Nonfiction Picture Book Wednesday - Brave Girl: Clara and the Shirtwaist Makers' Strike of 1909

Author: Michelle Markel
Illustrator: Melissa Sweet
Publisher: Balzer & Bray (January 22, 2013)
Source: Bought
Audience: Grades 2 to 5
Nonfiction * Women's History * Strikes * Clothing Makers
Melissa Sweet's website | Michelle Markel's website

Description from GoodReads:
When Clara Lemlich arrived in America, she couldn't speak English. She didn't know that young women had to go to work, that they traded an education for long hours of labor, that she was expected to grow up fast.

But that did not stop Clara.

She went to night school, spent hours studying English, and helped support her family by sewing in a factory.

Clara never quit. And she never accepted that girls should be treated poorly and paid little.

So Clara fought back. Fed up with the mistreatment of her fellow laborers, Clara led the largest walkout of women workers in the country's history.

Clara had learned a lot from her short time in America. She learned that everyone deserved a fair chance. That you had to stand together and fight for what you wanted. And, most importantly, that you could do anything you put your mind to.

My thoughts on this book:
To close out National Women's History Month, I am featuring Brave Girl: Clara and the Shirtwaist Makers' Strike of 1909 by Michelle Markel and Melissa Sweet.  It's books like this that can ignite an interest in children to research and look into historical events which they may not have otherwise had an opportunity to learn about.  Markel's story focuses on one particular women, a young immigrant named Clara Lemlich who played a significant role in launching one of the most significant strikes in United States history, the Shirtwaist Makers' Strike of 1909.

In Brave Girl, Markel provides young readers with enough background history for them to understand some of the conditions faced by factory workers in the late 19th century and early 20th century.  By sharing Clara's story, readers have a face and a name in which to identify with the cause including the significant risks that workers took when striking against factory owners.

Melissa Sweet's mixed media illustrations beautifully compliment this story and there is a link below where you can browse through the book on the HarperCollins website.  At the end, more information is provided on the history of the Garment Industry along with some additional resources.  Below, I have included a link to a discussion guide also provided by the publisher. 

If you can't tell already, I am very excited about this book.  Pick up a copy of it for your classroom or school library.  And remember to shop Indie whenever possible.

If you are wondering, what is a Shirtwaist? Check out this article.
  
A video of Shirtwaist Makers' & The Strike of 1909:



Remembering the Triangle Shirtwaist Fire of 1911, check out video below:


Browse inside the book, click here. HarperCollins has put together a discussion guide, click here.


Don't forget to link up your recent nonfiction reviews:
 

Book Review - Write This Book

Author: Pseudonymous Bosch
Illustrator: Gilbert Ford
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers (April 2, 2013)
Source: Copy for Review
Audience:  Ages 9 and up
More about the author: website | twitter | facebook

Description from GoodReads:
I feared this may happen. I knew reading was a dangerous business, but now it's not safe for writers either! You see, the author of this book is missing. Well, maybe not "missing." A certain author whom I won't name (okay, me) has abandoned his book and has left his readers hanging out to dry. This is a crime, I admit, but there it is. Most of this book, well, I just haven't written it. And I'm not going to, either.
Why? Oh, I have my reasons. Big. Grown up. Author. Reasons. Unfortunately, I can't reveal them yet. Let's just say a life is at stake (mine) and leave it at that. So will you do it? Pretty please? You'll do it? Thank you! But please hurry! Time is of the essence and you can't wait any longer. You must WRITE THIS BOOK!
   
This imaginative companion to the New York Times bestselling Secret Series teases, prompts, and leads readers through the steps of writing a story. Bosch's signature rip-roaring voice delivers an engaging narrative (for the reader to help complete!) and interactive puzzles and games. Readers get the chance to create their own story while enjoying a satisfying mystery as well.

My interview with Jax's (age 12) regarding Write This Book:

Why did you like the book?
The book had some comedy thrown into it because Pseudonymous Bosch is just funny.  It is similar in style to The Secret Series.  I, also, liked it because it seemed like it was written just for me.  It was just plain awesome. 

What did you learn from it?
I liked that Bosch gave us blanks to fill in, as an example of what to write.  I learned little tips on what authors use sometimes when writing from the "how-to's". 

Why would you recommend it?
I would recommend it because it is well written and will appeal to a wide age range (from kids to adults).  I would also recommend it because the comedy is great.

Who would you recommend it to?
I would recommend it to almost anyone over the age of 9 or 10.  It seems great for anyone to read.  I would also recommend it to anyone who likes mystery books, mad libs, and funny books.

What should I have asked you about the book? 
You should have asked me what my favorite scene is, but my answer would have to be all of them. 

Thanks Jax for that awesome endorsement of Write This Book. 

My thoughts on this book:
Not that you really need my endorsement after reading Jax's thoughts, but I guess I need to chime in here.

Fans of The Secret Series will feel right at home with Bosch's trademark style and humor which starts right from the beginning.  He encourages readers to create their own titles and even come up with their own "nom de plume".  Bosch does not take anything for granted.  He recognizes that his young audience has many questions about writing and may not know even some of the first steps; however, he is never condescending to his audience.  Instead, I could not help but think about the amazing vocabulary that is used as part of word play (particularly in the notes on various pages).  It is not as if students would need to sit with a dictionary, but Bosch has a respect for the intelligence of his audience and their ability to grasp words and concepts.

Write This Book is an interactive text.  Readers are encouraged to write thoughts down, play with ideas, and try different exercises.  This would be a great book to use in summer writing groups or as part of a writing club at a school.    

