Nonfiction Picture Book Challenge: International Women's Day #BeBoldForChange

It is National Women's History Month and today is International Women's Day. I had to continue with a post about more women. 

#NF10for10 Women Who Nevertheless Persisted | National Women's History

Two years ago, I did a guest post for the KidLit Celebrates Women's History Month blog. The title of the post was Women Who Faced Amazing Challenges and Succeeded. In the post, I celebrated women with special needs who despite their challenges and what some would say limitations, they succeeded. When I did this post, I realized that there were woman that I knew nothing about and they had made significant contributions in their own way. 

Many women have not been recognized for the work that they have done. Many women in the math and science fields were never taken seriously for their work or only found valuable until there was a man to step in and do the work. Today, I honor women who have contributed to the field of math and early computer programming. 

Hidden Figures (Young Reader's Edition) by Margot Lee Shetterly (HarperCollins, November 29, 2016) - Many people have watched the movie HIDDEN FIGURES, but have you read the book?

Women Who Launched the Computer Age by Laurie Calkhoven; Illustrated by Alyssa Petersen (Simon Spotlight, 2016) - When I read this book, I was saddened by the fact that once the men returned from the war these and other fabulous women were forced out of jobs. And yet the work they have done was so significant. 

Ada Lovelace: Poet of Science: The First Computer Programmer by Diane Stanley; Illustrated Jessie Hartland (Simon & Schuster, February 2016) And back in the 1800's, Ada Lovelace was making the first gains on computer programming without even knowing what a computer was 

Girls Who Code along with Women Who Code is a website where you can find out more resources about women programmers. 

Don't forget to look for these and other books at your local indie bookstore or public library.

Artwork by Sarah S. Brannen, 2017

Don't forget to link up your nonfiction reviews....

#Road2Reading: Recent Releases

All journeys have a starting place.
This is a weekly place to find books and tools
that you may use with readers at the start of their reading journey.
Join in the conversation at #road2reading.

Each week, Michele Knott and I post about new early readers and chapter books.  As part of the Nonfiction Picture Book Challenge, I started doing new release posts. Once a month, I will post about new releases as I find out about them. This month I tried to wrap up the January to March book releases. Look for future mini-reviews as I read through new releases. Also, I have included links to previous posts mentioning new releases just below. Also, don't forget to check out Mrs. Knott's Book Nook for more releases. 

January I | January II | February

January 2017

Heidi Heckelbeck Tries Out for the Team by Wanda Coven; Illustrated by Priscilla Burris (Little Simon) 

Inspector Flytrap in the Goat Who Chewed Too Much by Tom Angleberger, Illustrated by Cece Bell (Amulet Books)

Stay-A-Home Sammy and the Runaway Spot by Maria Nilsson Thore (Holiday House)

February 2017

Billy Sure Kid Entrepreneur vs. Manny Reyes Kid Entrepreneur by Luke Sharpe; Illustrated by Graham Ross (Simon Spotlight)

March 2017

Bradford Street Buddies: Springtime Blossoms by Jerdine Nolen; Illustrated by Michelle Henninger (HMH Books for Young Readers)

* Gus by Olivier Dunrea (HMH Books for Young Readers)

* Gemma and Gus (Gossie & Friends) by Olivier Dunrea (HMH Books for Young Readers)

April Fools', Mr. Todd! by Megan McDonald; Illustrated by Erwin Madrid (Candlewick)

Green Pants by Kenneth Kragel (Candlewick)

It's Raining, It's Pouring! (Sophie Mouse) by Poppy Green; Illustrated by Jennifer A. Bell (Little Simon)

Ready, Set, Blast Off! by Ray Ryan; Illustrated by Jason Kraft (Little Simon)

Note: * books refer to ones previously released but now created into an Early Reader Format.

Link up your Early Reader/Transitional Posts....

