By: Jill Owens,
on 7/28/2015
Solnit is one of the most eloquent, urgent, and intelligent voices writing nonfiction today; from Men Explain Things to Me to Storming the Gates of Paradise, anything she's written is well worth reading. But her marvelous book of essays A Field Guide to Getting Lost might be her most poetic, ecstatic work. Field Guide is [...]
By: Abbey Lovell,
on 7/21/2015
Award-winning director Liz Garbus has made a compelling, if sometimes troubling, documentary about a compelling and troubling figure—the talented and increasingly iconic performer, Nina Simone. The title, What Happened, Miss Simone?, comes from an essay that Maya Angelou wrote in 1970. In the opening seconds of the film, excerpts from Angelou’s words appear: “Miss Simone, you are idolized, even loved, by millions now. But what happened, Miss Simone?”
The post What Happened, Miss Simone? : Liz Garbus’ documentary in review appeared first on OUPblog.
By: Cathy and Louise,
on 7/20/2015
enormous SMALLNESS: A Story of E.E. Cummings by Matthew Burgess illustrated by Kris Di Giacomo Enchanted Lion Books, 2015 Grades 2-5 The reviewer borrowed a copy of the book from her local library. I've heard from several public librarians that picture book biographies rarely circulate from their biography collections. I'm fortunate that in the school library where I work my K-5 students
By: Bridget Stokes,
on 7/15/2015
Most revered for his work on the polio vaccine, Jonas Salk was praised by the mainstream media but still struggled to earn the respect and adoration of the medical community. Accused of abusing the spotlight and giving little credit to fellow researchers, he arguably become more of an outcast than a "knight in a white coat." Even so, Salk continued to make strides in the medical community, ultimately leaving behind a legacy larger than the criticism that had always threatened to overshadow his career.
The post Who was Jonas Salk? appeared first on OUPblog.
By: Cathy and Louise,
on 7/12/2015
Untamed: The Wild Life of Jane Goodall by Anita Silvey foreword by Jane Goodall National Geographic Kids, 2015 ISBN: 9781426315183 Grades 4-8 The reviewer received a copy of the book from the publisher. Anita Silvey eloquently captures the life and work of Jane Goodall in this narrative nonfiction book for middle grade readers. There is so much to like about the book. First, Jane Goodall is
By: Mary Jo,
on 7/10/2015
Smokejumper is a fascinating look at the elite men and women who parachute into raging forest fires, risking their lives daily. Ramos provides a lively historical account of firefighting in the wilderness and takes us to the front lines, where fires can burn so fiercely they create their own weather. Books mentioned in this post
By: Becky Laney,
on 6/22/2015
By: Renee P.,
on 6/22/2015
A seamless blend of memoir and cultural commentary, Maggie Nelson's The Argonauts is, among many other things, a book about relentless introspection and transformation, about confronting one's own truths and biases and finding meaning in collisions big and small. Nelson explores the course of her relationship with the transgender artist Harry Dodge, along with their [...]
By: Jess,
on 6/16/2015
Perhaps what I love most about Maggie Nelson's work is her ability to bring both other writers and the reader directly onto the page to converse with her, and she does this exceptionally well in The Argonauts. Part memoir and part theory, The Argonauts is a beautiful examination of queer identity, relationships, and parenthood written [...]
By: Alice,
on 6/12/2015
The importance of Magna Carta—both at the time it was issued on 15 June 1215 and in the centuries which followed, when it exerted great influence in countries where the English common law was adopted or imposed—is a major theme of events to mark the charter’s 800th anniversary.
The post Magna Carta: the international dimension appeared first on OUPblog.
By: Becky Laney,
on 6/8/2015
By: Kristi McGuire,
on 6/1/2015
Our free e-book for June:
Prospero’s Son: Life, Books, Love and Theater by Seth Lerer
***
By: Eleanor Jackson,
on 6/1/2015
Surprisingly few people have heard of Amelia Edwards. Archaeologists know her as the founder of the Egyptian Exploration Fund, set up in 1882, and the Department of Egyptology at University College London, created in 1892 through a bequest on her death. The first Edwards Professor, Flinders Petrie, was appointed on Amelia’s recommendation and her name is still attached to the Chair of Egyptian Archaeology.
The post Who was Amelia Edwards? appeared first on OUPblog.
By: Cathy and Louise,
on 5/31/2015
Trombone Shorty by Troy "Trombone Shorty" Andrews illustrated by Bryan Collier Abrams Books for Young Readers, 2015 ISBN: 9781419714658 Grades K-5 The reviewer borrowed a copy of the book from her local library. When I look at the biography section at my school library, it's hard to find a biography of a living musician. We have biographies of Duke Ellington, Josephine Baker, The Beatles, Elvis
By: Jennifer Thermes,
on 5/28/2015
By: Abby,
on 5/20/2015
This breathtaking memoir, marrying Sally Mann's powerful photography with a personal story so captivating that it rivals great works of fiction, reveals how one's art can become thoroughly intertwined with one's life. Read this book: it's a truly powerful work of art in its own right. Books mentioned in this post Hold Still: A Memoir [...]
