Women Artists 0 51 Talking with Artists 0 49 A Visit to Amy-Claire 0 118 Talking with Artists: Conversations with Victoria Chess, Voices from the Fields: Children of Migrant Farmworkers Pat Cummings, Leo and Diane Dillon, Richard Egielski, Tell Their Stories 0 51 Lois Ehlert, Lisa Campbell Ernst, Tom Feelings, Steven Kellogg, Jerry Pinkney, Amy Schwartz, Lane Smith, N Chris Van Allsburg and David Wiesner 0 117 Waiting for Christmas 0 51 Tanya and Emily in a Dance for Two 0 117 Wake Up, City! 0 96 Tar Beach 0 95 The Wall 0 71 Taxi! Taxi! 0 132 War Game 0 71 Teammates 0 132 Water Buffalo Days 0 96 Tell Them We Remember: The Story of the Holocaust 0 We Can Do It! 0 118 70 Weaving a California Tradition: A Native American The Third Planet: Exploring the Earth from Space 0 Basketmaker 0 52 155 We Can Do It! 0 118 Thirteen Moons on Turtle's Back: A Native American What a Wonderful World 0 52 Year of Moons 0 95 What Instrument Is This? 0 52

173 179 What Zeesie Saw on Delancey Street 0 133 What's in Aunt Mary's Room? 0 133 Wheels 0 97 When Birds Could Talk & Bats Could Sing The Adventures of Bruh Sparrow, Sis Wren, and Their Friends 052 When I Am Old with You 0 133 When I Go Camping with Grandma 0 97 When I Left My Village 0 142 When Jo Louis Won the Title 0 118 Where Does the Trail Lead? 0 97 Where Once There Was a Wood 0 97 The Whispering Cloth 0 53 The Widow's Broom 0 133 Wilma Mankiller 0 118 Wilma Unlimited: How Wilma Rudolph Became the World's Fastest Woman 0 118 Window 0 97 The Window 0 119 Winter Poems 0 98 Winter Rescue 0 98 With Love from Koko 0 119 With Needle and Thread: A Book about Quilts 053 Women Working A to Z 0 119 Working Cotton 0 149 The Wright Brothers: How They Invented the Airplane 0 156

D The Year of No More Corn 0 98 A Young Painter: The Life and Paintings of WangYani China's Extramlinary Young Artist 0 119

The Zebra-Riding Cowboy: A Folk Song from the Old West 0 72 Zora Hurston and the Chinaberry Tree 0 120

1 7 4 180 SU13.DECT IMINEXt

Social studies disciplines are not listed in this index, and readers interested in identifying books suitable fora particular discipline should r4er to the chapter dealing with the appropriate strand of the social studies standards. For example, for books with histari- cal themes, the reader should consult chapter 6, which deals with the strand of Time, Continuity, and Change.

