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
Author Ellen Levine and illustrator Kadir Nelson bring Henry “Box” Brown’s amazing story to life in Henry’s Freedom Box.
One of the most famous slaves on the Underground Railroad didn’t travel by foot. Henry Brown, with the help of two friends, mailed himself from Richmond, Virginia to Philadelphia. The wooden box he traveled in measured only 3 feet long, 2 feet wide, and 2 feet, 8 inches deep.
Henry Brown began his life as a slave in Louisa Country, Virginia in about 1815. In Henry’s Freedom Box, the author writes: “Henry and his brothers and sisters worked in the big house where the master lived. Henry’s master had been good to Henry and his family. But Henry’s mother knew things could change. ‘Do you see those leaves blowing in the wind? They are torn from the trees like slave children are torn from their families.'”
At age 15, his master gave Henry to his son. From then on, Henry worked in a tobacco factory away from his family.
Henry married Nancy, a slave owned by a different master. One day, he watched as pregnant Nancy and their three children were led away, sold to a North Carolina plantation. Henry knew he would never see them again.
With the loss of Nancy and their children, Henry decided to escape slavery and make his way to a free state. He devised a dangerous plan. He would travel by steamboat, train, and wagon in a wooden box. Henry asked his friend, a free black, James Smith, and Dr. Samuel Smith, a white man who opposed slavery, to help him.
On March 23, 1849, Henry was nailed shut in the box with only biscuits, some water, and a tool, called a gimlet, to make air holes. Dr. Smith shipped Henry to The Philadelphia Anti-Slavery Society. He wrote on the box: “This Side Up With Care” hoping to keep Henry right side up during the trip. But Henry spent part of the trip upside down with blood rushing to his head. Once, Henry thought he would die that way, until two men on the steamboat moved Henry’s box and sat on top. Lucky for Henry the move put him right side up again.
Henry was delivered to the Anti-Slavery Society safely after spending 27 hours inside the box. Four men opened the wooden box and welcomed Henry to freedom. Newspapers reported Henry’s story and he became known around the world as Henry “Box” Brown, a free man.
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 thecountry, 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 blackperformers 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 wasan 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
By Martin Luther King, Jr., Illustrated by Kadir Nelson
On August 28, 1963, on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial during the March on Washington, Martin Luther King, Jr. gave one of the most powerful and memorable speeches in our nation’s history. His words, paired with Caldecott Honor winner Kadir Nelson’s magnificent paintings, make for a picture book certain to be treasured by children and adults. The themes of equality and freedom for all are not only relevant today, fifty years later, butalso provide young readers with an important introduction to our nation’s past. (Audio CD included)
A Place to Land
By Barry Wittenstein, Illustrated by Jerry Pinkney
Martin Luther King, Jr. was once asked if the hardest part of preaching was knowing where to begin. No, he said. The hardest part is knowing where to end. “It’s terrible to be circling up there without a place to land.”
Finding this place to land was what he struggled with, alongside advisers and fellow speech writers, in the Willard Hotel the night before the March on Washington, where he gave his historic “I Have a Dream” speech. But those famous words were never intended to be heard on that day, not even written down for that day, not even once. 7-10 years
My Little Golden Book About Martin Luther King, Jr.
By Bonnie Bader, Illustrated by Sue Cornelison
Learn all about Martin Luther King Jr. Day with this Little Golden Book biography all about the civil rights leader! The perfect introduction to nonfiction for preschoolers. This Little Golden Book captures the essence of Martin Luther King, Jr. for the littlest readers. They’ll learn how his childhood in segregated Atlanta—and in his father’s church—shaped the future civil rights leader. And they’ll gain a clear understanding of the way he became an eloquent, powerful voice for African Americans. 2-5 years
My Daddy, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
By Martin Luther King, III, Illustrated by A.G.
What was it like growing up as a son of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.? This picture book memoir provides insight into one of history’s most fascinating families and into a special bond between father and son. His son gives an intimate look at the man and the father behind the civil rights leader. Mr. King’s remembrances show both his warm, loving family and a momentous time in American history.
Memphis, Martin, and the Mountaintop: The Sanitation Strike of 1968
By Alice Faye Duncan, Illustrated by R. Gregory Christie
In February 1968, two African American sanitation workers were killed by unsafe equipment in Memphis, Tennessee. Outraged at the city’s refusal to recognize a labor union that would fight for higher pay and safer working conditions, sanitation workers went on strike. The strike lasted two months, during which Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was called to help with the protests.
