Author: Anne Renaud
Publisher: Cape Breton University Press (May 18, 2013)
Audience: Grades 3 to 5
Source: Personal Copy
Biography * Gigantism * Women's History

Description from GoodReads:

In 1846 an unusual baby girl was born in Nova Scotia. She started out large, at 13 pounds, but only kept growing. Anna Swan grew until she was nearly 8 feet tall. Billed as "The Nova Scotia Giant Girl" she spent time working for P.T. Barnum's American Museum in New York, and other similar enterprises. She traveled, and met the queen of England. She even found love with a man her own height. This is her remarkable story.

My thoughts on this book:
As I read through The Extraordinary Life of Anna Swan, I found her story to be inspiring. Swan, with the support of her family, was able to turn her height into a means for creating a career and an opportunity for travel, which would normally not have been available to women during the 1800's. At first, when I thought about Swan's entrance into the Barnum's Museum and Circus, I was a bit sad. What must it have been like to be made the center of attention for your size. However, in some ways, the circus provided her with an acceptance and freedom that life at home was unable to. Her small farming community in Nova Scotia was unaccustomed to making the accommodations that Anna needed.

Author, Anne Renaud writes about Anna Swan in a way that draws young readers in and makes them want to know more about Anna. Readers feel both the joys and struggles that Swan faced on a daily basis. Swan's engagement and marriage to Martin Van Buren Bates (who was her size) was a definite reason to celebrate. However, when reading about the the birth and deaths of her two children, readers feel Swan's sadness and loss.

As I read through this biography, I was reminded of another story. Kate Klise's picture book Stand Straight, Ella Kate, which is about Ella Kate Ewing who lived in the United States. It is unsure whether Ella Kate would have known about Anna Swan's life since she was just a teen when Swan died. However, these two women shared much in common as a result of their shared physical stature.

Pair The Extraordinary Life of Anna Swan with the picture book Stand Straight, Ella Kate by Kate Klise, illustrated by M. Sarah Klise, which is a look at another remarkable woman from Missouri with pituitary gigantism.

Don't forget to link up your nonfiction reviews:

Author: Kadir Nelson
Paintings by: Kadir Nelson
Publisher: Katherine Tegan Books (January 2, 2013)
Source: Copy for Review
Audience: Grades 2nd to 5th
Biography * South Africa * Political Leaders

Description from GoodReads:
One day when Nelson Mandela was nine years old, his father died and he was sent from his village to a school far away from home, to another part of South Africa. In Johannesburg, the country's capital, Mandela saw fellow Africans who were poor and powerless. He decided then that he would work to protect them. When the government began to keep people apart based on the color of their skin, Mandela spoke out against the law and vowed to fight hard in order to make his country a place that belonged to all South Africans.

Kadir Nelson tells the story of Mandela, a global icon, in poignant verse and glorious illustrations. It is the story of a young boy's determination to change South Africa and of the struggles of a man who eventually became the president of his country by believing in equality for people of all colors. Readers will be inspired by Mandela's triumph and his lifelong quest to create a more just world.

My thoughts on the book:
Over the past few years, Kadir Nelson has focused on what he does best - picture book biographies. Kadir Nelson has taken on the former South African president Nelson Mandela as the focus for his latest book. It is quite conceivable that someone would want to purchase a book by Kadir Nelson simply for the artwork. The oil painting portrait of Mandela on the cover captures the illustrious leader with warmth and power. Each two page spread demonstrates Nelson's ability to communicate deeply through his paintings which convey emotion and strength. Yet, Nelson's choice of words including the verse-like style of text is perfectly suited to relay to the reader the story that is Nelson Mandela.

Kadir Nelson has created a picture book biography on Nelson Mandela that will provide young readers with an introduction to the South African leader from his childhood to the end of apartheid. The author's note and additional bibliographical information at the end will provide readers with some further details about Nelson Mandela. Whether you choose to pick up a copy of this book because of the amazing illustrations or as an addition to a school or classroom biography collection, Kadir Nelson's newest book Nelson Mandela is an excellent choice.

For additional books to consider, check out the New York Times post Black History Greats.

Don't forget to link up your nonfiction book reviews below:

Disclaimer