Kids Books: Beatrix Potter Bios

Beatrix Potter Scientist

By Lindsay Metcalf, Illustrated by Junyi Wu

Everyone knows Beatrix Potter as the creator of the Peter Rabbit stories. But before that, she was a girl of science. As a child, Beatrix collected nature specimens; as a young adult, she was an amateur mycologist presenting her research on mushrooms and other fungi to England’s foremost experts. Like many women of her time, she remained unacknowledged by the scientific community, but her keen eye for observation led her to an acclaimed career as an artist and storyteller. A beloved author is cast in a new light in this picture book story. 4-8 years

Beatrix Potter and the Unfortunate Tale of a Borrowed Guinea Pig

By Deborah Hopkinson, Illustrated by Charlotte Voake

This story stars a young Beatrix Potter, creator of The Tale of Peter Rabbit and many other classic children’s books. Deborah Hopkinson takes readers back to Victorian England and the home of the budding young artist and animal lover Beatrix Potter.

When Beatrix brings home her neighbor’s pet guinea pig, so that she can practice painting it, well . . . dies! Now what? Written in the form of a “picture letter,” this mostly true tale is a wonderful introduction to a beloved author/illustrator. An author’s note includes photographs and more information about Beatrix Potter’s life and work. 6-8 years

Saving the Countryside: The Story of Beatrix Potter and Peter Rabbit

By Linda Elovitz Marshall, Illustrated by Ilaria Urbinati

Growing up in London, Beatrix Potter felt the restraints of Victorian times. Girls didn’t go to school and weren’t expected to work. But she longed to do something important, something that truly mattered.

As Beatrix spent her summers in the country and found inspiration in nature, it was through this passion that her creativity flourished.There, she crafted The Tale of Peter Rabbit.

She would eventually move to the countryside full-time, but developers sought to change the land. To save it, Beatrix used the money from the success of her books and bought acres and acres of land and farms to prevent the development of the countryside that both she and Peter Rabbit cherished. Because of her efforts, it’s been preserved just as she left it. This picture book shines a light on Beatrix Potter’s lesser-known history and her desire to do something for the greater good. 4-8 years

Little Naturalists: Beatrix Potter Wrote (Board Book)

By Kate Coombs

Beatrix Potter had a love for animals from an early age, and she grew up drawing and painting them with amazing detail and accuracy. She was best known for her children’s book, The Tale of Peter Rabbit.

She lived in London for many years but used income from her children’s books to buy Hill Top Farm in England. While living there and in Scotland, she developed a love of landscape and flora, which she included in her artwork. In all, Beatrix wrote twenty-three children’s tales, inspiring people to follow their dreams and care for plants and animals.

Kate Coombs’s narrative and Seth Lucas’s art teach young readers about this inspiring children’s author and artist, encouraging little naturalists to Be Kind and Be Adventurous. Baby to 3 years

Who Was Beatrix Potter

By Sarah Fabiny, Illustrated by Mike Lacey

Born into wealth in 1860’s London, Beatrix Potter always had a vivid imagination. Her early interests included natural history and archaeology, and Potter delighted in sketching fossils and fungi. After briefly illustrating Christmas cards with her brother, Bertram, Potter wrote and illustrated her well-known book, The Tale of Peter Rabbit. 

The book was rejected by several publishes until Frederick Warne eventually took a risk and published the story in 1902 – a risk that paid off. Peter Rabbit was a huge success and readers loved hearing about Peter’s mischievious adventures in the lush English countryside.

As she got older, Beatrix Potter became a proud conservationist, working hard to defend the landscape she loved so well against industrialization and logging. Now over one hundred years old, Peter Rabbit and his animal friends have become cultural touchstones and continue to delight readers of all ages. 8-12 years

The Tale of Beatrix Potter

By Sara Schonfeld

Born to a wealthy family in Victorian London, Beatrix Potter never had many playmates. When she got lonely, she turned to the animals in her playroom: rabbits, mice, frogs, hedgehogs… even a snake! From an early age, she was a talented painter, and she published her art as a young woman. Her dream of becoming a children’s book author, though, didn’t come true until she was in her mid-thirties. After writing a letter about four little bunnies to a friend’s son, Beatrix created The Tale of Peter Rabbit. The story was turned down several times but was finally picked up by Frederick Warne & Co. Beatrix spent the rest of her life in the countryside, painting, drawing, farming, and protecting the land she loved so much. 6-8 years

Beatrix Potter and Her Paint Box

By David McPhail

All her life, Beatrix Potter loved to paint. From a young age, she painted the bunnies, mice, and other pets who populated her family home. These characters later populated her stories, which are beloved the whole world over. With beautiful scenes rich in detail, David McPhail transports us to the charming English countryside and the wonderful world of Beatrix Potter. 4-8 years

Becoming Beatrix Potter: The Life of Beatrix Potter and the World of Peter Rabbit

By Amy M. O’Quinn

Beatrix Potter forged her own creative path to independence, fame, and financial success. Peter Rabbit, Hunca Munca, Mrs. Tiggy-Winkle, Squirrel Nutkin, Jemima Puddle-Duck—many readers are familiar with these animal characters created by British author and illustrator Beatrix Potter.

But Beatrix was so much more than a painter of watercolor bunnies in little blue jackets or naive ducks waddling about in bonnets and shawls. She was a natural scientist, mycologist, environmentalist, conservationist, preservationist, farmer, and expert sheep breeder.

Beatrix was a woman ahead of her time, making her own decisions and handling her own business affairs, despite living in a Victorian society that was unaccustomed to unmarried women doing so. Becoming Beatrix: The Life of Beatrix Potter and the World of Peter Rabbit covers Potter’s early life and influences, artistic work, fascination with animals and the natural sciences, and interest and research with fungi, as well as her writing and illustration journey and her later years as a wife, farmer, businesswoman, environmentalist, and conservationist. 8-12 years

A Celebration of Beatrix Potter

Art and Letters by more than 30 of Today’s Favorite Children’s Book Illustrators

With illustrious tales of characters like Peter Rabbit, Squirrel Nutkin, and Jemima Puddle-Duck, Beatrix Potter established herself as one of the most cherished and influential author/illustrators of children’s literature. To mark her milestone birthday, this collection features illustrations of Potter’s characters, as interpreted by well-known illustrators. Each illustration is accompanied by text from the artist explaining what that character means to them, making this a true celebration of Beatrix Potter. All ages

Beatrix Potter

By Charlotte Guillian

Introduce students to Beatrix Potter, the author of children’s favorites like Peter Rabbit. This biography uses simple text structures and clear images to help readers learn about this amazing writer. 6-8 years

The book descriptions are primarily from the publisher.