I> A Appalachia 79 Arapaho 39 ABC Quilt Project 167 Archibald, Nate 31 Aborigines 91 Arctic 28, 33, 80, 81 Abu Gosh 168 Argentina 92 acrobats 113 Armstrong, Louis 52 Addis Ababa 92 Arizona 28,145 adopdon 109,128 art 27, 28, 29, 49, 51, 52, 103, 108, 113, 115, 119 Aesop 70 Asch, Frank 95 African Americans 48, 59, 67, 68, 71,108, 113, 149 Ashe, Arthur 127 art 35, 36, 60 Asian Americans See Chinese Americans, Japanese culture 37, 41, 108 Americans, Korean Americans, Vietnamese Americans dance 43 Assiniboine 34 families 29, 30, 51, 64, 66, 92, 107,111, 114, 132 athletes 31, 109, 110, 112, 115, 118, 127,132, 145 folktales and literature 33, 37, 60, 70 Attucks, Crispus 71 Kwanzaa 30, 36, 39, 43,47, 48, 110 Aaistrilia 81, 91 music 27 Austria 70 northward migration 87 autumn 43,89-90 poetry 28-29, 42, 105 Aztecs 43, 62 songs 38, 41 Ahmedabad, India 147 Aida 139 aircraft 62, 116,117, 155, 156 Bach 41 Alabama 52, 66, 68 bakery 149 Alaska 118 Baldwin, James 60, 70 Alberta, Canada 85 ballet 49 Ali, Muhammad 31 Baltimore 62,112, 128 Allegheny Mountains 65 Ban Vinai 53 Allen, Thomas B. 49 Banneker, Benjamin 153 alphabet 27, 28-29, 37, 39, 71,82, 119, 162 Baraka, Amiri 70 American Indians see Native Americans Baraka, Imamu Amiri 60 American Sign Language 48, 119 Baron, Linda Michelle 45 Amish 53 Baronova, Irina 49 Amistad 139 baseball 49, 80, 112, 125,132, 145 Anastasia 139 Bearden, Romare 28, 60 Anchorage 94 Beethoven 41 Ancient Egyptians 62 Begin, Mary Jane 49 Andersen, Hans Christian 27 Beirut, Lebanon 169 Angelou, Maya 70, 113 Bemidji 66 Anguissola 41 Benny, Jack 114 animals.... 28, 41, 61, 81, 82, 89, 93, 104, 106, 160,162, 166, 167 Benoit, Joan. See Samuelson, Joan Benoit See also pets Benton, Thomas Hart 28 Anishinabe 45, 46, 95 birth 109 Annette Island, Alaska 118 Blackfoot 46 Antarctica 79 Bloomer, Amelia 60 Anthony, Susan B. 60 Bonheur, Raymond 115 Apache 68, 108 Bonheur, Rosa 115 Apollo Theater 37 Boston Children's Museum 110, 128 See also Harlem Boston 32

181 1.5 Boulanger 41 Churchill, Winston 168 Brahms 41 Ciardi, John 95 Brazil 160 Cinque 139 Bride, Harold 67 cities 27, 82, 95, 96, 169-70 Bronx 94 civil rights movement 159, 167, 169 Brooklyn Dodgers 49 Civil War 60, 64, 68 Brooks, Gwendolyn 45, 60, 70 Clemenc, Annie 165 Brown, James 38 Clemente, Roberto 31 Brown, J. J. 63 Cleveland, Ohio 169 Brown, John 32 Clifton, Lucille 42, 60 Brown, Margaret Wise 61, 95 coal mining 147, 165 Brown, Molly 63 Cochiti 46 Bruegel 41 Columbus, Christopher 61 Bryan, Ashley 39 Conner, Kenyon 109 Budapest 166 Cooley, Chloe 42 Buddhism 129-30 Cooper, Floyd 39, 49 Buenos Aires 92 Coso Range 70 Buffalo soldiers 32 Cotton Club 37 Butcher, Susan 31 country fair 83 Byard, Carole 39 cowboys 28, 50, 59, 72 Cree I> C 46, 70, 85 Crow 46, 81 Cuba Cairo 47, 127 84 Cullen, Countee 37, 42, 60, 70 California 44, 45, 50, 51, 52, 70 Cummings, Pat 117 See also Los Angeles; Salinas Valley; San Francisco Cambodia 32 I)' ID camps, camping 82, 84, 97 Canada 85, 149 da Vinci, Leonardo 41 See also Alberta; Ellsmere Island; Nova Scotia dairy 148 Carnaval 96 Dalai Lama 129, 141 Carrington, Leonorra 51 Dali, Salvador 41 Carson, Rachel 154 Dallas, Texas 65 Cassadore, Philip 108 dance 34,38, 43,49,105, 106, 117 Cassatt, Mary 41, 51, 113 Davis, Stuart 28 Cathedral of St. John the Divine 33 The Day of The Dead 45, 49 See also New York City death 110, 116-17 Cayuga 86, 140 Degandawida 140 Chagall 41 Del Pietro, Giuseppe 86 Chatham, Virginia 108 Denmark 27, 70 See also O'Keeffe, Georgia Denver, Colorado 63 Chavez, Cesar 36 Depression, The Great 86, 148, 149 Cherokee 27, 60, 95, 118 DesJarlait, Patrick 45 Chess, Victoria 117 Dharamsala, India 129, 141 Cheyenne 46 Dickinson, Emily 107 Chicago 61, 155 Dillon, Diane 117 child labor 145, 147, 149 Dillon, Leo 117 China 119, 141, 155, 159 disabilities 113, 118 Cultural Revolution 141 divorce 129 Chinatown 47 Dominican Republic 159 Chinese Americans 41, 168 Dorsey, Thomas A. 38 Chinese New Year 41 Douglass, Frederick 42, 70 Chopin 41 Dove, Arthur 28 Christmas 30, 31, 42, 50, 51, 59, 60, 61, 69, Downing, Julie 49 71, 81, 82, 86, 91, 92, 105, 127, 128 Du Bois, W.E.B. 37, 60, 70

