Long May She Wave: The True Story of Caroline Pickersgill and Her Star Spangled Creation

I sure do love me some block printing and Holly Berry is clearly a master.  The spread that references the “dawn’s early light” with the changing colors of sunrise on the black buildings is gorgeous and reminiscent of an etching process of putting black over another color and scratching through with a toothpick but to accomplish this effect with block printing is just beyond gorgeous.  Sources are included as is an Author’s Note and the full text (with four verses!?) of The Star-Spangled Banner.  Kristen Fulton does an excellent job of giving context to the lyrics of the poem, “Defense of Fort M’Henry,” penned by Alexander Scott Key through the eyes of seamstress, Caroline Pickersgill.

kristenfulton.com 

@kristenfulton

hollyberrydesign.com 

@hollyberrybooks

Title: Long May She Wave: The True Story of Caroline Pickersgill and Her Star Spangled Creation

Author: Kristen Fulton

Illustrator: Holly Berry

Published 2017 by Margaret K. McElderry Books

ISBN: 9781481460965

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

Margaret and the Moon: How Margaret Hamilton Saved the First Lunar Landing

The day after reading “Margaret and the Moon”, I saw Lego is releasing a set of Women of NASA including Margaret Hamilton with her code.  Since I had read the book the night before, I made the connection between the female scientist and her huge pile of papers of code.  

That pile of code physically symbolizes (well it’s not a symbol, it’s the real deal) a human thinking about every possible eventuality related to a moon landing, and as it turned out Margaret had anticipated exactly what happened and programmed an override to take care of the problem.  Lucy Knisley’s illustrations match Dean Robbins’ storytelling of Margaret’s life perfectly and make her story accessible for all readers.  The author’s note gives further background and the bibliography and additional reading offer readers more options to learn more about Margaret and many of the people involved with the landing of Apollo 11.  Margaret’s story illustrates a message of perseverance and problem solving that inspires us all to reach for the stars and the moon.

deanrobbins.net

@DeanRobbins

lucyknisley.com 

@LucyKnisley

Title: Margaret and the Moon: How Margaret Hamilton Saved the First Lunar Landing

Author: Dean Robbins

Illustrator: Lucy Knisley

Published 2017 by Alfred A. Knopf

ISBN: 978-0-399-55185-7

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

Ruth Bader Ginsburg: The Case of R.B.G. vs/ Inequality

Similar to what Jacqueline Davies (author of Lemonade Wars) shared at a keynote address two years ago.  Her mother didn’t encourage her to read by reading to her.  In fact, she never read to her.  Instead, she read herself.  Making it appear (as it was) to be the most delicious escape activity there ever was.  By default, her children wanted to read too.  And there were books galore.  Ruth Bader Ginsburg grew up in a similar environment, one where her mother devoured books and they could have been about just about anything, if only she had grown up in a different time.  Thankfully, Ruth did grow up in a different time, but not different enough that her path would be without challenges, but they were surmountable and Ruth did whatever she had to do, including studying in the bathroom, lest she look “too smart.”  Later, she stood up for what she knew was right, including equal pay for equal work.  In the verdict of the book, Jonah Winter writes “…she did not give up…she refused to let other people define her limitations as a person.”

jonahwinter.com 

stacyinnerst.com 

@StacyInnerst

Title: Ruth Bader Ginsburg: The Case of R.B.G. vs/ Inequality

Author: Jonah Winter

Illustrator: Stacy Innerst

Published 2017 by Abrams Books for Young Readers

ISBN: 978-1-4197-2559-3

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

Radiant Child

Javaka Steptoe’s use of reclaimed wood from Brooklyn to create his art for “Radiant Child” demonstrates a commitment to authenticity in crafting illustrations that pay tribute to the subject, Jean-Michel Basquiat.  Steptoe distills the story to become one that children can relate to, especially Basquiat’s wanting to learn everything about art and artists while visiting museums in order to join their ranks and become a famous artist one day too.  I think students will also find his study of Gray’s Anatomy interesting while he studied the book and learned to draw body parts accurately and well in order to heal himself inside and out.  Photo credit is noted but a bibliography is not and I think this could be helpful for young readers to learn more who are interested in doing so.  I like that the motifs and symbolism of Basquiat’s work is included with an explanation of each.  Children could go back through the pages looking more closely for each throughout.

