Reading aloud picture book biographies enables teachers to help their students connect with history and the life and times of many fascinating people. Through these life stories, students learn about how others overcame various challenges to contribute to the world in ways both great and small. Most of the books being described this week by members of the International Reading Association's Children's Literature and Reading Special Interest Group can be read to a class in 20 to 30 minutes and are appropriate across the elementary and middle school grades. No matter how much adults may think they know about someone famous, each of these titles offers unique perspectives while humanizing sometimes iconic figures.
GRADES K-6
Allegra, Mike. (2012). Sarah gives thanks. Illus. by David Gardner. Chicago: Albert Whitman.
Sarah Josepha Hale loved learning but lived during a time women were denied the right to a college education. Yet, Sarah saw her chance when her brother Horatio was admitted to Dartmouth College. Anytime he came home, Sarah would read his textbooks and pepper him with questions so she was able to become “college educated” without leaving her home. After she became a widow, Sarah’s published poetry and stories enabled her to provide for her five children. Hale was determined to make Thanksgiving as much a national holiday as the Fourth of July. Eventually she became the editor of the popular Godey’s Lady’s Book, one of the most widely read magazines in the country. Each fall she described in the magazine how Thanksgiving promoted “family, friendship, gratitude, and religion” (unpaginated). Her efforts to make Thanksgiving a national holiday were not restricted to the Lady’s Book—she also began a letter-writing campaign to governors, businessmen, diplomats, and admirals seeking their support for creating a national holiday. Since only the nation’s president could make Thanksgiving a national holiday, each year she sent requests to Presidents Taylor, Fillmore, Pierce, and Buchanan, all of whom ignored her pleas. Finally, in 1863 President Abraham Lincoln issued a proclamation declaring a national day of thanksgiving to be celebrated on the last Thursday of November, making Sarah Hale’s dream a reality after 36 years of her tireless efforts.
- Terrell A. Young, Brigham Young University
Codell, Esmé Raji. (2012). Seed by seed: the legend and legacy of John “Appleseed” Chapman. Illus. by Lynne Rae Perkins. New York: Greenwillow.
In beautiful lyrical language Esmé Codell introduces young children to the life and times of John Chapman. She carefully explains how what we know about the man who became known as Johnny Appleseed is “three parts legend, one part fact” (unpaginated). Chapman not only planted apples across the American frontier, but he also taught important lessons through the life he led. These lessons which are important to today’s children in our often loud and fast-paced world include “use what you have,” “share what you have,” “respect nature,” “try to make peace where there is war,” and “you can reach your destination by taking small steps” (unpaginated). Codell reminds us how, “Seed by seed, deed by deed, Johnny Appleseed changed the landscape of a nation,” and how his example serves as a challenge to us. “And now it’s your turn,” Codell writes. “One small, deed every day. What seed will you plant?” (unpaginated). The author includes an afterword with ideas for how Chapman’s birthday can be celebrated in homes and classrooms. Newbery medalist Lynne Rae Perkins created the stunning illustrations that celebrate Chapman’s life and legacy. The mixed media artwork includes watercolor, gouache, embroidery, woodcarvings, burlap, and secondhand book pages. Read more about Esmé Raji Codell in this interview.
- Terrell A. Young, Brigham Young University
Corey, Shana. (2012). Here come the Girl Scouts: The amazing all-true story of Juliette (Daisy) Gordon Low and her amazing adventure. Illus. by Hadley Hooper. New York: Scholastic.
In honor of this year’s centennial anniversary of the Girl Scouts comes this informative, inspiring, and interesting picture book biography of the organization's founder, Juliette (Daisy) Gordon Low. Innately curious and born into a service-oriented family prior to the Civil War, Daisy defied the social mores for girls and women in her Southern home. While others might have been satisfied with the adventurous life she led as an adult, this privileged woman longed to make a difference in the world. At the age of 51, she did just that, starting the first Girl Scout troop in 1912. Focusing on the leadership possibilities and physical activities that the Girl Scouts provided to girls, the author describes the inclusive nature of the organization that came to be associated with girl power and the environment long before those movements became fashionable. The appealing illustrations filled with the satisfied faces of busy girls were created with paint, ink, and printmaking techniques, then scanned and assembled in Photoshop. The illustrator has included pithy quotes about self-empowerment from the remarkable Daisy. This title is intended for a much younger audience than First Girl Scout by Ginger Wadsworth although reading the two of them together gives readers an opportunity to compare each book’s focus while marveling that revolution comes in different guises.