182 17 6 Duchamp 41 > Duluth, Minnesota 66 Dumas, Henry 45 Gabbert Raptor Center 93 Dunbar, Paul Laurence 45, 60, 70 Galesburg, Illinois 67 Dunkirk 168 Garvey, Marcus 37 Dylan, Bob 60 Garza, Carmen Lomas 35 Gehrig, Lou 112 E Georgia 62,128 Germany 35,70 Earhart, Amelia 116 Nazi Germany 115, 142,167 Egielski, Richard 117 Gershwin, George 41 Egypt 84 Ghana 79, 89,162 See also Cairo Gilbert & Sullivan 39,41 Ehlert, Lois 117 Gilchrist, Jan Spivey 39 Elijah 44 Giovanni, Nikki 45, 70,113 Ellis Island 147 Goddard, Robert 155 Ellison, Ralph 70 Golder, Diana 31 Ellsmere Island, Canada 81 Grahn, Judy 113 Emanuel, James A. 45 Great Plains 87 environment 62, 85, 92, 94-97, 139,153, 159, 160, Greece 70 162, 166, 169 Green, Jonathan Equiano, Olaudah 39 70 Greenfield, Eloise Ernst, Lisa Campbell 39, 42,95 117 Gregory, Cynthia Ethiopia 33, 92, 142 106 Grimes, Nikki 45 See also Addis Ababa Gruber, Frans 69 Evans, Mari 45 Guadalupe, Arizona 28 Everett, Washington 166 Guatemala 27 Everglades 85 Guthrie, Woody 41 Exxon Valdez 94 gypsies 50

