Nonfiction Picture Book Wednesday - Fifty Cents and a Dream

Author: Jabari Asim
Illustrator: Bryan Collier
Publisher: Little, Brown & Co. (December 4, 2012)
Source: Personal Copy
Independent Reading Level: Second and Third Grade
Read Aloud Level: Kindergarten to Second Grade
Biographical * African American Heritage *U.S. History
Pair with: Words Set Me Free: The Story of Young Frederick Douglass by Lesa Cline-Ransome; Illustrated by James E. Ransome

Description on IndieBound:
Booker dreamed
of making friends with words,
setting free the secrets
that lived in books.

Born into slavery, young Booker T. Washington could only dream of learning to read and write. After emancipation, Booker began a five-hundred-mile journey, mostly on foot, to Hampton Institute, taking his first of many steps towards a college degree. When he arrived, he had just fifty cents in his pocket and a dream about to come true. The young slave who once waited outside of the schoolhouse would one day become a legendary educator of freedmen.

Award-winning artist Bryan Collier captures the hardship and the spirit of one of the most inspiring figures in American history, bringing to life Booker T. Washington's journey to learn, to read, and to realize a dream.

My thoughts on this book:

"With fifty cents in his pocket and a dream in his soul, Booker felt the magic welcome him in." - Jabari Asim

Since I cannot write a review that only says - "Book is good. Read this book." - I need to find the words to explain why I really, really liked Asim's Fifty Cents and a Dream.  Asim provides readers with a glimpse of what it might have been like for Booker T. Washington from his childhood as a slave to his eventual freedom and pursuit of education at Hampton Institute.  It inspires me when I read stories about individuals who have worked amazingly hard to learn to read or get an education. And in reading this story of Washington's journey, I was once again inspired.

Asim's text is paired perfectly with Bryan Collier's illustrations.  Collier gets what Asim is attempting with his text and illustrates the story in a way that brings the story to life.  In one painting, I can feel the sun shining down on Washington and in another I can feel the determination flowing through him.

At the end of the book, Asim includes a few pages of resources including additional facts and timeline on Washington's journey and a biography.  Fifty Cents and a Dream has both great text and great illustrations.  This would be a fabulous addition to classroom or school library.  Look for Fifty Cents and a Dream at your local public library or bookstore.  Remember to buy from an independent bookstore whenever possible.

For more information about author, Jabari Asim: blog | facebook | twitter

Read an interview with Jabari Asim over on Watch.Connect.Read

Read an interview with Bryan Collier on Watch.Connect.Read

Link up your nonfiction picture book reviews below:

Book Review: Santa on the Loose

Author: Bruce Hale
Illustrator: Dave Garbot
Publisher: Harper Collins (September 25, 2012)
Source: Copy for Review
Audience: Ages 7 and older (younger readers may need some assistance with text)
Christmas Story * Seek & Find * Picture Puzzles

Description from GoodReads:
Santa's sleigh is ready to go--except for one thing: The presents are nowhere to be found! Santa needs your help to find out who took the toys! Is the culprit an unhappy elf or a disgruntled reindeer or even--yikes!--a hungry polar bear? With so many possible suspects, Santa's going to have to do some serious detective work to crack this case before Christmas comes!

My thoughts on this book:
"Oh no! Christmas is almost here and Santa's toys have been stolen."  Children are introduced to the possible suspects including Loki the Reindeer, Emo the Elf, Softy the Snowman, Roz the Bear, Arlo the Penguin, and Santa's Helper Kendra.  Each page includes a clue for identifying the robber.  And in typical "seek & find" fashion, the very busy page requires some close inspection to find the referenced item.  At the end, readers discover all of the revealed evidence laid out for their review.  In the end, children can discover if they correctly guessed who was the robber.  There is even a bonus search section.

The combination of Hale's text/clues and Garbot's illustrations provide for a lively and entertaining search that is perfect for the holiday season.  I have to admit I enjoyed this one a little more than the more common search & find books out there.  Maybe because I actually could find the items in a reasonable amount of time.  (Ok, so maybe I just don't have the patience of a 7 year old when solving these and appreciate one that isn't overly congested.)

I know that there will be a number of children who will be excited to pour over the pages looking for clues and discovering the solution.  Definitely a book for those on your Christmas gift buying list who enjoy "seek & find" books. 

For information on Bruce Hale:  website | twitter | facebook

For information on Dave Garbot: website | blog | facebook

It's Monday! What are you reading? From Picture Books to YA (48)

It's Monday! What are you reading? is hosted by Sheila of Book Journey. Jen & Kellee from Teach Mentor Texts have adapted this to focus on Picture Books to Young Adult Books.

