Black history month: understanding our past; new books guide young readers through history's lessons.Just as authors of adult books seem more eager to tackle the topic of slavery (see "Loose the Shackles," page 40), children's book authors appear to be offering more stories to help young readers understand its role in our nation's history. New titles on civil rights are also among new offerings for youth. Here are some selections: * Show Way by Jacqueline Woodson Illustrated by Hudson Talbott G.R Putnam's Sons, September 2005 $16.99, ISBN ISBN abbr. International Standard Book Number ISBN International Standard Book Number ISBN n abbr (= International Standard Book Number) → ISBN m 0-399-23749-6 Ages 5 and up Sold into slavery at just seven years old, Soonie's great-grandmother left the plantation. A piece of muslin muslin, general name for plain woven fine white cottons for domestic use. It is believed that muslins were first made at Mosul (now a city of Iraq). They were widely made in India, from where they were first imported to England in the late 17th cent. and some needles are her only belongings. She would learn to fashion stars, moons and reads into maps disguised as quilts to help lead slaves to freedom. Woodson unveils the story of the "show way" tradition that has been passed down in her family to remember the past and to celebrate victories. Show Way is beautifully written and a treat for the eyes thanks to artist Hudson Talbott's creative presentation. * Copper Sun by Sharon Draper Atheneum ath·e·nae·um also ath·e·ne·um n. 1. An institution, such as a literary club or scientific academy, for the promotion of learning. 2. A place, such as a library, where printed materials are available for reading. Books for Young Readers January 2006 $16.95, ISBN 0-689-82161-6 Ages 14 and up Amari is a young African girl whose life was filled with joy and promise until slavery snatched it all away. Draper writes with an unbridled intensity, as she takes us through the horrors and degradation of slavery. Readers feel as though they are right there with Amari. They Dance Alone by Christine LeVeaux Cast Bucket Press, July 2005 $13.95, ISBN 0-976-48440-4 Young adult and up A fictional work that tells the reader of one family's five-generation journey, and the story of the women who endured from slavery times to the present day. The School Is Not White! A True Story of the Civil Rights Movement by Doreen Rappaport Illustrated by Curtis James Jump at the Sun/Hyperion Books for Children, August 2005 $16.95, ISBN 0-786-81838-7 Ages 7-12 "On September 3, 1965, Mae and Matthew Carter Matthew Carter (born in London, England in 1937)[1] is a typeface designer. He lives in Cambridge, Massachusetts in the United States. Carter's career in letter making has witnessed the transition from physical metal type to digital type. watched their seven children go off to war in a shiny yellow school bus." This is the true story of the seven Carter siblings, children of sharecroppers, and their tenuous but successful journey through the all-white school system of Mississippi. This Is the Dream by Diane Z Shore and Jessica Alexander Illustrated by James Ransome Amistad/HarperCollins Children's Books January 2006 $15.99, ISBN 0-060-55519-X Ages 4-8 A poetic mosaic of the struggles and victories of the Civil Right Movement from moments such as: "These are the students who step inside through the doors where people of color Noun 1. people of color - a race with skin pigmentation different from the white race (especially Blacks) people of colour, colour, color race - people who are believed to belong to the same genetic stock; "some biologists doubt that there are important have not walked before:' to "This is the library, books wall to wall free to be read - not by some but by all:' Handsomely illustrated by James Ransome, it is clear but not overwhelming for the very young. Delivering Justice W.W. Law and the Fight for Civil Rights by Jim Haskins Illustrated by Benny Andrews Benny Andrews (November 13, 1930 - November 10, 2006) was an American painter, print-maker, creator of collages and educator. He was born November 13, 1930 in Plainview, Georgia and died November 10, 2006 in Brooklyn, New York. Candlewick can·dle·wick n. 1. The wick of a candle. 