Heroes for Civil Rights by David A. Adler

Illustrated by Bill Farnsworth. This picture book is a collective biography of thirteen civil rights leaders. Each profile is one page accompanied by a portrait of the leader(s). The heroes include familiar and not so familiar names. The Little Rock Nine and the Greensboro Four are also included. End pages include a chronology of events between 1953 and 1968. An excellent overview of the Civil Rights movement written in a way that will help children understand this tragic period. A nice addition for social studies / civil rights units. Grade 3- 8.

Becoming Billie Holiday by Carole Boston Weatherford

Illustrated by Floyd Cooper. Weatherford and Cooper have combined their talents in a fascinating book about the life of Billie Holiday. The singer's life is told through 100 narrative poems that describe her life from birth until age 25. Born out of wedlock, her early years included rape, prostitution, drugs and more. The writing is strong and the powerful illustrations provide a feel for the times. The end pages list brief biographies of other musicians, a bibliography and a list of recordings. It is easy to see why this title won so many awards (CSK Honor, ALA's Best Books for YA's, etc). The mature content would make it appropriate for grade 8 and up so we need to discuss whether or not it is appropriate for our K-8 list. Your thoughts?

Johnny Appleseed: The Legend and the Truth by Jane Yolen

Illustrated by Jim Burke. Yolen presents an interesting mix of fact and fiction in this picture book biography. Parchment style inserts include a 4-5 line verse followed by The History of Chapman's life from birth to death. At the bottom of the pages are interesting facts such as what he wrote in an IOU note to his father / brother. The illustrations are realistic and the natural colors blend well with the text. One standout illustration shows large hands with tiny apple seeds in the palms. This would be an interesting read-aloud and it could be used across the curriculum with Grades 1-4.

Before John Was a Jazz Giant: A Song of John Coltrane by Carole Boston Weatherford

Illustrated by Sean Qualls. This is a lyrical story of John Coltrane's childhood (born in Hamlet, NC and grew up in High Point). Weatherford lists the sounds that influenced the jazz musician's childhood; "Daddy strumming the ukulele, and Mama cranking the phonograph." Quall's illustrations are a wonderful accompaniment. There is a lengthy Author's Note at the end along with a Selected Listening List and a bibliography for further reading. Could be used with upper elementary students in a jazz unit with Ella Fitzgerald (Pinkney), Duke Ellington (Pinkney), Jazz Baby (Weatherford), John Coltrane's Giant Steps (Raschka), and Jazz on a Saturday Night (Dillon).

Chains by Laurie Halse Anderson

This story begins in May of 1776 when the mistress of two young slave girls dies. They were to be freed in her will, but a nefarious relative shows up and claims them. They travel to New York where the earliest days of the American Revolution play out while Isabel, the older girl, tries to make sense of their lives. Her younger sister is physiclly and mentally impaired. Her new owners are harsh and cruel. They are also Tories. Isabel agrees to spy on them for the Patriot cause and helps uncover an assassination plot against George Washington. The plight of slaves in the early days of our history is clearly exposed here. Many details of daily life are described. The initial defeats of the Patriot army and nightmarish conditions in the British-run prisons are also graphically detailed. The book is well written and does what all good historical fiction should: it puts meat on the factual bones of the past. Highly recommended for grades 6-8.

We are the Ship: The Story of Negro League Baseball by Kadir Nelson

Beautiful oil paintings, based on photographs from the Negro League Baseball Museum grace at least every other page of this collection of stories about “lost heroes” of our national game. Following a forward by Hank Aaron, cleverly labeled “Innings,” tell the story from Negro League’s beginnings in the 1920s through “Extra Innings,” the end of the Negro Leagues from 1946 until the League’s last day in 1960. Included in the back: lists of Negro Leaguers who made it to the Major Leagues and Negro Leaguers in the National Baseball Hall of Fame, a bibliography and filmography, numerous endnotes, and a 3-page index.

I, Matthew Henson: Polar Explorer by Carole Boston Weatherford

This is a beautifully illustrated and well written account of Matthew Henson's life from the age of 13 when he began his first sailing adventure. It is told in the first person. Each page begins with a negative but completes with Henson overcoming that negative. For example; "I did not start as a cabin boy, climb to the ranks of an able-bodied seaman...to drift into humdrum jobs ashore. My dreams had sails." Facts about Henson's accomplishments such as learning to speak Inuit and carrying Peary to safety during during one of the polar attempts are woven into the text and speak to Henson's character. The story is a testament to Henson's determination to overcome prejudice and extreme hardships on his seven sttempts to reach the Notrth Pole. This would be an excellent book to use with character education. It is illustrated by Eric Velasquez and had starred reviews in Booklist, SLJ and Kirkus.