Libba: The Magnificent Musical Life of Elizabeth Cotten

Libba Cotton’s story is filled with fated moments in time.  Had she not been working in a department store when Ruth Crawford Seeger’s daughter was missing, and had she not been the one to find her, she might not have ended up the housekeeper in the Seeger home.  I only wonder what made her pick the guitar up and what took so long?  Her story of support by the Seeger family and a musical career starting in her 60’s is nothing short of amazing.  Laura Veirs includes a beautiful author’s note and an extensive works cited list.  I’m excited to check out some of the videos from the works cited list (maybe I’ll include one here).  And I love seeing primary source work, like the photo of Libba surrounded by her grandchildren.

Freight Train by Libba Cotten

@lauraveirs

@fazlalizadeh

Title: Libba: The Magnificent Musical Life of Elizabeth Cotten

Author: Laura Veirs

Illustrator: Tatyana Fazlalizadeh

ISBN: 978-1-4521-4587-1

Published 2018 by Chronicle Books

This book was received from the publisher for purposes of review.

Counting on Katherine: How Katherine Johnson Saved Apollo 13

Katherine Johnson made significant contributions to NASA’s space program and yet, it has taken close to 50 years for that story to be shared with our youngest readers.  The final line of this book “She was now a star herself.” rings somewhat untrue to me.  She was still living in a time with extreme bias against her, doubly because she was a woman of color.  In the author’s note, it is indicated that she never liked to take credit because everyone worked as a team, but I think she has been deserving of credit for years and yet she was instead a “hidden figure.”  I’m glad that Helaine Becker and Dow Phumirik are bringing Johnson’s story to our youngest readers in such beautiful fashion.  I find her story inspiring as an adult and I hope that our young readers can appreciate the incredible ways in which Katherine Johnson worked to break down barriers in her field.

@helainebecker

@dowphumirik

Title: Counting on Katherine: How Katherine Johnson Saved Apollo 13

Author: Helaine Becker

Illustrator: Dow Phumirik

ISBN: 978-1-250-13752-4

Published 2018 by Christy Ottaviano Books

This book was borrowed from the public library for purposes of review.

Mama Dug a Little Den

While I enjoyed reading about all of the animals that den and how and why they do so, I found myself a little bothered while reading the Author’s Note at the end of the story.  Jennifer Ward indicates she used the term “mama” loosely.  Which is important to note, but in that event, why stick with the term mama?  Maybe alternate papa?  Or only represent dens that are crafted by mother animals.  I’m not actually sure why this is bothering me, but the assumption our young readers will come away with is that the mothers create these dens in all cases and Ward is explaining that is not true.  Of the illustrations by Steve Jenkins, my favorite is that of the beaver.  My son kidsplained to me while reading that he thinks the den would really have sticks all around and you wouldn’t really be able to see into it like this.  The picture is showing it with a wall cut off so that you can see inside.  While I already knew that too, it was a nice moment where he could articulate that for me.  On the about the author/illustrator flap from the book cover, it shows the cover art of “Mama Built a Little Nest” which I recall reading for the purpose of review for CYBILS.  I’m interested to go back and see if the same information that fathers help with the crafting of nests as well (as they very well may).  As an unabashed feminist, I see a lot of work being done by the women of the animal world, but I don’t want to take away from the contributions of the gentlemen either.

Title: Mama Dug a Little Den

Author: Jennifer Ward

Illustrator: Steve Jenkins

ISBN: 978-1-4814-8037-6

Published 2018 by Beach Lane Books

This book was borrowed from the public library for purposes of review.

The Truth About Hippos

Maxwell Eaton has several books in the “The Truth About…” series nominated for a CYBILS award this year and so far, after reading “The Truth About Hippos,” I’m a fan.  The comparisons between common hippos and pygmy hippos is helpful to understanding solitary and group behaviors as well as habitat differences.  The hippofile at the end sums up some of the points throughout the book and includes suggested books for further reading and a map highlighting hippo territory.  One suggestion would be to differentiate between common hippo territory and pygmy hippo territory unless there isn’t much differentiating to do?  I giggled at the comedic gems included throughout the book and look forward to reading more from Maxwell Eaton.

@maxwelleatoniii 

Title: The Truth About Hippos

Author: Maxwell Eaton III

ISBN: 978-1-62672-667-3

Published 2018 by Roaring Brook Press

This book was borrowed from the public library for purposes of review.

Curiosity: The Story of a Mars Rover

Curiously, I found this book in my TBR pile last night.  And the day before, my daughter happened upon the movie, The Martian.  Which, full disclosure, is not technically appropriate for 9 year olds and I’m not advocating their watching it.  But, language aside, the science is super interesting and after the fact, I realized that the Mars rover would be extra interesting to my daughter so I read Curiosity to her and we talked about how this rover was featured in the movie and how the camera was able to send still images back to NASA.  And we talked about the Jet Propulsion Lab and which parts of the movie featured that location. 

But…back to the book.  I was fascinated by the total number of missions involving exploration of Mars, including fly bys and landings.  The book focuses on the Curiosity mission, but the timeline outlines each.  I also found it interesting how each of the rovers lasted much longer than expected, what a windfall!  The book was lacking a bibliography or other sources.  For an added bonus, check this book out following the recent landing of Insight.    

Learn more about the NASA Curiosity Rover.

@MarkusMotum

Title: Curiosity: The Story of a Mars Rover

Author: Markus Motum

ISBN: 978-0-7636-9504-0

Published 2017 by Capstone Press

This book was received from the publisher for purposes of review.

Bloom: A Story of Fashion Designer Elsa Schiaparelli

I vividly recall the first time I heard the name Elsa Schiaparelli.  I was at the Art Museum in Philadelphia, but I don’t think (or recall) seeing any artwork of Schiaparelli.  Instead, I was in the shop (my mother’s favorite part of any museum) and found an item that spoke to me.  I don’t often make purchases in the shop but I felt compelled.  The object of my admiration was a purse shaped like a watering can in the color I now know to be shocking pink.  I believe it was inspired by Schiaparelli, though after reading about her shoe hat, who knows?  Kyo Maclear includes a number of sources she used in researching Bloom and perhaps I could check there to see if Schiaparelli did indeed craft a purse shaped like a watering can.  Regardless, it was quite the conversation piece throughout my young adulthood. 

You guys...I found a picture!  Can you see how I just could not resist this one.

All that to say Julie Morstad gorgeously brings Kyo Maclear’s story of Schiparelli’s evolution as a fashion designer to life.  The cover art reflects Elsa’s thought that “ to have a face covered with flowers like a heavenly garden would indeed be a wonderful thing!”.  Elsa’s seven moles on her left cheek seemed to dominate her valuation of herself and her beauty through much of her young life but in her attempt to cover those moles or deflect attention from them, she found beauty in creativity.  Her story is also that of a single, working mother who did not give up on her dream.  Elsa Schiaparelli collaborated through her art with other artists and scientists alike to bring her shocking designs and her signature shocking pink to the world.  Schiparelli’s story is one to be celebrated at any time but in the midst of the maker movement, it feels even more relevant to today’s readers and thinkers.

Title: Bloom: A Story of Fashion Designer Elsa Schiaparelli

Author: Kyo Maclear

Illustrator: Julie Morstad

ISBN: 978-0-06-244761-6

Published 2018 by Harper Collins Childrens Books

This book was borrowed from the public library for purposes of review.