While his presence was greatly inspiring to the community, this unfortunately would be his last stand for justice. He was assassinated in his Memphis hotel the day after delivering his “I’ve Been to the Mountaintop” sermon in Mason Temple Church. Inspired by the memories of a teacher who participated in the strike as a child, author Alice Faye Duncan reveals the story of the Memphis sanitation strike from the perspective of a young girl with a riveting combination of poetry and prose. Picture book, 9-12 years
Martin Luther King, Jr.: A Peaceful Leader
By Sarah Albee, Illustrated by Chin Ko
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. believed it was possible to change the world with peaceful protest. His powerful words and actions helped the civil rights movement achieve many great changes. His incredible leadership is still remembered and celebrated today.
Beginning readers will learn about the milestones in Martin Luther King Jr.’s life in this Level Two I Can Read biography, which combines a traditional, illustrated narrative with historical photographs at the back of book—complete with a timeline, illustrations, and interesting facts.
Martin Luther King Jr.: A Peaceful Leader is a Level Two I Can Read, geared for kids who read on their own but still need a little help. 4-8 years
Happy Birthday, Martin Luther King
By Jean Marzollo, Illustrated by J. Brian Pinkney
This book is a beautifully rendered study of Dr. King’s life told in simple, straightforward language for even the youngest readers. The illustrations convey both the strength and gentleness of Dr. King’s character. This book carries his central message of peace and brotherhood among all people.
Martin’s Big Words: The Life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
By Doreen Rappaport, Illustrated by Brian Collier
Doreen Rappaport weaves the immortal words of Dr. King into a captivating narrative to tell the story of his life. With stunning art by acclaimed illustrator Bryan Collier, this book is an unforgettable portrait of a man whose dream changed America.
Who Was Martin Luther King, Jr.?
By Bonnie Bader, Illustrated by Nancy Harrison
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was only twenty-five when he helped organize the Montgomery Bus Boycott. Soon he was organizing African Americans across the country in support of desegregation, and civil rights. Maintaining nonviolent and peaceful tactics even when his life was threatened, Dr. King was also an advocate for the poor and spoke out against racial and economic injustice.
Martin & Mahalia: His Words, Her Song
By Andrea Davis Pinkney, Illustrated by 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. 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 stories of these two powerful voices and lives are told side-by-side — as they would one day walk — following the journey from their youth to a culmination at this historical eventwhen they united as one. This book inspires kids to find their own voices and speak up for what is right.
Martin Luther King, Jr. and the March on Washington
By Frances E. Ruffin, Illustrated by Stephen Marchesi
On August 28, 1963, more than 250,000 people came to the nation’s Capitol. They came by plane, by bus, by car, even on roller skates, to speak out against segregation and to demand equal rights for everyone. They came to hear the words of a very special leader, Martin Luther King, Jr. This book captures the spirit of this landmark day in American history and brings Dr. King’s “I Have a Dream” speech to life for young children.
Martin Luther King, Jr.
By Kitson Jazynka
In this Level 2 biography, readers will learn about the fascinating life and legacy of civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
The book descriptions used are primarily the publishers.
Young Teddy Roosevelt walked down Broadway one day near his New York City home. He spotted a seal, killed in the harbor, on a slab of wood. All at once, the seal “filled me with every possible feeling of romance and adventure,” he later said.
Teddy returned to the seal day after day. He measured it with a ruler and wrote down all his measurements and observations. Teddy hoped to be given the entire seal. Instead, he received the seal’s skull.
The very young future president
The skull inspired Teddy to create the “Roosevelt Museum of Natural History.” Teddy and two cousins placed the museum’s exhibits in Teddy’s bedroom until a chambermaid complained to his parents. Then Teddy had to move the seal skull and the animals and bird exhibits to a back hall bookcase.
Birthplace of Teddy Roosevelt, New York City
Like Teddy, his father was a founding member of a museum, the American Museum of Natural History.
Theodore Roosevelt, Senior
Teddy visited his father’s museum frequently. He studied the exhibits and explored behind the scenes. When he was twelve, Teddy contributed a collection to the museum. It included: a bat, a turtle, mice, a red squirrel’s skull, and four bird eggs.
The American Museum of Natural History
Teddy loved natural history and was especially fascinated with birds. He enjoyed spending time in the country studying nature. He drew pictures of birds and mice and described insects in his notebooks.
Teddy dreamed of becoming a naturalist. That dream changed when he studied at Harvard. He decided instead to enter politics.
As president, Teddy Roosevelt signed laws to set aside two hundred and thirty million acres of wilderness for national parks. Five national parks, eighteen national monuments, fifty-one bird reserves, and 150 national forests were established during his presidency.
