Dream Country gets 4.5 Stars {ya, historical fiction}

Dream Country comes out today!  On this day, when in America we think about freedom, you can grab a copy from Amazon, the library, or your favorite bookshop to read about a Liberian family (5 generations) searching and fighting for freedom. 

A Blog Tour means you get a chance to read what many of us thought of this newly published book by touring the participating blogs.  Yesterday, An Existence Transcribed shared her thoughts, and tomorrow you can head over to Jena Brown Writes to see what she thought of the the book.  Though this teen read is distressing, it is fantastic and adults as well as teens should give it a read.  

Dream Country  by Shannon Gibney is well deserving of it's 4.5 out of 5 stars in my review.  I found this young adult book to be a page turner.  It's a fascinating and enlightening story, that had me feeling for each of the characters in each of the parts of the story.   Dream Country is truly eye-opening to experiences and journey that spans almost 200 years for a family.

This book was broken up into 5 parts, each section was set during a different time with a different main character.  The parts of the story connect b/c they are all one family, but it isn't until you are in the last 2 sections you see how it all intertwines.  Too be honest, I loved the different sections of the story and the history that I learned with not only the historical events but how the people and main characters were treated.  The facts make the story interesting, but the character's feelings make the story powerful.  I loved the complex nature of the story that brought everything together.  I loved that the story of her family was created by Angel, a character you meet in the beginning.  She wrote the story for therapeutic purposes to help her understand not only her family, but also herself.  

Truly, Dream Country is a great book; it is well written (only one typo found).  The only improvement to the story would've been the curse words.  I felt the swearing was a bit excessive at the beginning, and a bit out of place in other sections.  Sometimes, I feel writing a book with that much language is in an effort to attract teen readers.  The story would've been just as powerful, if not more so, with less language.

Shannon Gibney's author note, at the end, explains how compelled she felt to write the story and who she hopes will read it.  "It is for anyone anywhere who has tried to make themselves whole through small pieces of a larger story they could cobble together.  It is for everything we have forgotten, and what we dream."

Dream Country is really great; I hope you get a chance to check it out.  I learned a ton, and found myself completely engrossed in Angel, Kollie, Togar, Yasmine, and Ujay's stories. 

My main thoughts while reading this book: Sad. Eye-Opening. Appreciative to know their stories. Sad tho.  Can't wait to her what you think of it. 

Happy Deep Insightful Distressing YA Historical Fiction Reading!  


Dream Country by Shannon Gibney
Rating: 4.5/5 stars
Best For: 15 and up, 9th grade and up
# of Pages:  337
Clean Read: No, a lot of language with mentions, though little detail, of violence and raping. 
Worth a Check Out: Yes, this book is deep and sad, but so very good.
Buy It or Not: This book is well written with a beautiful story entwined. Definitely worth a purchase.   
Book Club Discussion: What do you think of the term fictional canvas of fact in regards to the narrative family history Angel wrote?  Why do you think it was therapeutic for Angel to find out where she came from?  The author stated that "some stories you choose, and others choose you. How do you think that would change the writing experience?  Do you think Yasmine changed b/c of where she was at, or b/c of the experiences she had? 
Lesson Ideas: Refugees. Refugee Camps. Liberia/Congo conflict. American Colonization Society. Forced Labor Period. Liberian Civil War. Immigrants. African Americans and Black Americans. Monrovia. Slavery vs. Poor Wages. Racism.  

Once you read Dream Country, I'd love to hear what you thought of it.


More than a few quotes I loved from Dream Country: 

"They {curse words} were like ketchup on a hamburger or pepper in soup- they gave everything flavor." -Kollie

"The brilliant younger daughter who everyone liked, and the disappointing older son who just wouldn't try. Those had been their identities and their relationship to each other as long as he could remember." - referencing Angel and Kollie

"DAD CANNOT SAVE YOU FROM EVERYTHING. ESPECIALLY YOURSELF." - Angel

"They say that America is the Land of Opportunity, and I suppose that it is.  If you want to better yourself, they will give you the opportunity to do so. But if you want to destroy yourself, they will give you that opportunity too."