- Barbara A. Ward, Washington State University Pullman
Hartland, Jessie. (2012) Bon appétit! The delicious life of Julia Child. New York: Random House.
Julia Child would have been 100 years old this August, making the release of this book an appropriate tribute to Julia’s contribution to better living through good food and her famous quote, “People who love to eat are always the best people.” This book is a fun-filled frolic in style and language through the life of Julia Child from her childhood years in Pasadena, California, through her career with the Office of Strategic Services intelligence agency that led to her marriage to Paul Child and their shared love of food. Her husband’s career in diplomatic service took them to many places, but France captured Julia’s heart. Determined to master the art of French cooking, Julia took cooking classes where she learned to makes sauces, soups, crêpes and sweets, eventually resulting in her own television show, The French Chef, and a hugely successful cookbook Mastering the Art of French Cooking. Harland’s cartoon-like illustrations and speech bubbles and her use of a cursive font that winds in and around many of the illustrations enhance the playfulness of this “delicious” book. The Internet abounds with videos of Julia and many of her fabulous kitchen creations. Readers may want to listen to Julia’s own voice introduce her very own kitchen donated in 2001 and now housed at the Smithsonian Museum of American History at http://americanhistory.si.edu/juliachild/
- Karen Hildebrand, Ohio Library and Reading Consultant
Kalman, Maira. (2012). Looking at Lincoln. New York: Nancy Paulsen Books.
From the endpapers containing the Gettysburg Address all the way through the book's concluding page at the Lincoln Memorial, this picture book is a textual and visual tribute to Abraham Lincoln, the nation's sixteenth president. Reminded of someone when she spies an exceptionally tall man, the narrator makes a connection after she uses a $5 bill with Lincoln's visage on it. A visit to the library provides her with additional information, starting with Abe’s birth in Kentucky in 1809. While covering some familiar territory, such as Abe's upbringing and study habits, she also provides lesser-known facts about Abe, such as his fondness for vanilla cake, and his meetings with Sojourner Truth and Frederick Douglass. The notes provided at the story's conclusion add even more detail to explain the gouache illustrations, all of which show the author/illustrator's great admiration for this man who led the nation during one of its most difficult periods. Interesting facts are provided in a simple fashion without overwhelming the reader, providing an excellent introduction to the life and times of Honest Abe. Readers will want to know even more about this fascinating man.
- Barbara A. Ward, Washington State University Pullman
Kamkwamba, William, & Mealer, Bryan. (2012). The boy who harnessed the wind. Illus. by Elizabeth Zunon. New York: Dial.
Necessity—and determination—truly are the mothers of invention. When a severe drought in Malawi ruins the crops his family needs in order to survive, fourteen-year-old William Kamkwamba heads to the public library. With an English dictionary nearby, he combs through science books in search of ideas to solve the villagers' need for water and for electricity. A picture of a windmill inspires the mechanically-inclined young man to build a simple machine of his own. To the junk yard he goes, sifting through the trash for pieces that might be used in designing the windmill. With the help of friends, he fashions a windmill whose turning blades produce wind power, which he harnesses in the form of electricity to the astonishment of the villagers. Back matter includes information about the story behind the story with a photograph of the actual windmill William designed and built. The oil paint and paper collage illustrations are beautiful, filled with greens and blues that tout the usefulness of a sustainable resource such as the wind. Readers are likely to be impressed with William's ingenuity and persistence despite the ridicule of others.
- Barbara A. Ward, Washington State University Pullman
Kerley, Barbara. (2012). Those rebels, John & Tom. Illus. by Edwin Fotheringham. New York: Scholastic.