If you like this post, then please consider sharing it and leaving a comment below. Thank you! Barbara Lowell, Children’s Author
Seventeen-year-old Ben Franklin resented working for his brother James. He planned to run away from Boston, sail to New York, and live his own life. Ben had signed a contract with James promising to work as a printer’s assistant until he was twenty-one. He was an indentured servant. Running away seemed his only way out.
At first, Ben liked his job assisting James. Ben loved to read. He read everything printed in the shop including all the latest news and gossip in Boston.
One day, James found a letter from a widow named Mrs. Silence Dogood under the print shop door. James printed the letter and it became an overnight success. The letters continued. People in Boston loved reading Mrs. Dogood’s feisty opinions on everything. But there was no real Mrs. Silence Dogood. When James discovered it was Ben writing the letters, their relationship went downhill fast.
One evening, Ben snuck away and set sail on a ship for New York. He paid for his passage by selling some of his cherished books. Ben landed in New York almost penniless.
As a skilled printer’s assistant and a writer, he looked for a job in a print shop. But there was only one printer in the entire city. And that printer already had an apprentice. There was still good news. The printer’s son needed an apprentice at his print shop in Philadelphia.
Back on board another ship, this one in poor condition, Ben sailed for Philadelphia. Soon, the ship was hit by a massive storm. Its sails shredded. The crew lost control. A man fell overboard. Ben reached over the boat’s side and pulled the man back in. He saved the man’s life.
After thirty hours tossed around by high waves, the ship landed in New Jersey. Ben walked fifty miles to the Delaware River and then helped row a boat to Philadelphia. Ben reached the city, “…fatigued with traveling, rowing, and want of rest.”
In a few days, he found that the New York printer’s son hired an assistant. But another printer had recently opened a shop and he needed assistance. Ben began his new life in Philadelphia, the city he made his home, when he ran away.
The noblest question in the world is What Good may I do in it? – Benjamin Franklin
If you like this article, then please consider sharing it and leaving a comment below. Thank you! Barbara Lowell, Children’s Author
[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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
If you like this post, then please consider sharing it and leaving a comment below. Thank you! Barbara Lowell, Children’s Author
Thank You, Sarah: The Woman Who Saved Thanksgiving
By Laurie Halse Anderson, Illustrated by Matt Faulkner
The holiday might have started with a jubilant feast on Plymouth’s shore. But by the 1800s, America’s observance was waning. None of the presidents nor congress sought to revive the holiday. And so one invincible “lady editor” named Sarah Hale took it upon herself to rewrite the recipe for Thanksgiving as we know it today. In 1863, Hale’s thirty-five years of petitioning and orations got Abraham Lincoln thinking. He signed the Thanksgiving Proclamation that very year, declaring it a national holiday.
Balloons Over Broadway: The True Story of the Puppeteer of Macy’s Parade
By Melissa Sweet
Everyone’s a New Yorker on this special day, when young and old rise early to see what giant new balloons will fill the skies for Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. Who first invented these “upside-down puppets”? Meet Tony Sarg, puppeteer extraordinaire!
Molly’s Pilgrim
By Barbara Cohen, Illustrated by Daniel Mark Duffy
This touching story tells how recent Russian Jewish immigrant Molly leads her third-grade class to discover that it takes all kinds of pilgrims to make a Thanksgiving. Based on a true story.
1621: A New Look at Thanksgiving
By Catherine O’Neill Grace
Countering the prevailing, traditional story of the first Thanksgiving, this illustrated photo-essay presents a more measured, balanced, and historically accurate version of the three-day harvest celebration in 1621.
If You Were a Kid at the First Thanksgiving
By Melissa Sarno, Illustrated by Lluis Farre
As one of the few young children living in the Plymouth colony, Miles Allterton is always looking to make new friends. In a nearby Wampanoag settlement, a girl named Aquina wants to hunt with her father and brothers. When the two children meet during preparations for a harvest feast, they quickly strike up a friendship. Readers will follow along as the children and their families attend the first Thanksgiving celebration. 7-9 years
Thanksgiving in the White House
By Gary Hines, Illustrated by Alexandra Wallner
President Abraham Lincoln’s youngest son, Tad, is very fond of Jack the turkey. He has tamed him and taught him tricks. The bird follows him all around the White House yard. But Jack was meant to be the main dish of the first official Thanksgiving celebration. Tad doesn’t want his pet to be eaten for dinner, not even for a day as special as this. Can he convince his father to save Jack’s life?
What Was the First Thanksgiving?