If you like this post, then please consider sharing it and/or leaving a comment below. Thank you! Barbara Lowell, Children’s Book Author

You may like, Books For Kids Writers https://www.barbaralowell.com/books-for-kids-writers

Pura Belpre Award for Illustration 2012-2022

The Pura Belpré Award for Illustration “is presented annually to the Latino/Latina writer and illustrator whose work best portrays, affirms, and celebrates the Latino cultural experiences in an outstanding work of literature” by the American Library Association. These are the 2012-2022 winners:

Pura Belpré Award for Illustration

2022

Vamos! Let’s Cross the Bridge

By Raul the III

People are always crossing the bridge for work, to visit family, or for play. Some going this way; others going that way. Back and forth they go. With friends on foot and in bicycles, in cars and trucks, the bridge is an incredibly busy place with many different types of vehicles.

Little Lobo and his dog Bernabé have a new truck and they are using it to carry party supplies over the bridge with their pals El Toro and La Oink Oink. The line is long and everyone on the bridge is stuck. How will they pass the time?  Eventually everyone comes together for an epic party on the bridge between two different countries. Richard Scarry’s Cars and Trucks and Things That Go gets Mexican American makeover in this joyful story about coming together.

2021

Vamos! Let’s Go Eat

By Raul the Third

Little Lobo returns to share his love of food and wrestling in this delicious follow-up to Vamos! Let’sGo to the Market from Pura Belpré Medal-winning illustrator Raúl the Third.

In this new Vamos! title, Let’s Go Eat, Little Lobo is excited to take in a show with wrestling star El Toro in his bustling border town. After getting lunch orders from The Bull and his friends to help prepare for the event, Little Lobo takes readers on a tour of food trucks that sell his favorite foods, like quesadillas with red peppers and Mexican-Korean tacos. Peppered with easy-to-remember Latin-American Spanish vocabulary, this glorious celebration of food is sure to leave every reader hungry for lunch!

2020

Dancing Hands:

How Teresa Carreño Played the Piano for Abraham Lincoln

By Margarita Engle, Illustrated by Rafael Lopez

As a little girl, Teresa Carreño loved to let her hands dance across the beautiful keys of the piano. If she felt sad, music cheered her up, and when she was happy, the piano helped her share that joy. Soon she was writing her own songs and performing in grand cathedrals. Then a revolution in Venezuela forced her family to flee to the United States. Teresa felt lonely in this unfamiliar place, where few of the people she met spoke Spanish. Worst of all, there was fighting in her new home, too—the Civil War.

Still, Teresa kept playing, and soon she grew famous as the talented Piano Girl who could play anything from a folk song to a sonata. So famous, in fact, that President Abraham Lincoln wanted her to play at the White House! Yet with the country torn apart by war, could Teresa’s music bring comfort to those who needed it most?

2019

Dreamers

Written and illustrated by Yuyi Morales

In 1994, Yuyi Morales left her home in Xalapa, Mexico and came to the U.S. with her infant son. She left behind nearly everything she owned, but she didn’t come empty-handed. Yuyi brought her strength, her work, her passion, her hopes and dreams and her stories. Dreamers is about making a home in a new place. Yuyi and her son Kelly’s passage was not easy, and Yuyi spoke no English at the time. But together, they found an unexpected, unbelievable place: the public library. There, book by book, they untangled the language of this new land and learned to make it their home. 4-8 years

2018

La Princesa and the Pea

Illustrated by Juana Martinez-Neal

Written by Susan Middleton Elya

El principe knows this girl is the one for him, but as usual, his mother doesn’t agree. The queen has a secret test in mind to see if this girl is really a princess, but the prince might just have a sneaky plan, too… 4-8 years

2017

Lowriders to the Center of the Earth

Illustrated by Raul Gonzalez

Written by Cathy Camper

Elirio Malaria and El Chavo Octopus are living their dream at last. They’re the proud owners of their very own garage. But when their beloved cat Genie goes missing, they need to do everything they can to find him. Little do they know the trail will lead them to the realm of Mictlantecuhtli, the Aztec god of the Underworld, who is keeping Genie prisoner. 3-7 years

2016

Drum Dream Girl

Illustrated by Rafael Lopez

Written by Margarita Engle

Girls cannot be drummers. Long ago on an island filled with music, no one questioned that rule — until the drum dream girl did. In her city of drumbeats, she dreamed of pounding tall congas and tapping small bongos. She had to keep quiet. She had to practice in secret. But when at last her dream-bright music was heard, everyone sang and danced and decided that both girls and boys should be free to drum and dream. 4-7 years

2015

Viva Frida

Written and illustrated by Yuyi Morales

Frida Kahlo, one of the world’s most famous and unusual  artists revered around the world. Her life was filled with laughter, love, and tragedy, all of which influenced what she painted on her canvases. 4-8 years

2014

Niño Wrestles the World

Written and illustrated by Yuyi Morales

Fwap! Slish! Bloop! Krunch! He takes down his competition in a single move! No opponent is too big a challenge for the cunning skills of Niño — popsicle eater, toy lover, somersault expert, and world champion lucha libre competitor! Niño Wrestles the World is in English with Spanish vocabulary and is the colorful story about a boy wrestling with imaginary monsters and adversaries like his younger sisters. 4-8 years

2013

Martin de Porres: The Rose in the Desert

Illustrated by David Diaz

Written by Gary D. Schmidt

As the illegitimate son of a Spanish nobleman and a former slave, Martin de Porres was born into extreme poverty. Even so, his mother begged the church fathers to allow him into the priesthood. Instead, Martin was accepted as a servant boy. But soon, the young man was performing miracles. Rumors began to fly around the city of a strange mulatto boy with healing hands, who gave first to the people of the barrios. Martin continued to serve the church, until he was finally received by the Dominican Order, no longer called the worthless son of a slave, but rather a saint and the rose in the desert. 6-9 years

2012

Diego Rivera: His World and Ours

Written and illustrated by Duncan Tonatiuh

This book introduces one of the most popular artists of the twentieth century, Diego Rivera, to young readers. It tells the story of Diego as a young, mischievous boy who demonstrated a clear passion for art and then went on to become one of the most famous painters in the world. 6-9 years

If you like this post, please consider sharing it and/or leaving a comment below. Thank you! Barbara Lowell, Children’s Author

You may like, Books for Kids: Frida Kahlo https://barbaralowell.com/books-for-kids-frida-kahlo

Visit Yuyi Morales at: http://www.yuyimorales.com

To Learn More Visit: http://www.ala.org/alsc/awardsgrants/bookmedia/belpremedal

 

 

Coretta Scott King Award 2012-2022

The Coretta Scott King Award for Illustration is presented by the American Library Association to African American author/illustrators and illustrators for their outstanding contribution to children’s literature. These are the winners from 2012 to 2022.

2022

Unspeakable: The Tulsa Race Massacre

By Carole Boston Weatherford, Illustrated by Floyd Cooper

Celebrated author Carole Boston Weatherford and illustrator Floyd Cooper provide a powerful look at the Tulsa Race Massacre, one of the worst incidents of racial violence in our nation’s history. The book traces the history of African Americans in Tulsa’s Greenwood district and chronicles the devastation that occurred in 1921 when a white mob attacked the Black community.

News of what happened was largely suppressed, and no official investigation occurred for seventy-five years. This picture book sensitively introduces young readers to this tragedy and concludes with a call for a better future.

