The Man Who Walked Between the Towers

Author/Illustrator: Mordicai Gerstein

Publisher: MacMillan

Publication Date: 2003

Genre: Biography, Historical

Audience: 3+

Awards: Caldecott Medal, Carnegie Medal

Overview: Paintings in the form of a comic strip, help tell the tale of Philippe Petit, the man who walked between the Twin Towers.  He secretly planned his walk despite the odds against him but paid the price for his actions in the end.  In this story, Petit is remembered as a legend for his courage to do the impossible.

Activity: Have students pretend they took the walk of Philippe Petit on the wire.  Have them write a poem from their perspective, about how they would act and feel on that cable high in the sky.

Reviewer’s Name: Kristen

Squanto’s Journey: The Story of the First Thanksgiving

Author: Joseph Bruchac

Illustrator: Greg Shed

Publisher: Harcourt Books

Publication Date: 2000

Genre: Multi-Cultural, Picture Book, Historical

Audience: 3+

Awards: ABA’s Pick of the List, Knickerbocker Award, NCSS-CBC Notable Children’s Trade Book in the Field of Social Studies

Overview: A story about Squanto and his interactions with the English settlers. While he encounters hardships and triumphs, he is able to become a peacemaker between Indian tribes and the English, and eventually they are able to indulge in Thanksgiving together.

Activity: Have students write a thank-you letter to Squanto, for keeping the peace and for creating the first thanksgiving. Then have students write cards to others whom they are thankful for.

Reviewer’s Name: Kristen

I Want to be Free

Author: Joseph Slate

Illustrator: E.  B.  Lewis

Publisher: Penguin Group

Publication Date: 2009

Genre: History

Audience: Gr. K-3

Overview: A lyrical story of the struggle of two escaped slaves, who are determined to find freedom. So these strangers come together, and take off on a journey into the free world, and they find that the real key to freedom is love.

Activity: Have students discuss what love does for them.  They may be loved by their family or friends or dog, have them journal about how they know they are loved.

Reviewer’s Name: Kristin Gowing

The Popcorn Book

Author/Illustrator: Tomie De Paola

Publisher: Holiday House

Publication Date: 1978

Genre: Concept-General, Myths, Legends & Folklore, Science and Nature

Audience: Gr. K-4

Overview: A fun look at the history of popcorn in the United States with historical facts that are probably not well known, stories and even a popcorn recipe. The illustrations are fun and really draw the reader into the story. This book is informative and enjoyable. The facts would be very useful in a report about popcorns history.

Activity: Make popcorn with the class using the recipe in the book while discussing the history of popcorn.

Reviewer's Name: Paula Pavon

Young Christopher Columbus

Author/Illustrator: Eric Carpenter/John Himmelman
Publisher: Troll Associates
Publication Date: 1992
Genre: Biography
Audience: Gr. K-3

Overview: This is a brief overview of the life of Christopher Columbus and his important contributions to history.

Activity: Have students write a letter to the King and Queen of Spain as if they were Columbus, asking for permission to sail to the Indies. Include why they want to go, what they hope to find and what the King and Queen will get in return for helping.

Reviewer’s Name: Nikki Palmer

The Hired Hand: An African-American Folktale

Author/Illustrator: Robert D. San Souci/Jerry Pinkney
Publisher: Dial Books
Publication Date: 1997
Genre: Folktale
Audience: Gr. K-4
Awards: 1997 New York Times Best Illustrated Books list

Overview: A story of a young boy who works at his father’s sawmill. He is lazy and always tries to get out of doing any work, until one day a mysterious man teaches him a lesson that will change his life forever. This book emphasizes the importance of hard work and honesty.

Activity: Read story with children and then allow them to create their own magical spell. Ask why they chose this spell and who they would use it on if it were possible.