Nonfiction Picture Book Challenge: Celebrating National Women's History Month

This year, even more than in years past, I am excited to celebrate Women's History Month. This was the year that I dreamt that we celebrate our first woman president. Alas, rather than take a huge step forward, we are still fighting for equal rights in 2017. We are still fighting misogyny. We are still fighting for equal pay and for the right to make decisions about our bodies and health care. So, this is for "all the little girls"...may they take courage and hope from those who came before as they go forward to make new contributions to the world.

In February for #NF10for10, I posted 10 picture book biographies about woman who "nevertheless persisted". You can check out my post here.  There were so many more books I wanted to share. For the month of March, I will continue to celebrate books about women and the amazing impact that they have had on history. 

Today, I am featuring five recent or upcoming releases that celebrate five very different women and their contributions to society.

Swimming With Sharks: The Daring Discoveries of Eugenie Clark by Heather Lang; Illustrated by Jordi Solano (Albert Whitman & Co, December 2016)

The Legendary Miss Lena Horne by Carole Boston Weatherford; Illustrated by Elizabeth Zunon (Atheneum Books for Young Readers, January 2017)

Caroline's Comet: A True Story by Emily Arnold McCully (Holiday House, February 28, 2017)

Dorothea Lange: The Photographer Who Found the Faces of the Depression by Carole Boston Weatherford; Illustrated by Sarah Green (Albert Whitman & Co, February 28, 2017) 

When Jackie Saved Grand Central: The True Story of Jacqueline Kennedy's Fight for an American Icon by Natasha Wing; Illustrated by Alexandra Boiger (HMH Books for Young Readers, March 7, 2017)

For older readers looking for a longer read...

Girl Rising: Changing the World One Girl at a Time by Tanya Lee Stone (Wendy Lamb Books, February 14, 2017) 

Look for these titles at your local indie bookstore or community library. 

Artwork by Sarah S Brannen, 2017

Don't forget to link up your nonfiction reviews...

Nonfiction Picture Book Challenge: The Youngest Marcher

Somehow January flew by and February is nearly over and I would be remiss not to feature the newest book by Cynthia Levinson.

The Youngest Marcher: The Story of Audrey Faye Hendricks, A Young Civil Rights Activist
by Cynthia Levinson; Illustrated by Vanessa Brantley Newton
Atheneum Books for Young Readers (January 17, 2017)
Nonfiction * Biography * Civil Rights
Audience: Ages 5 to 8 years
Indiebound | WorldCat
Additional Resources

Description from GoodReads: 
Meet the youngest known child to be arrested for a civil rights protest in Birmingham, Alabama, 1963, in this moving picture book that proves you’re never too little to make a difference.

Nine-year-old Audrey Faye Hendricks intended to go places and do things like anybody else.

So when she heard grown-ups talk about wiping out Birmingham’s segregation laws, she spoke up. As she listened to the preacher’s words, smooth as glass, she sat up tall. And when she heard the plan—picket those white stores! March to protest those unfair laws! Fill the jails!—she stepped right up and said, I’ll do it! She was going to j-a-a-il!

Audrey Faye Hendricks was confident and bold and brave as can be, and hers is the remarkable and inspiring story of one child’s role in the Civil Rights Movement.

Check out the official book trailer:

Quick thoughts on this book:
From the time I was in high school, I wondered if I could stand up for what is right when it really mattered? Could I face the insults and the potential danger to self and even imprisonment? And I have no real answer. I know when I was a principal of an elementary school I often just did what I had to in order to make sure students were safe. So, I would like to think that when it really mattered I would do the right thing. However, would I consciously volunteer to march when I knew I would be arrested? Ah, that would definitely be a tough one and even tougher decision would be the decision to allow my child march and be arrested. Yet, one nine year old, with the support of her family, did just that. 

Audrey Faye Hendricks grew up in a family who were actively involved with the Civil Rights movement. When the call was extended for adults to volunteer to "go to jail" for protesting, the adults around her were staying seated. Audrey stood up and volunteered. She was the youngest elementary school age child in the midst of teenagers who would march and be arrested on that day in 1963. 

