Black History Month: More Favorite Picture Books: Nonfiction

My niece was visiting me for a while this month and before she left to go home, we sat down and went through some nonfiction picture books with which to end Black History Month.  My collaborator is 11 years old and an avid reader, and even though she doesn't read many picture books anymore, we spent a few very nice afternoons choosing our favorite picture books for this post and our earlier post. We also chose a few middle grade books, but February ended before we got to them, so you will be hearing about them throughout the year.   

The First Step: How One Girl Put Segregation on Trial

by Susan E. Goodman, illustrated by E.B. Lewis

Bloomsbury, 2016, 40 pages (Age 6+)

In 1847, Sarah Roberts, 4, was attending the school closest to her home when she was suddenly pulled out and told she could no longer attend the Otis School, one of Boston, MA's best.  The reason: Sarah was African American and the Otis was for white kids only.  Knowing how far Sarah would have to walk and how ill-equipped the nearest Black school was, her parents filed a lawsuit hoping the change things.  Although they lost, Sarah's story is well worth reading.  In 1855, Boston integrated the schools there, as did some other states, it wasn't until 1954 that desegregated schools became the law of the entire country,  This picture book for older readers included a Timeline, a What Happened to Our Heroes section, some Sources and Resources and an Author's Note.

George Washington Carver by Kitson Jazynka

National Geographic Children's Books, 2016, 32 pages (Age 5+)

In this Level 1 National Geographic book, beginning readers are introduced to the life of George Washington Carver.  Born into slavery around 1864.  After his mother was kidnapped, George was raised by his owner's, Moses and Susan Carver.  He was taught to read there, but wasn't to learn more and at 13, ran away to attend a school for black children.  Interested in agriculture and farming, George made it through college and began to teach farmers how to grow sustainable crops.  George also found hundreds of uses for peanuts through his work and research.  I included George in this roundup because I realized when I picked up this book, that I haven't heard the name George Washington Carver since elementary school.  And yet, he is such an important part of African American history.   

Voice of Freedom: Fannie Lou Hamer, Spirit of the Civil Rights Movement 
by Carole Boston Weatherford, illustrated by Ekua Holmes

Candlewick, 2015, 56 pages (Age 9+)

Told in beautifully written first-person free-verse poetry, and accompanied by equally stunning collage illustrations, the life of Fannie Lou Hamer unfolds page by page.  Born in Sunflower County, Mississippi in 1917, grew up in the Delta witnessing her parents hardships, mistreatment and poverty as sharecroppers.  Fannie was subjected to indignities and humiliations herself, living under the yoke of Jim Crows laws, failing an unfair literacy test when she tried to register to vote, threatened for encouraging other blacks to vote, and beaten almost to death after sitting at a whites-only lunch counter.  But Fannie's persistence led her into the Civil Rights Movement, where she was a force to be reckoned with at the 1964 Democratic National Convention.  As soon as you open this incredible book, you will understand why it received so many awards this year.  Don't overlook the Author's Note, the Timeline, Sources and Select Bibliography.  

Ellington Was Not a Street by Ntoozake Shange, 

illustrated by Kadir Nelson

Simon & Schuster, 2004, 40 pages (Age 5+)

Playwright/poet Ntozake Shange takes the reader inside her childhood home where her parents welcomed some giants in the world of African American arts and politics.  Set among the lines from her poem about those days, "Mood Indigo" are some who may be very familiar to readers: musicians Duke Ellington and Dizzy Gillespie,  NAACP founder W.E.B. DuBois, Civil Rights activist Paul Robeson, and others who may not be so easily recognized: jazz musician Ray Barretto, singer Sonny Til, Welterweight Champion (1958) Virgil Atkins.  Shange's poem is a tribute to and celebration of all the men and the influence they had on her life and on the lives of all African Americans.  Kadir Nelson's beautiful realistic paintings highlight and commemorate their visits to Shange's home on each page.  Shange's poem "Mood Indigo" is recounted on the last page.

My Story, My Dance: Robert Battle's Journey to Alvin Ailey

by Lesa Cline-Ransome, illustrated by James E. Ransome

Paula Wiseman Books, 2015, 48 pages (Age 5+)

Robert Battle may not be a familiar name to many young readers, but he is the artistic director of the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre.  But dancing wasn't always a dream for Robert, who wore braces on his legs as a child to straighten his bowlegs.  Growing up in Liberty City, FL, Robert began studying martial arts at age 12, to provide him with some defense on the streets, where he was often picked on and called names.  Dancing didn't come into his life until age 13 and he was a natural, eventually attending  Julliard School on a full scholarship.  Battle's life is such a wonderful example of how one kid followed his dream despite obstacles.  James Ransome's pastel illustrations capture the movement of the dance so beautifully, as well as the important moments in Battle's life.   