2021

R E S P E C T: Aretha Franklin, Queen of Soul

By Carole Boston Weatherford, Illustrated by Frank Morrison

Aretha Franklin was born to sing. The daughter of a pastor and a gospel singer, her musical talent was clear from her earliest days in her father’s Detroit church where her soaring voice spanned more than three octaves.

Her string of hit songs earned her the title “the Queen of Soul,” multiple Grammy Awards, and a place in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. But Aretha didn’t just raise her voice in song, she also spoke out against injustice and fought for civil rights.

This authoritative, rhythmic picture book biography will captivate young readers with Aretha’s inspiring story.

2020

Originally performed for ESPN’s The Undefeated, this poem is a love letter to black life in the United States. It highlights the unspeakable trauma of slavery, the faith and fire of the civil rights movement, and the grit, passion, and perseverance of some of the world’s greatest heroes. The text is also peppered with references to the words of Martin Luther King, Jr., Langston Hughes, Gwendolyn Brooks, and others, offering deeper insights into the accomplishments of the past, while bringing stark attention to the endurance and spirit of those surviving and thriving in the present. Robust back matter at the end provides valuable historical context and additional detail for those wishing to learn more.

2019

The Stuff of Stars

Illustrated by Ekua Holmes

Written by Marion Dane Bauer

Before the universe was formed, before time and space existed, there was…nothing. But then…BANG! Stars caught fire and burned so long that they exploded, flinging stardust everywhere. And the ash of those stars turned into planets. Into our Earth. And into us. In a poetic text, Marion Dane Bauer takes readers from the trillionth of a second when our universe was born to the singularities that became each one of us. Vivid illustrations by Ekua Holmes capture the void before the Big Bang and the ensuing life that burst across galaxies. A seamless blend of science and art, this picture book reveals the composition of our world and beyond — and how we are all the stuff of stars.

2018

Out of Wonder: Poems Celebrating Poets

Illustrated by Ekua Holmes

Written by Kwame Alexander, Chris Colderley

and Marjory Wentworth

Out of gratitude for the poet’s art form, Newbery Award-winning author and poet Kwame Alexander, along with Chris Colderley and Marjory Wentworth, present original poems that pay homage to twenty famed poets who have made the author’s hearts sing and their minds wonder. Stunning mixed media images by Ekua Holmes, winner of a Caledecott Honor and a John Steptoe New Talent Illustrator Award, complete the celebration and invite the reader to listen, wonder, and perhaps even pick up a pen.

2017

Radiant Child: The Story of Young Artist Jean-Michel Basquiat

Written and Illustrated by Javaka Steptoe

Jean-Michel Basquiat and his unique, collage-style paintings rocketed to fame in the 1980s as a cultural phenomenon unlike anything the art world had ever seen. But before that, he was a little boy who saw art everywhere: in poetry books and museums, in games and in the words we speak, and in the pulsing energy of New York City. Now, award-winning illustrator Javaka Steptoe’s vivid text and bold artwork echoing Basquiat’s own introduce young readers to the powerful message that art doesn’t always have to be neat or clean — and definitely not inside the lines — to be beautiful.

2016

Trombone Shorty

Illustrated by Bryan Collier

Written by Troy “Trombone Shorty” Andrews and Bill Taylor

Hailing from the Tremé neighborhood in New Orleans, Troy “Trombone Shorty” Andrews got his nickname by wielding a trombone twice as long as he was high. A prodigy, he was leading his own band by age six, and today this Grammy-nominated artist headlines the legendary New Orleans Jazz Fest. 

Along with esteemed illustrator, Bryan Collier, Andrews has created a lively picture book autobiography about how he followed his dream of becoming a musician, despite the odds, until he reached international stardom.

2015

Firebird

Illustrated by Christopher Myers

Written by Misty Copeland

In her debut picture book, Misty Copeland tells the story of a young girl — every girl — whose confidence is fragile and who is questioning her own ability to reach the heights that Misty has reached. Misty encourages this young girl’s faith in herself and shows her exactly how, through hard work and dedication, she too can become a Firebird. Lyrical and affecting text paired with bold, striking illustrations that are some of Caldecott Honoree Christopher Myer’s best work, makes Firebird perfect for aspiring ballerinas everywhere.

2014

Knock Knock: My Dad’s Dream for Me

Illustrated by Bryan Collier

Written by Daniel Beaty

Every morning, I play a game with my father.

He goes knock knock on my door

and I pretend to be asleep

till he gets right next to the bed.

And my papa, he tells me, “I love you.”

But what happens when, one day, that “knock knock” doesn’t come? This powerful and inspiring book shows the love that an absent parent can leave behind, and the strength that children find in themselves as they grow up and follow their dreams. 

2013

I, Too, Am American

Illustrated by Bryan Collier

Written by Langston Hughes

I, too, sing America.

I am the darker brother.

They send me to eat in the kitchen

When company comes,

But I laugh,

And eat well,

And grow strong.

Langston Hughes was a courageous voice of his time, and his authentic call for equality still rings true today. Beautiful paintings from illustrator, Bryan Collier, accompany and reinvent the celebrated lines of the poem “I, Too,” creating a breathtaking reminder to all Americans that we are united despite our differences. 

2012

Underground: Finding the Light to Freedom

Written and Illustrated by Shane E. Evans

A family silently crawls along the ground. They run barefoot through unlit woods, sleep beneath bushes, take shelter in a kind stranger’s home. Where are they heading? They are heading for freedom by way of the Underground Railroad.

The book descriptions are from the publishers.

If you like this post, then please consider sharing it and/or leaving a comment below. Thank you! Barbara Lowell, Children’s Author

You may like: Books for Kids: Coretta Scott King https://barbaralowell.com/books-for-kids-coretta-scott-king

Caldecott Medal 2012-2022 https://barbaralowell.com/caldecott-medal-2012-2022

Newbery Medal 2012-2022

The Newbery Medal is given each year to the author of the most distinguished contribution to American literature for children by the Association of Library Service to Children of the American Library Association. These are the 2012 to 2022 winners:

2022

The Last Cuentista

By Donna Barba Higuera

There lived a girl named Petra Peña, who wanted nothing more than to be a storyteller, like her abuelita. But Petra’s world is ending. Earth has been destroyed by a comet, and only a few hundred scientists and their children – among them Petra and her family – have been chosen to journey to a new planet. They are the ones who must carry on the human race.

Hundreds of years later, Petra wakes to this new planet – and the discovery that she is the only person who remembers Earth. A sinister Collective has taken over the ship during its journey, bent on erasing the sins of humanity’s past. They have systematically purged the memories of all aboard – or purged them altogether.

Petra alone now carries the stories of our past, and with them, any hope for our future. Can she make them live again?

2021

When You Trap a Tiger

By Tae Keller

Would you make a deal with a magical tiger? This uplifting story brings brings Korean folklore to life as a girl goes on a quest to unlock the power of stories and save her grandmother.

