As part of the Non-Fiction Picture Book Challenge 2012 (Twitter: #nfpb2012), I am going to attempt to read and review as many of the new non-fiction picture books that are released this year. Wednesdays will be my primary day to post the reviews. If you are participating in the challenge and would like to link your recent reviews, please add your link to the Mr. Linky below.
Author: Shana Corey
Illustrator: Hadley Hooper
Publisher: Scholastic Press (January 1, 2012)
Audience:
In honor of the 100th anniversary of the Girl Scouts, there were likely be a number of books coming out for all age readers. However, I feel like I have already stumbled upon the best one and there is still another 3 months to go until the official anniversary date of March 12th. Corey tells the delightful story of Juliette "Daisy" Gordon Low who lived at the end of the 19th Century and into the early 20th century. Low was way ahead of her time in how she viewed life, especially the role women could play in it. During her travels, Daisy discovered a group called the Boy Scouts and their sister group called Girl Guides in England. Daisy came back to the United States and on March 12, 1912 began the first Girl Scout meeting. Corey's narrative text is punctuated with highlighted words and side comments. Hooper captures the spirit of this adventurous woman and the era she lived in through her illustrations.
I had to pick this book up immediately upon seeing it. I am already schedule to read it to the two Daisy Troops we have at the school. Can't wait to see what they think of the book.
Author/Illustrator: Shane W. Evans
Publisher: Roaring Brook Press (January 3, 2012)
Audience:Ages 5 and up
I first discovered Shane W. Evans' work about a year ago when his book Underground: Finding the Light to Freedom came out. I was struck by the powerful simplicity of both his text and illustrations. We March is done in a similar manner. The focus of the story - the march from the Washington Monument to Lincoln Memorial where Martin Luther King, Jr. on August 28, 1963 delivered his "I have a Dream" speech. The book provides readers with a sense of the emotions experienced particularly by the youngest participants of the event. A great book to share with young children when talking about Martin Luther King, Jr.
Author: Jonah Winter
Illustrator: Marjorie Priceman
Publisher: Atheneum Books for Young Readers (January 3, 2012)
Audience:
From the cover, I knew this would be a fun read. The team of Winter and Priceman match rhythmic text with sassy illustrations for a story that honors the uniqueness of entertainer, Josephine Baker. After finishing Jazz Age Josephine, I kept thinking that I wanted to hear an audio recording of this book. The illustrations that accompany the text are fun, quirky, and energetic. The text consequently reads like it should be read with a particular rhythm or voice, a jazzy/scat voice. An enjoyable biographical picture book to add to a library collection.