Michelle by Deborah Hopkinson,

illustrated by AG Ford

Katherine Tegen Books, 2009, 32 pages (Age 5+)

Michelle Robinson Obama is our country's first African American first lady and who has shown herself one of the most more active and accessible first ladies to date.  Michelle grew up on the South Side of Chicago with her parents and brother.  Education was important in her home, so Michelle was allowed only one hour of TV a day (her favorite show: The Brady Bunch).  After attending Princeton University and Harvard Law School, she returned to work as a lawyer in Chicago.  One day, her firm asked to advise another Harvard law student -  Barack Obama.  This is a nice, straightforward biography of Michelle Obama, who is indeed an wonderful inspirational figure for young girls.  AG Ford's expressive, realistic illustrations compliment the text, adding insight to Michelle Obama's life. I think the quote from Michelle Obama and used on the back cover sums up her life philosophy perfectly and seems to be the perfect way to bring Black History month to a close this year:

"Don't let anybody set the limits of your dreams."

FEBRUARY IS BLACK HISTORY MONTH

Nonfiction Picture Book Challenge is a weekly celebration of 

nonfiction books hosted by Alyson Beecher at Kid Lit Frenzy

Nonfiction Picture Book Wednesday: We've Got a Job: The 1963 Birmingham Children's March by Cynthia Levinson

Can you imagine letting your children voluntarily go to jail?  Well, that is exactly what happened in Birmingham, Alabama on May 3, 1963 when 4,000 young people skipped school in order to participate in the Children's March protesting segregation, a march that they knew would ultimately end with their being arrested.  This was a time when the Civil Rights Movement was gaining momentum - adults and children, supporters and enemies.

Right from the start, Levenson introduces the reader to four of the young people who took part in the Children's March.  They are a interesting cross-section of the participants.  There's 9 year-old Audrey Faye Hendricks, whose educated, middle class parents had been involved in the Birmingham Civil Rights Movement since the early 1950s.  Audrey was a diligent student , who carried a game with her on the march to have something to do in jail after being arrested.

Washington Booker, 14, lived in abject poverty before moving into public housing when he was 8.  Wash didn't have much use for school, skipping most days to hang out with his friends.  He had no idea that children all over Birmingham were about to demonstrate with the intention of being arrested to make their point.  Wash had already had experience with the police, yet he ultimately, though reluctantly volunteered to go to jail for the cause of Civil Rights.

James W. Stewart, 15, was a serious student, whose middle class parents lived in a home with a pool. When the pools and parks were closed to the black community in Birmingham, James and his parents welcomed the kids from the projects to spend summer days at their house.  Acutely aware of what was happening around him in Birmingham, and not possessing the fortitude to take part in passive, non-violent demonstrations while people hurled garbage at him, James decided that marching and being arrested felt like the right thing for him to do.

Arnetta Streeter, 16, was inspired to get involved in the Civil Rights Movement after hearing Dr. Martin Luther King speak.  After thinking long and hard about whether King's nonviolent approach to Civil Rights was for her, Arnetta began training to become a nonviolent protester, even signing the 10 Commandments of Nonviolence pledge, after which she could hardly wait to demonstrate.

Levinson continues with a brief history of Birmingham's segregationist politics, including the white Commissioner of Public Safety, named Eugene "Bull" Connor, a virulent anti-segregationist with an aggressive, violent police force under his command.

The book also traces the evolution of the Children's March, introducing the leaders of the Civil Rights Movement, including Dr. King, Rev. Schuttlesworth, founder of the Alabama Christian Movement for Human Rights, and a 26 year-old pop musician/preacher, James Bevel, who "became the pied piper for the young people."

But what is most compelling about this book is the day-by-day account of the Children's March beginning May 2, 1963 and ending May 11, 1963, when approximately 2,500 young people were arrested and flooded the city jail.

To her credit, Levinson takes what was a very complicated, multi-faceted historical event that involved so many people and so many important events happening simultaneously, and through clear and concise prose makes it accessible to young readers.

By focusing in only 4 of the participants, Levinson makes the story personal and very readable.  In addition, she included sidebars adding more information, copious photographs and important documents from that time.  Levinson's research is detailed and impeccable.  She uses a wide variety of sources, including newspaper accounts, letters, interviews and includes a timeline of events, an Author's Note, a Bibliography and comprehensive Notes citing her sources.

We've Got a Job: The 1963 Birmingham Children's March is an excellent nonfiction choice for anyone interested in history, and especially in the Civil Rights Movement.

You can find an excellent Teacher's Guide HERE

This book is recommended for readers age 12+
This book was an EARC received from NetGalley

Nonfiction Picture Book Challenge is a weekly celebration of 

nonfiction books hosted by Alyson Beecher at Kid Lit Frenzy

FEBRUARY IS BLACK HISTORY MONTH

Black History Month - Some Favorite Picture Books: Fiction

February always catches me up short and this year is not different.  There was the big Cybils Middle Grade Fiction decision for the winning book with my fellow second round judges, and this year Chinese New Year fell in February and, of course, it is Black History Month.

Today I thought I would share some of my niece's favorite picture books.  Because it is an election year and voting is so important, we decided to begin with two books about that.