Some stories refuse to stay bottled up…

When Lily and her family move in with her sick grandmother, a magical tiger straight out of her Halmoni’s Korean folktales arrives, prompting Lily to unravel a secret family history. Long, long ago, Halmoni stole something from the tigers. Now they want it back. And when one of the tigers approaches Lily with a deal–return what her grandmother stole in exchange for Halmoni’s health–Lily is tempted to agree. But deals with tigers are never what they seem! With the help of her sister and her new friend Ricky, Lily must find her voice…and the courage to face a tiger.

2020

New Kid

By Jerry Craft

Seventh grader Jordan Banks loves nothing more than drawing cartoons about his life. But instead of sending him to the art school of his dreams, his parents enroll him in a prestigious private school known for its academics, where Jordan is one of the few kids of color in his entire grade.

As he makes the daily trip from his Washington Heights apartment to the upscale Riverdale Academy Day School, Jordan soon finds himself torn between two worlds—and not really fitting into either one. Can Jordan learn to navigate his new school culture while keeping his neighborhood friends and staying true to himself?

2019

Merci Suárez Changes Gears

By Meg Medina

Merci Suárez knew that sixth grade would be different, but she had no idea just how different. For starters, Merci has never been like the other kids at her private school in Florida, because she and her older brother, Roli, are scholarship students. They don’t have a big house or a fancy boat, and they have to do extra community service to make up for their free tuition. So when bossy Edna Santos sets her sights on the new boy who happens to be Merci’s school-assigned Sunshine Buddy, Merci becomes the target of Edna’s jealousy. Things aren’t going well at home, either: Merci’s grandfather and most trusted ally, Lolo, has been acting strangely lately — forgetting important things, falling from his bike, and getting angry over nothing. No one in the family will tell Merci what’s going on, so she’s left to her own worries, while also feeling all on her own at school. In a coming-of-age tale full of humor and wisdom, award-winning author Meg Medina gets to the heart of the confusion and constant change that defines middle school — and the steadfast connection that defines family.

2018

Hello, Universe

By Erin Entrada Kelly, Illustrated by Isabel Roxus

In one day, four lives weave together in unexpected ways. Virgil Salinas is shy and kindhearted and feels out of place in his crazy-about-sports family. Valencia Somerset, who is deaf, is smart, brave, and secretly lonely, and she loves everything about nature. Kaori Tanaka is a self-proclaimed psychic, whose little sister, Gen, is always following her around. And Chet Bullens wishes the weird kids would just stop being so different so he can concentrate on basketball.

They aren’t friends, at least not until Chet pulls a prank that traps Virgil and his pet guinea pig at the bottom of a well. This disaster leads Kaori, Gen, and Valencia on an epic quest to find missing Virgil. Through luck, smarts, bravery and a little help from the universe, a rescue is performed, a bully is put in his place, and friendship blooms.

2017

The Girl Who Drank the Moon

By Kelly Barnhill

Every year, the people of the Protectorate leave a baby as an offering to the witch who lives in the forest They hope this sacrifice will keep her from terrorizing their town. But the witch in the Forest, Xan, is kind. She shares her home with a wise Swamp Monster and a Perfectly Tiny Dragon. Xan rescues the children and delivers them to welcoming families on the other side of the forest, nourishing the babies with starlight on the journey.

One year, Xan accidentally feeds a baby moonlight instead of starlight, filling the ordinary child with extraordinary magic. Xan decides she must raise the girl, whom she calls Luna, as her own. As Luna’s thirteenth birthday approaches, her magic begins to emerge — with dangerous consequences. Meanwhile, a young man from the Protectorate is determined to free his people by killing the witch. Deadly birds with uncertain intentions flock nearby. A volcano, quiet for centuries, rumbles just beneath the earth’s surface. And the woman with the Tiger’s heart is on the prowl…

2016

Last Stop on Market Street

By Matt de la Pena, Illustrated by Christian Robinson

Every Sunday after church, CJ and his grandma ride the bus across town. But today, CJ wonders why they don’t own a car like his friend Colby. Why doesn’t he have an iPod like the boys on the bus? How come they always have to get off in the dirty part of town? Each question is met with an encouraging answer from grandma, who helps his see the beauty — and fun — in their routine and the world around them. 

This energetic ride through a bustling city highlights the wonderful perspective only grandparent and grandchild can share.

2015

The Crossover

By Kwame Alexander

With a bolt of lightning on my kicks…The court is SIZZLING. My sweat is DRIZZLING. Stop all that quivering. Cuz tonight I’m delivering,” announces dread-locked, 12-year-old Josh Bell. He and his twin brother, Jordan, are awesome on the court. But Josh has more than basketball in his blood, he’s got mad beats, too, that tell his family’s story in verse, in this fast and furious middle grade novel of family and brotherhood. Josh and Jordan must come to grips with growing up on and off the court to realize breaking the rules comes at a terrible price, as their story’s heart-stopping climax proves a game-changer for the entire family.

2014

Flora and Ulysses: The Illuminated Adventure

By Kate DiCamillo, Illustrated by K.G. Campbell

Holy unanticipated occurrences! From Kate DiCamillo comes a laugh-out-loud story filled with eccentric, endearing characters — a novel interspersed with comic-style graphic sequences and full-page illustrations, all rendered in black and white.

2013

The One and Only Ivan

By Katherine Applegate, Illustrated by Patricia Castelao

Having spent twenty-seven years behind the glass walls of his enclosure in a shopping mall, Ivan has grown accustomed to humans watching him. He hardly every thinks about his life in the jungle. Instead, Ivan occupies himself with television, his friends Stella and Bob, and painting. But when he meets Ruby, a baby elephant taken from the wild, he is forced to see their home, and his art, through new eyes. Katherine Applegate blends humor and poignancy to create a story of friendship, art, and hope.

2012

Dead End in Norvelt

By Jack Gantos

Melding the entirely true and the wildly fictional, this novel is about an incredible two months for a kid named Jack Gantos. His plans for vacation excitement are shot down when he is “grounded for life” by his feuding parents and whose nose spews bad blood at every little shock he gets. But plenty of excitement (and shock) are coming Jack’s way once his mom loans him out to help a feisty old neighbor. She has a most unusual chore, typing obituaries filled with stories about the people who founded the Utopian town Jack lives in. As one obituary leads to another, Jack is launched on a strange adventure.

The book descriptions are primarily from the publishers.

If you like this post, then please consider sharing it and leaving a comment below. Thank you! Barbara Lowell, Children’s Author

You may like: Caldecott Medal 2012-2022 https://barbaralowell.com/caldecott-medal-2012-2022

Ivan, the Shopping Mall Gorilla https://barbaralowell.com/ivan-the-shopping-mall-gorilla

Caldecott Medal 2012-2022

The Caldecott Medal is awarded each year to the artist of the most distinguished American picture book for children by the Association for Library Service to Children of the American Library Association. These are the 2012-2022 Caldecott winners:

2022

Watercress

By Andrea Wang, Illustrated by Jason Chin

Driving through Ohio in an old Pontiac, a young girl’s parents stop suddenly when they spot watercress growing wild in a ditch by the side of the road. Grabbing an old paper bag and some rusty scissors, the whole family wades into the muck to collect as much of the muddy, snail covered watercress as they can.