By Joan Holub, Illustrated by Lauren Mortimer
The history of the feast! After their first harvest in 1621, the Pilgrims at Plymouth shared a three-day feast with their Native American neighbors. Of course, the Pilgrims and the Wampanoag didn’t know it at the time, but they were making history, celebrating what would become a national holiday.
Squanto’s Journey: The Story of the First Thanksgiving
By Joseph Bruchac, Illustrated by Greg Shed
In 1620, an English ship called the Mayflower landed on the shore inhabited by the Pokanoket. It was Squanto who welcomed the newcomers and taught them how to survive. When a good harvest was gathered, the people feasted together — a tradition that continues almost four hundred years later.
Sarah Gives Thanks: How Thanksgiving Became a National Holiday
By Mike Allegra, Illustrated by David Gardner
During the nineteenth century, Sarah Josepha Hale dedicated her life to making Thanksgiving a national holiday, while raising a family and becoming a groundbreaking writer and women’s magazine editor. Sarah Hale’s inspiring story is the tale of one woman who wouldn’t take no for an answer.
The True Story of the Quest for America’s Biggest Bones
By Carrie Clickard, Illustrated by Nancy Carpenter
In this rhyming, hilarious romp about a little-known facet of American history, Thomas Jefferson tries to disprove a French theory that those in the New World are puny and wussy by going in search of mammoth bones.
The French feel threatened by America’s new freedom and confidence, as embodied by Count Buffon who claims that the “New World was a chilly, swampy place, filled with puny, scrawny creatures, every species, breed, and race. Thomas Jefferson won’t stand for his young country being insulted, so he sets out to prove Count Buffon wrong. He sends people across the country in search of an animal or animal bones to prove that creatures in the United States are big and strong and worthy. 3-7 years
Thomas Jefferson Grows A Nation
By Peggy Thomas, Illustrated by Stacy Innerst
Thomas Jefferson was more than a president and patriot. He was also a planter and gardener who loved to watch things grow–everything from plants and crops to even his brand-new nation. As minister to France, Jefferson promoted all things American, sharing corn and pecans with his Parisian neighbors. As secretary of state, he encouraged his fellow farmers to grow olives, rice and maple trees. As president, he doubled the size of the nation with the Louisiana Purchase. Even in his retirement, Jefferson continued to nurture the nation, laying the groundwork for the University of Virginia. The back matter includes an author’s note on Jefferson’s legacy today; timeline, bibliography; place to visit (Monticello); and source notes. 9-12 years
Thomas Jefferson: Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Everything
By Maira Kalman
Thomas Jefferson is perhaps best known for writing the Declaration of Independence — but there’s so much more to discover. This energetic man was interested in everything. He played the violin, spoke seven languages and was a scientist, naturalist, botanist, mathematician and architect. He designed his magnificent home, Monticello, which is full of objects he collected from around the world. Our first foodie, he grew over fifteen kindsof peas and advocated a mostly vegetarian diet. And oh yes, as our third president, he doubled the size of the United States and sent Lewis and Clark to explore it. He also started the Library of Congress and said, “I cannot live without books.” But monumental figures can have monumental flaws, and Jefferson was no exception. Although he called slavery an “abomination,” he owned about 150 slaves. 5-8 years
Thomas Jefferson Builds a Library
By Barb Rosenstock, Illustrated by John O’Brien
As soon as Thomas Jefferson learned to read, he found his passion: books, books, and more books! Before, during, and after the American Revolution, Jefferson collected thousands of books on hundreds of subjects. In fact, his massive collection eventually helped rebuild the Library of Congress — now the largest library in the world. 8-12 years
Who Was Thomas Jefferson?
By Dennis Brindell Fradin, Illustrated by John O’Brien
Did you know that John Adams had to coax Thomas Jefferson into writing the Declaration of Independence? It’s true. The shy Virginia statesman refused at first, but then went on to author one of our nation’s most important and inspiring documents. The third U.S. president, Jefferson was also an architect, inventor, musician, farmer, and what is certainly the most troubling aspect of his life, a slave owner. This is a biography for kids that unveils the many facets of this founding father’s remarkable and complicated life. 8-12 years
Bones in the White House: Thomas Jefferson’s Mammoth
By Candice Ransom, Illustrated by Jamey Christoph
In the late 1700’s, America was a new nation, with a vast west that held age-old secrets: Bones! Massive tusks and enormous animal skeletons were being discovered and Thomas Jefferson – politician AND scientist – was captivated. What were these giant beasts? Did they still roam on American soil? Jefferson needed to find out. Funding explorers, including the famed Lewis and Clark, Jefferson sought to find a complete prehistoric mastodon skeleton – one which would advance the young science of paleontology, but would also put this upstart young country on the world stage. Follow along on the incredible journey – full of triumphs and disappointments, discoveries and shipwrecks, ridicule and victory. 3-7 years
Thomas Jefferson’s Feast
By Frank Murphy, Illustrated by Richard Walz
Did you know that every time you much on a French fry or snack on ice cream, you have Thomas Jefferson to thank? It’s true! This founding father was one of America’s first foodies. After a trip to France, he introduced all sorts of yummy treats to America — including one that upset more than just tummies and created a culinary controversy! Get the scoop in this deliciously funny, true story — guaranteed to tempt even the most reluctant readers! 7-9 years
Those Rebels John and Tom
By Barbara Kerley, Illustrated by Edwin Fotheringham
John Adams and Thomas Jefferson were very different. John was short and stout. Thomas Jefferson was tall and lean. John was argumentative and blunt. Tom was soft-spoken and polite. John sometimes was argumentative and blunt. Tom got along with just about everyone. But these two very different gentlemen did have two things in common: They both cared deeply about the American colonies, and neither cared much for the British tyrant, King George.