Granddaddy's Turn: A Journey to the Ballot Box

by Michael S. Bandy and Eric Stein, illustrated by James E. Ransome

Candlewick, 2015, 32 pages (Age 6+)

Michael and his granddaddy do all kinds of things together on their farm, like chores and fishing.  One day, his grandfather puts on his church suit, and takes Michael for a long walk, without telling him where.  What a surprise when they end up at the town hall.  It's voting day and granddaddy will be the first in their family to cast a ballot and couldn't be prouder.  Standing in line for a long, long time because other [white] voters cut in ahead of them, granddaddy has to remind Michael to have patience, "Takes patience to get what you've got coming to you."  But when it is finally granddaddy's turn to vote, the deputy tells him he cannot vote because he can't read.  The look of disappointment on his grandfather's face prompts Michael to promise that someday he would vote for him, a promise he keeps.  The realistic watercolor illustrations by James E. Ransome add so much to this emotional story, that shows the prejudices and the practices that prevented African American men from exercising their right to vote.

Lillian's Right to Voe: A Celebration of the Voting Rights Act of 1965

by Jonah Winter, illustrated by Shane W. Evans

Schwartz & Wade, 2015, 40 pages (Age 5+)

Follow the long, uphill journey of 100 year-old African American Lillian as she goes to an Alabama courthouse to cast her vote In this picture book for older readers.   As she climbs upward, Lillian recalls her family's history - from her enslaved great-great-grandparents and their baby Edmund being sold on the courthouse steps, to her enslaved great grandfather Edmund picking cotton from early morning to night and his later attempt to vote after the Fifteenth Amendment guaranteed him that right, to her grandpa Issac being charged a poll tax, and her uncle Levi asked impossible questions to answer, like "how many bubbles in a bar of soap?"  Later her parents would be chased away from the polls by an angry mo, a cross burned on their property and Lillian's first failed attempt to vote.  But as she nears the courthouse, she also recalled the Civil Rights Movement and the men and women who fought for voting equality for all African Americans and the passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965.  Set in narrative form, Lillian's life allows for a timeline of African American history right up to the point where she presses the lever to cast her vote.  There is a sad note at the back of the book about how the Voting Rights Act was dismantled by the Supreme Court in 2013.  This is an incredible book for kids to read and on that will work really well in classrooms and for homeschooling.   Shana Evans's mixed media illustrations really capture the long, hard upward climb, both historical and for Lillian personally.

When my niece and I were deciding which books to include in this post, we thought it would be nice to include books about ordinary kids, too.  As my niece reminded me, they are also part of Black History month.

Amazing Grace by Mary Hoffman, illustrated by Caroline Binch

Dial Books, 1991, 32 pages (Age 4+)

I picked this book because my mother's name is Grace, and because I love the message that Grace can be anything she sets to mind on.  Grace loves to hear and to make up stores, and then to act them out.  Naturally, when her teacher announces that they will be performing Peter Pan, Grace wants to play Peter.  But two of her classmates tell her she can't to that - after all, Grace isn't white and she isn't a boy.  Discouraged, Grace's grandmother takes her to see the ballet Romeo and Juliet, starring a young, black dancer in the role of Juliet.  Lesson learned, Grace gets the part of Peter Pan and is a great success. Amazing Grace is such an uplifting book, and Grace is such a wonderfully enthusiastic character, really so inspirational in how she lives her life.  I gave this to my niece when she needed some encouragement and she says she goes back to it whenever she feels she needs some reassurance (she's 13 years old now).  Caroline Binch has really evoked Grace's infectious spirit with her realistic watercolor illustrations (and I love that she illustrated Grace with a big smile even with her front teeth missing.  So many kids refuse to smile when they loose front teeth).

The Paperboy written and illustrated by Dev Pikey

Scholastic, 1996, 32 pages (Age 4+)

Every morning, while it is still dark and everyone else in his family is asleep, a young boy and his dog quietly get out of their warm bed, eat some breakfast, then head out to the garage to fold a bunch of newspapers, getting them ready for delivery.  Then, the paperboy, with his dog, heads out on his bicycle to deliver the paper to all his customers.  The two pals have done their paper route so often, they know it by heart.  After delivering his last paper, boy and dog head back home and, yup, you guessed it, right back to bed for a while.  Pikey's illustrations, done with acrylics and India ink, really capture the silence and clearness of early morning and you can almost feel the dew forming on the grass. This is a simple, but inspiring story about doing a good job and about the companionship and loyalty of your best canine friend.  My brother used to have a paper route, and while it was a nice way to make some extra money, but it's not an easy job.  Interestingly no mention is made of the young paperboy's race, other then in the illustrations.  

Chocolate Me! by Taye Diggs, illustrated by Shane W. Evans

Square Fish, 2015, 40 pages (Age 4+)

Self-esteem is a fragile thing when you are a child and sometimes it is a child's 'friends' who manage to chip away at it.  In this picture book, the white playmates of a unnamed African American kid are always making comments and asking him questions about his skin color, his hair, his wide nose. Each time, the refrain "Chocolate me" shows how dispirited these things make the young boy.  When he tells his mom that he wishes to be more like those playmates, read white, his mother points out how much she loved all the things that make her son who he is.  Slowly, the refrain "Chocolate me!" shows how the young boy goes from feeling dejection to feeling proud of who he is.  