I must confess that some of my reading this past week was moved towards quantity vs. quality as I work towards my GoodReads goal of 1250 books.  I have fifteen more days and 100 books.  Technically I know I can do it, but there are also several books I want to get to that will take longer.  Hopefully, on my trip to Connecticut to see my parents for the holidays, I will be able to pick up a few stacks of Caldecott Honor books and get some more books read towards both my Caldecott goal, as well as my total books read.

I have also been sorting through and skimming a stack of books related to Fred Korematsu Day (January 30th).  I was asked to plan some activities for schools to use to celebrate and recognize the Civil Rights work that Mr. Korematsu did on behalf of the Japanese Americans who were sent to Internment Camps in the United States during World War II.

Finally, I am still reading the last couple of books towards the Nerdy Book Awards (voting opened yesterday).  

Here is what jumped out this week...

What's Looking at You, Kid? by J. Patrick Lewis; Illustrated by Renée Graef - This picture book in verse is playful and fun and makes for a wonderful read aloud for preschoolers.

Everything Goes Board Books by Brian Biggs - I linked to my review of several of Biggs' books.

More Bears by Kenn Nesbitt; Illustrated by Troy Cummings - Someone had mentioned this book when I was reading and talking about No Bears.  The two books pair together nicely.

Skeletons by Lily Wood - This nonfiction early reader about skeletons is informative and enjoyable.

The Bracelet by Yoshiko Uchida; Illustrated by Joanna Yardley - A young girl is given a bracelet by a friend before leaving for an internment camp.  She learns that she may not need to have the bracelet in order to remember the friendship.

So Far From the Sea by Eve Bunting; Illustrated by Chris K. Soentpiet - A way of looking back and honoring those who were interned during World War II in the United States.

And the big highlight of the week....

The Center of Everything by Linda Urban (Release date: March 15, 2013)- Urban has done it again...she is queen of writing wonderful characters. 

So, what are you reading?

A Trip to The Last Bookstore

If you live in the Los Angeles area and haven't made a trip downtown to The Last Bookstore, you must, especially if you call yourself a book lover. 

I love this counter where you pay for your purchases.  Yes, it is made from books.

The second floor of The Last Bookstore is called the Labyrinth.  I loved the book window, and the arch made from books, and the small rooms filled with books.
 

There are also other great features that decorate the space.  Everywhere you turn, there seemed to be something else to look at.

I took the two pictures (above) from the second floor looking down onto the main level.

Some great wall art/collages.

Everywhere you look there are books, some are shelved by author's last name, others by color, and even more just find their way onto any shelf.  It is truly a magical place.  The books upstairs in the Labyrinth cost $1 - and there are signs to grab a box and fill it up.  On the main floor, books range in price from $2/book to full price for new books.  And there is definitely something for everyone.

I visited The Last Bookstore with my book club.  We found a corner to hang out in and discussed Three Times Lucky and ate peanut butter & jelly sandwiches and drank Mountain Dew and Coca-Cola.  A good time was definitely had by all.

Everything Goes...Brian Biggs

In April, I did a review of Brian Biggs' Everything Goes On Land.  I likened Biggs to a modern day Richard Scarry.  And similar to Scarry, Biggs has expanded formats for his Everything Goes series.  In addition to the oversized picture books, you can now get the great images and work of Brian Biggs in a board book format for the toddler set.  There are also several I Can Read books that are based on Biggs' Everything Goes. 

If you are looking for gifts this holiday season for young readers with a penchant for books that feature vehicles and various forms of transportation, here you go.      

Everything Goes - Stop! Go!
Balzer & Bray/Harper Collins (December 26, 2012) - Ages: 2 to 4 years
Format: Board Book

Everything Goes - 1, 2, 3 Beep, Beep, Beep!
Balzer & Bray/Harper Collins (December 12, 2012) - Ages: 2 to 4 years
Format: Board Books

 

Everything Goes Henry Goes Skating
Balzer & Bray/Harper Collins (August 21, 2012)
Format: Early Reader
Author: B.B. Bourne (Based on the Everything Goes Books by Brian Biggs)
Illustrator: Simon Abbott (in the style of Brian Biggs)
Independent Reading Level: 1st & 2nd Grade
Read Aloud Level: Kinder to 2nd grade

 

Everything Goes In the Air
Balzer & Bray/Harper Collins (September 11, 2012) - Ages: 4 to 7 years old
Format: Oversized Picture Book

Official trailers of Everything Goes In the Air:


Everything Goes: In the Air (animated trailer) from Brian Biggs on Vimeo.

Look for books by Brian Biggs at your local library or bookstore.  Don't forget to shop at an Independent Bookstore when possible.

Thank you to Harper Collins for sharing these books with me.  I can't wait to share them with teachers and librarians that I work with, and I know a few beginning readers who are going to particularly enjoy the Early Reader series.

For more information about Brian Biggs:  website | blog | twitter | facebook | etsy | vimeo