In her usual engaging writing style, the author enumerates the many differences between two of the nation’s founding fathers, John Adams and Thomas Jefferson. They couldn’t have been more different in appearance and upbringing or in their ways of dealing with others. But those differences counted as nothing once they found common ground in their hatred of King George and their love for the American colonies. While Adams used his fiery oration to persuade delegates to the Continental Congress to declare the colonies' independence from England, Jefferson used his pen to poke jabs at the king and to create a draft of the Declaration of Independence. Of course, readers already know that the efforts of these two men succeeded, and a new nation was founded. What some may not realize, though, is how much of Jefferson's original draft was cut and edited or how the two men supported each other in their efforts. Back matter provides more information about the two men and their divisive disagreement about issues such as slavery. The digital media illustrations are appealing to the eye and allow the men's personalities to come to life. Clearly, John and Tom were every bit the rebels the book's cover purports them to be.
- Barbara A. Ward, Washington State University Pullman
Lang, Heather. (2012) Queen of the track: Alice Coachman: Olympic high-jump champion. Illus. by Floyd Cooper. Honesdale, PA: Boyds Mills Press.
At the 1948 Olympics in Wembley Stadium in England Alice Coachman became the first African-American woman to win an Olympic gold medal. Alice was born one of ten children in Albany, Georgia, in 1922 when Jim Crow laws ruled the South. Although she loved to run and jump, those physical activities were not considered “ladylike.” She was determined, however, and continued to run, usually beating all the boys at foot races and even devising her own high jump with sticks and rags. The coaches at Tuskegee Institute for high school and college discovered Alice and her talent for running and basketball. After waiting for years while war caused the Olympics to be cancelled, Alice finally represented Tuskegee in track and field in the high jump during the 1948 Olympics. As the day of her race arrived, her team members had had little success, leaving Alice as the last hope for the Americans. As onlookers filed out of the stadium, thinking any chance for a medal was unlikely, Alice made her jump, setting a record, and claiming the gold medal. Readers will want to see Alice in action in some of the videos at her website: http://www.alicecoachman.org/videos.html. They also may want to check out the author’s website at http://heatherlangbooks.com/Queen-Of-The-Track.html. A portion of the author's royalties will be donated to the Alice Coachman Foundation, which helps deserving and proven amateur athletes reach their full potential, according to Lang’s website. This title will be an excellent read aloud choice as the Olympics return to England this summer.
- Karen Hildebrand, Ohio Library and Reading Consultant
Malaspina, Ann. (2012). Heart on fire: Susan B. Anthony votes for President. Illus. by Steve James.
Susan B. Anthony is well known for her efforts to give women the right to vote, but Ann Malaspina describes a little-known event in Anthony’s life. Susan B. Anthony actually went to the polls on November 5, 1872 and cast her vote for president. By casting her vote, she broke the law and was arrested. Anthony felt this law was unfair and believed strongly that the 14th amendment to the Constitution gave women as well as men the right to vote. Anthony used her upcoming trial as a platform to argue her case. “Is it a crime for a citizen of the United States to vote?” (unpaginated). “Many clapped for her./ Some weren’t so sure./ A few hissed and shook their heads./ It was a crime for a woman to vote” (unpaginated). She was found guilty and ordered to pay one hundred dollars plus court costs, which she never did. Women did not gain the right to vote until the 19th amendment was ratified in 1920. Malaspina’s stirring free verse and James’s stunning paintings are the perfect combination to convey the courage of one woman who helped change the world.
- Terrell A. Young, Brigham Young University
Nivola, Claire A. (2012). Life in the ocean: the story of oceanographer Sylvia Earle. New York: Farrar Straus Giroux.
