The Illustrator’s Life

Asked about African American leaders, American students probably think first of such historical figures as Martin Luther King, Jr., and Rosa Parks. However, there are many other African American leaders who have been left out of school lessons and therefore unrecognized for their work. This text is a first step towards changing that, at least for the story of Ira Aldridge. This child-friendly biography lays out Ira Aldridge’s life in the form of a narrative story.

The balance of text and nonfiction text features, such as images, captions, bold words, a timeline, and a glossary, supports younger readers who are transitioning into more informative reading. This book has been adapted from a picture book, and it would be the perfect addition to a themed set of texts which would provide a differentiated reading experience for more advanced readers. This text highlights Aldridge’s life in a well-rounded way, enabling readers to learn about Aldridge the boy who loved theater, Aldridge the actor who lived Shakespeare’s words, Aldridge the dreamer who forged his own path, and Aldridge the gifted performer who inspired audiences.

It is extremely important for readers to experience texts that act as mirrors and allow children to see themselves reflected in the stories they read, and this book functions effectively as a mirror for young boys, especially African American boys. Just as essential are texts that act as windows into other people’s experiences, to build empathy and understanding for others. This book will function effectively for all children in that way. This book would be a perfect addition to any upper elementary classroom.

Long ago, when the world was still being formed, a woman named Guk breathed life into a walrus and a caribou. Her original designs didn't work out quite the way she hoped, but it's hard to get it all right on the first try! Through experience, she gains new ideas about how to "fix" the animals, revealing how they came to look the way they do today. Harper has created a playful retelling of a traditional folktale from the Inuit North. The text is sparse but lively and accompanied by charming, humorous illustrations.

The author's introduction to her connection with Inuit folktales adds a personal touch that reminds readers of the importance of folktales and serves as a great conversation starter. A short but welcoming glossary provides a pronunciation guide to the Inuit words found in the story, giving readers another way to connect with the Inuit culture. Overall, this is a quick, playful read, perfect for reluctant readers and those who enjoy creation stories. Recommended.

Kiyo Sato’s story opens on her last night of freedom in February 1942. Ever since the Japanese Air Force bombed Pearl Harbor on December 8, 1941, Kiyo has felt shunned by her fellow college students. Now, against the urging of his wife Eleanor, President Roosevelt has ordered that all people with one-sixteenth or more of Japanese heritage must leave the West Coast, specifically the states of California, Oregon, and Washington. They must abandon their home, work, and daily life; they are only allowed to take one suitcase of belongings each.

As Kiyo helps her seven younger brothers and sisters pack, her mother anxiously prepares food for the journey to nowhere and cleans the house for their return. Little do they know that they will not return for years, that their father will have to sell some of his land at low prices, and that his prized tractor will disappear during the war years. Nor do they expect that their house will be occupied by a single mother and her children when they return home in 1945, after three years of incarceration.

Author Connie Goldsmith, a writing colleague of Kiyo Sato’s, traces the arc of her life as a young student and Nisei (American son or daughter born to Japanese immigrant) at the beginning of WWII through her life in internment camps in California and Arizona to her role as a prominent speaker on the history of the American internment of United States citizens of Japanese heritage and the loss of their property and rights during and after the war. Throughout the book, Goldsmith emphasizes the strong values shared by Kiyo and her siblings, six of whom served in the U.S. military. Kiyo served as a nurse in the Korean War and then found work as a school nurse. With their parents, the children cleaned up their neglected farm and house and returned to the farming business their family had started. However, even as a student in college, Kiyo discovered that telling her story was a way to share aspects of American history unknown to many Americans. Restoring that hidden history became her avocation. This book continues her work, by bringing her story to a wider audience of young teens. Recommended for school and public libraries, as well as classes in American history and leadership.

Follow a young Black boy through his early years with this loving and lyrical tale. Here is a reassurance of one's worth and importance simply for being who you are, regardless of the sound of your name or the color of your skin. The story reads as a love letter from a parent to a child. Here, the parent tells the child that he matters because matter is made of all things in the universe, including energy, stars, and space. The child was dreamt of by ancestors who came before him. The child is affirmed that when he was born the sky was full of light, hope, and love. First steps, first words, first books for the child are celebrated here. Yes, life can be challenging at times, such as when the child does not feel seen or struggles with an assignment at school. Life can seem even more challenging when racial injustices happen and police brutality takes the lives of people with similar skin color. The child is reminded that despite those atrocities, he matters and always will. This is a truly beautiful love letter to young black and brown children that all should read and hold true. The illustrations are bold and compelling, being colorful and inspired by a quilt-like effect. This is a "must-have" for any home or classroom with young children.

Author Levine and illustrator Spookytooth introduce children to the different ways eyes function in a variety of animals. The narrative is framed as a series of wonderings, as a diverse group of children imagine what life would look like through the eyes of several different animals. A freckled girl with glasses imagines seeing the world through eight eyes, like a spider. A girl in a headscarf is pictured viewing the world like a starfish, through six eyes on the ends of six arms. Some imagine seeing through eyes with different shaped pupils, such as those of horses, cats, and snakes; others imagine seeing different colors, in the manner of dogs, birds, and butterflies. Levine often explains why scientists think these differences exist, and the advantages they give to different animals.

Some, though, could use more information. For example, how does having eight eyes help a spider? What are the advantages of having immovable eyes like an owl? Spookytooth’s acrylic illustrations help children visualize each difference by showing how it would look on a human. The hand-lettered font may be a little challenging for new readers, but it combines with the bold lettering of the questions and the illustrations of animals and children to create a visually interesting spread. The back matter includes some activities for “seeing” like other animals, a glossary, and a list of books and websites for more information. Readers would probably appreciate more detailed information about some of the animals discussed in the narrative, but this is an intriguing concept book that will whet children’s interest.

A puppet master uses a dangerous power to secure a place aboard a royal ship for an audience with a king rumored to have a spring that cures all ills. Inspired by Asian cultures and French colonialism.