Nonfiction Wednesday

 

I'm excited that Alyson Beecher, at Kid Lit Frenzy, is continuing her Nonfiction Picture Book Challenge for the third year in a row.

 

Lots of great biography reading this week!

 

 

The Right Word: Roget and His Thesaurus by Jen Bryant and Melissa Sweet

 

2014-book, biography, mock-caldecott-2015, mock-sibert-2015, model-for-writing, nonfiction, nonfiction-challenge-2014, vocabulary     I don't know why I bothered to get this from the library because, of course, I'm going to buy it! It's another brilliant project created by the amazing duo Jen Bryant and Melissa Sweet. I could pour over Sweet's illustrations forever. What an interesting man Roget was! Great timeline and author's/illustrator's notes at the end. Just gorgeous.     With Books and Bricks: How Booker T. Washington Built a School by Suzanne Slade, illustrated by Nicole Tadgell   2014-book, african-american, biography, grit, mock-caldecott-2015, nonfiction, nonfiction-challenge-2014, picture-book   "Success is to be measured not so much by the position that one has reached in life as by the obstacles which he has overcome while trying to succeed." - Booker T. Washington. Booker T. Washington realized that even though slavery had ended, he could only truly be free with an education. He built a school brick by brick in order to give others a chance, too. Amazing. I enjoyed the watercolor illustrations.

 

Hello, I'm Johnny Cash by G. Neri, illustrated by A.G. Ford

 

2014-book, biography, mock-caldecott-2015, music, nonfiction, nonfiction-challenge-2014, verse     I was so excited to see this biography in the library.  I miss Johnny Cash.  I grew up listening to Cash's music since my dad was a big fan.  I loved the illustrations by A.G. Ford - he captured Cash's presence and stance.  Cash had a complicated life, and his music captured the pain and joy.  I'm glad kids can be introduced to such a gifted musician through this book.  It cleans up his life a bit, but some of his darker times are touched upon in the author's note.     Mr. Ferris and His Wheel by Kathryn Gibbs Davis, illustrated by Gilbert Ford   2014-book, biography, creativity, grit, imagination, mock-caldecott-2015, nonfiction, nonfiction-challenge-2014, picture-book     I love George Ferris's story and his determination to build something as far-fetched as his wheel. The illustrations are in purple, pink, and blue hues, capturing the lights and blue skies of Chicago. I can't imagine what it must have been like to be one of the first people up in those cars!     Viva Frida by Yuyi Morales   2014-book, art, biography, creativity, mock-caldecott-2015, multicultural, nonfiction, nonfiction-challenge-2014, weneeddiversebooks

 

This is such a unique and different book. I think it takes several times through to completely appreciate it since there is only spare text (Spanish and English). It is not a biography in the sense that it's main purpose is to teach you all about Frida Kahlo. It seems to me the purpose is to experience her creativity and luminosity through Morales's own art. The puppets and settings Morales created for the book are incredible - I'd love to see her studio! If you want more information about Kahlo...more This is such a unique book. I think it takes several times through to completely appreciate it since there is only spare text (Spanish and English). It is not a biography in the sense that it's main purpose is to teach you all about Frida Kahlo. It seems to me the purpose is to experience her creativity and luminosity through Morales's own art and poetic language. The puppets and settings Morales created for the book are incredible - I'd love to see her studio! If you want more information about Kahlo and how the book shows her work and life, read the author's note at the end first.

 



 

Friends for Freedom: The Story of Susan B. Anthony and Frederick Douglas by Suzanne Slade, illustrated by Nicole Tadgell

 

2014-book, african-american, biography, civil-rights, history, human-rights, nonfiction, nonfiction-challenge-2014, picture-book, slavery, social-injustice, social-studies-connections, women   Another book by the Slade/Tadgell team!  My students just finished reading a play adapted from Frederick Douglass's autobiography, so I think they'll enjoy reading this biography about the friendship of he and Susan B. Anthony. I thought it was interesting that the two also battled with each other at times. Their friendship of 45 years lasted until Douglass's death in 1895. Douglass lived long enough to see both the 13th and 15th Amendments pass, but unfortunately, Anthony died 14 years before the 19th Amendment. Both endured hardships...more My students just finished reading a play adapted from Frederick Douglass's autobiography, so I think they'll enjoy reading this biography about the friendship of he and Susan B. Anthony. I thought it was interesting that the two also battled with each other at times. Their friendship of 45 years lasted until Douglass's death in 1895. Douglass lived long enough to see both the 13th and 15th Amendments pass, but unfortunately, Anthony died 14 years before the 19th Amendment. Both endured hardships trying to fight for the equal rights of African Americans and women - we owe a lot to them.   What nonfiction did YOU read this week?  I really enjoyed reading about these fascinating people!