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

Books For Kids: Jane Austen

Ordinary, Extraordinary Jane: 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.

Ordinary, Extraordinary Jane Austen includes a timeline and quotes from Austen’s most popular novels. 4-6 years

A Most Clever Girl: How Jane Austen Discovered Her Voice

By Jasmine A. Stirling, Illustrated by Vesper Stamper

Witty and mischievous Jane Austen grew up in a house overflowing with words. As a young girl, she delighted in making her family laugh with tales that poked fun at the popular novels of her time, stories that featured fragile ladies and ridiculous plots. Before long, Jane was writing her own stories-uproariously funny ones, using all the details of her life in a country village as inspiration.

In times of joy, Jane’s words burst from her pen. But after facing sorrow and loss, she wondered if she’d ever write again. Jane realized her writing would not be truly her own until she found her unique voice. She didn’t know it then, but that voice would go on to capture readers’ hearts and minds for generations to come. 5-9 years

Who Was Jane Austen?

By Sarah Fabiny, Illustrated by Jerry Hoare

Although Jane Austen’s works were first published anonymously and brought her little personal recognition, today they are rarely out of print and have inspired movies, television shows, mini-series, literary anthologies, and many other adaptations all around the world. Her writing—principally her five novels—is a critique of the British landed gentry at the end of the eighteenth century, and often a comment on the pursuit of a “good match” in matters of marriage. Pride and PrejudiceSense and SensibilityMansfield ParkEmma, and Northhanger Abbey remain her most famous works. Who Was Jane Austen? reveals the life of this most private author. 8-12years

Jane Austen (Little People, Big Dreams)

by Maria Isabel Sanchez Vegara, Illustrated by Kate Wilson

Little Jane was born into a large family with seven brothers and sisters. She grew up reading and writing stories in the English countryside. As an adult, she wrote witty commentaries about landed gentry in a way that no one had ever done before, portraying young women who bravely made their own choices. These novels made Jane one of the most loved British writers of all time. This book features stylish and quirky illustrations and extra facts at the back, including a biographical timeline with historical images and a detailed profile of the author’s life. 4-7 years

Brave Jane Austen: Reader, Writer, Author, Rebel

By Lisa Pliscou, Illustrated by Jen Corace

Born in the late 1700s, Jane Austen was a smart, creative girl in a house full of boys, all of whom could aspire to accomplish many things as adults while girls were raised primarily to become good wives. Jane didn’t have much opportunity to go to school but she read everything she could, including all the books in her father’s study. And before long, she began to write her own stories, filled with funny, clever, and inventive characters.

Today, Austen’s novels (Pride and PrejudiceSense and SensibilityEmma . . .) are widely read by all ages. She is recognized as one of the most important and influential writers of all time. 7-10 years

Jane Austen For Kids: Her Life, Writing, and World with 21 Activities

By Nancy I. Sanders

Jane Austen is one of the most influential and best-loved novelists in English literature. Austen’s genius was her cast of characters—so timeless and real that readers today recognize them in their own families and neighborhoods. Her book’s universal themes—love and hate, hope and disappointment, pride and prejudice, sense and sensibility—still tug at heartstrings today in cultures spanning the globe.

Austen wrote about daily life in England as she knew it, growing up a clergyman’s daughter among the upper class of landowners, providing readers with a window into the soul of a lively, imaginative, and industrious woman in an age when most women were often obscured. Jane Austen for Kids includes a time line, resources for further study, places to visit, and 21 enriching activities. 9 and up

Lizzy Bennet’s Diary: Inspired by Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice

by Marcia Williams

Jane Austen’s beloved heroine Lizzy Bennet tells the story of Pride and Prejudice in her own words in an illustrated diary created by Marcia Williams. When Lizzy Bennet’s father gives her a diary, she fancies she will use it to write a novel, as her real life is exceedingly dull. Then the handsome Mr. Bingley moves to nearby Netherfield Park, and suddenly life is every bit as thrilling as a novel would be.

Who will he dance with at the Meryton ball? Who is his haughty friend? Will Lizzy ever receive a marriage proposal? Readers will have to read her diary to find out! Marcia Williams offers an introduction to Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice in an illustrated scrapbook-diary format, featuring such novelties as foldout notes from sisters and suitors, an elegant bill of fare, and an invitation to the ball. 8-12 years

Jane Austen: A Life Revealed

By Catherine Reef

Examines the life and works of the famous author, known for such works as “Emma,” “Pride and Prejudice,” and “Persuasion,” and looks at how her novels have endured for over two centuries. 12 years+

The book descriptions used are primarily 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 Book Author

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

 

 

Books For Kids: Mae Jemison

Mae C. Jemison

By Meeg Pincus, Illustrated by Elena Bia

Blast off into a reading adventure as you learn about the inspiring life of Mae Jemison―the first female African American astronaut. Follow along from her time as a child with big dreams to her exploration in space. This leveled book engages 1st―3rd graders through new vocabulary and high-interest topics like space exploration. 6-10 years

Mae Among the Stars

By Roda Ahmed, Illustrated by Stasia Burrington

When Little Mae was a child, she dreamed of dancing in space. She imagined herself surrounded by billions of stars, floating, gliding, and discovering.

She wanted to be an astronaut.

Her mom told her, “If you believe it, and work hard for it, anything is possible.”