At first, she’s embarrassed. Why can’t her family get food from the grocery store? But when her mother shares a story of her family’s time in China, the girl learns to appreciate the fresh food they foraged. Together, they make a new memory of watercress.

Andrea Wang tells a moving autobiographical story of a child of immigrants discovering and connecting with her heritage, illustrated by award winning author and artist Jason Chin, working in an entirely new style, inspired by Chinese painting techniques. An author’s note in the back shares Andrea’s childhood experience with her parents.

2021

We Are Water Protectors

By Carole Lindstrom, Illustrated by Michaela Goade

Inspired by the many Indigenous-led movements across North America, We Are Water Protectors issues an urgent rallying cry to safeguard the Earth’s water from harm and corruption―a bold and lyrical picture book written by Carole Lindstrom and vibrantly illustrated by Michaela Goade.

Water is the first medicine.
It affects and connects us all . . .

When a black snake threatens to destroy the Earth
And poison her people’s water, one young water protector
Takes a stand to defend Earth’s most sacred resource.

2020

The Undefeated

By Kwame Alexander, Illustrated by Kadir Nelson

Originally performed for ESPN’s The Undefeated, this poem is a love letter to black life in the United States. It highlights the unspeakable trauma of slavery, the faith and fire of the civil rights movement, and the grit, passion, and perseverance of some of the world’s greatest heroes. The text is also peppered with references to the words of Martin Luther King, Jr., Langston Hughes, Gwendolyn Brooks, and others, offering deeper insights into the accomplishments of the past, while bringing stark attention to the endurance and spirit of those surviving and thriving in the present. Robust back matter at the end provides valuable historical context and additional detail for those wishing to learn more.

2019

Hello Lighthouse

By Sophie Blackall

Watch the days and seasons pass as the wind blows, the fog rolls in, and the icebergs drift by. Outside, there is water all around. Inside, the daily life of the lighthouse keeper and his family unfolds as the keeper boils water for tea, lights the lamp’s wick, and writes every detail in his logbook.

Step back in time, through the door of this iconic lighthouse into the cozy dollhouse-like interior with the extraordinary award-winning artist Sophie Blackall.

2018

Wolf in the Snow

By Matthew Cordell

Paintings rich with feeling tell this satisfying story of friendship and trust. Here is a book set on a wintry night that will spark imaginations and warm hearts.

2017

Radiant Child: The Story of Young Artist Jean-Michel Basquiat

by Javaka Steptoe

Jean-Michel Basquiat and his unique collage-style paintings rocketed to fame in the 1960s. But before that, he was a little boy who saw art everywhere: in poetry books and museums, in games and in the words that we speak, and in the pulsing energy of New York City. Javaka Steptoe introduces the powerful message that art doesn’t always have to be neat or clean, and definitely not inside the lines to be beautiful.

2016

Finding Winnie: The True Story of the World’s Most Famous Bear

By Lindsay Mattick, Illustrated by Sophie Blackall

In 1914, Harry Colebourn, a veterinarian on his way to tend horses in World War I, followed his heart and rescued a baby bear. He named her Winnie, after his hometown of Winnipeg, and he took the bear to war. Harry Colebourn’s real-life great-granddaugher tells the true story of a remarkable friendship and even more remarkable journey from the fields of Canada to a convoy across the ocean to an army base in England. And finally to the London Zoo, where Winnie made another new friend: a real boy named Christopher Robin. Before Winnie-the-Pooh, there was a real bear named Winnie. And she was a girl.

2015

The Adventures of Beekle: The Unimaginary Friend

By Dan Santat

This magical story begins on an island far away where an imaginary friend is born. He patiently waits his turn to be chosen by a real child, but when he is overlooked time and again, he sets off on an incredible journey to the bustling city, where he finally meets his perfect match and at long last is given his special name: Beekle. 

2014

Locomotive

By Brian Floca

It is the summer of 1869, and trains, crews, and families are traveling together riding America’s brand new transcontinental railroad. Brian Floca makes the story come alive with the details of the trip and the sounds, speed, and strength of the mighty locomotives. Come here the hiss of the steam. Feel the heat of the engine. Watch the landscape race by. Come ride the rails and cross the young country!

2013

This Is Not My Hat

By Jon Klassen

When a tiny fish shoots into view wearing a round blue topper (which happens to fit him perfectly,) trouble could be following close behind. So it’s a good thing that an enormous fish won’t wake up. And even if he does, it’s not like he’ll ever know what happened. Visual humor swims to the fore as Jon Klassen creates another dead-pan-funny tale. 

2012

A Ball For Daisy

By Chris Raschka

Any child who has ever had a beloved toy break will relate to Daisy’s anguish when her favorite ball is destroyed by a bigger dog. Chris Raschka explores the joy and sadness that having a special toy can bring. His signature swirling, impressionistic illustrations and his affectionate story will particularly appeal to young dog lovers and teachers and parents who have children dealing with the loss of something special.

The book descriptions are primarily from the publishers.

If you like this post, then please consider sharing it and leaving a comment below. Thank you! Barbara Lowell, Children’s Author.

You may like: Christopher Robin and the Real Winnie https://barbaralowell.com/christopher-robin-real-winnie

 

Books For Kids — Writers

Some Writer! The Story of E.B.White

by Melissa Sweet

This beautifully written biography tells the story of E.B. White, the author of Charlotte’s Web and Stuart Little. Caldecott Honor winner Melissa Sweet mixes White’s personal letters, photos, and family keepsakes with her own artwork to tell the story of this American literary icon. E.B White was a journalist, New Yorker contributor, and children’s book author who loved words his whole life. 

Through the Wardrobe: How C.S. Lewis Created Narnia

By Lina Maslo

As a child, Clive Staples Lewis imagined many things . . . heroic animals, and knights in armor, and a faraway land called Boxen. He even thought of a new name for himself—at four years old, he decided he was more of a Jack. As he grew up, though, Jack found that the real world was not as just as the one in his imagination. No magic could heal the sick or stop a war, and a bully’s words could pierce as sharply as a sword. So Jack withdrew into books and eventually became a well-known author for adults.

But he never forgot the epic tales of his boyhood, and one day a young girl’s question about an old family wardrobe inspired him to write a children’s story about a world hidden beyond its fur coats . . . a world of fauns and queens and a lion named Aslan. A world of battles between good and evil, where people learned courage and love and forgiveness. A magical realm called Narnia. And the books he would write about this kingdom would change his life and that of children the world over.

 

Ordinary, Extraordinary Jane Austen: The Story of Six Novels, Three Notebooks, a Writing Box and One Clever Girl

By Deborah Hopkinson, Illustrated by Qin Leng

It is a truth universally acknowledged that Jane Austen is one of our greatest writers. But before that, she was just an ordinary girl. In fact, young Jane was a bit quiet and shy; if you had met her back then, you might not have noticed her at all. But she would have noticed you. Jane watched and listened to all the things people around her did and said, and locked those observations away for safekeeping.