Sylvia Earle’s life serves as an inspiration to girls and boys of all ages because she pursued her passions and defied conventional expectations. From a young age she “lost her heart to the water” (unpaginated) and explored the clear blue-green water off the Gulf of Mexico where she investigated tiny crabs, darting fish and sea horses. As an adult Sylvia joined an expedition where she was the only woman among 70 men on a research ship in the Indian Ocean. Another time she descended 3,000 feet in the Pacific Ocean in a spherical bubble. Sylvia also spent two weeks 50 feet below swimming among fish and coral. She noticed the same angelfish, squirrelfish, triggerfish and parrotfish each day, observing how they came and went in the same fashion as residents in the neighborhoods on land. Sylvia was the first to walk is a Jim suit 1,250 feet down and find bioluminescent creatures flashing their star lights. Back matter includes a bibliography and an author’s note where Nivola describes how the ocean is suffering at the hands of humans. She explains that oil spills, overfishing, pollutants, sound and fossil fuels are altering the sea world. Sylvia Earl wants all of us to delight in the underwater world and treat it responsibly, remembering that it gives us life.
- Deanna Day, Washington State University Vancouver
Novesky, Amy. (2012) Georgia in Hawaii: when Georgia O’Keefe painted what she pleased. Illus. by Yuyi Morales. New York: Harcourt Children’s Books.
In 1939, Georgia O’Keefe was commissioned by the Hawaiian Pineapple Company (later Dole Pineapple) to create two paintings to promote and market pineapple juice. She spent nine weeks traveling around the islands to get a feel for the land. During that time, she decided she did not want to paint the way the pineapple company wanted her to paint, and they rejected some of the art she created. She discovered and fell in love with the lush greenery and flowers and waterfalls and all the beauty Hawaii had to offer, but she refused to paint a pineapple. As the title states, “… Georgia O’Keefe painted what she pleased.” Although this book describes a little known story within the artist’s career, it is also a tribute to the special and natural beauty of Hawaii that O’Keefe learned to love. After returning to the mainland, Georgia changed her mind about what she would paint. After the Hawaiian Pineapple Company airlifted a pineapple plant to her in New York, she agreed to paint what she would call “Pineapple Bud,” which became part of their advertising campaign. The jewel tones of Yuri Morales’ stunning paintings are the perfect complement to this story. Readers can learn more about the author, her research and Georgia’s trip to Hawaii at: http://jamarattigan.com/2012/03/12/author-chat-amy-novesky-on-georgia-in-hawaii/.
- Karen Hildebrand, Ohio Library and Reading Consultant
Vernick, Audrey. (2012). Brothers at bat: the true story of an amazing all-brother baseball team. IIllus. by Steven Salerno. Boston: Clarion Books/Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.
The sixteen children (12 boys and 4 girls) who comprised the large Acerra family back in the 1920s and 1930s in New Jersey weren’t all that unusual when it came to size. What made them unique was the fact that the 12 brothers used their numbers to their advantage, easily fielding the entire roster of a baseball team with three left over to sit on the bench. In 1938, for instance, when their ages ranged from seven to thirty-two, the oldest nine formed a semipro team coached by their father. There are many interesting facts about the brothers included in the story; for instance, an Acerra played on the high school team for 22 years in a row. This true story about the baseball-loving Acerras shows that there were other advantages to having large, supportive families. The siblings rallied around their brother, Alfred, when he lost an eye due to an accident during the game, but, not surprisingly, experienced difficulty when six of them left home to serve in the military during WWII. In the book’s opening pages, the author uses engaging language to describe the sound of the brothers leaving their house to play the sport they loved so much. Not only does she describe some of the fame that came their way as a team, the longest playing all-brother baseball team in history, but she does so in breathtaking style. Back matter includes notes from the author and artist and the jaw-dropping fact that there were 29 baseball teams made up entirely of brothers from the 1860s to the 1940s. The black crayon, gouache, watercolor, and pastel illustrations vividly illustrate the brothers’ shared love of the game and for their family members. Readers of this picture book biography will close its pages with a heightened appreciation of brotherly love and a time long gone.
- Barbara A. Ward, Washington State University Pullman
Winter, Jonah. (2012). Just behave, Pablo Picasso! Illus. by Kevin Hawkes. New York: Scholastic/Arthur A. Levine Books.