Little Mae’s curiosity, intelligence, and determination, matched with her parents’ encouraging words, paved the way for her incredible success at NASA as the first African American woman to travel in space. 3-8 years

Mae Jemison (You Should Meet)

By Laurie Calkhoven, Illustrated by Monique Dong

Meet Mae Jemison, the first African-American female astronaut! Did you know before Mae was an astronaut, she went to medical school and joined the Peace Corps? But she never forgot her childhood dream to travel to outer space. So, in 1985, she applied to NASA’s astronaut training program. On September 12, 1992, Mae flew into space with six other astronauts aboard the space shuttle Endeavour and made history—just like you can if you follow your dreams! 6-8 years

Mae Jemison

By Jodie Shepherd

Meet Mae Jemison, the first African-American woman to travel to space. Mae was a bright child who was always fascinated by science. The top student and gifted dancer ignored naysayers and worked hard to achieve her dream of becoming a doctor and an astronaut. 6-8 years

Mae Jemison: A Kid’s Book About Reaching Your Dream

By Mary Nhin, Illustrated by Yuliia Zolotava

In the new Mini Movers and Shakers children’s book series comes a cast of characters who have failed, yet succeeded despite overwhelming obstacles. In the third volume, we meet Mae Jemison.

Find out what happens in this kid’s book about flying to space.

Sometimes, we are faced with challenges that seem insurmountable. But with grit and hard work, one can achieve great things!  Baby-12 years

Blast Off Into Space Like Mae Jemison

By Caroline Moss, Illustrated by Sinem Erkas

When Mae Jemison was a little girl, she loved science, dancing, and dinosaurs. She watched the Apollo moon landings and wondered why none of the astronauts were women – and she just didn’t buy the answers she was given…

Discover how Mae Jemison became the first African American woman in space, in this true story of her life. Then, learn ten key lessons from her work you can apply to your own life.

Featuring inspiring quotes and mantras, this is a book for all kids wanting to forge their own career path in the field of STEM. 8-12 years

Mae Jemison: Trailblazing Astronaut, Doctor, and Teacher

By Linda Barghoorn

“The first African American woman to travel in space, Mae Jemison has broken barriers in science and medicine to become one of the most admired women worldwide. This book describes how Jemison refused to let anyone stand in the way of her dreams. She became a doctor and worked in the Peace Corps until NASA invited her to join the astronaut program. Today, she is an important advocate for science in education–especially for girls and women. Jemison also continues to push scientific research to improve life in developing countries.” 7-10 years

VIP: Dr. Mae Jemison, Brave Rocketeer

By Heather Alexander, Illustrated by Jennifer Bricking

Soar to the stars with Dr. Mae Jemison in this middle grade nonfiction biography. The books in the VIP series tell the true—and amazing—stories of some of history’s greatest trailblazers. Meet the VERY IMPORTANT PEOPLE who changed the world!

Mae Jemison is the first African American woman to travel to space. She’s also a medical doctor who once joined the Peace Corps. And a trained dancer, too! Experience all the exciting moments in Dr. Jemison’s thrilling life in this exciting biography, packed with two-color illustrations and fun facts, including the secrets of NASA. 8-12 years

The book descriptions used are primarily 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, Mae Jemison Facts For Kids https://kids.kiddle.co/Mae_Jemison

Books For Kids: Astronauts https://barbaralowell.com/books-for-kids-astronauts/

Books For Kids: The Moon https://barbaralowell.com/books-for-kids-the-moon/

 

Books For Kids: Jesse Owens

Who Was Jesse Owens

By James Buckley, Jr., Illustrated by Gregory Copeland

At the 1936 Berlin Summer Olympics, track and field star Jesse Owens ran himself straight into international glory by winning four gold medals. But the life of Jesse Owens is much more than a sports story.

Born in rural Alabama under the oppressive Jim Crow laws, Owens’s family suffered many hardships. As a boy he worked several jobs: delivering groceries and working in a shoe repair shop to make ends meet. Owens defied the odds to become a sensational student athlete, eventually running track for Ohio State. He was chosen to compete in the Summer Olympics in Nazi Germany where Adolf Hitler was promoting the idea of “Aryan superiority.”  Owens’s winning streak at the games humiliated Hitler and crushed the myth of racial supremacy once and for all. 8-12 years

Jesse Owens: Fastest Man Alive

By Carole Boston Weatherford, Illustrated by Eric Velasquez

Jesse Owens grew up during the time of Jim Crow laws, but adversity didn’t stop him. After setting world records for track in high school and college, he won a slot on the 1936 U.S. Olympic team. That year, the Olympics were held in Nazi Germany, where Adolf Hitler believes the Games would prove to the world that people like him were superior to all others. But Jesse, a sharecropper’s son, would ultimately topple Hitler’s hopes, winning four gold medals and the hearts of millions to become known as the fastest man alive. 7-11 years

A Star Like Jesse Owens

By Nikki Shannon Smith, Illustrated by Lisa Manuzak Wiley

Matthew is a young African-American boy who dreams of becoming an Olympic runner like his hero, Jesse Owens. There’s one big problem, though Matthew has asthma, which makes it hard for him to run. When his journalist father is assigned to cover the 1936 Olympics in Germany, Matthew jumps at the chance tag along. He has never been out of Ohio before, let alone to Europe. Will Owens’s amazing Olympic victories inspire Matthew in his own chosen career? 8-11 years

A Picture Book of Jesse Owens

By David A. Adler, Illustrated by Robert Casilla

Before Usain Bolt or Tyson Gay, Bob Beamon or Carl Lewis, Jesse Owens was perhaps the greatest and most famous athlete in track and field history. 

Jesse Owens was born on a farm to a large family with many siblings. His grandparents had been slaves, and his sharecropper parents were poor. But against all odds, Jesse went on to become one of the greatest athletes in history. He learned to run with such grace that people said he was a “floating wonder.”

