The best non-fiction picture books of 2014, as picked by the editors and contributors of The Children’s Book Review.
Add a CommentViewing: Blog Posts Tagged with: martin luther king jr., Most Recent at Top [Help]
Results 1 - 14 of 14
Blog: The Children's Book Review (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: Roaring Brook Press, Picasso, Picture Books For Children, Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, Sharks, Sally Wern Comport, Rick Allen, Princeton Architectural Press, Ages 4-8, Ages 9-12, Picture Books, Book Lists, Non-Fiction, Joyce Sidman, Martin Luther King Jr., Gift Books, featured, Atheneum Books for Young Readers, Eerdmans Books for Young Readers, Katherine Applegate, Knopf Books for Young Readers, Gandhi, Mary GrandPré, Jen Bryant, Melissa Sweet, Alexander Calder, Clarion Books, Bethany Hegedus, Bret Witter, Angela Farris Watkins, Barb Rosenstock, Best Books for Kids, Katherine Roy, Best Kids Stories, HMH Books for Young Readers, Patricia Geis, Arun Gandhi, Evan Turk, Luis Carlos Montalván, David Macaulay Studio, Dan Dion, Add a tag
Blog: Cartoon Brew (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: Animators, Cartoon Culture, African-American, Martin Luther King Jr., Add a tag
In honor of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, here are two photo galleries worth exploring:
- African-Americans in the Animation Industry: Past and Present is an ever-growing Facebook gallery with photos of black people who work throughout the American animation industry.
Blog: Through the Looking Glass Book Review (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: Picture books, Children's book reviews, Martin Luther King Jr., Picture Book Monday, Add a tag
Blog: I.N.K.: Interesting Non fiction for Kids (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: guest bloggers, research, Martin Luther King Jr., nonfiction writing, US History, Ann Bausum, Add a tag
I'm delighted to introduce author Ann Bausum, our second guest blogger of the week. As someone who was born in Memphis and still has strong family ties to the city, I'm especially fascinated by the topic she tackles in her latest book.
Ann writes:
Each year I visit frequently with middle school and high school students to talk about my work as a nonfiction author, and I don’t think a session has ever passed without someone asking: “What’s the favorite book you’ve written?”
Although I’ve explained numerous times that being asked to pick my favorite book is like being asked to pick my favorite child—in other words impossible—my newest publication may make me a liar. From start to finish I’ve felt absolutely captivated by the research, writing, and production of Marching to the Mountaintop: How Poverty, Labor Fights, and Civil Rights Set the Stage for Martin Luther King, Jr.’s Final Hours. (National Geographic Children’s Books will release the title on January 10.)
The biggest reason I may start calling this my favorite book is the history itself. I literally found myself exclaiming out loud as I worked with facts that leant themselves so well to the dramatic potential of narrative nonfiction. The historical characters, the setting, the chronology, the thickening “plot” would be the envy of any novelist. “Do the history proud,” became my goal.
I wanted to give readers the context for the death of Martin Luther King, Jr. Plenty of children (and even adults) don’t know that he died in Memphis. Few people of any age can tell you that he had gone there to advocate for the labor rights of the city’s sanitation workers.
Death not only concludes this history; it starts it, too. On February 1, 1968, two sanitation workers were crushed to death while riding inside the barrel of a garbage truck. Within days more than a thousand sanitation and street repair workers decided to strike for the cause of safer working conditions, better compensation, and union recognition. Their demands quickly led to a stalemate between the all-black workforce and th
Blog: Galley Cat (Mediabistro) (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: Children's Books, Celebrities, George W. Bush, Random House, Cesar Chavez, Martin Luther King Jr., Barack Obama, Helen Keller, Loren Long, George Washington, Bill Clinton, Jane Addams, Maya Lin, Abraham Lincoln, Billie Holiday, Jackie Robinson, Albert Einstein, Neil Armstrong, eil Armstrong, Georgia O’Keeffe, Michelle Frey, Robert B. Barnett, Sitting Bull, Add a tag
President Barack Obama‘s picture book, Of Thee I Sing, arrived in bookstores and eBook format today. Random House has also released a promotional video about the book.
Here’s more about the book, from the release: “Obama’s poignant words and Loren Long’s stunning images together capture the promise of childhood and the personalities and achievements of the following Americans: Georgia O’Keeffe, Albert Einstein, Jackie Robinson, Sitting Bull, Billie Holiday, Helen Keller, Maya Lin, Jane Addams, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Neil Armstrong, Cesar Chavez, Abraham Lincoln and George Washington.”