Jane also loved to read. She devoured everything in her father’s massive library and before long, she began creating her own stories. In her time, the most popular books were grand adventures and romances, but Jane wanted to go her own way…and went on to invent an entirely new kind of novel.

The Extraordinary Mark Twain (According to Suzy)

by Barbara Kerley, Illustrated by Edwin Fotheringham

Suzy Clemens thought the world was wrong about her papa. They saw Mark Twain as “a humorist joking at everything.” But he was so much more, and Susy was determined to set the record straight. In a journal she kept under her pillow, Susy documented her world-famous father from his habits (good and bad) to his writing routine to their family’s colorful home life. Her frank, funny, tender biography (which came to be one of Twain’s most prized possessions) gives rare insight and an unforgettable perspective on an American icon. 

Pioneer Girl: The Story of Laura Ingalls Wilder

by William Anderson, Illustrated by Dan Andreasen

This picture book biography of Laura Ingalls Wilder tells the remarkable story of the pioneer girl who would one day immortalize her adventures in the beloved Little House books. This biography captures the essence of the little girl called “Half-pint,” whose classic books and pioneer adventures have made her one of the most popular literary figures in America.

A Poem for Peter: The Story of Ezra Jack Keats and the Creator of the Snowy Day

By Andrea Davis Pinkney, Illustrated by Steve Johnson & Lou Fancher

The story of The Snowy Day begins more than one hundred years ago, when Ezra Jack Keats was born in Brooklyn, N.Y. The family were struggling Polish immigrants, and despite Keats’s obvious talent, his father worried that Ezra’s dream of being an artist was an unrealistic one. But Ezra was determined. By high school he was winning prizes and scholarships. Later, jobs followed with the WPA and Marvel comics. But it was many years before Keats’s greatest dream was realized and he had the opportunity to write and illustrate his own book.
 
For more than two decades, Ezra had kept pinned to his wall a series of photographs of an adorable African American child. In Keats’s hands, the boy morphed into Peter, a boy in a red snowsuit, out enjoying the pristine snow; the book became The Snowy Day, winner of the Caldecott Medal, the first mainstream book to feature an African American child. It was also the first of many books featuring Peter and the children of his — and Keats’s — neighborhood.

Will’s Words: How William Shakespeare Changed the Way You Talk

by Jane Sutcliffe, Illustrated by John Shelley

When Jane Sutcliffe set out to write a book about William Shakespeare and the Globe Theatre, she ran into a problem: Will’s words keep popping up all over the place. What’s an author to do? After all, Will is responsible for such familiar phrases as “what’s done is done” and “too much of a good thing.” He even helped turn “household words” into household words. But — what better words are there to use to write about the greatest writer in the English language than his very own?

A River of Words: The Story of William Carlos Williams

by Jen Bryant, Illustrated by Melissa Sweet

When he wrote poems, William Carlos Williams felt as free as the Passaic River rushing to the falls. His notebooks filled up, one after another. His words gave him freedom and peace, but he also knew he needed to earn a living. He became a doctor yet never stopped writing poetry. This biography celebrates the amazing man who found a way to earn a living and to honor his calling to be a poet. 

Pablo Neruda: Poet of the People

By Monica Brown, Illustrated by Julie Paschkis

Once there was a little boy named Neftalí who loved wild things wildly and quiet things quietly. From the moment he could talk, he surrounded himself with words. Neftalí discovered the magic between the pages of books. When he was sixteen, he began publishing his poems as Pablo Neruda.

Pablo wrote poems about the things he loved―things made by his friends in the café, things found at the marketplace, and things he saw in nature. He wrote about the people of Chile and their stories of struggle. Because above all things and above all words, Pablo Neruda loved people.

Enormous Smallness: A Story of E.E. Cummings

by Matthew Burgess, Illustrated by Kris Di Giacomo

Some of E.E. Cummings’s wonderful poems are integrating  into a story that gives readers the music of his voice and a spirited, sensitive introduction to his poetry. This book emphasizes the bravery it takes to follow one’s own vision and the encouragement E.E. received to do just that.

Beatrix Potter and the Unfortunate Tale of a Borrowed Guinea Pig

By Deborah Hopkinson, Illustrated by Charlotte Voake

Deborah Hopkinson takes readers back to Victorian England and the home of budding young artist and animal lover Beatrix Potter. When Beatrix brings home her neighbor’s pet guinea pig so that she can practice painting it, well . . . it dies! Now what? Written in the form of a “picture letter,” this mostly true tale is a wonderful introduction to a beloved author/illustrator. An author’s note includes photographs and more information about Beatrix Potter’s life and work.

The book descriptions used are primarily from the publishers.

If you like this post, then please consider sharing it and leaving a comment below. Thank you! Barbara Lowell, Children’s Author

You may like:

The Pilot and the Little Prince (about the pilot who wrote the classic.) https://barbaralowell.com/the-pilot-and-the-little-prince

Books For Kids: Artists https://barbaralowell.com/books-for-kids-artists

Books For Kids: Maya Angelou https://barbaralowell.com/books-for-kids-maya-angelou

 

Kids Books: Andrea Davis Pinkney

Eight books by award winning children’s author

Andrea Davis Pinkney!

Sojourner Truth’s Step-Stomp Stride

Andrea Davis Pinkney and Illustrator Brian Pinkney

Born into slavery, Belle had to endure the cruelty of several masters before she escaped to freedom. But she knew she wouldn’t really be free unless she was helping to end injustice. That’s when she changed her name to Sojourner and began traveling across the country, demanding equal rights for black people and for women. Many people weren’t ready for her message, but Sojourner was brave and her truth was powerful. And slowly, but surely as Sojourner’s step-stomp stride, America began to change.

Martin and Mahalia His Words, Her Song

Andrea Davis Pinkney and Illustrator Brian Pinkney

On August 28, 1963, Martin Luther King, Jr. gave his famous “I Have a Dream” speech from the steps of the Lincoln Memorial, and his strong voice and powerful message were joined and lifted in song by world-renowned gospel singer Mahalia Jackson. It was a moment that changed the course of history and is imprinted in minds forever. 

The Red Pencil

Andrea Davis Pinkney and Illustrator Shane W. Evans

Life in Amira’s peaceful Sudanese village is shattered when Janjaweed attackers arrive, unleashing unspeakable horrors. After losing nearly everything, Amira needs to find the strength to make the long journey on foot to safety at a refugee camp. She begins to lose hope, until the gift of a simple red pencil opens her mind — and all kinds of possibilities.

Let It Shine: Stories of Black Women Freedom Fighters

Andrea Davis Pinkney and Illustrator Stephen Alcorn

Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat on a bus and sparked a boycott that changed America. Harriet Tubman helped more than three hundred slaves escape the South on the Underground Railroad. Shirley Chisholm became the first black woman elected to the U.S. House of Representatives.