Levinson previously wrote about the 4000 students who voluntarily went to jail in Birmingham from May 2 to 11, 1963.  In The Youngest Marcher, Levinson shines the light on Hendricks and brings her story to even younger readers. At the end of the book, Levinson includes an author's note, timeline, and sources. She also includes a recipe for Hot Rolls Baptized in Butter that I am looking forward to making. 

For older readers, check out Cynthia Levinson's We've Got a Job: The 1963 Birmingham Children's March. 

About the author: 
Cynthia Levinson was in high school when Audrey Faye Hendricks marched to jail, and she knows she would not have been as brave as Audrey. But when Cynthia met Audrey forty-five years later, she knew she had to write a book about her for young readers. She spent more than three years interviewing marchers and researching the events. Her book We’ve Got a Job: The 1963 Birmingham Children’s March tells the story for older readers. Cynthia has also written about social justice in Watch Out for Flying Kids: How Two Circuses, Two Countries, and Nine Kids Confront Conflict and Build Community. She and her husband divide their time between Austin, Texas, and Boston, Massachusetts. Find her at her website | facebook | twitter 

Look for both of these book at your local bookstores or community library. 

Illustration by Sarah S Brannen @2017

Don't forget to link your nonfiction reviews:

Nonfiction Picture Book Challenge: Congratulations to the Winners of the CYBILS

For the past few years, I have had the opportunity to serve as a second round judge for the Cybils Awards. This is my third year as an Elementary Nonfiction judge and I am excited to share the winners of the Elementary and Juvenile nonfiction winners along with the Middle Grade and Young Adult winners. I was excited that this year, we divided the Elementary category into two categories - Elementary, which focused on picture books and Juvenile, which focused on longer titles. 

Thank you to my fellow judges for another great experience:
Debbie Tanner (The Booksearch); Michelle Leonard (The Winged Pen); Carrie Gelson (There’s a Book for That); Angela Reynolds (Valley Storytime) and Jennifer Wharton as moderator. 

 To see all of the winners, click here.  To see the other titles on the Elementary/Juvenile Finalist list, click here. 

The 2016 CYBILS Winners:

Elementary Non-Fiction: Giant Squid by Candace Fleming; Illustrated by Eric Rohmann (Roaring Brook Press)

From Cybils: 
This love song to the giant squid stands out in a sea of nonfiction ocean books. The oil paintings illustrating the book are as dark and mysterious as the creature they depict. There are close-up pictures that define details, putting the reader right into the deep water with the squid, while others offer fleeting glimpses of the elusive creature to pique readers’ interest.The poetic text gives ample, fascinating information about the giant squid in a short amount of space but also raises questions about the many things scientists don’t yet know about this mysterious creature. Fleming shows how scientists have had to piece together information about the giant squid based on bodies that have been found on shore or in fishing nets. Giant squid have only rarely been seen in the wild, which is surprising, given that they are as big as a bus! An afterword expands on the spare text, and an excellent list of resources at the end of the book provides additional research possibilities. This lovely work answers questions and leaves readers wanting more, opening the “dark unknown” that exists between the simple lines of prose and lovely artwork.

Juvenile Non-Fiction: Some Writer! The Story of E.B. White by Melissa Sweet (HMH Books for Young Children).

From Cybils: 
There are readers who revisit E. B. White’s classic works every year, in a classroom or for their own satisfaction; there are young readers meeting Charlotte, Stuart, and their friends for the first time. Melissa Sweet’s stunning biography of E. B. White is a book that will reach the heart of every reader. Her incorporation of personal papers and photographs from E. B. White’s life into the mixed media artwork provide the reader so much to see, in so many details. Before you even get to the title page there is information to absorb. The masterful design includes White’s words, images from his stories, his letters, and photographs from his life, all coming together to create a book that allows the reader to feel as though she is walking through his life with him–the sights, the smells, the feelings — yet the rich detail is never distracting. Rather, the illustrations give the reader a place to pause and reflect, to consider the person who wrote some of our favourite childhood stories. The story of White’s life and writings flows well, making it an interesting read more than a straightforward biography. The narrative is not only informative, but evocative and shows how cherished White’s books are for many different readers. We even see drafts of White’s writing, allowing a young writer a glimpse into the process of creation. Sweet uses rich vocabulary, yet the text will still be accessible to young readers. The impressive end matter includes an afterword, timeline, detailed notes, bibliography, and other works. Sweet has truly created a book to study, reread, and treasure.

