Wilbur and Orville Wright: the Flight to Adventure
Louis Sabin
Published by Troll Associates
What I want to highlight in this blog post is the publisher. About 20 years ago, my husband and I brought home stack after stack of children's biographies from the library on a very specific quest. We were looking for books about famous people that were told with an engaging narrative style. We found many biographies that were packed with wonderful information and would serve a child well who had to do some research or who enjoyed information books. It was more difficult to find a biography that had both information and an enjoyable narrative. We discovered that the Troll Books had this very aim. We found that book after book in this series recounted the lives of famous people from the standpoint of how they overcame obstacles from the time they were young in order to accomplish something. In the case of the the Wright Brothers, their pursuits reveal the virtues of hard work and of close family relationships. The author, Louis Sabin, wrote several biographies for Troll in the style they were looking for. Some of them are:
Andrew Jackson: Frontier Patriot
Jim Beckwourth: Adventures of a Mountain Man
Roberto Clemente: Young Baseball Hero
Young Mark Twain
The Great Houdini: Daring Escape Artist
Sabin also wrote many informational books for children. The range of topics is impressive: weather, grasslands, reptiles, radio, space exploration, plants and seeds... Here is a link from a website about authors that provides a list of books by Sabin.
http://www.jacketflap.com/louis-sabin/97476
And I cannot end this post without telling you about one more great book about the Wright brothers. (There are so many great books about them!)
The Wright Brothers: How They Invented the Airplane by Russell Freedman.
First, any book by Russell Freedman is awesome - and I mean it! He is the gold standard in nonfiction books for children. This book is full of rare photos taken by the Wright Brothers and it describes in good historical detail how they went about accomplishing their big dream. On top of all the good facts, this book won the Newbery Honor - the yearly award for the best book written for children. I rest my case.
Wednesday, May 30, 2012
Friday, May 4, 2012
Sybil Rides for Independence
Sybil Rides for Independence
Drollene Brown
The story of Paul Revere's famous daring ride has been immortalized in the poem by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. Listen my children and you shall hear...of the midnight ride of Paul Revere... Who can blame us all if we are captivated by the poetic retelling of that historical night in America's history? Though not etched in our historical memory by means of a famous poem, there were other riders that night who also bravely rode through the countryside to warn the colonists of the coming of the British army: one was William Dawes and the other was a 16 -year old girl named Sybil Ludington. Readers of this story catch the spirit of Sybil and how she pushed through fear to rise up to meet the moment and make a difference. The end of the book provides the historical fact upon which this biography is based.
Several other authors have written biographies for children about Sybil Luddington. I recommend that you go to the library and do a computer subject search. You may get lucky and be able to bring home several versions of this exciting true story. Each one will illustrate the time, place, and action in a unique way. And, while you are there, by all means check out a picture book version of the Longfellow poem on Paul Revere.
Drollene Brown
The story of Paul Revere's famous daring ride has been immortalized in the poem by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. Listen my children and you shall hear...of the midnight ride of Paul Revere... Who can blame us all if we are captivated by the poetic retelling of that historical night in America's history? Though not etched in our historical memory by means of a famous poem, there were other riders that night who also bravely rode through the countryside to warn the colonists of the coming of the British army: one was William Dawes and the other was a 16 -year old girl named Sybil Ludington. Readers of this story catch the spirit of Sybil and how she pushed through fear to rise up to meet the moment and make a difference. The end of the book provides the historical fact upon which this biography is based.
Several other authors have written biographies for children about Sybil Luddington. I recommend that you go to the library and do a computer subject search. You may get lucky and be able to bring home several versions of this exciting true story. Each one will illustrate the time, place, and action in a unique way. And, while you are there, by all means check out a picture book version of the Longfellow poem on Paul Revere.
Thursday, May 3, 2012
Louis Braille: The Boy Who Invented Books for the Blind
Louis Braille. The Boy Who Invented Books for the Blind
Margaret Davidson
In my experience children are always interested in the life of Louis Braille. As a little boy he was able to see, and then one day he plays with an awl and he hurts his eye. Next, the book describes how he loses his ability to see one object after another. The story goes on to portray how mentors help him go to school and teach him a way to read and write. Even more fascinating is how, as a young boy, he sets out to find a better system to enable the blind to read. Gaining acceptance for the idea took his entire life. By the end of the biography, children are affected on many levels and often feel very close to Louis Braille and to the book itself.
Of course, your reader will want to try reading Braille too. This Scholastic biography shows them the alphabet. Margaret Davidson was a prolific author of biographies for children. Here are some of her other titles:
The Story of Eleanor Roosevelt
Helen Keller
Helen Keller's Teacher
The Story of Jackie Robinson: Bravest Man in Baseball
Frederick Douglass Fights for Freedom
The Story of Golda Meir
Reading level is grades 3-6, but these can be read aloud to younger children and I recommend that you do!
Margaret Davidson
In my experience children are always interested in the life of Louis Braille. As a little boy he was able to see, and then one day he plays with an awl and he hurts his eye. Next, the book describes how he loses his ability to see one object after another. The story goes on to portray how mentors help him go to school and teach him a way to read and write. Even more fascinating is how, as a young boy, he sets out to find a better system to enable the blind to read. Gaining acceptance for the idea took his entire life. By the end of the biography, children are affected on many levels and often feel very close to Louis Braille and to the book itself.
Of course, your reader will want to try reading Braille too. This Scholastic biography shows them the alphabet. Margaret Davidson was a prolific author of biographies for children. Here are some of her other titles:
The Story of Eleanor Roosevelt
Helen Keller
Helen Keller's Teacher
The Story of Jackie Robinson: Bravest Man in Baseball
Frederick Douglass Fights for Freedom
The Story of Golda Meir
Reading level is grades 3-6, but these can be read aloud to younger children and I recommend that you do!
Wednesday, May 2, 2012
Elizabeth Blackwell: A Doctor's Triumph
Elizabeth Blackwell: A Doctor's Triumph
by Nancy Kline
Blackwell bravely struggled to become a doctor during a time when society shunned women in the medical field. Her persistence throughout the obstacles and ostracism she faced in medical school is truly inspiring. This was one of the first biographies I read almost 30 years ago when I began the search for readable inspiring stories to share with students. The impression has stayed with me until now.
If you can't find this particular story, there have been several others about her published over the years. If you read another good version, publish a comment and let us know!
I hesitate to assign grade or age levels. These levels are general suggestions due to the fact that younger children probably would not have the stamina to listen to the longer books. Also not all content is suitable for younger children. But all ages would enjoy hearing or reading the stories on the list marked for PreK-4.
by Nancy Kline
Blackwell bravely struggled to become a doctor during a time when society shunned women in the medical field. Her persistence throughout the obstacles and ostracism she faced in medical school is truly inspiring. This was one of the first biographies I read almost 30 years ago when I began the search for readable inspiring stories to share with students. The impression has stayed with me until now.
If you can't find this particular story, there have been several others about her published over the years. If you read another good version, publish a comment and let us know!
I hesitate to assign grade or age levels. These levels are general suggestions due to the fact that younger children probably would not have the stamina to listen to the longer books. Also not all content is suitable for younger children. But all ages would enjoy hearing or reading the stories on the list marked for PreK-4.
Monday, April 30, 2012
More Than Anything Else Booker T. Washington
More Than Anything Else Booker T. Washington
Marie Bradby Illus. Chris Soentpiet
What did he want more than anything else? Booker at nine years of age hungered to learn to read. Although he had to work all day long in the salt mines, his desire to read was greater than sleep or rest or food. The author says she wrote this book when her son was five and was learning to read. Bradby writes beautifully and her words combine with Soentpiet's watercolor illustrations with a harmonious effect.
You might like to visit the websites of illustrators. You can view good layouts of their work and discover other books by artists you come to like. On this website I discovered the fact that Soentpiet and Marie Bradby won many awards for More Than Anything Else. The list goes all the way down the page!
http://www.soentpiet.com/more.htm
I hesitate to assign grade or age levels. These levels are general suggestions due to the fact that younger children probably would not have the stamina to listen to the longer books. Also not all content is suitable for younger children. But all ages would enjoy hearing or reading the stories on the list marked for PreK-4.