"I worry I done wrong, brining you here," Yasmine said. "I worry that this place making you-making us-different. Meaner. Smaller, somehow."

"Time for allowing and forbidding and punishing's long gone. Now's the time for acceptance. And happiness for what's to be, and what already is." - Lani

"This was his favorite part of being a father; the physical closeness between him and the child. They way it inexplicably, magically translate into emotional closeness." - Ujay

"Our bodies enclose the twisted threads of history- passes flesh to flesh, from parent to child, conquer to conquered, lover to beloved." -Angel 

I received an ARC from Penguin Young Readers in exchange for my review and honest opinion.  All of my thoughts, opinions, and words are my own.  

My Dear Hamilton gets 4.5 Stars {historical fiction, adult}

20 minutes.  That's how long I sat telling my husband about My Dear Hamilton.  It was one of those books I wanted to talk with someone about, but I didn't know anyone else that had read it.  Therefore, my poor husband becomes my sounding board.  

I shared with him the things that shocked me such as Alexander's well known scandal as well as the things Eliza found out after his death.  I was baffled that Gentlemen Duels lasted as long as they did.  I was surprised how Lafayette explained why an affair doesn't mean the husband doesn't love his wife.  I'm inspired with Eliza's dedication to serving and helping others.  I shared with him how wise her father, Philip Schulyer, was about what he chose to do with his wife's questionable actions.  I am amazed that Eliza was able to forgive and love through all that she suffered.   

Now, it took me far longer than 20 minutes to read this almost 700 page book. At times I felt like I was reading an incredibly well written US History book b/c the amount of factual history found inside these pages was impressive.  However, I do think the 637 pages was a bit excessive, and though I was anxious to turn the pages to find out what happened there were some moments that lulled and moved slower than I would've liked.  To be honest, I think that was my only qualm with the book.  

Hence the reason why My Dear Hamilton: A Novel of Eliza Schuyler Hamilton by Stephanie Dray and Laura Kamoie earned 4.5 out of 5 stars in my review.  

This book is fantastic.  It's a well written historical fiction novel with a story line that shocks (and per the author note at the end, all of the shocking things are factual), inspires, and educates you all at the same time.  I felt Eliza really grew and developed as a character, and the emotions you felt for her were captivating.

My Dear Hamilton, though long, is a great novel that is definitely worth a check-out.  Though, be warned that this new release novel will usually give you a limited check-out window from the library, so you'll have to read fast.      

My Dear Hamilton: A Novel of Eliza Schuyler Hamilton by Stephanie Dray and Laura Kamoie
Rating: 4.5/5 stars
Best For: Adults
Clean Read: Yes.  Though, there is talk of affairs, drinking,  homosexuality, and violence. 
Worth a Check Out: Yes.
Buy It or Not: If you love Historical Fictions and US History then buy it.
Read Aloud: No.
Book Club Discussion Ideas: There is an entire section in the back for book club questions; a few of my questions are: The Schuyler family's motto was Semper Fidelis- Always Faithful, Always Loyal. How does this play out in Eliza's life? Why was it important for Betsy to start going by the name Eliza? What did you think of the relationship among Eliza, Angelica, and Alexander?  How did Eliza's opinion of slavery evolve as she matured and aged? What did Eliza and her family sacrifice for the sake of the nation? What were Eliza's most important choices she made in her life?

This is an excellent, though long, historical fiction.

Just a few quotes I loved from My Dear Hamilton:  

"God put us here to make a better world." Eliza's mission her entire life. 

"The people we love are not exactly knowable. Even to themselves. But we love them anyway."

"Life, like backgammon, is a game of perseverance in which you're forced to choose the best move, even if it is only a choice between evils." 

"The only just way to judge a person is by the sum of their deeds, good and bad.  And in the balance, your father did far more good than harm.  That's all any of us can aim to do with our lives." 

Happy Interesting US History reading!  As always, I love to hear your thoughts on the book. 

Wolf Hollow gets 4 Stars {newbery honor, middle grade fiction, historical fiction}

Newbery Honor Award
Kindness
Compassion
Helping Others
Bullying
1940's Pennsylvania
WWI and the after affects. 