President Obama’s attorney, Robert B. Barnett, handled the negotiations for the manuscript back in 2009. Knopf executive editor Michelle Frey edited the book. Children’s book artist Loren Long provided the illustrations.
New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.
Add a CommentBlog: The Children's Book Review (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: Martin Luther King Jr., Ages Four to Eight: Books for pre-school to second grade, Eric Velasquez, Picture Book - Wordless, Angela Farris Watkins, Add a tag
By Tina Vasquez, for The Children’s Book Review
Published: October 7, 2010
My Uncle Martin’s Big Heart: A Story About Martin Luther King Jr., Through the Eyes of His Niece
by Angela Farris Watkins (Author), Eric Velasquez (Illustrator)
Reading level: Ages 4-8
Hardcover: 32 pages
Publisher: Abrams Books for Young Readers (October 1, 2010)
Source: Publisher
My Uncle Martin’s Big Heart is a heartwarming true story told from the perspective of the author when she was a young girl. To the world, Reverend Martin Luther King Jr. was an American hero and a pioneering civil rights leader, but to little Angela and her cousins he was imply Uncle M.L., the family man who loved to spend time with his wife Coretta and their four children.
Through the use of intricate, realistic illustrations and personal recollections, Angela sheds light on her uncle’s tremendous personality, his unwavering faith and kindness, and his incredible capacity for love- or as Angela puts it, he was “an ordinary man with extraordinary love.”
For some of us it may be difficult to see Martin Luther King Jr. as a simple family man because of his incredible presence, his history-making speeches, and the vital role he played in the civil rights movement, but even while showing her Uncle M.L. in a more simplistic light, she illustrates just what an amazing man he was.
Add this book to your collection: My Uncle Martin’s Big Heart: A Story About Martin Luther King Jr., Through the Eyes of His Niece
Blog: Crystal's Bookmark (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: Quotes, Martin Luther King Jr., Add a tag
Hi all!
Last week we had some electrical trouble (bad wiring, as determined by the fire dept.--yeah, we called them around 2 a.m. Wednesday morning because lights were flickering on & off, and well, we just wanted to be SAFE). So they had to turn half our electric power off so as not to overload the circuits. Finally, this past Monday & Tuesday, an electrician came out & installed a new fuse box & fixed the wiring outside our house. And all is back to normal--my computer is up!
So with this post I just wanted to offer my belated birthday wishes to the memory and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. I found these AWESOME quotes from Dr. King over on Tee Brown's blog, PEN TO PAGE. Like his wisdom, his DREAM is timeless and continues on in our generation . . .
Blog: smartpoodlepublishing.com (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: People, Martin Luther King Jr., Happy 81st Birthday, Holidays, Add a tag
Public Domain Photo of MLK, Jr.
Martin Luther King, Jr.
- Born January 15, 1929
- Graduated high school at age 15
- Received a BA from Morehouse College in Atlanta in 1948
- Received a BD in Theology from Crozer Theological Seminary in 1951
- Received a PhD from Boston University in 1955
- Married Coretta Scott and had 2 sons and 2 daughters
- Awarded with the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964 at age 35 – youngest man to ever receive the award
- Assassinated April 4, 1968 in Memphis, TN
My favorite Martin Luther King Quotes:
“Discrimination is a hellhound that gnaws at Negroes in every waking moment of their lives to remind them that the lie of their inferiority is accepted as truth in the society dominating them.”
“The function of education is to teach one to think intensively and to think critically… Intelligence plus character – that is the goal of true education.”
“Man was born into barbarism when killing his fellow man was a normal condition of existence. He became endowed with a conscience. And he has now reached the day when violence toward another human being must become as abhorrent as eating another’s flesh.”
“We will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends.”
It may be true that the law cannot make a man love me, but it can keep him from lynching me, and I think that’s pretty important.
Like an unchecked cancer, hate corrodes the personality and eats away its vital unity. Hate destroys a man’s sense of values and his objectivity. It causes him to describe the beautiful as ugly and the ugly as beautiful, and to confuse the true with the false and the false with the true.
“I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.”
“If a man hasn’t discovered something that he will die for, he isn’t fit to live.”