After setting multiple world records as a college athlete, including three in less than an hour—”the greatest 45 minutes in sport”—Owens competed in the 1936 Olympics in Berlin. Adolf Hitler intended for the games to display Aryan superiority, but Jesse disrupted that plan. He became the first American track-and-field athlete to receive four Olympic gold medals and established his legacy as a hero in the face of prejudice. 4-8 years

Just Like Jesse Owens

By Andrew Young and Paul Young Shelton Illustrated by Gordon C. James

As a boy, Andrew Young learned a vital lesson from his parents when a local chapter of the Nazi party instigated racial unrest in their hometown of New Orleans in the 1930s. While Hitler’s teachings promoted White supremacy, Andrew’s father, told him that when dealing with the sickness of racism, “Don’t get mad, get smart.” To drive home this idea, Andrew Young Senior took his family to the local movie house to see a newsreel of track star Jesse Owens racing toward Olympic gold, showing the world that the best way to promote equality is to focus on the finish line. The teaching of his parents, and Jesse Owens’ example, would be the guiding principles that shaped Andrew’s beliefs in nonviolence and built his foundation as a civil rights leader and advisor to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The story is recalled by Paula Young Shelton, Andrew’s daughter. 6-8 years

Jesse Owens (Little People, Big Dreams)

By Maria Isabel Sanchez Vegara, Illustrated by Anna Katharina Jansen

The youngest of ten children, Jesse grew up working in the cotton fields of Alabama. Discovered by his high school track and field coach, Jesse quickly rose to fame as an athlete. He went on to challenge racism on the world stage at the 1936 Berlin Olympics and made new world records. This book features extra facts at the back, including a biographical timeline with historical photos and a detailed profile of the athlete and activist’s life. 4-7 years

Jesse Owens (You Should Meet)

By Laurie Calkhoven, Illustrated by Elizabeth Vukovic

Meet Jesse Owens, an African American runner who won four gold medals at the 1936 Olympics in Berlin! What made his achievement even more memorable was that Adolph Hitler expected the Olympic Games to be a German showcase. In fact, he criticized the United States for even including black athletes on its Olympic roster. According to many reports, after Owens won his fourth gold medal, Hitler stormed out of the stadium. In 1936 Jesse Owens took a stand against racism and made history. 

A special section at the back of the book includes extras on subjects like history and math, plus an article filled with interesting facts about the Olympics. 6-8 years

Defying Hitler: Jesse Owens Olympic Trials

By Nel Yomtov, Illustrated by Eduardo Garcia

At the 1936 Summer Olympics in Berlin, Germany, the last thing Adolf Hitler expected was to see a black man compete and win. But Jesse Owens didn’t just win. He was dominant in the track and field events, winning four gold medals and helping to set a world record. Now readers can witness one of the most iconic moments in sports history. 8 and up

Olympic Gold 1936:

How the Image of Jesse Owens Crushed Hitler’s Evil Myth

By Michael Burgan

Jesse Owens’ gold-medal winning feats at the 1936 Olympics in Berlin struck a mighty propaganda blow against Adolf Hitler.  The Nazi leader had planned to use the German games as a showcase for supposed Aryan superiority.  Instead, there was American black athlete Owens on the podium being photographed by Hitler’s personal photographer, Heinrich Hoffmann. In addition, Owens would figure prominently in the groundbreaking film Olympia by Hitler’s favorite director Leni Riefenstahl.  Photos and film captured Owens’ stunning success and revealed how wrong Hitler was in his beliefs. 10-12 years

Jesse Owens: Athletes Who Made a Difference

By  Blake Hoena, Illustrated by David Shephard

In 1936, Adolf Hitler attempted to make the Olympic Games in Berlin, Germany, a showcase of Nazi superiority with a new stadium and the first television broadcast of the Games. He didn’t account for African-American sprinter and long jumper James Cleveland “Jesse” Owens, who smashed records throughout his track and field career. 

Owens turned Hitler’s Olympic vision on its head by winning four gold medals in the 100m, 200m, 4x100m relay and long jump. Along the way, he broke or equaled nine Olympic records and set three world records. In graphic nonfiction style, this biography takes readers from Owens’s early life to his historic athletic triumphs. 8-12 years

Jesse Owens: Amazing People Who Shaped the World

By James Buckley, Jr.

Jesse Owens is one of the most famous athletes of all time, winning an incredible four gold medals at the 1936 Olympic Games. But he faced discrimination throughout his athletic career. 

This biography charts the major events of Jesse’s life; from his childhood growing up on a farm in Alabama, to his family’s move to Ohio in search of better opportunities, to the beginning of his running career and his years as a world record-breaking student athlete, all the way to the Olympics and beyond. 8-11 years

The book descriptions used are primarily from the publishers.

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

You may like:

Wilma Rudolph, Champion Sprinter https://barbaralowell.com/wilma-rudolph-champion-sprinter

Books For Kids: Jackie Robinson https://www.barbaralowell.com/books-for-kids-jackie-robinson

 

Books For Kids: Juneteenth

Juneteenth All Different Now, the First Day of Freedom

By Angela Johnson, Illustrated by E.B. Lewis

Through the eyes of one little girl, All Different Now tells the story of the first Juneteenth, the day freedom finally came to the last of the slaves in the South. Since then, the observance of June 19 as African American Emancipation Day has spread across the United States and beyond. This picture book includes notes from the author and illustrator, a timeline of important dates, and a glossary of relevant terms. All Different Now is a joyous portrait of the dawn breaking on the darkest time in our nation’s history. 5-9 years

Juneteenth A Children’s Story

By Opal Lee, Illustrated by Peter Viska

An engaging way to introduce the history of slavery and freedom to children in words they can understand. Ms. Opal highlights the celebration of Juneteenth and the importance of commemorating this milestone all across America. 5-11 years

Juneteenth

By Drew Nelson and Vaundra Micheaux Nelson, Illustrated by Mark Schroder

June 19,1865, began as another hot day in Texas. Enslaved African Americans worked in fields, in barns, and in the homes of the white people who owned them. Then a message arrived. Freedom! Slavery had ended! The Civil War had actually ended in April. It took two months for word to reach Texas. Still the joy of that amazing day has never been forgotten. Every year, people all over the United States come together on June 19th to celebrate the end of slavery. Join in the celebration of Juneteenth, a day to remember and honor freedom for all people. 7-10 years