Reviewer’s Name: Mandi Kingeter

The Forbidden Schoolhouse: The True and Dramatic Story of Prudence Crandall and Her Students

Author/Illustrator: Suzanne Jurmain
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin
Publication Date: 2005
Awards: 2006 ALA Notable Book for Children, 2006 Orbis Pictus Honor Book, 2006 Notable Children's Trade Book in the Field of Social Studies, 2005 Booklist Editors' Choice, 2006 ALA Best Book for Young Adults, 2006 Notable Children's Book in the Language Arts, 2005 Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books Blue Ribbon Winner, 2008 Arizona Young Readers’ Master List
Genre: Young Adult Non-fiction
Audience: Gr. 4+

Overview: When Miss Prudence Crandall was asked to start a school for girls in Caterbury, CT, she hardly imagined how she would become the focus of a racial battle in this small New England town. Admitting several African American girls to the school caused controversy, ostracizing, and hostility toward Miss Crandall and the girls, resulting in the legislative passing of the Connecticut Black Law, resulting in Miss Crandall’s arrest and trial.

Activity: A perfect companion text to Miss Crandall’s School for Young Ladies and Little Misses of Color, the same story written in sonnets. (also reviewed on BLOG BLOG).

Reviewer’s Name: Deb Marciano

Freedom Walkers: The Story of the Montgomery Bus Boycott

Author: Russell Freedman
Publisher: Holiday House
Genre: Nonfiction
Audience: Gr. 3+

Overview: The story is about the Montgomery Bus Boycott. During the Civil Rights Movement the African-Americans were not allowed to sit where they wanted on the bus. Finally, people in Montgomery took a stand and decided that this was not right. They boycotted the bus system and did whatever they could not to take the busses. African-Americans who had cars also lent them to the cause.

Activity: Discuss boycotting. Discuss about something students would want to boycott, and how they would go about it. Write stories about boycotting.

Reviewer’s Name: Becky Broyles

Rosa

Author: Nikki Giovanni
Illustrator: Bryan Collier
Publisher: Henry Holt and Company
Genre: Nonfiction, Biography, Picture Book
Audience: Gr. K-4

Overview: The author paints a portrait of the heroic woman, Rosa Parks, who refused to give up her seat on a Montgomery, Alabama bus, during the Civil Rights Movement. By refusing to give up her seat, something she could have done easily, she changed the life for everyone in the town and everyone in the United States.

Activity: Discuss words that describe Rosa Parks and her story during a Civil Rights unit. Write our own stories about Rosa Parks and her bravery.

Reviewer’s Name: Becky Broyles

In America’s Shadow

Author/Illustrator: Kimberly and Kaleigh Komatsu
Publisher: Thomas George Books
Publication Date: 2002
Awards: Rising Star Award, Legacy Book 2005, The Kiriyama Prize, Skipping Stones Honor Book, Benjamin Franklin Award, Book of the Year Award Finalist, and Carter G. Woodson Book Award.
Genre: Nonfiction
Audience: Gr. 4+ (Mature Readers)

Overview: A young girl, Aiko, leaves her whole life behind, and boards a train to Manzanar. This book describes her painful experiences she and many others suffered in the Japanese interment camps during World War II. The real black and white photographs make the book an incredible piece indeed.

Activity: Have students watch the movie, In America’s Shadow. Compare and contrast the movie and the book. Ask the students what one conveyed the most feelings, and why? Have groups share with the whole class.

Reviewer’s Name: Amie Lauriello

Martin’s Big Words

Author: Doreen Rappaport
Illustrator: Bryan Collier
Publisher: Jump at the Sun
Publication Date: October 1, 2001
Awards: Coretta Scott King Award and Caldecott Honor and Best Illustrated Children’s Book NYTimes
Genre: Biography
Audience: Gr. 2+

Overview: A very concise biography of the life of Martin Luther King Jr. There are some large words in this text but it uses quotes from Dr. King that are very well illustrated by Bryan Collier. Overall a great book to introduce Dr. King or use in a text set about him.

Activity: Find another influential person that has many well-known quotes and use their quotes to create a class book about that person. With illustration describing the quotes.

Reviewer’s Name: Emily Adams