D 0-0

Fadden, John 140 Haiti 107,142 families 29, 30, 35, 51, 64, 66, 69, 79, 82,92, 107, 111, Hamanaka, Sheila 49 114, 115, 126, 127, 129,130, 132, 133 Hannibal, Missouri 63 farms 84,87, 91, 146 Hansberry, Lorraine 70 Feelings, Tom 117 Hanukkah 37, 50, 51, 63,128 filmmaking 154 Harlem 37, 71, 81,95 fire truck 146 harvest 87 Fleming, Denise 49 haystack 87 flood 85 Hebrew alphabet 125 Florida 68, 106, 112 Hebrew Prayers 29 folk tales 30, 35, 36, 37, 38, 42-43, 47 Henie, Sonja 112 foods 35, 87, 145-49, 159, 169 Henkes, Kervin 49 Ford, Henry 165 Henry, John 65 Fortune, Amos 60 Henson, Jim 114 Foster, Stephen 60 Hesse, Eva 28 Fox 46 Hiawatha 140 France 90, 140,142, 168 Hine, Lewis 147 See also Paris Hiroshima 39,161 Frank, Mary 51 Peace Park 161 Fraunces, Phoebe 70 Hispanic Americans 71,132 Freetown 145 families 79,82 Fukai, Janice 141 work 36 Fuller, Meta Vaux Warwick 60 See also Mexican Americans; Puerto Ricans 177 183 Hmong 53, 159, 160 Passover 44,51 Hoberman, Mary Ann 95 Purim 51 Hochunk 35 Rosh Hashanah 44 Hokusai 41 Sukkot 51 Holland 167 Yom Kippur 44,51 Holocaust 50, 62, 70, 142 Johnson, J. Rosamund 38 Hong Kong 162 Johnson, James Weldon 38,70 Hoover, J. Edgar 114 Johnson, WH 41 Hopi 88 Jones, Frederick McKinley 154 Hopper, Edward 28 Joplin, Scott 41,71 hopscotch 161 Joyce, William 49 Hughes, Langston 32, 37, 42, 45, 70 Hungary 50, 70, 166 K See also Budapest Huron 140 Kahlo, Frida 35, 41 Hurston, Zora Neale 70, 120 Kalman, Maira 49 Kansas 32, 83, 90 t> a Karenga, Maulana 39 Kellogg, Steven 117 Ice Man 35 Kennedy, John F. 65 Idaho 66, 148 Kent, England 168 Iditarod 79 Kentucky 88, 127 igloo 81 King, Billie Jean 31 Illinois 61, 67, 155 King, Martin Luther 70, 167 See also Chicago; Galesburg Kingsville, Texas 129 immigration 37,103,109,146,161 Koko 119 migrant workers 51, 117, 126 Kollwitz 41 India 88,129,141,147,159 Korea 36, 141, 146 See also Ahmedabad; Dharamsala See also Pusan; Seoul insects 82, 90, 111 Korean Americans 132,146 Inuit 28, 33, 81 Kotzebue, Alaska 80 Inupiat 80 Krone, Julie 31 inventors 153-56 Kwanzaa 30,36, 39, 43, 47, 48, 110 Iowa 90, 117 Kyoto, Japan 39 Irish Americans 32 Iroquois 86, 166 Iroquois Federation 140 Islam 46 La Perla, Mexico 86 Israel 142, 168 labor disputes 145, 165 Italian Renaissance 47 Lake Patzcuaro, Peru 40 Italy 86, 93 Lake Winnipeg 98 See also Rome; Venice Lakota 46, 47, 60 Ives, Charles 41 Laos 53, 159, 160 Lartigue, Jacques-Henri 111 t> Lassie 114 Latin America See individual countries Jackson of Alabama 42 Carnaval 96 Jacobs, Arnold 140 folk songs 33 Japan 39, 50, 82, 86, 133, 161, 162 folk tales 47 See also