Juneteenth for Mazie

By Floyd Cooper

Mazie is ready to celebrate liberty. She is ready to celebrate freedom. She is ready to celebrate a great day in American history. The day her ancestors were no longer slaves. Mazie remembers the struggles and the triumph, as she gets ready to celebrate Juneteenth. 6-9 years

Juneteenth Jamboree

By Carole Boston Weatherford, Illustrated by Yvonne Buchanan

Joining her parents in a community celebration of Juneteenth, Cassie learns about the day when slaves in Texas were freed some two years after the Emancipation Proclamation and wonders why the news took so long to reach them. 8-12 years

Opal Lee and What it Means to be Free:

The True Story of the Grandmother of Juneteenth

By Alice Faye Duncan, Illustrated by Keturah A. Bobo

(Forthcoming book January 2022)

The true story Opal Lee and her vision of Juneteenth as a holiday for everyone, celebrates Black joy and inspires children to see their dreams blossom. Growing up in Texas, Opal knew the history of Juneteenth, but she soon discovered that many Americans had never heard of the holiday that represents the nation’s creed of “freedom for all.”

Every year, Opal looked forward to the Juneteenth picnic–a drumming, dancing, delicious party. She knew from Granddaddy Zak’s stories that Juneteenth celebrated the day the freedom news of President Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation finally sailed into Texas in 1865–over two years after the president had declared it! But Opal didn’t always see freedom in her Texas town.

Then one Juneteenth day when Opal was twelve years old, an angry crowd burned down her brand-new home. This wasn’t freedom at all. She had to do something! Opal Lee spent the rest of her life speaking up for equality and unity. She became a teacher, a charity worker, and a community leader. At the age of 89, she walked from Fort Worth, Texas, to Washington, D.C., in an effort to gain national recognition for Juneteenth. 4-8 years

Juneteenth

By Anece Rochell, Illustrated by Audeva Joseph

Daylen is excited and ready to share everything he knows about Juneteenth. This is a picture book that explains the origin, customs, and importance of the Juneteenth Holiday, in a fun and interactive way.  Juneteenth ends with a words to know page, to help children build a stronger vocabulary. 4-10 years

The Story of Juneteenth: An Interactive History Adventure

By Steven Otfinoski

The Emancipation Proclamation and the Civil War had brought an official end to slavery, yet some Southern slave owners refused to comply. The road to freedom was still long and hard for many African Americans, but they didn’t give up. Will you: overcome obstacles as you make your way north from Texas, looking to begin a new life of freedom?  Will you: seek out your family, from whom you were separated as a child? Will you: fight back when you take work as an apprentice but find that you’re still treated as a slave? This book offers multiple perspectives on history and gives readers a front-row seat to the past. 8-11 years

Juneteenth: First Step Nonfiction, American Holidays

By Robin Nelson

This book is a  basic overview of Juneteenth for emergent readers. Color photographs reflect the short, easy-to-understand sentences that improve vocabulary and comprehension. 5-8 years

The book descriptions used are primarily 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

Holidays For Kids: Juneteenth https://www.ducksters.com/holidays/juneteenth.php

Kids Books: Underground Railroad https://barbaralowell.com/books-kids-underground-railroad/

Books For Kids: Ona Judge

Ona Judge Outwits the Washingtons: An Enslaved Woman Fights for Freedom

By Gwendolyn Hooks, Illustrated by Simone Agoussoye

Soon after American colonists had won independence from Great Britain, Ona Judge was fighting for her own freedom from one of America’s most famous founding fathers, George Washington.

George and Martha Washington valued Ona as one of their most skilled and trustworthy slaves, but she would risk everything to achieve complete freedom. Born into slavery at Mount Vernon, Ona seized the opportunity to escape when she was brought to live in the President’s Mansion in Philadelphia. Ona fled to New Hampshire and started a new life. But the Washingtons wouldn’t give up easily. After her escape, Ona became the focus of a years-long manhunt, led by America’s first president.

Gwendolyn Hooks’ vivid and detailed prose captures the danger, uncertainty, and persistence Ona Judge experienced during and after her heroic escape. 9-12 years

Never Caught, The Story of Ona Judge:

George and Martha Washington’s Courageous Slave Who Dared to Run Away

By Erika Armstrong Dunbar, Illustrated by Kathleen Van Cleve

Born into a life of slavery, Ona Judge eventually grew up to be George and Martha Washington’s “favored” dower slave. When she was told that she was going to be given as a wedding gift to Martha Washington’s granddaughter, Ona made the bold and brave decision to flee to the north, where she would be a fugitive.

From her childhood, to her time with the Washingtons living in the slave quarters, to her escape to New Hampshire, Erica Armstrong Dunbar, along with Kathleen Van Cleve, share an intimate glimpse into the life of a little-known, but powerful figure in history, and her brave journey as she fled the most powerful couple in the country. 9-13 years

Runaway: The Daring Escape of Ona Judge

By Ray Anthony Shepard, Illustrated by Keith Mallett

Ona Judge was enslaved by George and Martha Washington. She served as Martha’s maid. Ona was widely known for her excellent skills as a seamstress, and was raised alongside Washington’s grandchildren. She was frequently mistaken for George Washington’s granddaughter. This poetic biography follows her childhood and adolescence until she decides to run away. With extensive backmatter, this poem may serve as a new introduction to American slavery and Ona Judge’s legacy. 3-6 years

The Escape of Oney Judge: Martha Washington’s Slave Finds Freedom

By Emily Arnold McCully

When General George Washington is elected the first President of the United States, his wife chooses young Oney Judge, a house slave who works as a seamstress at Mount Vernon, to travel with her to the nation’s capital in New York City as her personal maid. When the capital is moved to Philadelphia, the Washingtons and Oney move, too, and there Oney meets free blacks for the first time.