Blog: First Book (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: January 18 2010, National Day of Service, Serve.gov, Philanthropy, Martin Luther King Jr., Books & Reading, reading rockets, Guest Blog Posts, Corporation for National and Community Service, Youth Service America, Add a tag
Guest blogger Tina Chovanec is the director of Reading Rockets.org: the authoritative online source for comprehensive and accessible information about teaching young children to read and helping those who struggle. Reading Rockets is one of four multimedia educational websites created by Learning Media, a division of WETA, the PBS affiliate in the Washington DC area.
“Everybody can be great because anybody can serve…You only need a heart full of grace. A soul generated by love.” [Martin Luther King, Jr.]
Hearts and hands will join together across the country on January 18th, a day transformed from a “day off” to a national Day of Service to honor the life and work of Martin Luther King, Jr.
January 18th is rolling in quickly. It’s not too late to help out on one of the projects your community has planned for that day. You can find an opportunity close to home by visiting Serve.gov, an online resource managed by the Corporation for National and Community Service. Some ideas are included after the jump. And it’s not too early to start planning a service project for next year: the site also has resources for individuals and organizations, including tips on fundraising, building partnerships, organizing the day, and how to be an effective team leader, as well as a planning toolkit, project examples, and more. Follow MLKDay on Twitter or become a fan on Facebook!
Get Ur Good On? Our partner, Youth Service America, sponsors a lively online network of blogs, photos, and videos that showcase the diverse voices of youth who are “doing good” in their communities. Jump in and join the conversation.
At Reading Rockets, we’ve come up with some reading-writing-and-book-inspired ideas for the Day of Service or for a year-round community project. Here’s our Top 12. Add your ideas to the list!
- Volunteer to tutor a struggling reader (check out our Tips for Reading Tutors)
- Help organize and refresh your local school library
- Teach kids how to safely use the Internet
- Paint a book-inspired mural at your local child care center
- Become a pen pal with a young learner
- Collect gently used books or games like Scrabble for a community center
- Organize a community oral history project
- Lead a story hour for young kids (try these Hints on How to Read Aloud to a Group)
- Plan a read-a-thon for students where number of minutes read equals number of cans of food for your local food bank
- Take a group of kids and a field guide on a naturalist walk at a local park: teach some map reading and do a clean-up along the way!
- Host a community cooking demonstration that engages families in recipe reading and cooking healthy meals
- Organize a penny drive to make grants to local libraries or community organizations that support literacy projects
Martin Luther King, Jr. had a dream, but he was also a doer. Kids can find models for action in life and in books. In this lovely co
Add a CommentBlog: Bookfinder.com Journal (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: BookFinder.com report, popcorn sutton, out-of-print, martin luther king jr., BookFinder.com: Life at BookFinder.com, Add a tag
Earlier this week the LA Times printed a story about four Martin Luther King Jr. books which are slated to be brought back into print in time for the celebration of what would have been King's 80th birthday (Jan. 18th, 2010).
This sort of thing happens all the time, books that have been all but forgotten are rejuvenated with a new print run allowing new generations to enjoy them. Most of the time I hardly give this a second thought since it happens so often however this week I have been spending a lot of time looking at books on the verge of the in/out-of print boarder line.
I have been allocating all my spare time to research for the annual BookFinder.com Report - which lists the most sought after out-of-print books in the US, and more often than not these are the books that are right on this line. Last year a number of books on our list were brought back into print due to the surge in popularity and I think we might see a few more this year.
When finished list is always interesting to read but for every book that makes it onto the list there are a number of books which just fail to meet our criteria because they are brought back from the out-of-print abyss just as interest in its out-of-print counterpart starts to increase.
One such book is the autobiography of moonshiner Popcorn Sutton titled Me and my Likker. A local legend in Tennessee as a distiller he wrote the book in 1999 only to have it fall out-of-print for ten years until this past March when Bent Corner Books, a Knoxville bookstore, republished the work after Mr. Sutton's passing. It is still amazingly hard to find, but it is back in print.
If I get the time I might try and compile a blog post with a few more of these near-misses but in the mean time I have to get back to the report.
[Now reading: Vernon God Little by DBC Pierre]
Add a CommentBlog: Sugar Frosted Goodness (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: Black History Month, Martin Luther King Jr., Christian Elden, Add a tag
Just finished a set of portraits for Black History Month... go check out the whole gang over at my blog.
Blog: First Book (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: Literacy, First Book, Martin Luther King Jr., Barack Obama, community organizing, Add a tag
Community organizing has been big news lately. Building and rebuilding the interwoven connections that serve as social capital binding us all has never been more important, and we stand poised on the very brink of resurgence.