The lives these women led are part of an incredible story about courage in the face of oppression; about the challenges and triumphs of the battle for civil rights; and about speaking out for what you believe in — even when it feels like no one is listening.

Sit-In: How Four Friends Stood Up by Sitting Down

Andrea Davis Pinkney and Illustrator Brian Pinkney

This picture book celebrates the momentous Woolworth’s lunch counter sit-in, when four college students staged a peaceful protest that became a defining moment in the struggle for racial equality and the growing civil rights movement. 

Hand in Hand: Ten Black Men Who Changed America

Andrea Davis Pinkney and Illustrator Brian Pinkney

Hand in Hand presents the stories of ten men from different eras in American history, organized chronologically to provide a scope from slavery to modern day. Profiles of: Benjamin Banneker, Frederick Douglas, Booker T. Washington, W.E.B DuBois, A. Phillip Randolph, Thurgood Marshall, Jackie Robinson, Malcolm X, Martin Luther King, Jr. and Barack H. Obama II.

Rhythm Ride: A Road Trip Through the Motown Sound

Andrea Davis Pinkney

Berry Gordy began Motown in 1959 with an $800 loan from his family. He converted the garage of a residential house into a studio and recruited teenagers from the neighborhood, including: Smokey Robinson, Mary Wells, Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder, and Diana Ross, to sing for his new label. The country was on the brink of a cultural revolution, and one of the most powerful agents of change in the following decade would be this group of young black performers from urban Detroit.

A Poem for Peter: The Story of Ezra Jack Keats and the 

Creation of The Snowy Day

Andrea Davis Pinkney

and Illustrators Steve Johnson and Lou Fancher

The story of The Snowy Day begins more than one hundred years ago, when Ezra Jack Keats was born in Brooklyn, New York. The family were struggling Polish immigrants. Despite Keats’ obvious talent, his father worried that Ezra’s dream of being an artist was an unrealistic one. But Ezra was determined. For more than two decades, Ezra had kept pinned to his wall a series of photographs of an adorable African American child. In Keats’ hands, the boy morphed into Peter, a boy in a red snowsuit, out enjoying the pristine snow. The book became The Snowy Day, the first mainstream book to feature an African American child.

Andrea Davis Pinkney

The book descriptions used are primarily the publishers.

If you like this article, then please consider sharing it and leaving a comment below. Thank you! Barbara Lowell, Children’s Author

You may like: Mahalia Jackson’s Words Changed History https://barbaralowell.com/mahalia-jacksons-words

Books for Kids: Kadir Nelson https://barbaralowell.com/books-for-kids-kadir-nelson

Dr. Seuss

[The following post contains the books And to Think That I Saw It on Mulberry Street; and If I Ran the Zoo. As of March 2021, Dr. Seuss Enterprises will no longer publish these books.]

On March 2, 1904, a boy was born in Springfield, Massachusetts. He lived on Fairfield Street a hop and a skip from Mulberry Street. When he grew up, he wrote his first published book, And to Think That I Saw It on Mulberry Street. His name was Theodor Geisel. His family called him Ted. We know him as Dr. Seuss. 

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Growing up, Ted Geisel loved animals, doodling, reading, and his mother’s nonsense rhymes. He named the stuffed dog she gave him, Theophrastus — a very Dr. Seuss sounding name.

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Ted lived six blocks from Springfield’s zoo and enjoyed drawing the zoo’s animals. When his father became the Springfield Parks superintendent, he in a sense ran the zoo. Ted later wrote the Caldecott Award winning If I Ran the Zoo.   

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When he was twelve years old, Ted won first prize in a drawing contest. He had a unique way of drawing, one that his high school art teacher didn’t appreciate. She believed that art had rules. Ted ignored her rules and continued to draw in his own distinctive style.

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While studying literature at England’s Oxford University, Ted met his future wife, Helen Palmer. She appreciated Ted’s whimsical drawings and poems. With her encouragement, he left England, moved back to Springfield, and submitted his cartoons to New York publishers.

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His first cartoon was published on July 16, 1927, in The Saturday Evening Post. Ted received $25.00 for the cartoon and decided to move to New York City. He worked for a humor magazine writing and illustrating. In 1928,  he began signing his work, Dr. Seuss. Seuss was his mother’s maiden name.

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On a trip across the Atlantic Ocean, Ted dreamed up his first book for children: And to Think That I Saw It on Mulberry Street. The manuscript was rejected by multiple publishers. Ted thought of destroying it. Fortunately, he met a college friend one day while walking in New York City. His friend published the book. 

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Ted Geisel continued to write his whimsical books for children, 43 in all. Only four are written in prose instead of rhyme. They have sold over 600 million copies. Everyone has their favorites from: Horton Hears a Who!; to The Cat in the Hat; to Green Eggs and Ham; to his last book, Oh, the Places You’ll Go! His books have been turned into movies, television specials, and a Broadway musical.

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Ted Geisel, the boy who grew up drawing zoo animals in his own unique way and listening to his mother’s nonsense rhymes, became Dr. Seuss, an American treasure.

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If you like this post, then please consider sharing it and leaving a comment below. Thank you! Barbara Lowell, Children’s Author

To Learn More Visit: http://www.seussville.com

You may like: Kids Books Walt Disney & Company https://barbaralowell.com/kids-books-walt-disney-co

Books For Kids:

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The Boy On Fairfield Street

By Kathleen Krull and Illustrated by Steve Johnson

and Lou Fancher

Imagine That!

By Judy Sierra, Illustrated by Kevin Hawkes

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Dr. Seuss The Great Doodler

By Kate Klimo, Illustrated By Steve Johnson

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Who Was Dr. Seuss?

By Janet Pascal, Illustrated by Nancy Harrison

Jean Fritz’s History with Humor

What’s The Big Idea, Ben Franklin?

No matter how busy he was, Ben Franklin always found time to try out new ideas. He was a man of many talents. He was also an ambassador to England, a printer, an almanac maker, a politician, and even a vegetarian (for a time.)

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George Washington’s Breakfast

George Washington Allen, a boy who never gives up until he finds out what he wants to know, is determined to learn all there is to know about his namesake, including what the first president ate for breakfast. The humorous story and likeable colored illustrations bring history alive and make research meaningful — Booklist

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And Then What Happened, Paul Revere?

Everyone knows about Paul Revere’s midnight ride. But not everyone knows the harrowing details and narrow escapes that occurred along the way. This timeless, funny book highlights little-known facts about patriot Paul Revere.

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Will You Sign Here, John Hancock?

Everyone knows that John Hancock was one of the first signers of the Declaration of Independence. But not many know that he signed his name so large to show how mad he was about how the colonists had been treated. This fun book highlights little-known facts about this historical figure.

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George Washington’s Mother

Everyone has a mother. Even George Washington. But Mary Washington is nothing like you’d think. She hates to dress up. And she always thinks she knows what’s best for George. After all, she’s his mother. You can read more about her in this true story.

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Where Was Patrick Henry On the 29th of May?