At first, Oney can’t imagine being free – she depends on the Washingtons for food, warmth, and clothing. But then Mrs. Washington tells Oney that after her death she will be sent to live with Mrs. Washington’s granddaughter. Oney is horrified because she knows it is likely that she will then be sold to a stranger – the worst fate she can imagine. Oney realizes she must run. One day she sees an opportunity and takes it, ending up in New Hampshire, where she lives the rest of her life, poor but free. 6-9 years

Taking Liberty: The Story of Oney Judge, George Washington’s Runaway Slave

By Ann Rinaldi

Oney Judge is a slave. But on the plantation of Mount Vernon, the beautiful home of George and Martha Washington, she is not called a slave. She is referred to as a servant, and a house servant at that—a position of influence and respect. When she rises to the position of personal servant to Martha Washington, her status among the household staff—black or white—is second to none. She is Lady Washington’s closest confidante and for all intents and purposes, a member of the family…or so she thinks.

Slowly, Oney’s perception of her life with the Washingtons begins to crack as she realizes the truth: No matter what it’s called, it’s still slavery and she’s still enslaved.

Oney must make a choice. Does she stay where she is, comfortable, with this family that has loved her and nourished her and owned her since the day she was born? Or does she take her liberty—her life—into her own hands, and like her father, become one of the Gone? 12 years+

Oney Judge: Escape From Slavery and the President’s House

By Duchess Harris and Lindsay Wyskowski

President George Washington and his wife enslaved more than 150 people in the mid-1700s. In 1796, one of their slaves escaped. Her name was Oney “Ona” Judge. Oney Judge: This biography explores her story and her legacy. Aligned to Common Core Standards and correlated to state standards. Core Library is an imprint of Abdo Publishing, a division of ABDO. 8-11 years

Answering the Cry for Freedom:

Stories of African Americans and the American Revolution

By Gretchen Woelfle, Illustrated by R. Gregory Christie

Even as American Patriots fought for independence from British rule during the Revolutionary War, oppressive conditions remained in place for the thousands of enslaved and free African Americans living in this country. But African Americans took up their own fight for freedom by joining the British and American armies; preaching, speaking out, and writing about the evils of slavery; and establishing settlements in Nova Scotia and Africa.

The thirteen stories featured in this collection spotlight charismatic individuals who answered the cry for freedom, focusing on the choices they made and how they changed America both then and now. These individuals include: Boston King, Agrippa Hull, James Armistead Lafayette, Phillis Wheatley, Elizabeth “Mumbet” Freeman, Prince Hall, Mary Perth, Ona Judge, Sally Hemings, Paul Cuffe, John Kizell, Richard Allen, and Jarena Lee. Includes individual bibliographies and timelines, author note, and source notes. 9-12 years

The book descriptions used are primarily 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: Phillis Wheatley Poet and Slave https://www.barbaralowell.com/phillis-wheatley-poet-and-slave

 

 

Books For Kids: The Moon

Moon: A Peek-Through Picture Book

By Britta Teckentrup

Over deserts and forests, Arctic tundra and tropical beaches, the moon shines down on creatures around the world. Children will discover how it changes from day to day as the lunar cycle is shown through peek-through holes, each revealing the moon in a different size and shape. 3-7 years

Moon! Earth’s Best Friend

By Stacy McAnulty, Illustrated by Stevie Lewis

Meet Moon! She’s more than just a rock―she’s Earth’s rock, her best friend she can always count on. She never turns her back on her friend (literally: she’s always facing Earth with the same side!) These two will stick together forever. With humor and charm, Stacy McAnulty channels the voice of Moon in this celestial “autobiography” in the Our Universe series. 4-8 years

The Moon Book

By Gail Gibbons

An up-to-date, clear and interesting introduction to our magnificent moon from the the award-winning author of science books for children. Shining light on all kinds of fascinating facts, this simple, introductory book includes information on how the moon affects the oceans’ tides, why the same side of the moon always faces earth, why we have eclipses, and more. 4-8 years

I Am the Moon

By Rebecca and James McDonald

Put on your spacesuit and helmet. Children ages will learn easy to follow facts through imaginative illustrations. 

The Moon is beautiful to look at in the night sky, and it also plays an important part in the cycle of life on Earth. And maybe someday it will be a place people call home. This book is a great starting point for teaching young children the basics. Colorful illustrations and facts explained in a fun and easy to follow way keep children’s attention. 3-5 years

How We Got to the Moon: The People, Technology, and Daring Feat of Science Behind Humanity’s Greatest Adventure

By John Rocco

Everyone knows of Neil Armstrong’s famous first steps on the moon. But what did it really take to get us there?

From the shocking launch of the Russian satellite Sputnik to the triumphant splashdown of Apollo 11, Caldecott Honor winner John Rocco answers every possible question about this world-altering mission. Each challenging step in the space race is revealed, examined, and displayed through diagrams, experiments, moments of crisis, and unforgettable human stories. Explorers of all ages will want to pour over every page in this book detailing the grandest human adventure of all time! 10 and up

Next Time You See the Moon

By Emily Morgan

Children will learn about many of the Moon’s mysteries: what makes it look like a silvery crescent one time and a chalk-white ball a few nights later, why it sometimes appears in the daytime, the science behind its shape, where it gets its light and how scientists can predict its shape on your birthday a thousand years from now. 5-10 years

Once in a Full Moon

By Carolinda Goodman, Illustrated by Mariia Luzina

Once a month a full moon rises in the night sky. But every time it does, this big gleaming circle has a different name! From January’s Wolf Moon to June’s Strawberry Moon to the Harvest Moon of September, in lively rhyme, this book tells the stories behind this monthly visitor, many of which come from Native American tradition. 3-7 years