javaka.com 

Title: Radiant Child: The Story of Young Artist Jean-Michele Basquiat

Author: Javaka Steptoe

Published 2016 by Little, Brown and Company

ISBN: 978-0-316-21388-2

This copy was borrowed from the public library for review purposes.

Freedom in Congo Square

I really enjoyed learning about Congo Square as a place designated for slaves to congregate in New Orleans to hold markets, dance, and socialize on Sundays.  Even the youngest readers can understand the progression through the days of the week counting down to Sunday and the anticipation involved for people who knew freedom no other day.  Older readers will connect the poetic prose to some of the known horrors of slavery and think more deeply about the idea that wood was kept on the fire around the clock by someone unseen, unknown.  The mere fact that there was a day of rest protected by law was somewhat remarkable considering slavery’s awful history.  The foreword and the author’s notes both give readers more information to understand Congo Square and slavery in New Orleans.  I would have loved for a bibliography to be included for readers to have sources identified to locate more information.

gas-art.com 

Title:  Freedom in Congo Square

Author: Carole Boston Weatherford

Illustrator: R. Gregory Christie

Published 2016 by Little Bee Books

ISBN: 978-1-4998-0103-3

The Legendary Miss Lena Horne

Anyone who has read my reviews of CYBILS nonfiction books in the past knows I am a particular fan of Elizabeth Zunon.  Her work on The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind makes it one of my all time favorites.  She does not disappoint with her work in The Legendary Miss Lena Horne.  As I’ve been getting started reading nonfiction books for this year’s CYBILS panel, I’ve been focusing on reading books with my children whenever I can to get their perspective.  My son gravitates to animal books and demands I read all of them to him, preferably books that feature multiple animals.  With my daughter, I’ve been reading any and all of the books about strong female figures and Girls Who Code.  She has been loving learning about these women through history and modern time along with me.  So, The Legendary Miss Lena Horne was one that we read together.

The book opens with a quote from Lena Horne that can apply to anyone: “You have to be taught to be second class; you’re not born that way.”  Lena Horne refused, with the support and backing of the NAACP to play roles that she viewed as being beneath her or portraying black women as second class citizens.

Included are an author’s note, bibliography, and sources for further reading, listening, and viewing.

Count Basie gave Lena advice that she seized later in her career, “They don’t give us a chance very often, and when they do, we have to take it.”

Take all the chances and risks life throws at you.

CBWeatherford.com 

LizZunon.com 

@ElizabethZunon

Title: The Legendary Miss Lena Horne

Author: Carole Boston Weatherford

Illustrator: Elizabeth Zunon

Published 2017 by Atheneum Books for Young Readers

ISBN: 978-1-4814-6824-4

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

Make a Picture of Me, James Van Der Zee!

Keith Mallett captures moments in time in acrylic just as James Van Der Zee captured them on film.  Andrea J. Loney brings Van Der Zee’s story to life just as he brought the stories of so many to life, especially during the Harlem Renaissance.  James Van Der Zee showed the world what he saw in his heart, he made his subjects comfortable and ensured they were ready before taking their picture.  He found his place in history through hard work and taking chances.  The afterword outlines some of the strategies that James Van Der Zee mastered to set him apart from other photographers of his time.  Photo Credits, a Bibliography and suggestions for Further Reading are all included.

andreajloney.com 

@andreajloney

keithmallett.com 

Title: Make a Picture of Me, James Van Der Zee!

Author: Andrea J. Loney

Illustrator: Keith Mallett

Published 2017 by Lee & Low Books, Inc.

ISBN: 978-1-62014-260-8

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