These are just a few of the tags you could give Wolf Hollow by Lauren Wolk.  This book is incredibly well written with a beautifully story with depth and a wonderful coming of age story.

Annabelle is a 12 year old girl in rural Pennsylvania.  She lives with her two younger brothers, parents, aunt, and grandma and grandparents on a farm.  There are forests, rolling hills, and a lot of history.  The telephone was just coming about, WWII had begun, and the people were still feeling the effects of the last world war.

Wolk did a fantastic job writing this story, and she is well deserving of the Newbery Honor.  The character development for the main characters was well done.  The story had depth with history, and the reader is able to gain a new perspective about that time period in rural America.

Wolf Hollow gets 4 out of 5 stars.  It truly is a beautiful story, and I highly recommended it for 5th grade and up.  I loved the way Annabelle grew and was able to stand up to Betty the bully.  I loved how kind and compassionate Annabelle was to Toby but also Mr. Ansel.  I loved how Annabelle felt sorry for Betty and felt like she was partly responsible, even though she wasn't.  I liked the relationship Annabelle had with her parents.  The story, in all of it's "not a happy ending" or "perfect family" portrayal felt real yet entertaining and relatable.

The setting and description of Wolf Hollow was just enough for the reader to picture it in his/her head, but it didn't overwhelm the reader with details.  The story felt homey and comfortable, but it wasn't predictable either.  I really enjoyed so many aspects of Wolf Hollow; it's a fabulous story.

With all of my praises for this book you may be curious why Wolf Hollow lost a star in my book review rating.  The story is a touch slow to get going; this was actually my 3rd time picking it up before I was able to finish it.  I also felt the transformation of Henry, Annabelle's younger brother, to be far to quick and abrupt.  He acted childish the entire story, but suddenly at the end he was mature.  I would've loved to have seen a slower more realistic development for this minor character.   Now you may be thinking people grow up in tough situations, but Henry's transformation seemed forgotten until the end.  My last reason for a less than perfect rating is the fact that few students will pick this book up to read.  This may have to be a Battle of the Books selection, or a teacher/parent will need to read it aloud with students to get them to read it.  I guess in general, this book doesn't grab a reader, even though there is a lot of value and literary merit for it.   

I do love that the way Creech wrote a Walk Two Moons seemed similar to Wolk's writing style in Wolf Hollow.  Also, the storyline of Wolf Hollow seemed similar to To Kill a Mockingbird.  Basically, Wolf Hollow is in good company, and it is a great book you should definitely check out.    

Happy Award Winning Well Written Historical reading! 


Wolf Hollow by Lauren Wolk
Rating: 4/5 stars
Best For: 10 - 13 year olds, 4th through 8th grade.
Worth a Check Out: Yes.
Buy It or Not: In should definitely be in school collections, but probably not personal collections. 
Read Aloud: Yes, a great historical read aloud for 5th grade and up.  
Lesson Ideas: History, 1940s, WWI, Veterans, Rural Pennsylvania, Farming, Bullying, Kindness, Photography, No judgement.  

That Book Woman gets 4 Stars {picture book, historical}

Happy Labor Day!  Most libraries are closed today, but I figured I'd share with you a story of some librarians that seriously labored no matter the day or weather.  The Pack Horse Librarians during the 1930s in the Appalachian Mountains are pretty much rock stars in my eyes.  They are the toughest librarians around.

That Book Woman by Heather Henson is a fantastic historical picture book that will teach you more about these amazing librarians who brought books to the people.  Even the people that lived. "So high, we hardly a sight, a soul."  The Pack Horse Librarians traveled miles upon miles through sunny weather as well as snow storms to share the joy of books with anyone and everyone.  Those librarians effort and love for sharing literature was truly powerful and impactful to even the most stubborn, like Cal.  I like to think librarians today can have similar influence on the Cals of the world with how they share their passions and love for reading and books with everyone.

I give That Book Woman 4 out of 5 stars.  It's a great book.  It's beautifully written and the illustrations are fantastic.  I feel the message the story shared was great and would entice the reader to want to learn more about these super tough and awesome Pack Horse Librarians.  