If You Had Your Birthday Party on the Moon

By Joyce Lapin, Illustrated by Simona Ceccarelli

Have your birthday party on the moon and everyone will come! After all, who wouldn’t want to ride in a rocket and celebrate for a day that lasts as long as a month on Earth? Then, young partygoers could romp in a low-gravity playground; watch candles and balloons behave weirdly in the atmosphere; and see why the “moon angels” they make in the thick carpet of lunar dust will last for thousands of years. With each discovery, kids learn the science behind the surprise. Complete with sidebars and a glossary, this adventure is perfect for sharing at home and at school. 7 and up

50 Things to See on the Moon: A First-Time Stargazer’s Guide

By John A. Read

The moon is our nearest neighbor in space, it’s easy to find, it’s bright, and you don’t have to go anywhere special to view it. Astronomer John A. Read has selected fifty of the best things to see — organized by the phases of the Moon. As each day passes, an additional slice becomes visible. With each slice comes new craters, lunar seas, and jagged mountain ranges. This book is for a first-time stargazer who is curious about what is up there. 5-7 years

The book descriptions used are primarily 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, Kids Books: Exploring Mars

https://www.barbaralowell.com/kids-books-exploring-mars

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My Books: https://barbaralowell.com/books-2/

Kids Books: Exploring Mars

Mars! Earthlings Welcome

By Stacy McAnulty, Illustrated by Stevie Lewis

Meet Mars! The red planet. Planet Marvelous. Favorite sibling of Earth (or so he claims). Sometimes they’re close (just 34.5 million miles apart). Sometimes they need space (250 million miles apart). Earth and Mars have a lot in common―clouds, mountains, polar icecaps. And while Earth has Earthlings, Mars makes a persuasive case for why people should make the journey to spend time with him. His day is 7 minutes longer. He is home to the largest volcano in the whole solar system. He’s, well, marvelous. 4-8 years

Mars First Friends

Mars First Friends: Come on Over Rovers!

By Susanna Leonard Hill, Illustrated by Elisa Paganelli

In a solar system full of planets, Mars feels all alone. All Mars wants is someone to play with, but all of the planets are just too busy. Mars can’t help but wonder…will he ever get a playmate? Until one day, Earth sends her little brother Mars his first friends: the rovers Spirit and Opportunity.

Learn about Mars’ rovers through this universal story about man’s―and Mars’―best friends―our beloved pets. This solar system book is the perfect book for little adventurers searching for more books on pets and space books for kids. 4-8 years

Curiosity: The Story of a Mars Rover

By Markus Motum

Maybe you remember when a little robotic spacecraft landed on a far-off planet. On August 6, 2012, the rover Curiosity touched down on the rocky surface of Mars — and now she’s ready to guide you through her journey firsthand. From idea to creation and beyond, this fact-filled book introduces readers to Curiosity and her mission: to discover more about the red planet and search for evidence of life.

How did Curiosity get her name? What tools does she use to carry out her tasks? In her own voice, the popular NASA rover tells how and why she traveled more than 350,000,000 miles to explore a planet no human has ever visited . . . and what she’s been doing there. 8-12 years

The Mighty Mars Rover: The Incredible Adventures of Spirt and Opportunity

By Elizabeth Rusch

On June 10, 2003, a little rover named Spirit blasted off on a rocket headed for Mars. On July 7, 2003, a twin rover named Opportunity soared through the solar system with the same mission: to find out if Mars ever had water that could have supported life. The Mighty Mars Rovers tells the story of the greatest space robot adventure of all time through the eyes—and heart—of Steven Squyres, professor of astronomy at Cornell University and lead scientist on the mission. This book captures the hair-raising human emotions felt during the adventures with two tough rovers. 10-12 years

National Geographic Reader: Mars

By Elizabeth Carney

Discover the fascinating world of Mars in this colorful book. In this format, kids will learn about the newest information on Mars, the Mars Rover, and our ongoing exploration of the Red Planet. This level 3 reader is written in an easy-to-grasp style to encourage the scientists and explorers of tomorrow! 6-9 years

Rover Throws a Party

Kristin L. Gray, Illustrated by Scott Magoon

It’s Rover’s anniversary on Mars! Time to celebrate by throwing the best party this planet has ever seen. Rover hands out invitations all over town, but it seems like he’s the only one around. Will anyone come to the party, or will Rover be all alone on his big day?

In 2013, NASA programmed their Curiosity rover to hum “Happy Birthday to You” in honor of its first year on Mars. Inspired by this anecdote, this is the tale of a lonely rover and his party, accompanied by fascinating Mars rover facts that help explain the real science behind the story. This fun birthday tale provides an accessible, kid-friendly look at one of NASA’s coolest programs. 3-7 years

Night Night, Curiosity

By Brianna Caplan, Illustrated by Ryan O’Rourke

In this rhyming bedtime book, a girl whose mother works at NASA imagines that she’s exploring Mars with the Curiosity rover as she gets ready for bed. She describes taking off, observing Mars, communicating with mission control, and operating the rover. Young space explorers everywhere will want to head for Mars, too. 3-7 years

Red Rover: Curiosity on Mars

By Richard Ho, Illustrated by Katherine Roy

Mars has a visitor. It likes to roam…observe…measure…and collect. It explores the red landscape―crossing plains, climbing hills, and tracing the bottoms of craters―in search of water and life. It is not the first to visit Mars. It will not be the last. But it might be…the most curious. Join Curiosity on its journey across the red planet in this nonfiction picture book by Richard Ho, illustrated by Sibert Honor winner Katherine Roy. 3-6 years