Back in 2000, Robert Putnam, author of the seminal book Bowling Alone: The Collapse and Revival of American Community, reported that activities we attended together had fallen off dramatically for 25 years: we were experiencing 43% fewer family dinners and attended club meetings 58% less. The lack of shared experiences in our worlds had reduced our connections with each other.
Now, connecting to each other and our causes is on the rise and the notion of service to others has returned as a national conversation. On Tuesday, President Obama spoke to all of us, saying, “ What is required of us now is a new era of responsibility — a recognition, on the part of every American, that we have duties to ourselves, our nation, and the world, duties that we do not grudgingly accept but rather seize gladly, firm in the knowledge that there is nothing so satisfying to the spirit, so defining of our character, than giving our all to a difficult task.”
At First Book, the children we serve don’t have a vote or a choice about their financial circumstance. We provide books to children in need knowing that reading opens worlds of possibilities for them. When kids hold books and experience the joy a story brings, they begin to walk the path of education. Developing a passion for reading in them delivers the promise of a better life through literacy.
In the words of a great community leader, Martin Luther King, Jr., “We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly.”
When we give a child a book, we offer them the tools they need to find their own paths, making them a part of the greater community of educated, thoughtful citizen participants builds our communities child by child. There is no greater service.
Get involved with First Book to help make all children readers. Find out how you can help at www.firstbook.org.
Add a CommentBlog: I.N.K.: Interesting Non fiction for Kids (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: discrimination, Linda Salzman, discrimination, martin luther king jr., civil rights, history, popular culture, martin luther king jr., civil rights, Add a tag
Schools are usually closed on Martin Luther King, Jr. day. February is Black History Month but many kids are off for a whole week. Luckily there are some well-written books and related resources to take up the slack. One book can easily lead to another; read about the people who took a stand, scan the photos and artwork to get a feel for what it was like to be there and try to understand the culture of the time.
To more fully understand the Civil Rights movement, it helps to know your rights.
There are an overwhelming number of books on MLK,Jr. Where to start? A handful do a terrific job of giving an overview of the significance and impact of his his life.
Recognize his strength of character as a regular person who relied on a strong set of beliefs and those he admired to guide him in his philosophy of nonviolence.
He was not a lone voice. There were many who came before him
who had fought against discrimination and in support of equal rights for black Americans. And there were many, many others who fought along with him. People you might have heard of, like Rosa Parks, and others whose stories are still being told. Among those who did their part to fight for equality were singers, postmen, baseball players, schoolteachers and future Supreme Court Justices.
Dr. King's path was not an easy one to follow. Those who later practiced nonviolence on Freedom Rides got beaten and bloodied for their efforts.
The struggle was taken up on many fronts, including in the public schools. Read some first person accounts and histories of what it was like for kids who dreamed of freedom and fought to be allowed to go to a decent school.
Part of the difficulty came in simply making their voices heard. Most Americans were just living their ordinary lives. The culture of the 1950s and 60s was alive with people writing books, painting and a new kind of music called rock and roll.
Read the books, look at the art, and listen to the music of the time period. They are an important part of history.
Hear the beauty of Dr. King's oratory and the power of his words.
Blog: A Chair, A Fireplace and A Tea Cozy (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: reviews, Readers Advisory, blogs, clean reads, younger YA books, there's got to be a better word than clean, RA, Add a tag
Whimsy is starting a new blog, Deliciously Clean Reads, and is looking for contributors to review books.
What I like about this brand new blog:
* It's about finding books to read and recommend, rather than finding books to keep away from people. It's a positive review source, not a negative review source.
* Whimsy acknowledges that different people have different definitions of what is clean; so she sets forth her criteria and a sample book list.
* It includes a lot of new books, but it's also looking at older titles.
* The sidebar links to a variety of booklists from many sources.
Ann: Welcome to I.N.K. What a wonderful, moving post. You write so vividly about both the history and the process of researching and writing it. I'm really looking forward to reading your book.
I think some of the best non-fiction for children and teens comes from National Geographic, but finding their books can be challenging. Any suggestions on finding their new releases? I've tried both their website and Amazon and found only older publications.
I think some of the best non-fiction for children and teens comes from National Geographic, but finding their books can be challenging. Any suggestions on finding their new releases? I've tried both their website and Amazon and found only older publications.
I will be sure to request your new book at my public library, Ann,
since I have been impressed with your earlier books. I appreciate
the kind of in-depth research that
this book exemplifies.