Nonfiction and Biography
Bryant,
J. (2014). The right word: Roget and his
thesaurus. Ill. by Melissa Sweet. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans Books for Young Readers.
ISBN 9780802853851
PLOT SUMMARY
Peter
Mark Roget was about eight-years-old when he began creating word lists. He often found himself taking walks in the
garden and writing lists of words with similar and opposing meanings. Even as Roget went on to become a well-respected
physician and inventor, he never lost his passion for having the right word.
CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Jen
Bryant created an amazingly account of Peter Roget’s life and love of
words. The text of the story keeps the
focus on Roget by avoiding showy, unnecessary words. The illustrations, by Melissa Sweet, are
comprised of a variety of mixed media such as vintage bingo numbers. Sweet also uses varied formats to create her
illustrations including standard story frames, shadow boxes, and junk journal
pages to highlight Roget’s love of words.
REVIW EXCERPTS
“Together
with Bryant’s sympathetic account, Sweet’s gentle riot of images and words humanized
the man behind this ubiquitous reference work and demystifies the thesaurus
itself.” – Publisher’s Weekly, Starred Review
“Echoing
Roget’s obsession with words, Sweet’s intricate and elaborate college illustrations
– made out of textbooks, graph paper, maps, fabric, typewriter keys, and other
found objects – put words on center stage.” – Booklist, Starred Review
CONNECTIONS
This
would be a wonderful book to use to introduce and extend a word choice lesson
in writing.
Jenkins,
S. (2002). Life on Earth: The story of evolution.
Boston: Houghton Mifflin.
PLOT SUMMARY
Life
on Earth tells the history of the earth and how plants, animals, and people
came into being through the process of evolution. The story begins well over 3 billion
years ago, chronicling the development of various life forms from the simple to
the complex and continues to encompass species extinctions and Charles Darwin’s
theory of evolution.
CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Steve
Jenkins provides young readers the opportunity to explore the great question of
how life on Earth began without being offensive. Jenkins on briefly mentions the common belief
about life prior to Darwinism without explicitly pointing the finger at creationism. While the illustrations are beautifully rendered,
they are somewhat disappointing as they seem to be constructed more out of the
need to take up white space, without consideration of their relative size.
REVIEW EXCERPTS
“The
author has taken on the formidable task of investigating the scientific theories
of the innumerable branchings, proliferations, and extinctions of life on planet
Earth. His lucid text primordial ocean
to the appearance of modern man.” – School
Library Journal, Starred Review
“Because
evolution is sometimes not taught in all schools, so few good texts exist on it
for this age. Factual and fascinating,
this one belongs in every library.” -Kirkus
Review
CONNECTIONS
In
a school where evolution is taught, this would be a great beginner book to use
to help students develop an understanding of evolution. In a school where evolution is not taught,
this is a great book to have as a resource for student research.
Freedman,
R. (2004). The voice that challenged a
nation: Marian Anderson and the struggle for equal rights. New York: Clarion
Books.
PLOT SUMMARY
Marian
Anderson had a natural talent for singing.
As a young girl, growing up in Philadelphia, Marian received
overwhelming support to help her develop her budding musical talents and
education. She toured the United States but
became unhappy about not being able to find a tour manager and having to deal
with the Jim Crow laws of the South.
Marian went on to find the success and acceptance she had been yearning
for in Europe. Upon her return to the
United States she found her battles with inequality were far from over. When the Daughters of the American Revolution
(DAR) refused to allow her to perform in Constitution Hall in Washington, D.C.,
because she was black, Anderson unintentionally became the face of equal rights
as politicians, dignitaries, and celebrities became her mouthpiece for change.
CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Russell
Freedman presents an endearing story of perseverance in Marian Anderson. The author provides detailed and balanced account
of Anderson’s personal and professional life, including her struggles and
triumphs. Beautiful black and white photographs
provide archrival support, not only in the telling of Anderson’s story, but it’s
timeline as well.
REVIEW EXCERPTS
“Copious
quotes form Anderson’s autobiography, papers and interviews her resonant voice –
and personal grace – to animate these pages.” -Publisher’s Weekly, Starred Review
“Well-chosen,
well-placed archrival photographs, clear writing, abundant research seamlessly
woven into the text, and careful documentation make an outstanding, handsome
biography.” -Kirkus Review
CONNECTIONS
This
book can be used to support curriculum on the equal rights movement. It can also be used to develop a compare and
contrast model of the differences in racial tolerance between the United States
and European countries before and after World War II.
Nelson,
K. (2008). We are the ship: The story of Negro
league baseball. New York: Jump at the Sun.
PLOT SUMMARY
We are the Ship is more than a history
of the Negro league baseball, from its humble beginnings, led by Rube Foster in
1920 to its demise nearly three decades later.
It is a testament of the passion which drove the players, African American
and Latino alike, to suffer the indignities of racial discrimination, all for
the love of the game.
CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Khadir
Nelson does an excellent job of combining quality storytelling with amazing
illustrations to create an undeniable page-turner. The
author’s use of collective voice narration is so masterful in its telling, the
reader feels almost as if they are listening to group of players relaying the
league’s history. He further enhances the
writing in cataloguing many of the leagues movers and shakers, on and off the field,
in ins beautifully detailed paintings.
These renderings capture the features of the players and personalities
of the story with a perfect balance of shadow, light, tone and texture. Nelson’s illustrations could function solely
as a pictorial history of Negro league baseball.
REVIEW EXCERPTS
“Using
the voice of “Everyman” in the league, this book will attract readers because
of the full and double-page, vibrant, realistic oil paintings, and immerse the
reader in the compelling story being told.” -Library
Media Connection
“If
the story is the pitch, though, it's the artwork that blasts the book into the
stands.” -Booklist, Starred Review
CONNECTIONS
The
illustrations in the book could be used in an art lesson on how to develop
physical characteristics such as defining cheekbones and muscles.
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