Patrick Henry wasn’t particularly well spoken. As a lawyer, he mumbled through some of his early cases. But when the issue was freedom, Patrick Henry was transformed into a natural orator. Jean Fritz makes history come alive as she chronicles the life of a man who moved a nation.

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Why Don’t You Get A Horse, Sam Adams?

In early America, when all the men wore ruffled shirts and rode grandly on horseback, one man refused to follow suit. He was the rebel leader Sam Adams, a plainspoken gent who scorned ruffles, refused to ride a horse, and had little regard for the king. 

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Can’t You Make Them Behave, King George?

Jean Fritz sheds light on the life of England’s King George III. She begins when he was a bashful boy who blushed easily, continues to his early days as king, and examines his role in the American Revolution, when Americans ceased to think of him as good King George. 

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Shh! We’re Writing the Constitution

This factual gem that’s written with Jean Fritz’s humorous touch chronicles the hot summer of 1787 when fifty-five delegates from thirteen states huddled together in the strictest secrecy in Philadelphia to draw up the constitution of the United States.

If you like this article, then please consider sharing it and leaving a comment below. Thank you! Barbara Lowell, Children’s Author

Books descriptions used are primarily from the publishers.

You might like: Books For Kids: George Washington https://barbaralowell.com/books-for-kids-george-washington

Books For Kids: Ben Franklin https://barbaralowell.com/books-for-kids-ben-franklin

Books For Kids: Founding Fathers https://barbaralowell.com/books-for-kids-founding-fathers

Books For Kids — Kadir Nelson

Eleven books for kids by award-winning artist, author, and illustrator Kadir Nelson: 

He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands

By Kadir Nelson

What began as a spiritual has developed into one of America’s best-known songs, and now for the first time it appears as a picture book, masterfully created by award-winning artist Kadir Nelson.Through sublime landscapes and warm images of a boy and his family, Kadir has created a dazzling, intimate interpretation, one that rejoices in the connectedness of people and nature.

Inspired by the song’s simple message, Kadir sought to capture the joy of living in and engaging with the world. Most importantly, he wished to portray the world as a child might see it—vast and beautiful.

Salt in His Shoes: Michael Jordan In Pursuit of a Dream

by Delores Jordan and Roslyn M. Jordan,

Illustrated by Kadir Nelson

The mere mention of the name conjures up visions of basketball played at its absolute best. But as a child, Michael almost gave up on his hoop dreams. He feared he’d never grow tall enough to play the game that would one day make him famous. That’s when his mother and father stepped in and shared an invaluable lesson. What really goes into the making of a champion is patience, determination, and hard work. 

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Ellington Was Not A Street

by Ntozake Shange, Illustrated by Kadir Nelson

Noted poet Ntozake Shange recalls her childhood home and the close-knit group of innovators that often gathered there. These men of vision, brought to life in the majestic paintings of artist Kadir Nelson, lived at a time when the color of their skin dictated where they could live, what schools they could attend, and even where they could sit on a bus or in a movie theater. Yet in the face of this tremendous adversity, these dedicated souls and others like them not only demonstrated the importance of Black culture in America, but also helped issue in a movement that “changed the world.”

Nelson Mandela

By Kadir Nelson

It is the story of a young boy’s determination to change South Africa, and of the struggles of a man who eventually became the president of his country. Mandela believed in equality for all people, no matter the color of their skin. Readers will be inspired by Mandela’s triumph and his lifelong quest to create a more just world.

Resources in the back include an author’s note and a bibliography listing additional sources for readers who want to find out more. Perfect for sharing at home or in the classroom.

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Heart and Soul: The Story of Americans and African Americans

by Kadir Nelson

The story of Americans and African Americans is a story of hope and inspiration and unwavering courage. This is the story of the men, women, and children who toiled in the hot sun picking cotton for their masters. It’s about the America ripped in two by Jim Crow laws. And about the brothers and sisters of all colors who rallied against those who would dare bar a child from an education. This is a story of discrimination and broken promises, determination, and triumphs.

The Undefeated

By Kwame Alexander, Illustrated by Kadir Nelson

Originally performed for ESPN’s The Undefeated, this poem is a love letter to black life in the United States. It highlights the unspeakable trauma of slavery, the faith and fire of the civil rights movement, and the grit, passion, and perseverance of some of the world’s greatest heroes. The text includes references to the words of Martin Luther King, Jr., Langston Hughes, Gwendolyn Brooks, and others, offering deeper insights into the accomplishments of the past, while bringing attention to the endurance and spirit of those surviving and thriving in the present. Back matter provides historical context and additional detail for those wishing to learn more.

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Coretta Scott

by Ntozake Shange, Illustrated by Kadir Nelson

Walking many miles to school in the dusty road, young Coretta Scott knew the unfairness of life in the segregated south. A yearning for equality began to grow. Together with Martin Luther King, Jr., she gave birth to a vision of change through nonviolent protest. It was the beginning of a journey — with dreams of freedom for all.

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Henry’s Freedom Box: A True Story from the Underground Railroad

by Ellen Levine, Illustrated by Kadir Nelson

Henry Brown doesn’t know how old he is. Nobody keeps records of slaves’ birthdays. All the time he dreams about freedom, but that dream seems farther away than ever when he is torn from his family and put to work in a warehouse. Henry grows up and marries, but he is again devastated when his family is sold at the slave market. Then one day, as he lifts a crate at the warehouse, he knows exactly what he must do: He will mail himself to the North. After an arduous journey in the crate, Henry finally has a birthday — his first day of freedom.

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Moses: When Harriet Tubman Led Her People to Freedom

by Carole Boston Weatherford, Illustrated by Kadir Nelson

This poetic book is a resounding tribute to Tubman’s strength, humility, and devotion. With proper reverence, Weatherford and Nelson do justice to the woman who, long ago, earned over and over the name Moses.

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Abe’s Honest Words: The Life of Abraham Lincoln (Big Words)

by Doreen Rappaport, Illustrated by Kadir Nelson

From the time he was a young boy roaming the forests of the unsettled Midwest, Abraham Lincoln knew in his heart that slavery was deeply wrong. A voracious reader, Lincoln spent every spare moment of his days filling his mind with knowledge, from history to literature to mathematics, preparing himself to one day lead the country he loved toward greater equality and prosperity.

A Nation’s Hope: The Story of Boxing Legend Joe Louis

by Matt De La Pena, Illustrated by Kadir Nelson

On the eve of World War II, African-American boxer Joe Louis fought German Max Schmeling in a bout that had more at stake than just the world heavyweight title. For much of America, their fight came to represent America’s war with Germany. This elegant and powerful picture book biography centers on this historic fight in which the American people came together to celebrate our nation’s founding ideals.

Visit Kadir Nelson at: http://kadirnelson.com

The book descriptions used are primarily from the publishers.

If you like this post, then please consider sharing it and leaving a comment below. Thank you! Barbara Lowell, Children’s Author

You may like: Kids Books Andrea Davis Pinkney https://barbaralowell.com/kids-books-andrea-davis-pinkney

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