For those of you in the Pasadena area, check out the this event at Vroman's Bookstore on Tuesday, April 2, 2013 where Pseudonymous Bosch and Story Pirates present Write This Book: A Do-It Yourself Mystery at McKinley School.

It's Monday! What are you reading? From Picture Books to YA - 3/25/13

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 read through a stack of books this week.  Some good, some okay, and some that were exceptional.

Here's what stood out from the pile....


Let's Go, Hugo! by Angela Dominguez (Dial, March 7, 2013) - A cute book about friendship and taking risks and accepting challenges. 


The Museum by Susan Verde; Illustrated by Peter H. Reynolds (Abrams, March 1, 2013) - Fans of Peter Reynolds' other books will enjoy this one.


Friends by Mies van Hout (Lemniscaat, April 1, 2013) - Simple but excellent.


Nelly May Has Her Say by Cynthia C. DeFelice; Illustrated by Henry Cole (Farrar, Straus, & Giroux,  March 19, 2013) - Just a fun book that made me laugh as several points.


Owly & Wormy, Bright Lights and Starry Nights by  Andy Runton (Atheneum Books for Young Children, November 13, 2012) - If you love Owly and Wormy, you'll enjoy this one.  If you haven't read an Owly book before, check this one out.


The Beatles were Fab by Kathleen Krull, Paul Brewer; Illustrated by Stacy Innerst (Harcourt Children's Books, March 19, 2013) - A really well done picture book biography.  I'll be reviewing this in the near future for Nonfiction Picture Book Wednesday.


Forest Has a Song by Amy Ludwig VanDerwater; Illustrated by Robbin Gourley (Clarion Books, March 26, 2013) - Just in time for National Poetry Month and spring.  Lovely book of poetry.  A review will be coming in the near future.


Otis Dooda by Ellen Potter; Illustrated by David Heatley (Feiwel & Friends, June 4, 2013) - I plan to review this one closer to the release date.  However, I will say that there are a lot of 8 year olds who are going to love this one.


Write This Book: A Do-It Yourself Mystery by Pseudonymous Bosch (Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, April 2, 2013) - Review coming tomorrow.

So, what are you reading this week?

Nonfiction Picture Book Wednesday - Who Says Women Can't Be Doctors?

Author: Tanya Lee Stone
Illustrated: Marjorie Priceman
Publisher: Henry Holt and Co. (February 19, 2013)
Source: Personal Copy
Audience: Ages 5 to 8
Nonfiction * Biography * Women's History * Women Doctors

Description from the Publisher's Website:
In the 1830s, when a brave and curious girl named Elizabeth Blackwell was growing up, women were supposed to be wives and mothers. Some women could be teachers or seamstresses, but career options were few. Certainly no women were doctors.

 But Elizabeth refused to accept the common beliefs that women weren’t smart enough to be doctors, or that they were too weak for such hard work. And she would not take no for an answer. Although she faced much opposition, she worked hard and finally—when she graduated from medical school and went on to have a brilliant career—proved her detractors wrong. This inspiring story of the first female doctor shows how one strong-willed woman opened the doors for all the female doctors to come.

My thoughts on this book:
First, I caught a glimpse of Who Says Women Can't Be Doctors? The Story of Elizabeth Blackwell a few months ago at ALA Midwinter.  At that time, I knew it would be a perfect book for both Nonfiction Picture Book Wednesday and also for Women's History Month.  This year, the theme of Women's History Month is Women Inspiring Innovation Through Imagination with a focus on women who have contributed to STEM (Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics) fields.   

Second, Tanya Lee Stone is the author of this book.  I almost feel like I need to say nothing more.  Seriously, Stone is an amazing, amazing author of nonfiction books.  I was recommending nonfiction titles to one of my librarians a few weeks ago, and suddenly I stopped and realized that nearly every title I had recommended was a book written by Stone.  And to top it all off, Tanya Lee Stone writes both picture books and nonfiction for older readers.

I guess I should finally get to my thoughts on Who Says Women Can't Be Doctors?

Stone tells the story of Elizabeth Blackwell who became the first woman doctor in the United States.  Not an easy thing in the mid-1800's.  Blackwell received 28 rejections from medical schools until she received an acceptance letter from Geneva Medical School in upstate New York.  Blackwell graduated from medical school in 1849 at the age of 28.  Though the book ends with Blackwell's graduation from Medical School, the end notes provide further information about the challenges Elizabeth faced.  Those challenges led her, with the assistance of her sister who also became a doctor, to eventually open up the New York Infirmary for Women and Children in 1857.  This was followed by the opening of a Women's Medical College in 1868. 

Though the book focuses more on Blackwell as a child and what factors led her to pursue becoming a doctor, the inclusion of the author's note rounds out the story.  Stone's description of Blackwell's personality and spirit as a child is humorously portrayed through Priceman's illustrations.  What shines through the story is the determination and strength that Blackwell possessed that allowed her to break ground for other women to later become doctors. 

With Blackwell's text and Priceman's spirited illustrations, young readers will find this story very accessible.  If you love looking for nonfiction picture books or nonfiction biographies, then you will want to add Who Says Women Can't Be Doctors? The Story of Elizabeth Blackwell to your personal collection or to a classroom or school library. 

Look for this book at your local bookstore and shop indie when possible.

More about Tanya Lee Stone: website | blog | twitter | facebook |


Don't forget to link up your nonfiction reviews: