Hard Work, But It's Worth It: The Life of Jimmy Carter, written by Bethany Hegedus, illustrated by Kyung Sun Han

In January 2025, President Joe Biden noted in his remarks at President Jimmy Carter’s memorial service at the National Cathedral in Washington DC: “I say to young people: study the power of Jimmy Carter’s example.” Perhaps because of his modesty and matter-of-fact demeanor, as well as a presidency beset by international challenges such as the Tehran hostage-taking, Jimmy Carter in his roles as U. S. President and humanitarian have not often been in the spotlight. Bethany Hegedus says in her Author's Note for the picture book biography Hard Work But It’s Worth It: The Life of Jimmy Carter: "Jimmy Carter's childhood was filled with the makings of the man he became," and indeed her book describes the characteristics that make our 37^th president exemplary. Carter's lifelong adherence to the Good Habits of Mind he wrote down for himself at age fourteen were gleaned from his work as a farm boy who labored hard alongside African Americans in a place rigidly divided by the unwritten “Jim Crow” codes that perpetuated the inequalities of enslavement. A turning point in his understanding came when his Black friend A. D. insisted Jimmy pass through a door in front of him (an act displaying the social code of white superiority): “Why?” Carter asked himself. “Why should I pass through this door first?” With the addition of Kyung Eun Han’s engaging illustrations, young readers will discern the steadfast way in which President Carter looked outward to ways he could advance peace, health and fair play in the world. At the same time, he adhered to his internal values—throughout his life as a Georgia state senator, Georgia governor, U. S. President and subsequently as a humanitarian leader. Serving as President of the United States was but one of many forward-looking responsibilities he took on over his lifetime; a hallmark of his leadership was deep personal engagement and follow through. Carter was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002 “for his decades of untiring effort to find peaceful solutions to international conflicts, to advance democracy and human rights, and to promote economic and social development." That same year, with his wife Rosalynn, Jimmy Carter established The Carter Center, dedicated then and now to “Waging Peace. Fighting Disease. Building Hope.” around the world. An Author's Note and a helpful timeline of Carter's life complete this inspiring book. Ages 4-7. Balzer + Bray / HarperCollins Publisher.

To learn more about Jimmy Carter's legacy as a humanitarian, explore this link to The Carter Center.

 

Tenacious: Fifteen Adventures Alongside Disabled Athletes, by Patty Cisneros Prevo, illustrated by Dion MBD

 

This exhilarating book highlights individuals who showed enormous courage as they faced challenges to their mobility because of various conditions. Blindness challenged a downhill skier; loss of a limb challenged an athlete training for long jump and high hurdles; paralysis following a car accident meant a seven-year-old developed her strengths in an aerodynamic wheelchair…And readers will meet an additional dozen people who discovered ways to address their disabilities and their dreams on the road to being strong athletes. The author Patty Cisneros Prevo herself “became a part of the wonderful community of disabled people” at age eighteen. Her book Tenacious: Fifteen Adventures Alongside Disabled Athletes is a gift to all readers, who will be introduced to brave people who solved daunting challenges. A concise, engaging story features each athlete; stories become deeply personal when each athlete shares a daily challenge and a daily joy. Bold, descriptive illustrations by Dion MBD complement the text, moving energetically across double-page spreads. The world of adaptive sports opens up to readers, providing new understanding and new horizons. Extra pages suggest good language for advocacy in disability justice work, a glossary of terms, a list of resources, and a timeline of the Paralympics. Ages 7-10. Lee & Low Books, 2023.

To learn more about the Paralympic Games, visit https://www.teamusa.com/ .

Visit https://www.nps.gov/subjects/accessibility/index.htm to learn more about accessibility in our national parks.

Talking Leaves, by Joseph Bruchac

 

History comes alive through the characters in Joseph Bruchac’s novel Talking Leaves. Young Uwohali is both curious and nervous to learn why his father Sequoyah is believed by the community to be crazy--even involved in witchcraft. Uwohali knows that his mother, Sequoyah’s first wife, banished Sequoyah from living with her and their son, deepening the mystery of his absence. He also knows his father has been seen relentlessly drawing unusual symbols—on the ground and indeed everywhere he goes. This engaging story slowly reveals to Uwohali the reason that compels Sequoyah to keep drawing odd symbols. Through his dealings with the white men encroaching on native land, bargaining, and offering new tools and methods of farming, Sequoyah observed first hand that the ability to read and speak English was an invaluable asset to trade and everyday life. Thus Sequoyah wondered: would not such an alphabet for Cherokee, the spoken language that is ours, enhance our people’s ability to communicate, to share and to store knowledge? Do we not need a written Cherokee language? Uwohali tracks his father to his new home, where he lives with his second wife and daughter. Summoning the courage to approach his father, he finds out more about Sequoyah’s unusual project. He comes to understand the power of Sequoyah’s invented syllabary when he sees that his younger sister Ahyokah can actually read his father’s symbols. It is an alphabet of sorts, with a symbol for each syllable in Cherokee spoken language. When Uwohali’s skeptical friends and then, importantly, the village chief become convinced that the symbols can indeed be read, word spreads quickly that Sequoyah has done something wonderful. Readers learn about the significant invention of a written Cherokee language—a true event that inspired the development of written languages in numerous oral cultures around the world. Readers will sympathize with the range of Uwohali’s feelings as he comes to know his father and understand the revolutionary work to which he is dedicated. Notes at the book’s end specify the meanings of the Cherokee syllabary, provide further readings, and place this important event in its historical context. Ages 10-13. Dial Books, 2016; Puffin Books, 2017.

Abenaki author Joseph Bruchac has also written two books (a picture book and a novel) about the Navajo men who, as U. S. Marines, used Navajo code as a secret language in World War II: https://onehundredmorebooks.blogspot.com/2020/08/when-chester-nez-was-eight-years-old-he.html

Your Freedom, Your Power: A Kid’s Guide to the First Amendment, by Allison Matulli with Clelia Castro-Malaspina, illustrated by Carmelle Kendall & Chasing the Truth: A Young Journalist’s Guide to Investigative Reporting, by Jodi Kantor and Megan Twohey, adapted by Ruby Shamir

 

Your Freedom, Your Power: A Kid’s Guide to the First Amendment provides an excellent non-partisan introduction to the important rights guaranteed to American citizens by the First Amendment to the United States Constitution: Freedom of Religion, Freedom of Speech, Freedom of the Press, Freedom of Assembly, and the Right to Petition. Authors Allison Matulli and Clelia Castro-Malaspina begin with a chapter describing the levels of our country’s federal and state court systems—charting the journey an issue may take from district courts and courts of appeal to the Supreme Court of the United States, defining key terms like “plaintiff,” “defendant,” “opinion” and “appellant.” The text is clear and very engaging; it speaks directly to readers in middle school and above. In every chapter, specific, real-life First Amendment judicial cases (both historical and current) are presented. The cases discussed are ones affecting students—such as wearing religious clothing in schools; hate speech, symbolic speech and online speech; teaching evolution theory and topics in history; forms of protest; access to and use of media; peaceable and unpeaceable assembly; and the use of petitions. In addition to reflective questions to readers, global perspectives (examples of rights in other countries) provide a context for our own First Amendment. Very clear formatting, engaging graphics and selected sources for further reading add to the book’s usefulness for civic education studies, personal reading and family discussion—a valuable compendium for navigating today’s world. Ages 10-16. Philomel Books / Penguin Random House, 2021.

 

In Chasing the Truth: A Young Journalist’s Guide to Investigative Reporting by Jodi Kantor and Megan Twohey, adapted by Ruby Shamir from the adult book She Said, investigative journalism is explored using examples from the work of the authors as they became accomplished in their field. Investigative journalism—aiming to both uncover and analyze the facts of a situation in the context of freedom of the press—has strategies and challenges that distinguish it from general news reporting. The authors’ landmark reporting of the sexual harassment case of Harvey Weinstein is conveyed vividly and clearly, exemplifying the goal “to reveal abuses of power that are causing harm to individuals or to the wider public.” At the book’s conclusion, cogent, very specific tips are provided as a guideline to young people considering doing investigative journalism. Ages 12 and up. Philomel, 2021.

To the Front! Clara Barton Braves the Battle of Antietam, by Claudia Friddell, illustrated by Christopher Cyr

 

Many people know Clara Barton’s name as founder of the Red Cross in America in 1881, yet her story is so much broader--rich with astonishing humanitarian work in the early days of the Civil War. In To the Front! Clara Barton Braves the Battle of Antietam, the author Claudia Friddell focuses on one episode in Barton’s life: the life-saving energy she and her coterie of civilians brought to wounded and dying soldiers at the front lines of battle between Union and Confederate soldiers. Clara’s own compelling words, taken from her journals and speeches, drive the incisive narrative reflecting her engagement delivering much-needed supplies and medical care. Indeed, Clara and her helpers were in the vanguard of help to the soldiers, arriving at the front before military materials could reach them. Barton’s vision and driving need to help combined with her personal strength, empathy and courage made a significant difference to the welfare of doctors and soldiers in the heat of battle. Christopher Cyr’s realistic illustrations capture beautifully the moods and perspectives of the story’s changing events. A thorough “Afterword” highlights primary sources to complete the picture of Barton’s life--from her early work as a teacher, then government employee, to her part in the women’s suffrage movement and the founding of the American Red Cross after the war. This biographical picture book provides insight to the Civil War and the people who brought courage and determination to the front lines. Ages 7-10. Calkins Creek, 2022.

 

Readers can make a virtual visit to the Clara Barton Museum in Washington DC. More information about the September 17, 1862, Battle of Antietam can be found at this National Park Service website.

The Green Glass Sea, by Ellen Klages; Bomb, by Steve Sheinkin; and The Children of Los Alamos, by Katrina R. Mason

In 1943, the town of Los Alamos, New Mexico, existed on no map. It was a highly secret community where scientists and mathematicians worked on “the gadget”—the atomic bomb they felt would end World War II. In this unusual encampment, Dewey Kerrigan and Suze Gordon (young daughters of scientists at work on The Hill) meet. They don’t like one another. Dewey is a loner, fascinated by everything mechanical and constantly inventing curious devices with components garnered from the encampment’s dump. Suze, artistic and strong-willed, strives to be in the popular circle of girls in the community and joins in teasing “Screwy Dewey.” Over the next few years, the girls are brought together by changes in their families amidst the demands of the intensely-focused community—eventually gaining a respectful, even loyal, friendship. The historical setting created by author Ellen Klages in The Green Glass Sea is fascinating, and true to both the actual events of the time and the dynamics of preteen and family relationships. Readers will become familiar with this period of history and its hidden project. They will be introduced to the dilemma felt by the developers of the atomic bomb: in meeting our objective (to bring an end to the war), did we introduce a power to humanity that we may regret? The meaning of the book’s title becomes clear as the book concludes. Recipient of the Scott O’Dell Award for Historical Fiction, this fictional but realistic novel provides a context for understanding the complex demands of scientific exploration and the actual people involved. Ages 9-12. Puffin Books, 2008. 

 

Author Steve Sheinkin excels at presenting complex historical topics in a compelling way. His non-fiction Bomb: The Race to Build—and Steal—the World's Most Dangerous Weapon documents the origin of the atomic bomb in the 1938 discovery of nuclear fission in Germany, through its development in the secret labs of Los Alamos, to the several Soviet spies trying to steal key information and the international debate over nuclear proliferation. The complex nature of the bomb, its use and the dynamics of the Cold War are well described, elucidating an important era of our history and a context for current deliberations about nuclear power. Ages 11-16. Roaring  Brook Press, 2012.

For older readers and adults, The Children of Los Alamos, by Katrina R. Mason, presents interviews with adults who lived as young people in the rarified setting of Los Alamos. Offering a variety of perspectives, the narratives confirm that living at the secret community as children in the 1940s carried a lifelong impact. Reflections in this documentary book include deep appreciation for the dedicated energy characterizing the community, with a shared sense of mission creating a bond, as well as sobering thoughts about the enduring effects of the landmark use of atomic power to end WWII with the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.  Ages 12 to adult. Twayne Publishers, 1995.

Our Country’s Presidents: A Complete Encyclopedia of the U. S. Presidency, written by Ann Bausum

 

The job of president of the United States of America has to be one of the most difficult jobs in the world. Forty-five individuals have held this important position since George Washington was elected, in 1789, to lead our fledgling country. The requirements of the position have increased over time as our country grew, in both population and complexity. Our country’s democracy rests, at the national level, on three branches of government: the executive, the judicial and the legislative. The president heads the executive branch, undertaking responsibilities stated in our Constitution, but the impact of the president’s work extends even further--as an influential leader and advocate for the health and general welfare of our country. Our Country’s Presidents: A Complete Encyclopedia of the U. S. Presidency, by history author Ann Bausum, is an excellent compendium of information about each of our presidents, up through the national election of Joe Biden in November 2020. Bausum explores the milestones, challenges and leadership approach of each president, placing each president’s term of office in the context of our history. Readers learn, for example, that Abraham Lincoln led the country during the critical years of the Civil War, how Dwight D. Eisenhower served our country during World War II, the response of George W. Bush to terrorist attacks in September 2001, that Barack Obama faced the demands of the financial crisis of 2008 and beyond. Richly illustrated with primary sources, timelines, presidential portraits, fact boxes and helpful topical essays that describe a variety of themes related to the office of the presidency, this volume is both informative and engaging. It could be a wonderful resource for family conversation as we move into a national election year in 2024. What do you, as a reader, care about as you consider the qualifications of a potential president? What is most important to you? What hopes do you have regarding our country's leadership? Ages 7-12. National Geographic, 2021.

 

Read more about the responsibilities of the President and Executive Branch!

ENOUGH! 20+ Protesters Who Changed America, written by Emily Easton, illustrated by Ziyue Chen

 

When was the United States of America established? Officially when the Declaration of Independence was ratified on July 4, 1776. But that date was preceded by years of unrest as people in the British colonies began to protest laws, issued by the King of England, which they considered unfair—such as tax levies on goods needed for building strong lives and communities independent of the King's control. Yes, our country began with protests—the actions of individuals declaring their beliefs. Soon, the First Amendment of the U. S. Constitution clearly articulated our right to freedom of speech and freedom of the press...and the “right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.”

 

The book ENOUGH! 20+ Protesters Who Changed America, by author Emily Easton, highlights courageous individuals who have used the right to speak their beliefs in pursuit of justice and fair play in our country. Readers may not recognize all the people featured but they will appreciate the causes for which, in the author’s words, “protesters have stood, marched, sat or knelt for change”—change in the way our society thinks and acts as we, together, seek to be a better nation. Each double-page spread of this bold picture book has a single sentence capturing an individual’s protest, such as “Samuel threw a tea party”, “Rachel wrote a book” and "Colin took a knee." The rich illustrations by Ziyue Chen draw readers into the immediacy of each protester’s action. Ending the book are six pages detailing the time, place and purpose of each person’s protest. We learn more about Samuel Adams, Harriet Tubman, Susan B. Anthony, Woody Guthrie, Rosa Parks, Ruby Bridges, Rachel Carson, Martin Luther King, Jr., Cesar Chavez and Dolores Huerta, Muhammad Ali, Tommie Smith and John Carlos, John Lennon and Yoko Ono, Gilbert Baker, Jazz Jennings, Colin Kaepernick, America Ferrera, Parkland students, and Black Lives Matter supporters. This slim, well-crafted book is an excellent way to begin discussions about speaking and acting on one’s beliefs in constructive ways. Ages 5-8. Dragonfly Books / Penguin Random House, 2021.

She Persisted in Science: Brilliant Women Who Made a Difference, by Chelsea Clinton, illustrated by Alexandra Boiger

 

She Persisted in Science: Brilliant Women Who Made a Difference is an inspiring introduction to more than a dozen women and girls who have made a lasting contribution to the sciences--and by extension to the world around us. Over the years, women have had to stay particularly determined and courageous as they discovered their interests and skills in math and medicine, botany and biochemistry, animals and astronomy. As they found their places in fields dominated by men, they met barriers: were women smart enough, curious enough, strong enough to pursue these fields? Of course they were, but they had to prove it over and over again. Even today, it is vitally important for young women to see appealing and accomplished role models in science. These biographies of pioneers highlight--in artfully concise text--the intriguing pathways women took to pursue their goals. Rosalind Franklin discovered crucial information about our genetic code--work that underlaid today’s approach to disease. Gladys West took her hard-earned degrees in math to the study of celestial orbits, satellites, and oceans--undergirding the development of the GPS (Global Positioning System) so widely used today. Flossie Wong-Staal’s work studying HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) contributed to the creation of disease-fighting medications, saving countless lives. Ynes Enriquetta Julietta Mexia received a degree in botany at age fifty-one, traveling the world to discover thousands upon thousands of new species of plants. A biographical sketch, appealing quote, and full-page illustration featuring each woman on facing pages draw readers in. Their names may not yet be known by young readers but their courage and persistence will be felt: Florence Nightingale, Rebecca Lee Crumpler, Ynes Enriquetta Julietta Mexia, Grace Hopper, Rosalind Franklin, Gladys West, Jane Goodall, Flossie Wong-Staal, Temple Grandin, Zaha Hadid, Ellen Ochoa, Dr. Mona Hanna-Attisha & Mari Copeny, and Autumn Peltier, Greta Thunberg & Wanjiru Wathuti. Readers will be inspired to seek more information about each person. Author Chelsea Clinton and illustrator Alexandra Boiger have created a truly excellent series of books highlighting the persistence of women in our world. Philomel Books / Random House Books, 2022. Ages 4-8 years.