Firebird: Ballerina Misty Copeland Shows a Young Girl 

How to Dance Like the Firebird

by Misty Copeland, illustrated by Christopher Myers

G.P Putnam, 2014, 40 pages (Age 5+)

Let's face it, Misty Copeland is an incredible dancer, but, as she tells a young girl who is wondering if she will ever be a good a dancer, that she was once in the same place - she came to dancing late, at age 13, and often lacked confidence in herself about her ability,  But, she tells the young girl, with hard work and dedication, she, too, will someday reach great heights with her dancing.  The language  in this picture book is so simple, yet so lyrical - my favorite lines are "each position one through five/stair steps to the sky?/ that's right."  Complimenting the lyrical prose are Christopher Myers illustrations/collages which are every bit as abstract and bold as the Firebird dance itself.  In June 2015, Misty was the first African American to be named a principle ballerina in American Ballet Theatre's 75 year history.  

FEBRUARY IS BLACK HISTORY MONTH

As 2016 Chinese New Year Celebrations draw to a close...

In my family, we celebrate the traditional Chinese New Year, so for us, the celebrations end on Monday, February 22, 2016 with the traditional Lantern Festival, instead of on February 14th.  My Kiddo's husband, A/K/A my Kiddo-in-law, is from China and that is how he has always celebrated the New Year.  I love how my family has become so diverse over time, bringing new traditions we have made a part of our lives too.

But, I have to admit, that little did I know when I took my 10 year-old Kiddo to Chinatown, that the road from the Wonton Garden Restaurant on Mulberry Street, where all the waiters wore Hawaiian shirts, would turn out to be a journey that went from Manhattan to Beijing to Fuzhou to Dalian and back again for her.   With each trip, my Kiddo brought back a lot of really good tea, as well as information and many traditions found in Chinese culture.  And it's been an interesting education.  I wear my lucky red socks for Chinese New Year, I can make my own dumplings, and I find rice and noodles to be a part of my everyday diet  And I read lots of Chinese-related books, and I'm stashing away picture books just in case a baby comes along someday.

Meantime, here are a few of my latest reads that I am adding to future baby's bookshelf:

Cat and Rat: The Legend of the Chinese Zodiac

written and illustrated by Ed Young

Square Fish, 1998, 32 pages (Age 4+)

I'm a Leo, so naturally I've always wondered why there is no cat in the Chinese zodiac and after reading this, now I know why.  In this retelling, the Jade Emperor announces a race to fill up the 12 places on the Chinese calendar and that these 12 animals would each have a year named after them.  Cat and rat, being friends, decided to work together to win a place on the calendar.  Well, a rat is a rat is a rat... At the beginning of the story, there is a list of the 12 animals and their personality traits.  I was born in the year of the dog.  What's your sign?

Long Long's New Year: A Story about the Chinese Spring Festival

by Catherine Gower, illustrated by He Zhihong

Tuttle Publishing, 2005, 32 pages (Age 5+)

Long Long and his grandfather are on the way to to the city sell their cabbages to get money for their Spring Festival celebrations, when the bicycle carrying them gets a flat tire.  Long Long tells his grandfather he will get the tire fixed while grandpa sells the cabbages.  But when Long Long gets back and sees that no one is buying their cabbages, he decides to take matters in hand himself.  This is a gentle story with outstanding illustrations that give a wide view of what life was like in small Chinese village.  Includes information on the very first Spring Festival and a glossary of Chinese words used in the story.

The Magical Monkey King: Mischief in Heaven 

by Ji-Li Jiang, illustrated by Hui Hui Su-Kennedy

HarperCollins, 2002, 122 pages (Age 7+)

Yes, this is the Year of the Monkey, that trickster of the Chinese zodiac and in case you were wondering why is has that reputation, you will definitely find the answer in these tales about this "hero of Chinese legend."  In this short chapter book, readers learn how the monkey became the Monkey King, how he became powerful studying under a sage named Master Subhodi, then stole magic from the Dragon King and felt the ire of the Jade Emperor, all in his quest for immortality.  Young readers will enjoy all the antics and tricks, and will no doubt want to read more stories about the recalcitrant Monkey King.

Chinese Fairy Tale Feasts: A Literary Cookbook

by Paul Yee, illustrated by Shaoli Wang, recipes by Judy Chan

Crocodile Books, 2014, 106 pages (Age 7+)

I can't begin to tell you how much I wish this book were around when my Kiddo was growing up.  It would have been right up her alley.  It consists of a collection of both traditional and contemporary Chinese fairy tales paired with a recipe representative of the tale's theme.  So far, my favorites stories are "Banquet of Waste" with a recipe for Congee (rice porridge) and "Stretch and Fold, Stretch and Fold" with a recipe for Dan-Dan Mian (noodles with Peanut Sauce, and "The Ungrateful Wolf" with a recipe for beef lettuce wraps.  There are 13 tales and 13 recipes and we are slowly working our way through the whole book.   This is a great book for kids and their parents to read and then try the recipes together. 