2. a. A soft heavy cotton thread similar to that used to make wicks for candles. b. Embroidery made of tufts of this thread. Press, November 2005 $16.99, ISBN 0-763-62592-2 Ages 5-8 Haskins tells the story of postal worker A postal worker is one who works for a post office, such as a mail carrier. In the U.S., postal workers are represented by the National Postal Mail Handlers Union - NPMHU and the American Postal Workers Union, part of the AFL-CIO. and activist Westley Wallace Law. He assisted blacks in registering to vote in 1942, and helped train protesters in the art of nonviolent civil disobedience civil disobedience, refusal to obey a law or follow a policy believed to be unjust. Practitioners of civil disobediance basing their actions on moral right and usually employ the nonviolent technique of passive resistance in order to bring wider attention to the in Savannah, Georgia Savannah is a city located in (and the county seat of) Chatham County, Georgia (USA). The city's population was 128,500 in 2005, according to the most recent U.S. Census estimate. Savannah was the first colonial and state capital of Georgia. . It became the first southern city in the United States United States, officially United States of America, republic (2005 est. pop. 295,734,000), 3,539,227 sq mi (9,166,598 sq km), North America. The United States is the world's third largest country in population and the fourth largest country in area. to declare all of its citizens equal, three years before the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Andrews's evocative art works well with the Haskins's text. Other Children's Topics For You Are a Kenyan Child by Kelly Cunnane Art by Ana Juan Atheneum Books for Young Readers January 2006 $16.95, ISBN 0-689-86194-X Ages 3-7 Spend the day with a young Kenyan boy as he takes his grandfather's cows out to pasture, snacks on delicious Chepati (pancakes), visits the village chief, plays rag ball and forgets to bring the cows home. Children will enjoy this little adventure immersed in Ana Juan's colorful art and learn a little Swahili along the way: "Hodi?" (Anybody home?) "Karibu!" (Welcome!) My Nana and Me by Irene Smalls Illustrated by Cathy Ann Johnson Little, Brown and Company, October 2005 $15.99, ISBN 0-316-16821-1 Ages 3-6 Who wouldn't love a nana who would let you dress up in her Sunday hat and shoes? Who plays hide-and-seek with you, and who calls you the smartest girl in the world? Irene Smalls and Cathy Anne Johnson celebrate that wonderful grandmother-to-child connection. Kudos for depicting a grandmother with silvery dreadlocks dread·locks pl.n. 1. A natural hairstyle in which the hair is twisted into long matted or ropelike locks. 2. A similar hairstyle consisting of long thin braids radiating from the scalp. for a change. Catching the Moon: The Story of a Young Girl's Baseball Dream by Crystal Hubbard Illustrated by Randy DuBurke Lee & Low Books, September 2005 $16.95, ISBN 1-584-30243-7 Ages 6-10 As a young, baseball-loving girl growing up in the 1930s, you needed a lot of passion and determination to get in the game. Marcenia Lyle convinced St. Louis Cardinal manager Gabby Street Charles Evard "Gabby" Street (September 30 1882 – February 6 1951), also nicknamed "The Old Sarge", was an American catcher, manager, coach and radio broadcaster in Major League Baseball during the first half of the 20th century. to sign her up for his baseball camp--unheard of for a little girl at that time. She eventually becomes the first woman to play in the Negro Leagues Negro leagues Associations of teams of black baseball players active largely between 1920 and the late 1940s. The principal leagues were the Negro National League, originally organized by Rube Foster in 1920, and the Negro American League, organized in 1937. . Earth Mother by Ellen Jackson Illustrated by Leo and Diane Dillon Leo and Diane Dillon are a prolific American husband and wife team of illustrators. Leo was raised in Brooklyn, and Diane in the Los Angeles area. They met at the Parsons School of Design in NYC in 1953, some time after Diane moved from California to New York. Walker & Company/Bloomsbury Children's Books, October 2005 $16.95, ISBN 0-8027-8992-7 Ages 4-7 A beautifully soulful Earth Mother walks the land placing "a piece of summer in a flower's seed" and powdering the trees with snow. She hears the running commentary from the earth's creatures: men who complain about mosquitoes but celebrate sweet, tasty flogs; frogs who complain about the men but are thankful for mosquitoes; and mosquitoes who love the "tender and delicious" man but could do without the frogs.... It is a lovely, whimsical tale, gorgeously illustrated by a celebrated dynamic duo. Joe Louis: America's Fighter by David A. Adler Illustrated by Terry Widener Gulliver Books/Harcourt November 2005 $16, ISBN 0-152-16480-4 Ages 6-9 The stow recalls the legendary boxer Joe Louis and his influences. Changing, Changing Story and collages by Aracelis Girmay George Braziller, Inc. Publishers September 2005 $19.95, ISBN 0-807-6-1553-6 Ages 6 and up A boy and girl discover themselves and each other in this poetic transformation. Lies and Other Tall Tales Adapted and illustrated by Christopher Myers HarperCollins, October 2005 $15.99, ISBN 0-060-00655-2 Ages 6 and up Myers presents a colorful adaptation of stories that were collected by Zora Neale Hurston Zora Neale Hurston (January 7, 1891 – January 28, 1960) was an American folklorist and author during the time of the Harlem Renaissance, best known for the 1937 novel Their Eyes Were Watching God. . |
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