Hiroshima; Kyoto; Nagasaki; Tokyo music 160 Japanese Americans 45, 65, 125, 126, 139, 159 Lattimore, Deborah Nourse 49 Jefferson, Thomas 153 Law, Ruth 155 Jews 33, 129, 142 Leadville, Colorado 63 history 50, 62, 70, 103, 167-68 Lear, Edward 95 Hanukkah 37, 50, 51, 63, 128 Lebanese Civil War 169 184 178 Ledbeter, Huddie 38 Mid-Autumn Festival. See Moon Festival Lee, Dennis 95 Middle Ages 70 Leech Lake Reservation, Minnesota 148 Miller, Libby 59 Lei Day 42 Milwaukee, Wisconsin 44 Levittown, Pennsylvania 67 Minneapolis, Minnesota 48 lighthouses 81 Minnesota 45, 48, 66, 90, 93, 148 Lima, Peru 96 See also Duluth; Leech Lake Reservation; Minneapolis Lindbergh, Charles 62 Mississippi 65, 169 literacy volunteers 105 See also Meridian Little, Lessie Jones 45 Missouri 63 Los Angeles, California 155 See also Hannibal Louis, Joe 71 Mizumura, Kazue 95 L'Ouverture, Toussaint 142 Mohawk 86, 140, 166 Lowell, Massachusetts 145 Mohr, Father Josef 69 Lowman, Meg 154 Monet, Claude 29 Montana 34, 46, 65 > Ria Moon Festival 43 Morrison, Toni 70 Madgett, Naomi Long 45 Mother Goose 64 Maine 89,91, 159 Mozart 41 Malawi 42 music 27,41,71,139 Malcolm X 37, 70 Mali 38 i> Manhattan, New York 166 Manistique, Michigan 61 Nagasaki, Japan 161 Mankiller, Wilma 118 Nailling, Lee 131 manufacturing 145, 146 National Child Labor Committee 147 Mao Tse Tung 141 Native Americans 27, 32, 35, 44-45, 47, 60, 68, Marine Mammal Research Program 106 71, 81, 85, 86, 88, 96, 118, 140, 148, 166 Marshall, Paule 70 art 28, 45, 69, 70, 91 Martins, Andreia 160 culture 34, 39, 52, 85, 86, 95, 106, 108, 111, 118, 130 Maryland 91, 113 dance 34, 47 See also Baltimore poetry 32, 34 Massachusetts 32, 110, 145 pomnvomn 34, 46 See also Boston; Boston Children's Museum; Lowell songs 32, 34, 49 Matisse 41 See also names of individual Indian nations Maya 27, 103, 130 Navajo 49 McCoy, Elijah 155 coming-of-age ceremony 111 Mecca 38 Neve Shalom 168 Menominee 95, 148 New Haven Colony Historical Society 139 Meridian, Mississippi 169 New Jersey 65 Merriam, Eve 95 New Mexico 46, 82 Mesa Verde 88 Georgia O'Keefe in 108 Mexican Americans 30, 40, 44, 45, 48 See also Santa Fe art 35 New Year's Day 42, 47 culture 129 New York See Manhattan; Seneca Falls families 35, 129 New York City 33, 36, 41, 68, 94, 108 work 40, 51, 103, 126 114, 131, 140, 155, 166 Mexico 28, 40, 43, 45, 51, 86, 126, 130 Nichols, Grace 113 art 34, 35 Nigeria 84, 125, 131 Day of the Dead 45, 49 night 83-84, 94 See also La Perla; Yucatan Noguchi, Isamu 28, 41 Miccosukee Indians 85 North Carolina 104, 105 Michelangelo 41 Nova Scotia, Canada 91 Micmac 95 numbers 62, 147