This book is best suited as a read aloud for 4th through 8th grade in my opinion.  It's a great book, but I don't see students gravitating to this book on their own.  I also see few students wanting to read the book on his or her own even after a teacher or librarian reads it aloud.  It's a great book, but it is limited in it's audience.  I think this limitation is the main reason this book lost a star in my rating.  It's a good historical picture book, but it isn't a great book that will be read over and over again.  

A great teacher and/or librarian could use That Book Woman to spark a study on life in rural settings during the great depression.  They could research more about life in the mountains, education for children during that time, and how the Pack Horse Librarians started.  Overall, it's a book with a lot of educational value, but a limited audience.   

Have you ever heard of the Pack Horse Librarians?      

Happy Inspiring Historical Fiction Picture Book reading! 

That Book Woman by Heather Henson
Rating: 4/5 stars
Best For: 10 - 13 year olds, 4th through 8th grade.
Worth a Check Out: Yes.
Buy It or Not: Librarians should definitely have this in their collection, and possibly their personal collections as well. 
Read Aloud: Upper elementary and middle school librarians and teachers could use this in many historical lessons.  
Lesson Ideas: History, 1930s West Virginia, Pack Horse Librarians, Power of reading, Great depression. 

Freedom Over Me gets 4 Stars {newbery honor, picture book, poetry}

Freedom Over Me: Eleven Slaves, Their Lives and Dreams Brought to Life by Ashley Bryan won a Newbery Honor this year for this poetic historical picture book. 

This book is about 11 slaves, their lives, their past, their dreams, and how much they cost.  The author, Bryan, came across a document of the Fairchilds Appraisement of the Estate document.  The document is shown above.  This document is what inspired Bryan to research, studied, and wrote what inspired her in free verse poetry.  

Bryan also painted all of the illustrations, including the one shown above and below.  The first page of poetry tells the life as a slave with the Fairchilds and their wishes for freedom.  The second page on each slave is a poem about their past. 
  

Freedom Over Me gets 4 out of 5 stars in my book review.  I think the story concept is fabulous.  I love the idea of life of slaves on an estate.  I love the idea of a book teachers can use in multiple sittings; I love that a teacher could teach at the same time language arts as well as social studies.  I love that the information is written poetically; free verse is usually really great for a read aloud and reluctant readers.  

However, there were a few things I would've liked to see differently.  The text is a little bland; the poems didn't grab or entice me to keep reading.  I also didn't like that the appraisal document that Bryan included and was inspired by only has 10 slaves on the list.  John never appears on the appraisal, but Bryan included him.  This little fact is bothersome.  Why add a slave that wasn't on the document, or why not add the slave to the document if you liked the sound of eleven slaves for a book?  This little detail is of course going to be noticed, so I feel Bryan should have at least included the reason for her action in the author's note.
  

Overall, this is a beautiful picture book. I feel it could've been better, but it is definitely a great purchase for a school or public library collection.  If you love American History or teach 5th grade or Social Studies this book would be a good purchase as well.  

Happy American History Picture Book Reading!

Freedom Over Me: Eleven Slaves, Their Lives and Dreams by Ashley Bryan
Rating: 4/5 stars
Best For: 10-14 yrs old, 4th through 8th grade
Worth a Check Out: Yes.
Buy It or Not: Not.
Read Aloud: It's a big long for a one sitting read aloud, but you could read it in small group settings over a couple different sittings.
Lesson Ideas: American History and poetry. 


Any other ideas on how you would use this book in the classroom? 

Freedom in Congo Square gets 5 Stars {picture book, caldecott honor}

Simple yet deep.  Informative yet entertaining.  Unexpected yet enjoyed.  

Freedom in Congo Square by Carole Boston Weatherford and illustrated by R. Gregory Christie won a Caldecott Honor for this fantastic picture book.

I give Freedom in Congo Square 5 out of 5 stars.  This picture book is fantastic.  I love the simplicity, rhythm, rhyming, and the illustrations that take the book from great to a wow.  