Bowls of Happiness by Brian Tse, illustrated by Alice Mak,

translated by Ben Wang

China Institute of America, 2015, 84 pages (Age 4+)

This is a really lovely two part book.  The first part is the story of Piggy, a little girl whose mother loves her so much, she decides to make a special bowl for her.  As she paints the bowl with designs from nature, Piggy enters the scene on it using her imagination.  The second part of the book teaches readers all about how these beautiful bowls are made, including the importance of the symbolism, the colors used and the different shapes.  This is a beautifully illustrated, well made book.  The story of Piggy is fine for young readers, but I think the second part will appeal more to the young reader's parents. 

What Was It Like, Mr. Emperor?  Life in China's Forbidden City

by Chiu Kwong-chin, translated by Ben Wang

China Institute of America, 2016, 108 pages (Age 9+)

This is a great book for kids interested in Chinese history and culture, and a wonderful companion book to Chiu Kwong-chin's earlier book In the Forbidden City.  Illustrated with whimsical, engaging digitally produced images, young readers will learn all about who the emperors were and what they meant in Chinese society.  Of course, you can't be an emperor without some help and they were surrounded by a variety of people who served different purposes in daily life within the Forbidden City.  These are also explained, right down to the food tasters whose job it was to make sure the emperor wasn't poisoned by an enemy.  This is also a well-made, beautifully produced book as well as timely, since more and more kids are learning about China these days.  

祝好运、健康、佳肴伴你度过一个快乐新年

Good Luck, Good Health, Good Cheer and Pass a Happy New Year

Poetry Friday: Amazing Places by Lee Bennett Hopkins, illustrated by Christy Hale and Chris Soentpiet

This is one of my favorite kid's poetry books from last year.  It is a collection of 11 original poems, each one is about an American landmark, not all of which will be familiar to kids, but all of which tell something about this country.  

There are the usual suspects, of course, like Nikki Grimes's poem "Tree Speaks" about the Grand Canyon, or Charles Waters' poem "Fenway Park," but some are not what we might think of right off the bat as famous landmarks, for instance, "Sandy Hook Lighthouse" by Joan Bransfield Graham  pays homage to the Sandy Hook Lighthouse in NJ, which also has special meaning to me, or Joseph Bruchac's poem "Longhouse Song" honoring the Oneida Nation Museum in Green Bay, Wisconsin.  I remember teaching my 4th graders in the Bronx about Longhouses and giving an extra credit assignment to make on with a shoebox.  Every year, even my most reluctant students would make one for display.  It still warms my heart to think about it.

  

And that's one of the beauties of these poems.  They introduce young readers different places of America through poetry and maybe instill a desire to visit some of them.  For older readers, such as myself, they will touch our memories.  Even though "Midway Magic" by Rebecca Kai Dotlich was written about the State Fair of Texas, my memory immediately went the the four years I lived in Phoenix.  I always looked forward to the State Fair and never got tired of looking at things prized pigs and chickens, or delicious homemade pies and jams.  It's where I have my first corndog and loved it.

When I visited my Kiddo and her husband in San Francisco last year, we went to Chinatown for lunch and spent the day there.  Naturally, when I saw the poem "A Sunday Trip to Chinatown" by Alma Flor Ada, I knew I wanted to share it with you today.  It reminded me of so many fun trips to NYC's Chinatown when my Kiddo was growing up - the sights, the sounds, the smells, the crowds, and the delicious food.  I hope you enjoy it as much as I dd.

Thank you to Donna Smith at Mainely Write for hosting today's Poetry Friday Roundup.

Spotlight on the 2015 Cybils Award for Middle Grade Fiction

The 2015 Cybils awards were announced on February 14, 2016 (Valentine's Day so appropriate for book lovers) and I was honored to be a Second Round Judge in the category of Middle Grade Fiction for the third year.  First, let me thank the First Round Judges for all the hard work they had to do to come up with the five finalists.  I know it wasn't an easy task.

Next, I want to thank Karen Yingling (Ms.Yingling Reads) for being our fearless leader and organizing the Middle Grade Fiction readers once again.  And of course, a big thanks to my fellow judges for their insightful thoughts and the wonderful conversation/discussion we had while choosing the 2015 Middle Grade Cybils award: Greg Partridge (Always in the Middle), Gail Gauthier (Original Content, Jennifer Rosenberg, Youth Services Librarian, and Stacey Loscalzo (StaceyLoscalzo).  It was a pleasure being a part of this team.

The winner of the 2015 Cybils Award for Middle Grade Fiction is The Blackthorn Key by Kevin Sands (my review is forthcoming):

Congratulations to the other 2015 Cybils Middle Grade Fiction Finalists:

Book Scavenger by Jennifer Chambliss Bergman
Blackbird Fly by Erin Entrada Kelly
Footer Davis is Probably Crazy by Susan Vaught
Listen, Slowly by Thanhha Lai

I really enjoyed reading all the these finalist and will be posting reviews on them soon.

The White House, a Pop-up Book of Our Nation's House by Robert Sabuda

Tomorrow is President's Day and this is a presidential election year so what better time to take a tour of the White House.  Can't make it to Washington DC?  No worries!  Expert paper engineer Robert Sabuda has created a White House pop-up book that takes you through some of the more famous and important parts of the house where the President lives and works.

You will visit such areas as the Lincoln Bedroom and find out why it's called that (Hint: Lincoln never slept there), or the Rose Garden where press conferences and important announcements are sometimes held, weather permitting, or the Oval Office to discover why it's oval, among other rooms in the White House.

I love a good pop-up book and Sabuda is one of my favorite paper engineers, so I was pretty excited to see this book.  As always, the pop-ups open smoothly, although the first time I read the book, I had to gently help them along, but after that, there was no problem.

As you turn the pages, you will notice that each one has a few lines of poetry.  They are from a poem  called "Inauguration Day" which was written sometime in the latter half of the 19th century by Richard Watson Gilder.  I thought the poem was a little too old fashioned for today's young readers, but it does fit into the context of the book.  For convenience, I've included the text of whole poem below.

The White House is a wonderful addition to any pop-up book collection, whether that would be your young readers collection, or your own.

This book is recommended for readers age 6+

This book was sent to me by the publisher, Orchard Books Scholastic

INAUGURATION DAY

On this great day a child of time and fate

On a new path of power doth stand and wait.

Tho' heavy-burdened shall his heart rejoice,

Dowered with a nation's faith, an empire's choice.

Who hath no strength, but that the people give,

And in their wills, alone, his will doth live.

On this one day, this, this, is their one man,

The well-beloved, the chief American!

Whose people are his brothers, fathers, sons:

In this his strength, and not a million guns.

Whose power is mightier than the mightiest crown,

Because that soon he lays that power down.

Whose wish, linked to the people's, shall exceed

The force of civic wrong and banded greed.

Whose voice, in friendship or in warning heard,

Brings to the nations a free people's word;

And, where the opprest out from the darkness grope,

'T is as the voice of freedom and of hope.

O pray that he may rightly rule the state,

And grow, in truly serving, truly great.

Nonfiction Picture Book Challenge is a weekly celebration of 

nonfiction books hosted by Alyson Beecher at Kid Lit Frenzy

Interview: Kathy Kacer, author of Stones on a Grave, a 2016 Sydney Taylor Honor Award book

Please welcome author Kathy Kacer to Randomly Reading today.  Kathy is a prolific writer of both fiction and nonfiction with a focus on the Holocaust.  Her books have won a number of awards, including the 2016 Sydney Taylor Honor Award in the Teen Readers Category for her most recent book, Stones on a Grave.  

Welcome, Kathy and thank you for agreeing to answers a few questions about yourself and your work.

Let's begin with the basics, shall we?  Can you tell us a little bit about yourself and why you decided to become a writer.  And, of course, what being awarded this 2016 Sydney Taylor Honor Award means to you? 

Kathy: I live in Toronto, Canada – married with two grown children. I always loved to write, but never pursued it as a career choice. I became a psychologist and for many years, I worked with troubled teens and their families. I loved that work – found it fulfilling and challenging. But at a certain stage in my life, I found myself drawn back to writing. I wanted to do more of it, and not just as a hobby. My first book, The Secret of Gabi’s Dresser, was published in 1999. I’ve gone on to write nineteen more! I have to say that I never imagined I would have this full second career. 

I’m also the child of Holocaust survivors, so it’s no surprise that all of my books focus on that time in history and on the stories of survivors. Several of my books have been named Sydney Taylor “Notable” books. This is the first time I’ve had a book that was awarded the “Honor” prize. And it is an honor indeed! It makes me aware that so many more young people will hear about my books, read them, perhaps learn something more about this important time in history, and remember this time and these stories for the future.  

The main character in Stones on a Grave, 18 year old Sara Barry, lived in an orphanage where she was part of a group who had grown up together, and who were thought of as her "special Seven" by the woman who ran the home, Mrs. Hazelton.  Sara's story is part of a series of seven books and each one follows what happens to the girls when they leave the orphanage.  Could you explain the genesis of Stones on a Grave and how it fits into the Secrets series?

Kathy: The main character in Stones in a Grave, 18 year old Sara Barry, lived in an orphanage where

she was part of a group who had grown up together, and who were thought of a her “special Seven” by the woman who ran the home, Mrs. Hazelton.  Sara’s story is part of a series of seven books and each on following what happens to the girls when they leave the orphanage.  Could you explain the genesis of Stones on a Grave and how it fits into the Secrets series?

There are seven authors (I’m one of them), each of whom has written a book in the Secrets series. The books are “linked,” meaning that the seven girls all know one another, come from the same place, and set out on similar quests. My character, Sara, is one of the seven. The girls have all been raised in an orphanage in a small town. It is 1964 and the orphanage has burnt down. Each of the seven oldest girls is given a chance to go out into the world and discover where they came from and the circumstances of their births, and they are each given clues to help them in their journeys. 