185 179 >0 ctz

Oberndorf, Austria 69 Quakers 63 Ohio 169 Queen Victoria 68 See also Cleveland quilts 42, 53, 167 Ojibway 34,46,48, 95, 96, 130, 148 O'Keeffe, Georgia 28, 41, 108 Oklahoma 60 See also Tahlequah railroads 65, 112, 116, 131, 155 Oneida 34, 86, 140 rain forest 81, 84, 154 Onondaga 86, 140 Ramadan 46 oppression by governments 50, 140, 141, 159-60 recreation 40, 82, 96, 97, 161 See also Germany, Nazi Germany Reese, Pee Wee 132 orphans 131 refugees 37, 50, 62, 141, 142, 159-60 Owens, Jesse 115 Rembrandt 41 Revolutionary War 59 t>p Rickey, Branch 132 Ride, Sally 155 Paige, Satchel 31, 114 Ringgold, Faith 35 Palestine 162 riots 132 Paris 90 Rivera, Diego 34, 41 Parks, Rosa 39 Robinson, Jackie 112, 132 Passover 44, 51 Romania 50, 70 Patterson, Penny 119 Rome 93 peace 159, 161, 168 Roosevelt, Eleanor 107 Pele 31 Roosevelt, Franklin D. 107 Pend Oreille 34 Roosevelt, Theodore 92 Pennsylvania 67, 68 Rosh Hashanah 44 See also Levittown Ross, Betsy 59 Peru 96 Rudolph, Wilma 112, 118 Carnaval 96 Russia 103, 139 See also Lake Patzcuaro; Lima pets 28, 90, 115, 126 s Philippines 84 Picasso 41 Saar, Betye 51 Pickett, Bill 59 Salinas Valley, California 51 Pierce, Elijah 128 Samuelson, Joan Benoit 31 Pinkney, Brian 49 San Andreas 103 Pinkney, Jerry 39, 117 San Francisco, California 129 pizza 38, 146 San Francisco Giants 145 Plath, Sylvia 113 Sanchez, Sonia 70 poetry 40, 42, 44, 45, 95, 113, 130 Sandy, Cleveland 140 Poland 62, 70, 146 Sanger, Margaret 114 Polis, Gary 93 Santa Fe, New Mexico 46 Pollock, Jackson 28 Santo Domingo 159 postal service 153 Sappho 113 Potawatomi 45, 95 Sarasota, Florida 106 powwow 34, 46 Schuenemann, Herman 61 Prelutsky, Jack 95 Schumann 41 prison 131 Schwartz, Amy 117 Prokofiev, Sergi 41 Scottsdale, Arizona 145 Puerto Rico 32, 51, 68, 79, 109, 114 seasons 88, 89-90, 93, 94, 95, 104 Puerto Ricans 32, 79, 109, 114 autumn, fall 43, 89-90 Purim 51 spring 34, 40 Pusan, Korea 141 summer 84, 97

186 10 winter 84,89-90, 94, 98, 132, 166-67 Thoreau, Henry David 89 Seneca 86, 140 Tibet 129, 140, 141 Seneca Falls, New York 59 Tijuana 45 Senegal 109 See also Mexico Seoul, Korea 141 Till, Emmet 70 Sequoyah 27 Titanic 63, 67, 154 Serengeti Plain 89 Tokyo, Japan 82 service learning 166, 167, 169 Topaz Relocation Center 139 Shanghai 119 Triangle Shirtwaist Company Fire of 1911 146 ships and shipping 61, 63, 67, 154, 168 trucks 145, 146 sibling relationships 126, 131, 132 Truth, Sojourner 42 Sierra Leone 139, 145 Tsar Nicholas II 139 See also Freetown Tubman, Harriet 42, 113, 154, 165 Silent Night 69 Tuscarora 86 Similaun Glacier 35 Tuttle, Merlin 104 slavery 31, 42, 64, 113, 139, 153 typhoon 82 Smith, David 28 Smith, Ernest 140 Smith, Lane 117 songs and singing 33, 36, 39, 52 U.S. Bureau of Land Management 140 South Africa 43, 166 Ukraine 50, 129 South Dakota 90 Underground Railroad 32, 165 Spain 51 United Press International 65 sports 49, 80, 112, 132, 145 United States 118 See also athletes 1.> spring 34, 40 Stanton, Elizabeth Cady 59, 165 Val-Kill 107 Statue of Liberty 140 See also Roosevelt, Eleanor Stein, Gertrude 114 Van Allsburg, Chris 117 Stone Age 35 van Gogh, Vmcent 41 Stravinsky Igor 41 Van Meter, Vicki 117 Strayhorn, Billy 38 Venezuela 51, 80 Stubblefield, Nathan B. 154 Venice 86 Sukkot 51 Verdi 41 Sumerians 62 Vietnam 37, 96 summer 84, 97 Vietnam War 71, 91, 160 Sun Prairie, Wisconsin 108 Vietnamese Americans 37 Swahili 36 Vietnamese New Year (Tet) 37 "Swan Lake" 106 Virginia 108 Sweden 50 See also Chatham; O'Keefe, Georgia; Waterford Vivaldi 41 volcano 95 Tahlequah, Oklahoma 60 Taiwan 109 Nw Tanzania 89 Wahat al-Salam 168 Tchaikovsky 41 Walker, Alice 70, 113 Tennessee 133 Wampanoag 106 Tewa 82 war See World War; also country entries Texas 65,117,129,131 Warhol, Andy 28, 41 See also Dallas; Kingsville Washington 166 Thai 64 See also Everett Thailand 53, 159 Washington, George 59, 114 Thanksgiving 32, 86 Waterford, Virginia 63 Thayer, Jack 67 Wells, Randy 106 181 187 West Bank 162 West, Mae 114 Western Mono 52 Westward Movement 50 White, Addison 42 Wiesner, David 117 Willard, Nancy 95 Williams, Vera B. 49 Winnebago 35,95 winter 84, 89-90, 94, 98, 132, 166-67 Wisconsin 34, 44, 45, 90, 108 See also Milwaukee; Sun Prairie Wisniewski, David 49 women's suffrage 50, 59, 60, 140,165 Wonder, Stevie 38 Wood, Grant 103 Woodland Indians 88,89 World War I 71 World War II 61, 67,168 Wounded Knee 60 Wright, Orville 62,156 Wright, Richard 70 Wright, Wilbur 62,156 Wyoming 94