With the simple text, rhyming words, and the beautiful rhythm of the words this book is enjoyed by the young, such as 1st through 3rd grade.  Though, the subject matter makes me say this book is powerful and incredibly useful in 5th through 8th grade classrooms, libraries, or homes where the kids are learning American history.  

Kids aren't the only ones that will enjoy Freedom in Congo Square.  I found the book not only entertaining, but from the book and the author's note at the end I learned about how New Orleans and Louisiana were unique in giving slaves a day off on Sunday and allowing them to not only meet together, play African drums.  The meetings, dancing, and celebrations that went on on Sundays in Congo Square gave not only a sense of freedom, but was the beginning of Jazz.  I learned a ton from this fabulous book.  

Amazon has the following book review from School Library Journal: 

"This vibrant picture book examines Congo Square in New Orleans. A foreword and author's note explain how, historically, slaves in Louisiana were allowed Sunday afternoons off. This custom continued after the territory joined the United States, although in time, New Orleans established one location for all slaves to gather: an area that became known as Congo Square. This unique practice helped enslaved and free Africans maintain cultural traditions. The impact was felt far beyond New Orleans as musicians, dancers, and singers developed, explored, and shared rhythms that eventually grew into jazz music. The text is realistic but child appropriate. Couplets count down the days to Sunday in a conversational tone ("Slavery was no ways fair./Six more days to Congo Square."). The writing is accompanied by folk art-style illustrations, with paint applied in thick layers. Some images, such as faces, are more detailed, while others are presented as silhouettes. Collage with painted elements is incorporated on occasion. The architecture portrayed evokes the New Orleans setting. Bright colors suggest the exuberance displayed at Congo Square. Spreads where the slaves are finally able to sing, dance, and express emotion contrast effectively with the forced restraint of those depicting the work week. VERDICT Unique in its subject and artistic expression, this beautiful book belongs in most collections."

Happy Beautiful Historical Caldecott Honor Picture Book reading! 

Freedom in Congo Square by Carole Boston Weatherford and R. Gregory Christie
Rating: 5/5 stars
Best For: 10 - 14 year olds, 5th through 8th grade (high school too)
Worth a Check Out: Yes!
Buy It or Not: If you teach or love American history then definitely yes.
Read Aloud: A beautiful and powerful read aloud.
Lesson Ideas: American history, slavery. Life of a Louisiana slave in the earlier 1800s. 

March Book Three gets 5 Stars {non-fiction, graphic novel, printz award}

This book has it all.  One President of the United States dies, another gives powerful speeches and help make big changes in the country.  With it being Black History Month as well as President's Day I felt this book was an absolute must to share with you today!   

Police arrests, murders, determination, perseverance, equal rights, voting, the Freedom March, and so many more shocking events occurred during the civil rights movement.  I absolutely loved March Book Three, and I completely understand why it won the Printz Award, Coretta Scott King Award, and 4 other major awards.

March Book Three by John Lewis is well deserving of these awards, and honestly one of the best books I've read.  This book, is the third and final book in the March series telling the complete civil rights movement from John Lewis' experience.  

I give March Book Three 5 out of 5 Stars.  The pictures are fantastic, the story line is great, the pace is quick, the words are powerful, and the events are inspiring.  I learned so much while reading not only this book, but the entire series.  It is a must read for sure, and I am so glad I have it in my personal library.

At the very beginning it took me a second to remember what SNCC stood for b/c book three didn't overlap with the second book.  There is so much I really liked about this book.  I loved that the writing had the perfect balance of facts to teach and dialogue to keep the story going.  

I really enjoyed John Lewis' view on JFK's death and the fear he had with Johnson becoming the President.  I think his feelings are relatable to how many feel any time a new President begins his presidency. I was shocked of the events as well as the aftermath from the Freedom Summer, and I was inspired by Fannie Lou Hamer's speech as well as President Johnson's speech.  I was in awe of the fight, dedication, and perseverance Lewis and many other's had to complete their march from Selma to Montgomery.  I was shocked the FBI was wiretapping the Freedom Democratic Party and MLK.   To be honest, I learned so much reading this book and series.  