Marie Bradby Illus. Chris Soentpiet
What did he want more than anything else? Booker at nine years of age hungered to learn to read. Although he had to work all day long in the salt mines, his desire to read was greater than sleep or rest or food. The author says she wrote this book when her son was five and was learning to read. Bradby writes beautifully and her words combine with Soentpiet's watercolor illustrations with a harmonious effect.
You might like to visit the websites of illustrators. You can view good layouts of their work and discover other books by artists you come to like. On this website I discovered the fact that Soentpiet and Marie Bradby won many awards for More Than Anything Else. The list goes all the way down the page!
http://www.soentpiet.com/more.htm
I hesitate to assign grade or age levels. These levels are general suggestions due to the fact that younger children probably would not have the stamina to listen to the longer books. Also not all content is suitable for younger children. But all ages would enjoy hearing or reading the stories on the list marked for PreK-4.
Wednesday, April 4, 2012
Thomas Alva Edison, Great Inventor
Thomas Alva Edison, Great Inventor
David A. Adler
When Edison was a little boy, he constantly asked questions. That's one huge tip to take from his childhood for our own children. His curiosity and determination led him to invent many useful things. From his experience concerning the usefulness of mistakes came his memorable quote: "genius is one percent inspiration and ninety-nine percent perspiration." He knew that to get the results you want you just have to keep trying over and over and over.
David Adler wrote other biographies for this age too. His books relate facts but he couches them in a pleasant narrative.
I hesitate to assign grade or age levels. These levels are general suggestions due to the fact that younger children probably would not have the stamina to listen to the longer books. Also not all content is suitable for younger children. But all ages would enjoy hearing or reading the stories on the list marked for PreK-4.
David A. Adler
When Edison was a little boy, he constantly asked questions. That's one huge tip to take from his childhood for our own children. His curiosity and determination led him to invent many useful things. From his experience concerning the usefulness of mistakes came his memorable quote: "genius is one percent inspiration and ninety-nine percent perspiration." He knew that to get the results you want you just have to keep trying over and over and over.
David Adler wrote other biographies for this age too. His books relate facts but he couches them in a pleasant narrative.
I hesitate to assign grade or age levels. These levels are general suggestions due to the fact that younger children probably would not have the stamina to listen to the longer books. Also not all content is suitable for younger children. But all ages would enjoy hearing or reading the stories on the list marked for PreK-4.
Tuesday, April 3, 2012
Buttons for General Washington
Buttons for General Washington
Peter and Connie Roop
This is just one episode from the Revolutionary War retold in story form in which a boy delivers a message to General Washington hidden in his buttons. Exciting! He needs to summon his courage in order to carry out a big responsibility. Technically, reconstructed historical narratives are classified as historical fiction. However, I have tagged them as biographies because they are also true stories of real people. Inspiring anecdotes from the lives of ordinary people can leave the same imprints on a child's mind as those of famous people. A good story narrative engages the listener and dramatizes the virtue in action. Washington is in the background in this one, but children can become intimate with the lives of heroes over time by reading many many stories in which they are present.
You can trust anything written by the Roops! They will show up in this blog a few more times.
I hesitate to assign grade or age levels. These levels are general suggestions due to the fact that younger children probably would not have the stamina to listen to the longer books. Also not all content is suitable for younger children. But all ages would enjoy hearing or reading the stories on the list marked for PreK-4.
Peter and Connie Roop
This is just one episode from the Revolutionary War retold in story form in which a boy delivers a message to General Washington hidden in his buttons. Exciting! He needs to summon his courage in order to carry out a big responsibility. Technically, reconstructed historical narratives are classified as historical fiction. However, I have tagged them as biographies because they are also true stories of real people. Inspiring anecdotes from the lives of ordinary people can leave the same imprints on a child's mind as those of famous people. A good story narrative engages the listener and dramatizes the virtue in action. Washington is in the background in this one, but children can become intimate with the lives of heroes over time by reading many many stories in which they are present.
You can trust anything written by the Roops! They will show up in this blog a few more times.
I hesitate to assign grade or age levels. These levels are general suggestions due to the fact that younger children probably would not have the stamina to listen to the longer books. Also not all content is suitable for younger children. But all ages would enjoy hearing or reading the stories on the list marked for PreK-4.
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