By: Gigi Little,
on 5/20/2015
In The Wright Brothers, David McCullough spins a history both exhaustive and personal, sharing original correspondence and examining secondary characters like the Wright sister, Katharine. With McCullough's signature depth and thoroughness, The Wright Brothers pays captivating homage to the two men who so exemplified the American spirit. Books mentioned in this post Portland Noir (Akashic [...]
By: SoniaT,
on 5/18/2015
Family historians know the sensation of discovery when some longstanding ‘brick wall’ in their search for an elusive ancestor is breached. Crowds at the recent ‘Who Do You Think You Are?’ exhibition at Birmingham explored the new resources available to assist their researches, and millions worldwide subscribe to online genealogical sites, hosting ever-growing volumes of digitized historical records, in the hope of tracking down their family roots.
The post The final years of Fanny Cornforth appeared first on OUPblog.
By: Cathy and Louise,
on 5/18/2015
Gordon Parks: How the photographer captures Black and White America Written by Carole Boston Weatherford; Illustrated by Jamey Christoph Albert Whitman & Company. 2015 ISBN: 9780807530177 Grades 3 thru 12 I borrowed this book out of my local public library As mentioned in the review of The Amazing Age of John Roy Lynch, by 1902 the gains African Americans made for equality during the
By: Bridget Stokes,
on 5/9/2015
Lincoln’s last speech, delivered on 11 April 1865, seldom receives the attention it deserves. The prose is not poetic, but then it was not meant to inspire but to persuade. He had written the bulk of the speech weeks earlier in an attempt to convince Congress to readmit Louisiana to the Union.
The post Why Lincoln’s last speech matters appeared first on OUPblog.
By: Cathy and Louise,
on 5/4/2015
The Amazing Age of John Roy Lynch Written by Chris Barton; Illustrated by Don Tate Eerdmans Books for Young Readers. 2015 ISBN: 9780802853790 Grades 4-8 I received a copy of this book from the publisher. <!--[if gte mso 9]> <![
By: Connor Spencer,
on 4/28/2015
Missionaries and US Marines? It did not seem a natural combination. But while working on a book about American Protestant missionaries and their children I came across a missionary son who became a prominent officer in the USMC and one of the most effective agents of the Office of Strategic Services during World War II. Col. William Eddy was in charge of the OSS operations in North Africa [...]
The post The life of Colonel William Eddy appeared first on OUPblog.
By: jilleisenberg14,
on 4/27/2015
It’s baseball season again. It’s also the 10th anniversary of Catching the Moon: The Story of a Young Girl’s Baseball Dream written by Crystal Hubbard and illustrated by Randy DuBurke. How can you celebrate both?
Catching the Moon was selected by the Screen Actors Guild Foundation for its latest read aloud on Storyline Online, an interactive literacy website where well-known actors read popular, award-winning children’s books to help students fall in love with reading.
Resources for Teaching After Reading and Watching Catching the Moon
Comprehension Questions for the Video or Read Aloud
Activity Suggestions
1. Have students compare and contrast Catching the Moon with other baseball biographies. How are their experiences similar? What barriers do they tackle? What character traits do they share that have allowed them to overcome obstacles? What legacies do they leave behind? How do they change people’s minds?
2. Have students research Mo’ne Davis, 13-year-old Philadelphia pitcher in the Little League and compare her experiences in baseball to Marcenia Lyle’s. The Anti-Defamation League’s Current Events Classroom has put together a lesson plan to learn more about Mo’ne Davis and explore gender stereotypes in sports.
3. Science in Baseball? Check out these extension ideas from Science Buddies:
4. Have students discover other women who played and were involved in black professional baseball. Check out the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum’s education resources made in partnership with Kansas State University. Students can learn about the roles African American women played at all levels of the league in the NLBM’s lesson plan.
5. Put Marcenia Lyle’s story in further context. With students, create a timeline of critical moments and milestones of women in American baseball. The National Baseball Hall of Fame has created a five lesson unit on women in baseball history.
If Youtube is blocked or unavailable at your school, find Storyline Online’s Catching the Moon read aloud video at:
How have you been teaching and celebrating Catching the Moon all these years? What lessons and activities did we miss? Share with us!
Jill Eisenberg, our Senior Literacy Expert, began her career teaching English as a Foreign Language to second through sixth graders in Yilan, Taiwan as a Fulbright Fellow. She went on to become a literacy teacher for third grade in San Jose, CA as a Teach for America corps member. She is certified in Project Glad instruction to promote English language acquisition and academic achievement. In her weekly column at The Open Book, she offers teaching and literacy tips for educators.
By: Abbey Lovell,
on 4/21/2015
A gifted orator, Lucy Stone dedicated her life to the fight for equal rights. Among the earliest female graduates of the Oberlin Collegiate Institute in Ohio, Stone was the first Massachusetts-born woman to earn a college degree. Stone rose to national prominence as a well-respected public speaker – an occupation rarely pursued by women of the era.
The post The life and legacy of Lucy Stone appeared first on OUPblog.
By: Ayana Young,
on 4/19/2015
Nyla Ali Khan’s recent book The Life of a Kashmiri Woman: Dialectic of Resistance and Accommodation, though primarily a biography of her grandmother Akbar Jehan, promises to be much more than that. It is also a narration of the story of Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah, the charismatic political leader who is still recognized as the greatest political leader that Kashmir ever produced.
The post A woman’s journey in Kashmiri politics appeared first on OUPblog.