I absolutely think every one high school aged and up should read this book and series.  It is powerful and inspiring.  I loved that Lewis connected the first and last book with the reason for writing these books.  Lewis is brilliant, funny, and I'm so glad he wrote this book.     

In regards to the series as a whole, I would have to give the entire March series 5 stars.  It's all well done, connects so well to one another, very informative as well as entertaining. and all around great.  I personally love that Lewis wanted to make this a graphic novel.  I think it reaches a wider audience and the pictures provide the reader with a valuable and necessary connection to the story and the events.  

My reviews of March Book One and March Book Two can be found at the links provided.  You definitely need to read this non-fiction series in order, and you most definitely need to give this series a read.  It's fantastic!   

Amazon has the following book review from School Library Journal: 

"In the final installment in the trilogy, Congressman Lewis concludes his firsthand account of the civil rights era. Simultaneously epic and intimate, this dynamic work spotlights pivotal moments (the bombing of the 16th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, AL; the Freedom Summer murders; the 1964 Democratic National Convention; and the Selma to Montgomery marches) through the lens of one who was there from the beginning. Lewis's willingness to speak from the heart about moments of doubt and anguish imbues the book with emotional depth. Complex material is tackled but never oversimplified—many pages are positively crammed with text—and, as in previous volumes, discussion of tensions among the various factions of the movement adds nuance and should spark conversation among readers. Through images of steely-eyed police, motion lines, and the use of stark black backgrounds for particularly painful moments, Powell underscores Lewis's statement that he and his cohorts "were in the middle of a war." These vivid black-and-white visuals soar, conveying expressions of hope, scorn, and devastation and making storied figures such as Martin Luther King Jr., Malcolm X, and Fannie Lou Hamer feel three-dimensional and familiar. VERDICT This essential addition to graphic novel shelves, history curricula, and memoir collections will resonate with teens and adults alike."

This series is superb, and though I wouldn't have anticipated it winning the Printz Award (the best book for young adults) this year, I am so glad it did.  It is well deserving.  

Have you read the March trilogy yet?  What did you think? 

Happy Powerful Inspiring and Such a Valuable Historical Graphic Novel Reading! 



I received this book from Myrick Marketing in exchange for my review and honest opinion.  All of my thoughts, opinions, and words are my own.

March Book Two gets 4.5 Stars {Graphic Novel} {Autobriography/Memoir}

I was lucky enough to get March Book Two by John Lewis from Myrick Marketing in exchange for my honest review.  I really loved March Book One, and I even gave it a rare 5 Star Review.  The third book in the trilogy, March Book Three, just came out in August of this year.  I can't wait to read that one.

I have learned more about the Civil Rights movement from this graphic novel series than I recall learning from my high school history classes.  Now, to be fair to my hs teachers, they probably taught a ton about the Civil Rights, but history class was never a favorite of mine. 

March Book Two gets 4.5 out of 5 Stars in my review.  It's a great book, a fast read, perfect for history lovers and reluctant readers.  I loved the information, perspective, and the feel of the book.  March Book Two definitely had a darker tone with more angst than March Book One, but the Civil Rights was heating up more, and there was more conflict throughout the book.

I found myself saying, "Wow!" several times throughout this book. I was shocked by the history and how people treated black people.  I was amazed by the bravery and the sacrifice of those who stayed non-violent throughout the movement.  I have new appreciation for how relentless the Freedom Riders were.

I loved this quote on page 108, "The fare was paid in blood, but the Freedom Rides stirred the national consciousness and awoke the hearts and minds of a generation."  This book, and the history shared was inspiring, and it makes me want to be willing to make the change.  

I have a few details that I felt could've been improved upon.  The illustrations were great, but I was confused the first little bit with the speech bubbles that were written so small and not clear.  I eventually learned that those bubbles were for you to know that the person was talking, but you don't need to know what they were saying.  That is the first time I remember seeing that occur in a graphic novel.  Since that concept is not done often I was confused and frustrated trying to read those bubbles.  Personally, I don't think those speech bubbles added anything to the story.  I would've removed them if I were the editor.