Yani, Wang 119 Yellowstone 62 Yolen, Jane 95 Yom Kippur 44,51 Young, Martha 52 Yucatan, Mexico 130 .7Z

Zolotow, Charlotte 95,113

162 188 l> ABOUT' 1T13-0AUITC-0008

De An M. Krey began her career as an elementary school teacher of the sixth and then the second grades. Since 1969, she has been a Professor of Elementary Social Studies in the Department of Teacher Educa- tion at the University of WisconsinRiver Falls. She is team leader of a methods block which integrates social studies, language arts and science. She also teaches children's literature and a graduate levelso- cial studies course. She has received the Distinguished Teacher Award from the University of Wisconsin-River Falls and the Outstanding Faculty Award from the College of Education. Dr. Krey is a Past President of the Wisconsin Coun- cil for the Social Studies (WCSS). She has servedas the Chairperson for the Nominations Committee and the Sexism and Social Justice Committee of National Council for the Social Studies (NCSS). Dr. Krey has made numerous presentations at both WCSS and NCSS, has served as consultant to public schoolsys- tems and has authored and co-authored a wide variety of journal articles. For the past three years, Dr. Krey has servedon the national selection committee for "Notable Children's Trade Books in the Field of Social Studies," sponsored by the Children's Book Council and NCSS and is the 1999 Chairperson of that committee.

183 189 CURRICULUM STANDARDS FOR SOCIAL STUDIES THEMATIC STRANDS o CULTURE o TIME, CONTINUITY, AND CHANGE

PEOPLE, PLACES, AND ENVIRONMENTS o INDIVIDUAL DEVELOP- MENT & IDENTITY o INDIVIDUALS, GROUPS, & INSTITUTIONS o POWER, AUTHORITY, & GOVERNANCE

PRODUCTION, DISTRIBU- TION, & CONSUMPTION

VIIISCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, & SOCIETY fl; oGLOBAL CONNECTIONS o CIVIC IDEALSAND ackt. PRACTICES !le Curriculum Stand' 011.0C :J111171.41 availablC from NCSS.:For order iriformation'; ContaCt 184 NCSS Publications at 1 800 683-0812. BEST GuPY Av AiLABLE National Council for the Social Studies 3501 Newark Street, NW Washington;ix29016 ,.202 96677840 2b2A)oti.,2061'f ,ky,www:neSS',,Or

-NfesV" ISBN 0-87986-076-6 950098 BEST GuPY AVAILABLE 185 ® U.S. Department of Education Office of Educational Research and Improvement (OERI) ERIC National Library of Education (NLE) Educational Resources Information Center (ERIC)

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