This partial picture book biography with just a hint of fantasy pays tribute to the larger-than-life personality of artist Pablo Picasso and his determination--some might say arrogance--in daring to defy artistic conventions and expectations. The author provides little information on the artist’s early years, allowing the story to burst out at readers in almost the same fashion that Picasso himself burst onto the art scene. The storyline and the open acrylics and sepia pencil illustrations highlight Picasso's impulsive and itinerant nature as his painting style evolved, influenced by his travels, his mood and his surroundings. Clearly, it took courage for this man who would be considered the first modern artist to stand his ground and follow his own inspiration while being urged to paint in the same style to which others were accustomed. The illustrations are particularly effective, showing Pablo surrounded by naysayers whose words come at him in a cartoon balloon shapes. Back matter includes additional information about Cubism and Picasso's friend, Georges Braque, considered the co-creator of Cubism. The cover is certainly noteworthy with Picasso depicted as a giant among men stepping across the roofs of Paris.
- Barbara A. Ward, Washington State University Pullman
Woelfle, Gretchen. (2012) Write on, Mercy! The secret life of Mercy Otis Warren. Illus. by Alexandra Wallner. Honesdale, PA: Calkins Creek.
Mercy Warren was born in Massachusetts in 1728 during the time that the American colonies were starting to stir for independence. Her childhood was shrouded in the clouds of revolution as Mercy formed her ideas and opinions about independence. Her father made sure that Mercy was educated along with her brothers, kindling her passion for the written word. Although she could not accompany her brother Jemmy as he went on to Harvard, she met and married his best friend James Warren. Once James became active in the Continental Congress, many meetings were held in the Warren home, giving Mercy an insider’s view on the revolution. When Jemmy was brutally beaten by a group of Loyalists, she took up his mission to promote the ideas of freedom and anonymously wrote poems and plays in support of the patriots. But she couldn’t sign her work since women were not allowed to be involved in political matters. When the war actually started, Mercy decided to write a history of the events. Over the next thirty years she persevered, eventually publishing her three-volume historical tome, History of the Rise, Progress and Termination of the American Revolution: Interspersed with Biographical, Political and Moral Observations under her own name in 1805. Woelfle’s book ends with an author’s note, a timeline, references and a beautiful reproduction of John Copley’s portrait of Mercy that hangs in the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston where it can be viewed today.
- Karen Hildebrand, Ohio Library and Reading Consultant
GRADES 7-12
Wadsworth, Ginger. (2012). First Girl Scout: the life of Juliette Gordon Low. Boston: Clarion Books/Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.
Born in 1860 into a well-connected family with ties to the North and the South during the Civil War, Juliette (Daisy) Gordon spent much of her free time outdoors, climbing trees, canoeing, swimming, and hiking although she also attended boarding school in Virginia and finishing school in New York. She was close to her family, often painting and performing plays. After her marriage to a wealthy British man close to the future King of England, Daisy became a socialite, spending much of her time at parties and social gatherings. Improper treatment of an ear infection prior to her marriage and an eardrum punctured by a grain of rice thrown during the wedding festivities left her deaf. After her marriage failed, she searched for purpose, finding inspiration in the Boy Scouts and Girl Guides of Robert Baden-Powell. Beginning with 18 girls in Savannah in 1912, Daisy created her own version of the organization to provide leadership opportunities for girls from various backgrounds. Not only did the girls in Daisy’s Girl Scouts engage in outdoor activities, but they also prepared for roles as professionals. The author brings this intriguing woman to life, describing her love for animals, her talents and personality, and including some of her dark moments as well as her character flaws; for instance, her proclivity for lateness and her difficulties with financial planning. Considering the times and social expectations for girls and women, Daisy was clearly foresighted since the organization to which she gave so much of her time and money recently marked its 100th anniversary. Filled with family anecdotes and period photographs and framed alongside interesting periods of history, the book's seventeen chapters provide insight into the personality and upbringing of a privileged woman in her fifties who decided it was not too late to make a difference in the world around her.
- Barbara A. Ward, Washington State University Pullman