The only other aspect of the book that I felt was less than stellar is the amount that was covered.  This book felt far more intimate and less character development compared to the first book. This second book seemed to include a lot of history and information and less characterization.  

High school History and English teachers should seriously consider including this series in their classroom studies.  Boys and girls alike as well as readers and those that don't like to read will enjoy and learn from this book series.  Book two has more violence than the first book, but it is all in context with the history.  

March Book Two is an all around great book and series.  You should most definitely go check this series out.

Amazon has the following book review from School Library Journal:

"Up-In this second volume, representative Lewis continues describing his experiences with the civil rights movement. As in the first book, Lewis attends Barack Obama's inauguration, flashing back to his life as a young man taking part in the fight that would make it possible for America to eventually elect its first black president. Lewis lays out his involvement with sit-ins and the freedom rides, as well as becoming chairman of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee and speaking at the March on Washington in 1963, where he urged the crowd to "complete the revolution." Graphic in every sense of the word, this memoir puts a human face on a struggle that many students will primarily know from textbooks. Lewis makes it clear that the movement was far from a uniform entity, with disagreements cropping up, some small, such as differing opinions about the wording in speeches, others more serious, including whether to respond to resistance passively or with violence. Visually stunning, the black-and-white illustrations convey the emotions of this turbulent time, from Lewis's fear and pain while in prison to Governor George Wallace's sneering indifference during his "Segregation forever" speech. Powell's use of light and dark is masterly, and the contrast between the joy of Obama's inauguration and the obstacles faced back in the 1960s is effective. This insider's view of the civil rights movement should be required reading for young and old; not to be missed."
    

Have you read this series yet?  I'd love to hear your thoughts. 

Are you a history nerd?  If you like history you most definitely need to go check this book out. 


Happy Autobiographical/Memoir Graphic Novel Reading! 


I received this book for Myrick Marketing in exchange for my honest review.  All thoughts and opinions are completely my own. 

Finding Winnie: The True Story of the World's Most Famous Bear gets 5 Stars [Caldecott}

Finding Winnie: The True Story of the World's Most Famous Bear by Lindsay Mattick and Illustrated by Sophie Blackall won the Caldecott Medal this year.  That is the award given to the the artist with the best aka "most distinguished" work for that year. 

In my book review I give Finding Winnie 5 out of 5 Stars.  I do think the artwork is beautiful and fits the time period of the book perfectly; I love the cover as well.  However, I think the story line of this book is the real winner.  The writing is great, and the story is the sweetest story ever.  I love the true story of how Winnie a bear found by a Vetrinarian in WWI found his way to the London Zoo, made a friend named Christopher Robin, and became the famous Winnie- the- Pooh bear.  Really, the story is great, and I am glad that such a fun story won an award even if the illustrations weren't my favorite part of the book.  

Teachers and librarians will love to read aloud this sweet story, but the story is a bit long for the younger kids that struggle with that.  Finding Winnie reminds me a lot of the Library Lion; it's a longer story but a super sweet and amazing book kids of all ages love if they have the attention span for it.

The World War I aspect of the story made me think this book and it's historical aspects would be perfect for a 5th or 6th grade teacher and students.  Many lessons, writing prompts, lesson ideas, and history/social studies lessons could branch off of this picture book. 

Librarians should definitely add this book to their collections.  It's a great read and worthy of the purchase.  

Amazon had the following book description: 

"Before Winnie-the-Pooh, there was a real bear named Winnie. And she was a girl!

In 1914, Harry Colebourn, a veterinarian on his way to tend horses in World War I, followed his heart and rescued a baby bear. He named her Winnie, after his hometown of Winnipeg, and he took the bear to war.

Harry Colebourn's real-life great-granddaughter tells the true story of a remarkable friendship and an even more remarkable journey--from the fields of Canada to a convoy across the ocean to an army base in England...

And finally to the London Zoo, where Winnie made another new friend: a real boy named Christopher Robin.

Here is the remarkable true story of the bear who inspired Winnie-the-Pooh."

Happy Caldecott Medal Winning super sweet and true story reading!

If you haven't read this book you need to check it out! For those of you who have read it.  What did you think?