Spirit and Oppy

By Rachel Viniguerra, Illustrated by Samantha Gottwalt

Have you heard the story of the twin sisters who explored the surface of Mars? They were NASA’s twin rovers, Spirit and Opportunity (or Oppy for short). The two sisters traveled to Mars in 2003 and explored the vast planet. Although Oppy’s mission was only meant to last 90 days, she explored for 15 years overcoming obstacles with creative solutions. The sisters showed the world just how much two small rovers can do right up until the end of their missions. 5-9 years

Exploring Space: From Galileo to the Mars Rover and Beyond

By Martin Jenkins, Illustrated by Stephen Biesty

For centuries, humans have looked up at the night sky and wondered what it’s like deep in space, far from Earth — and now we’ve begun to find out. We’ve landed on the moon, put robots on Mars, and sent space probes billions of miles to explore the far reaches of our solar system.  Find out what life is like on the International Space Station, what the chances are that we will ever settle on Mars, where in the solar system we might find alien life, and why visiting other stars will almost certainly remain a dream. Budding astronomers, junior astronauts, and anyone who has ever gazed up at the stars will enjoy this glimpse of the infinite wonders of space. 8-12 years

Moving to Mars

By Stef Wade, Illustrated by Erin Taylor

Mars likes peace and quiet and is not happy when unexpected visitors start showing up. But when they leave, Mars realizes being alone isn’t all that great. Mars reaches out to his space friends for comfort and help. Maybe Mars is a people planet after all! Author Stef Wade (A Place for Pluto) interweaves friendship and humor throughout the space story and seamlessly connects nonfiction information to the narrative in the back matter. 5-7 years

The book descriptions used are primarily 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 Kids Books: Exploring the Ocean https://www.barbaralowell.com/kids-books-exploring-the-ocean

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Carl Sagan, the Boy Who Reached for the Stars https://www.barbaralowell.com/carl-sagan

My Books https://barbaralowell.com/books-2/

Books For Kids: Maya Angelou

BOOKS FOR KIDS: MAYA ANGELOU

Rise! From Caged Bird to Poet of the People, Maya Angelou

By Bethany Hegedus, Illustrated by Tonya Engel

Writer, activist, trolley car conductor, dancer, mother, and humanitarian Maya Angelou’s life was marked by transformation and perseverance. In this picture-book biography geared towards older readers, Bethany Hegedus lyrically traces Maya’s life from her early days in Stamps, Arkansas, through her work as a freedom fighter to her triumphant rise as a poet of the people.

A foreword by Angelou’s grandson, Colin A. Johnson, describes how a love of literature and poetry helped young Maya overcome childhood trauma and turn adversity into triumph. Coupled with Tonya Engel’s metaphorical and emotive illustrations, this biography beautifully conveys the heartaches and successes of this truly phenomenal woman, and is a powerful tribute to the written word.

Who Was Maya Angelou?

By Ellen Labrecque, Illustrated by Dede Putra

Born in Missouri in 1928, Maya Angelou had a difficult childhood. Jim Crow laws segregated blacks and whites in the South. Her family life was unstable at times. But much like her poem, “Still I Rise,” Angelou was able to lift herself out of her situation and flourish. She moved to California and became the first black—and first female—streetcar operator before following her interest in dance. She became a professional performer in her twenties and toured the U.S. and Europe as an opera star and calypso dancer. But Angelou’s writing became her defining talent. Her poems and books, including I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, brought her international acclaim.

Maya Angelou, Little People Big Dreams

By Lisbeth Kaiser, Illustrated by Leire Salaberria

Maya Angelou spent much of her childhood in Stamps, Arkansas. After a traumatic event at age eight, she stopped speaking for five years. However, Maya rediscovered her voice through wonderful books, and went on to become one of the world’s most beloved writers and speakers. This book features stylish and quirky illustrations and extra facts at the back, including a biographical timeline with historical photos and a detailed profile of Maya Angelou’s life.

Maya Angelou, My Itty-Bitty Bio

By Emma E. Haldy, Illustrated by Jeff Bane

The My Itty-Bitty Bio series are biographies for the earliest readers. This book examines the life of Maya Angelou in a simple, age-appropriate way that will help children develop word recognition and reading skills. Includes a timeline and other informative backmatter.

Maya Angelou, Little Guides to Great Lives

By Danielle Jawando, Illustrated by Snir Noa

Maya Angelou was an African–American author, poet, playwright and civil rights activist. She wrote seven autobiographies, three books of essays, several books of poetry, and a long list of plays, films and television shows. Never taking “No” for an answer, Maya used her voice and her art to overcome prejudice and difficulty and to become an inspiration to those around her and to future generations.

Her story is a rich and remarkable one – a tale filled with strength, hardship and hope. Maya learned the importance of using her own voice to help others and change the world!

My Painted House, My Friendly Chicken, and Me

By Maya Angelou, Illustrated by Margaret Courtney-Clarke

Full color photographs. “Hello, Stranger-Friend” begins Maya Angelou’s story about Thandi, a South African Ndebele girl, her mischievous brother, her beloved chicken, and the astonishing mural art produced by the women of her tribe.  With never-before-seen photographs of the very private Ndebele women and their paintings, this unique book shows the passing of traditions from parent to child and introduces young readers to a new culture through a new friend.

Life Doesn’t Frighten Me

By Maya Angelou, Illustrated by Jean-Michel Basquiat

Shadows on the wall
Noises down the hall
Life doesn’t frighten me at all
 
Maya Angelou’s brave, defiant poem celebrates the courage within each of us, young and old. From the scary thought of panthers in the park to the unsettling scene of a new classroom, fearsome images are summoned and dispelled by the power of faith in ourselves.

The book descriptions used are primarily 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

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Kids Books: Mary Anning’s Dinosaur

Dinosaur Lady: The Daring Discoveries of Mary Anning, The First Paleontologist

By Linda Skeers, Illustrated by Marta Alvarez Miguéns

Mary Anning loved scouring the beach near her home in England for shells and fossils. She fearlessly climbed over crumbling cliffs and rocky peaks, searching for new specimens. One day, something caught Mary’s eye.

