Mrs. Gazaleh Recommends….
Biography – December 2013
Nelson Mandela by Kadir
Nelson
Nurse, Soldier, Spy: The
Story of Sarah Edmonds
by Marissa Moss
Daniel Hale Williams by
Mike Venezia
This picture book biography matches Mandela's
achievements with powerful images that will hold readers'
attention. The paintings range from poignant, when
Mandela's mother tells him good-bye as he leaves home
for more education at the age of nine, to exuberant, when
Mandela and 100 men arrested for protesting apartheid
respond by dancing and singing, to inspiring, when people
organize rallies demanding his release. When freedom
comes, "a colorful sea of people" celebrate. Mandela's
heroic struggle might be new to many children today, and
this book gives a sense of the man and his important
place in history.
As a teen, Sarah Emma Edmonds ran away from home to
avoid an arranged marriage. To make her journey safer,
she left Canada for Michigan dressed as a man. She
quickly decided that she liked the freedom it gave her and
became traveling salesman "Frank Thompson." When the
Civil War began, she enlisted as a soldier and eventually
became an army nurse and a spy. Moss targets a short
period in Edmonds's life in this picture-book biography,
covering her enlistment and first spying assignment.
Daniele Hale Williams was the founder of the first nonsegregated hospital in the United States. After accepting
work as a doctor's apprentice, Williams attended medical
school. Upon experiencing discrimination when applying
for jobs, Williams decided to open his own practice, in
1891. Provident Hospital, in Chicago, was founded as a
place that would treat all patients, regardless of color, and
would accept and train black doctors and nurses. One of
Williams' most significant contributions to the field of
medicine was being one of the first surgeons to operate
on the area around the heart. Though the book appears
slight, the conversational tone makes for an engaging and
surprisingly informative read.
Rachel Carson by Jill C.
Rachel Carson built her career believing that all living
Wheeler
things are connected and that humankind’s actions are not
without impact on nature. During her youth on the banks
of the Allegheny River in Pennsylvania, Carson developed
a profound respect for the intricacies of the environment.
She had her first story published by a magazine when she
was 11. Carson’s real genius was that she found a way to
marry her passion and personal strength—writing and
environmentalism—to forge a niche that was not only
unique to contemporary women but to the field of science.
Kids can also explore nature by building their own
terrarium per directions in the appendix.
Lincoln Tells a Joke: How The legends about Lincoln are many: his log-cabin
Laughter Saved the
childhood, his honesty, his eloquence. What is less-often
President (and the
discussed is how he used humor to diffuse tense political
Country) by Kathleen Krull situations, disarm critics, and undo the stresses of running
and Paul Brewer
the country. His love of words in general, and jokes and
humor more specifically, helped him throughout his life
when things were difficult and downright dire, as they
often were during the Civil War. He is portrayed as an
accessible and sympathetic figure. Innerst's colorful acrylic
illustrations cover the entire page and perfectly
complement the text and the subject matter, making this a
standout biography.
Stone Girl, Bone Girl: The
Story of Mary Anning by
Laurence Anholt
Strong Man: The Story of
Charles Atlas by Meghan
McCarthy
Mary Anning, born in England in 1799, made an
astounding discovery at age 12 when she unearthed the
first full skeleton of a giant ichthyosaur in the cliffs above
her home in Lyme Regis. This incident — in which she
was helped by a little dog she rescued from a cemetery —
was the beginning of a long career that saw Mary become
the world’s best-known fossil hunter. Laurence Anholt
turns Mary’s fascinating life into a perfect read-aloud,
while Sheila Moxley’s luscious pictures vividly evoke the
coastal setting and dramas of Mary's exciting life.
This book describes the scrawny Italian immigrant's
boyhood in Brooklyn and – when he was older - the
storied seaside encounter with a sand-kicking bully.
Determined to change his life, the young man decided to
change his body. While at the zoo, he watched a lion
stretch and noticed its muscles rippling beneath its skin.
He devised an exercise routine that pitted one muscle
against another, gradually becoming "Strong as an ox!"
The rest of the book covers his new name, his success as
a sideshow strongman and bodybuilder, his famed fitness
course, and his emphasis on healthy living. An author's
note makes it clear that Atlas's story has been much
mythologized and that little is known about his private life.
Sky High: The True Story In this biographical picture book, Gee describes her
of Maggie Gee by Marissa dreams of someday flying over places such as the Eiffel
Moss
Tower and the pyramids. When World War II started, she
learned about the Women Airforce Service Pilots and
knew that she wanted to join them. After attending flight
school, she was one of the few chosen to train as a
WASP. She flew several missions, some of which were
fun (training exercises were "like playing tag in the air")
and some of which were frightening. An author's note
provides more information with photographs of Gee and
her family members. Her story is an inspiration for children
that they can achieve whatever they put their minds to.
The Last Princess: The
The day she was born, bells rang joyously--at last there
Story of Princess Kaiulani was an heir to the Hawai'ian throne. But although this
of Hawaii by Fay Stanley
beautiful young princess worked tirelessly to prepare
herself to rule, and fought bravely to protect the rights of
her beloved people, she would never be queen. When it
was first published, The Last Princess: The Story of
Princess Ka'iulani of Hawai'i won many honors for its text
and brilliantly colored illustrations. In this reissued edition
of an inspired collaboration, author Fay Stanley tells the
touching, bittersweet story of Princess Ka'iulani and open
a window onto a nation's history that is often forgotten.
Spellbinder: The Life of
Harry Houdini by Tom
Lalicki
Osceola 1804-1838 by
Rachel A. Koestly-Grack
In this engaging biography, Lalicki weaves together
information about the magician's personal life and his
public exploits. Born Ehrich Weiss, Houdini started
performing at an early age and followed his ambitions as
they led him around the world, performing stunts and
illusions that baffled the crowds. The book recounts his
most famous tricks, including his escape, handcuffed and
chained, from a locked packing case submerged in a bay.
Black-and-white reproductions of posters are included, as
are publicity shots and dramatic photos of Houdini
performing some of his most theatrical stunts. An
appealing, accessible introduction to a consummate artist.
Can you imagine being forced to leave your home as a
young child without knowing where your family would live?
Osceola and the people in his village traveled from
present-day Alabama to northern Florida when he was just
10 years old. Together with other Creek people and other
American Indian groups, they became known as the
Seminole. As white settlers moved onto Seminole land,
Osceola's people were pushed farther south. Osceola
fought to protect his people's traditional way of life. His
leadership helped the Seminole keep their culture from
being completely wiped out.
Mozart: The Boy Who
Changed the World With
His Music by Marcus
Weeks
Author and musician Marcus Weeks takes us around
Mozart's world--from the Royal courts of 18th century
Europe to the opera houses and balls where Mozart
enjoyed triumph and fame. We meet the kings and queens
of the age, learn of the young Mozart's favorite games,
see the clothes he wore, and the new musical instruments
of the time. The lively text also gives readers an
appreciation of Mozart's vast legacy of immortal music.