Middle Grade Non-Fiction: Sachiko: A Nagasaki Bomb Survivor's Story by Caren Stelson (Carolrhoda Books)

From Cybils: 
In summer 1945, when their chicken lays just one egg, only the youngest child will eat; in these days of war, all of Japan is hungry, and 6 year old Sachiko’s family in Nagasaki is no exception. When the air-raid siren wails, run for cave; when it stops, it is safe – but not on August 9th, when an atomic bomb hits their city.

Facts are the framework of this well-known historic event, but Sachiko’s personal story, as relayed by author Caren Stelson, is its bruised yet beating heart and soul. The author’s extensive research supplements her many visits with Sachiko Yasui in Nagasaki over a number of years, as the young girl’s heart-wrenching memories and determination to live fill these pages with both truth and hope as she grows up.

Surviving the blast when her playmates perished, being bullied and shunned as a bomb victim, losing friends and family members to radiation-caused burns and cancers, nearly losing her own voice to thyroid cancer as a young woman – after that terrible bright blast, nothing was right for Sachiko.

For many years, she kept all these memories to herself, but Sachiko became inspired by the nonviolent philosophies of Mahatma Gandhi and Martin Luther King, Jr. Deciding as an adult to speak out for peace, she quotes Helen Keller, who visited Nagasaki when Sachiko was young: “All the world is suffering. It is also full of the overcoming.”

This book’s many historic pictures and photos from Sachiko’s family album bring the people and places to life. Historic notes, glossary of Japanese words used in the story, endnote about the author interviewing Sachiko, sources list, bibliography, and thorough index make Sachiko: A Nagasaki Bomb Survivor’s Story a great source for research on this key event of World War II and its aftermath.

Young Adult Non-Fiction: Every Falling Star: The True Story of How I Survived and Escaped North Korea by Sungju Lee and Susan McClelland (Amulet) 

From Cybils: 
As a privileged child in Pyongyang, Sungju Lee grew up admiring his country’s magnificent leader, Kim Il-Sung. He planned to join the military to protect his beloved country against the evil Americans always threatening North Korea’s peaceful way of life. But soon after their leader’s death, Sungju’s parents mysteriously take the young man “on vacation” to an impoverished factory town far from the capital city.

Readers will realize long before Sungju that this “vacation” is actually a forced relocation after his father is removed from the military. Food and clothing are in short supply, Father reluctantly leaves to find more, Mother doesn’t return from visiting relatives, and suddenly Sungju finds himself living on the street and running a gang of homeless kids. While the fall from privileged childhood to teen thief isn’t a new tale in itself, we know so little about life in North Korea that this memoir packs a punch. The constant stream of lies told to the populace is astounding, and the young men are faced with harrowing violence and depredation even before their families are split apart. This story would seem unbelievable if we didn’t know that North Korea is a real place.

Despite the unfamiliar setting and extreme circumstances, teen readers will relate to Sungju’s day-to-day dilemmas and decisions. Sungju was far more educated than any kid in the factory city, but street smarts, violence, and gangs became necessary in his desperate scramble to stay alive. Friendship and family play a huge part in his life and his survival, and mystery underpins this story as both of his parents go missing. Readers will continually wonder how Sungju escaped to write this harrowing true story for us.

Like a dystopian tale set in the still-dark nation of North Korea just yesterday, Every Falling Star is a compelling story deserving of a wide audience.

Look for all of these books at your local independent bookstore or community library. 

Artwork by Sarah S Brannen @2017

Don't forget to link up your nonfiction reviews....