The beauty of being part of this series was that each one of the authors was able to write in the style and genre that we loved and worked in. There is a fantasy story, mystery, humor, historical fiction, etc. I knew from the beginning that I wanted to create a story that had a link to the Holocaust (since that’s the writing that I do). Sara receives three clues to her background: a document saying that she was born in a DP camp in Germany at the end of the war and her mother was Jewish (until that moment, Sara has never even met a Jewish person); a medical certificate saying that she was fit to come to North America at the end of the war as an orphan; and a necklace with a gold Star of David. Using those three clues, Sara travels to Germany to find this mysterious doctor and find out who her parents were and why she was given up for adoption.

Kathy Kacer

I know historical fiction may be fiction, but it still requires a lot of research.  Could you tell us a little about the research process you used and any challenges you faced while writing Stones on a Grave?

Kathy: Like many writers, I love doing the research for my books. And there is always a lot of it to do! In this case, I had wanted to write about the DP camps in Europe that were established after the war to house those surviving Jewish refugees who were sick, alone, and had nowhere to go. Through the research, I learned about Fohrenwald – where it had been, who had lived there, etc. It seemed like the right place to set Sara’s journey. 

One of the problems of doing research (and loving it so much), is that it can often become a great reason to avoid writing!! I have to remind myself to put the research aside and get to the writing. I probably “over-research.” I have to pick and choose the pieces that will be relevant to the story I am writing. I often say it’s like carrying a backpack with me. I can open it up and pull out pieces of information whenever I need them.

I have to admit that I wasn't surprised by the revelation of who Sara's grandfather was, but I was definitely stunned when she was told who her father was.  I'm curious about what prompted your decision about him.

 Kathy: I have to admit that I hadn’t fully expected that decision myself! Isn’t that the beauty of being a writer and letting the story take you where it needs to go? The decision around Sara’s mother was quite simple. I thought that many people would guess the relationship between Sara and the doctor (and therefore the relationship with her mother). But I struggled to figure out what had become of Sara’s father. I wanted the revelation around her father to be something bigger and more dramatic. And then one day, I was talking with someone who was telling me the painful story of having a relative who had been raped in the concentration camps. And it struck me that this was the story line I was looking for. It’s a shocking one, for sure. 

Some people have said "no more Holocaust stories," that there is more to Jewish identity than

that particular part of Jewish history.  But clearly, given you prolific and varied oeuvre of stories about the Holocaust, would you mind sharing your thoughts about why you feel it is such an important topic to write about. 

 Kathy: Yes, I hear people talk about “Holocaust fatigue” as well. And believe me, I don’t think I ever set out to become a writer of only Holocaust stories! But every time I think I’ve written the last story I’m going to write on this topic, another remarkable one comes to me and I feel compelled to tell that one as well. And because I speak to so many survivors and I see that this is an aging community, I am also aware that the window of opportunity to find these stories and write them down is closing quicker than I had ever imagined. So I choose not to listen to those who say it’s enough. I am resolved to writing about this history for as long as there are survivors who are willing to talk about it – and perhaps beyond that time as well. I have a big audience out there who seems not to tire of this material. That too is gratifying and encouraging.

Thank you, Kathy, for your thoughtful responses.  You can find more about Kathy and her books at kathykacer.com 

And Readers, be sure to check the 2016 Sydney Taylor Book Award Blog Tour to visit other stops on the tour.

Stones on a Grave by Kathy Kacer

Congratulations to Kathy Kacer.  Stones on a Grave was named a 2016 Sydney Taylor Honor Award winner in the Teen Reader Category and I am happy to say that I will be interviewing Kathy as part of the Sydney Taylor Blog Tour on Thursday, February 11, 2016.  You can find a complete list of winner and the Blog Tour schedule HERE.

(This review was originally posted on The Children's War.)

It's June 1964 and Sara Barry, 18, has been living at the Benevolent Home for Necessitous Girls ever since she was a baby.  But now, after a fire completely destroys the building, it is time for Sara to strike out on her own.  Before she does that, Mrs. Hazelton, the home's matron, decides it is time for Sara to discover who she is.  All she has to give Sara is a certificate from the United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration, a doctor's note written in a foreign language and a small Star of David on a chain. 

It seems that Sara's mother, whose name was Karen Frankel,  had been in Auschwitz, had actually survived until the camp was liberated, but then succumbed to TB in a DP or displaced persons camp shortly afterwards.  Sara was born in Germany soon after the war ended, and sent to the home in Canada.  Her Jewish background is a complete surprise to her. 

Now, armed with the $138.00 gift from Mrs. Hazelton and her own savings from her waitress job, Sara decides to go to Germany and try to find the doctor who signed the certificate that sent her to Canada.  Perhaps he has some information about her mother and father.

Arriving in Germany, Sara immediately heads to Föhrenwald, site of the former DP camp and easily locates Dr. Gunther Pearlman, the doctor who had certified her healthy to travel, even though she actually had TB as well.  But as soon as the doctor sees the papers she has with her, he turns on her and tells Sara to get out and go back to Canada, he has no information that would help her.  Dr. Pearlman does make a one night reservation at a small inn run by an older lady named Frau Klein, and asks his helper, Peter, a boy around the same age as Sara, to escort her there.