Bones. Dinosaur Bones.

Mary’s discoveries rocked the world of science and helped create a brand-new field of study: paleontology. But many people believed women couldn’t be scientists, so Mary wasn’t given the credit she deserved. Nevertheless, Mary kept looking and learning more, making discoveries that reshaped scientific beliefs about the natural world. Grades 1-4

Mary Anning’s Curiosity

By Monica Kulling, Illustrated by Melissa Castrillon

Mary Anning, considered the world’s greatest fossilist, discovered her first big find at the age of twelve. This novel is an imaginative recreation of her childhood in early nineteenth-century Lyme Regis. Grades 2-7

Fossil Hunter: How Mary Anning Changed the Science of Prehistoric Life

By Cheryl Blackford

Mary Anning grew up on the south coast of England in a region rich in fossils. As teenagers, she and her brother Joseph discovered England’s first complete ichthyosaur. Poor and uneducated, Anning would become one of the most celebrated paleontologists ever, though in her time she supported herself selling by fossils and received little formal recognition. Her findings helped shape scientific thinking about extinction and prehistoric life long before Darwin published his famous work on evolution.

With photographs, and paleoart, Fossil Hunter introduces this self-taught scientist, now recognized as one of the greatest fossilists the world has ever known. Grade 5+

The Fossil Girl

By Catherine Brighton

It’s 1811. Ten-year-old Mary Anning, her brother Joe, and their widowed mother are eking out a meager existence running a little fossil shop in the seaside town of Lyme Regis. After a storm wipes out most of the shop’s merchandise, Mary and Joe begin the slow work of restocking the shelves. They search high and low for fossils, and one day Mary spots a huge eye in a cliff face high above the town. She resolves to bring the creature down no matter the risk. The exciting discovery and recovery of the first complete fossil of an Ichthyosaurus is told in a graphic novel format, perfect for reluctant readers. Grades K-3

Rare Treasures: Mary Anning and Her Remarkable Discoveries

By Don Brown

Before the word “dinosaur” was even coined, a young girl discovered a remarkable skeleton on the rocky beach at Lyme Regis in England. Thus began a lifelong passion for an extraordinary woman who became one of the first commercial fossil collectors. Born in 1799, Mary Anning spent a lifetime teaching herself about fossils and combing the rugged ribbon of shore near her home. Her work yielded an astounding treasure trove: fossils of long-extinct creatures that thrilled customers in her shop and excited early paleontologists.

Blind to the dangers of fossil-hunting and to the limitations imposed on women of her era, Mary Anning was a singular scientist who used her sharp eyes and clear mind to compose a picture of ancient life from the bones she unearthed. With his trademark prose and lyrical watercolors, Don Brown distills the life story of this rare treasure of a scientist. Grades Preschool-3

Stone Girl Bone Girl

By Laurence Anhot, Illustrated by Shelia Moxley

Mary Anning, a young girl found a fossilized sea monster, the most important prehistoric discovery of its time. This spectacular tale of a little girl who dared to be different and who followed her dreams will inspire young children. Learn how Mary discovered new fossils – and how her observations rocked the natural history world. Be inspired by Mary’s work as a woman in the field of science – especially as her achievements weren’t recognized until after her death. Grades K-3

History VIPs: Mary Anning

By Kay Barnham

She sells sea shells on the sea shore’ – and she really did! This rhyme is thought to have been written about Mary Anning, an amazing fossilist and dinosaur expert, who was almost unknown at the time she lived. This biography explores the life of Mary Anning, from her first fossil finds at the age of ten to her sales of important discoveries to wealthy scientists. Mary’s fossil finds made a great contribution to what scientists understood about pre-historic life.

Through the story of Mary Anning, readers learn about life and society in Victorian Britain. We learn what it was like to be born into a poor family and about the roles of women in society and in the field of science. Grades 4-6

Mary Anning and the Sea Dragon

By Jeannine Atkins, Illustrated by Michael Dooling

Mary Anning loved to scour the shores of Lyme Regis, England, where she was born in 1799, for stone sea lilies and shells. Her father had taught her how to use the tools with which she dug into the sand and scraped at the stones that fell from the cliffs. And he taught her how to  look hard for “curiosities.” 

One day, when she was eleven, Mary Anning spotted some markings on a wide, flat stone. She chipped at it with her hammer and chisel until the lines of a tooth emerged–and then those of another tooth. Weeks of persistent effort yielded a face about four feet long. But what creature was this? Her brother called it a sea dragon.

Many months later, Mary Anning still had not unearthed what she only then learned was called a fossil. But she found out that her discovery was precious and that the painstaking effort to uncover traces of ancient life was profoundly important. Jeannine Atkins’s engaging portrait is illustrated by Michael Dooling, whose paintings capture young Mary Anning’s devotion to her work, and all the joy she found in it. Grades K-4

The Dog That Dug for Dinosaurs

By Shirley Raye Redmond, Illustrated by Simon Sullivan

There once was a little dog named Tray. He lived in England with his owner, Mary Ann Anning. Besides Mary Ann, Tray loved one other thing: He loved to dig for dinosaur bones. Together he and Mary Ann found small bones, big bones, and even entire skeletons! People came from all around the world to see the bones they found.
This is the true story of Tray, the dog that dug for dinosaurs. Grades 1-3

The book descriptions used are primarily from the publishers. You will notice that there is a discrepancy in Mary’s age when she found the dinosaur. 

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

You may like: Books For Kids: Dinosaur Hunters https://barbaralowell.com/books-for-kids-dinosaur-hunters/

Mary Anning Facts, National Geographic Kids https://www.natgeokids.com/uk/discover/history/general-history/mary-anning-facts/