Barbara Kerley and Edwin Fotheringham create a portrait of two American heroes who bravely set aside their differences to join forces in the fight for our country’s freedom. 7-10 years
Worst of Friends: Thomas Jefferson, John Adams and the True Story Of An American Feud
By Suzanne Tripp Jurmain, Illustrated by Larry Day
John Adams and Thomas Jefferson were good friends with very different personalities. But their differing views on how to run the newly created United States turned them into the worst of friends. They each became leaders of opposing political parties, and their rivalry followed them to the White House. Full of both history and humor, this is the story of two of America’s most well-known presidents and how they learned to put their political differencesaside for the sake of friendship. 6-8 years
John, Paul, George & Ben
By Lane Smith
Once there were four lads…John [Hancock], Paul [Revere], George [Washington], and Ben [Franklin]. Oh yes, there was also Tom [Jefferson], but he was annoyingly independent and hardly ever around. These lads were always getting into trouble for one reason or another. In other words, they took a few…liberties. And to be honest, they were not always appreciated. This is the story of five little lads before they became five really big Founding Fathers. 3-7 years
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
Gustave Eiffel, engineer and architect, called “the magician of iron,” was known in 19th century France for building bridges and solving intricate engineering problems. We know Eiffel today as the man who built the Eiffel Tower, the iconic symbol of Paris and of France. But the Eiffel Tower was not the first tower that Gustave Eiffel built. In 1881, he began work on a tower that cannot be seen from the outside. It is the internal framework and support system for the Statue of Liberty.
Eiffel owned his own company when a world’s fair, to be called the 1889 Exposition Universelle, was planned. The fair would commemorate the 100th anniversary of the French Revolution. A centerpiece for the fair that would attract lots of attention was needed.
Two of Eiffel’s engineers designed a tower they thought would be a fitting centerpiece. At first Eiffel was unimpressed. But when his master architect added decorative features to the tower design including: a cupola, arches, and a glass pavilion, Eiffel thought the design would work.
Gustave Eiffel
A contest was held to award a commission to build the fair’s centerpiece. It seemed from the start that the contest was set up to make Eiffel the winner. The design restrictions met all of the Eiffel Company’s designs.
Eiffel was given approval to build the tower on the Champs-de-Mars, a green space near the Seine River. But the amount of money awarded for construction was significantly less that what was needed.
Eiffel had to find investors. Fortunately, the French government gave him the rights to the tower for twenty years. He would keep all the money generated and repay his investors.
When the tower design was announced, it was immediately discounted as a “hateful column of bolted sheet metal” and a “ridiculous tower dominating Paris like a gigantic black smokestack.” The French arts and intellectual community was unhappy. But construction began in January 1887, despite the protests.
The foundation was completed in June. The iron tower could now be built. Over 5,000 design drawings were needed. And over 18,000 different parts were manufactured off site. They were moved by horse-drawn carts. 132 ironworkers constructed the tower’s three levels. Construction took less than two years.
In March 1889, most of the work was finished. Eiffel celebrated by climbing to the top of the tower. He climbed the 1,710 steps since the elevators were not yet operating. He raised the French flag to a 25-gun salute below.
The tower stood 984 feet tall making it the tallest structure in the world — taller than the Washington Monument, the previous record holder. The record held for 41 years until 1930 when the Chrysler Building was built. Of course, now there are many larger structures.
Today, just under 7 million people a year visit the Eiffel Tower, making it the most visited paid monument in the world.
If you like this post, then please consider sharing it and leaving a comment below. Thank you! Barbara Lowell, Children’s Author