Dr. Pearlman may want Sara to leave the next day, but Sara has other plans and with Peter's help, and Frau Klein's kindness, she decides to stay for the rest of the week.  Luckily, Peter speaks perfect English (as does Dr. Pearlman), so he can translate for her.  Sara quickly discovers that Föhrenwald is still home to many Jewish survivors and their children, including Frau Klein, the doctor and Peter's parents.

But uncovering information about her parents isn't easy in the country that just wants to forget about what had happened there.  Yet, perseverance does pay off and while all the loose ends are neatly tied up by the end of the novel, some of what Sara discovers is difficult for her to accept, and I have to admit, I wasn't expecting the ending to twist the way it did.

I found this is a very interesting example of a post-war historical fiction novel.  By setting it in the 1960s, Kathy Kacer shows the reader a world that wants to forget what happened, others who, like Sara, really don't know about what happened under Hitler's tyranny, even as racial prejudice is still openly practiced.  Mrs. Hazelton didn't keep Sara's Jewish identity secret because she didn't like Jews, but because she wanted to protect her from any lingering anti-Semetism.  And Luke, Sara's loser boyfriend in Canada, proves the point, with his hatred of Jews and blacks, seen in the way he goes after Sara's friend Malou. 

Stone on a Grave is an emotional, insightful novel about a young woman trying to discover who she really is.  Sara's story helps to demonstrate the impact the Holocaust had on the lives of people even up to the present.  Be sure to read the Author's Note for more information about the aftermath of the Holocaust.

In the Benevolent Home, Sara was one of a group of girls Mrs. Hazelton considered to be her "special seven."  Like Sara, each girl is given whatever information Mrs. Hazelton has about who they really are, plus $138.00 she had put aside for them to start them on their way.   Sara's story is part of a seven book YA series called Secrets that follows each girl on their journey towards self-discovery. Each novel is written by a different author, providing a variety of stories and insights.

This book is recommended for readers age 12+
This book was purchased for my personal library

It's Official - 2016 Bank Street Children's Book Committee Awards are here!

Each year, the Bank Street Children's Book Committee reads and reads - picture books, realistic fiction, speculative fiction, nonfiction, poetry, if it's published and it's for young readers, the committee reads it.  And at the end of the year, the committee gives three awards - one for outstanding fiction, one for outstanding poetry and on for outstanding nonfiction.

The Josette Frank Award for Fiction honors a book or books of outstanding merit in which children or young people deal in a positive and realistic way with difficulties in their world and grow emotionally and morally. This year the Josette Frank Award was given to

The War that Saved my Life by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley

Dial BFYR, 2015 320 pages (age 9+)

From the Publisher: Nine-year-old Ada has never left her one-room apartment. Her mother is too humiliated by Ada’s twisted foot to let her outside. So when her little brother Jamie is shipped out of London to escape the war, Ada doesn’t waste a minute—she sneaks out to join him.

 So begins a new adventure of Ada, and for Susan Smith, the woman who is forced to take the two kids in. As Ada teaches herself to ride a pony, learns to read, and watches for German spies, she begins to trust Susan—and Susan begins to love Ada and Jamie. But in the end, will their bond be enough to hold them together through wartime? Or will Ada and her brother fall back into the cruel hands of their mother?

The Claudia Lewis Award is honors the best poetry book of the year for young readers.  This year the Claudia Lewis Award was given to

My Seneca Village by Marilyn Nelson

namelos, 2015, 112 pages (age 10+)

From the publisher:  This exquisite collection [of poems] takes readers back in time and deep into the mind's eye of Marilyn Nelson.  A girl ponders being free-but-not-free. Orphaned brothers get gold fever. A conjurer sees past his time and into ours. The voices of a multi-ethnic, multi-racial 19th century Manhattan neighborhood are rising again.  One of America's most honored writers - a Newbery Honor medalist, Coretta Scott King Medalist and National Book Award nominee -draws upon history, and her astonishing imagination, to revive the long lost community of Seneca Village. 

The Flora Stieglitz Straus Award honors an information book that serves as an inspiration to young readers.  This year's Flora Stieglitz Straus Award was given to 

Voice of Freedom: Fannie Lou Hamer: The Spirit of the Civil Rights Movement 

by Carol Boston Weatherford, illustrated by Ekua Holmes

Candlewick, 2015, 56 pages (age 9+)

From the publisher:  Despite fierce prejudice and abuse, even being beaten to within an inch of her life, Fannie Lou Hamer was a champion of civil rights from the 1950s until her death in 1977. Integral to the Freedom Summer of 1964, Ms. Hamer gave a speech at the Democratic National Convention that, despite President Johnson’s interference, aired on national TV news and spurred the nation to support the Freedom Democrats. Featuring luminous mixed-media art both vibrant and full of intricate detail, Voice of Freedom celebrates Fannie Lou Hamer’s life and legacy with an inspiring message of hope, determination, and strength.

Congratulations to the winners!