 

Other books in the series include: She Persisted: 13 American Women Who Changed the World, She Persisted in Sports: American Olympians Who Changed the Game, and She Persisted Around the World: 13 women Who Changed History.

Lena and the Burning of Greenwood: a Tulsa Race Massacre Survival Story, by Nikki Shannon Smith, illustrated by Markia Jenai & Unspeakable: The Tulsa Race Massacre, by Carole Boston Weatherford, illustrated by Floyd Cooper

 

As citizens aware that American history courses (from elementary grades through graduate school) sometimes miss the facts and true impact of past realities, we welcome literature that presents lost history, as painful as that history may be. Whether the exclusions are intentional or unknowing, our futures are more richly informed when we hear stories that widen our knowledge and perspectives.  

 

These two books for young people shed light on events of May and June 1921, when the prosperous African American community of Greenwood, in Tulsa, Oklahoma, was burned to the ground by White rioters following the alleged incident of a Black man accosting a White woman. Over one thousand homes and businesses were burned out, more than three hundred people killed, and many more were injured or rendered homeless in what is now identified as the Tulsa Race Massacre. Why have these stories not been widely told previously? Most probably the memories were too painful for those involved at the time to share; plus, the larger community of Tulsa did not want its image sullied by such a horrible event. No investigation took place for seventy-five years; the one hundredth anniversary of the event, in 2021, finally brought the event into public focus.

 

The African American community in Greenwood developed over a number of years when, after the abolition of slavery, Black Americans moved west, along with native tribes which had themselves been relocated. African American businesses thrived, and by the early 20^thcentury, the Greenwood District was known as the “Black Wall Street”—providing a secure, thriving place to be. Racial tensions with the predominant White Tulsa community existed, however, and became inflamed on May 31, 1921, with an accusation against Dick Rowland, suspected of assaulting a White woman. Though Rowland was found innocent in September 1921, the tragedy of the Tulsa Race Massacre had already taken place.

 

Lena and the Burning of Greenwood: a Tulsa Race Massacre Survival Story, told by Nikki Shannon Smith and illustrated by Markia Jenai, places 12-year-old Lena at the center of a fictional narrative as she describes her family’s sudden awareness of violence in its beloved Greenwood community. She holds tight to her father’s belief in the strength of their community even as it is challenged when they flee the death and destruction brought to their streets and homes by White rioters. Lena’s family is able to return to the site of their former community, determined to rebuild it alongside their surviving neighbors. This difficult story is beautifully crafted, capturing the emotional complexity of the happenings as well as the bonds among family members and neighbors. It is a necessary look at our history. Ages 8-12. Stone Arch Books/Capstone, 2022.

 

In Unspeakable: The Tulsa Race Massacre, by Carole Boston Weatherford, illustrated by Floyd Cooper, the phrase “Once upon a time in Greenwood…” introduces numerous pages of this deeply moving picture book history of the African American community that grew in Tulsa beginning in the mid-1800s. Readers learn of the resourcefulness, creativity and hard work that built Greenwood and supported a thriving community. When a standoff between Tulsa’s White and Black citizens gets out of hand, an entire established neighborhood is destroyed by White arsonists, looters and murderers. It may seem hard to believe that this tragedy can be presented in a book for young people, but author Carole Boston Weatherford and illustrator Floyd Cooper (both of whom have personal connections with Greenwood history) have crafted an outstanding book—immeasurably somber and yet hopeful. End notes by both creators of this award-winning book add to the history, firmly demonstrating that much of the history we read is expressly personal to those who lived it, sending ripples of understanding into society today. Ages 8 to adult. Carolrhoda Books / Lerner Publishing Group, 2021.

 

A discussion guide is presented here: Unspeakable. Readers can also visit https://www.nps.gov/places/oklahoma-john-hope-franklin-reconciliation-park.htm

Kent State, by Deborah Wiles

 

In early May 1970, four unarmed college students were killed and nine other people wounded at Kent State University in Ohio. The event shocked the nation; it was the first time students were killed in an anti-war gathering. Protesting the war in Vietnam had been going on for years; it escalated at numerous college campuses and public venues in late April 1970, when South Vietnamese forces and U. S. troops invaded Cambodia in an effort to curb planning and recruitment by the North Vietnamese military. In her book Kent State, author Deborah Wiles examines documentary evidence (oral histories, personal interviews with witnesses, newspapers and other written accounts archived in Kent State University special collections and in the Kent Public Library and Historical Society) to compose her novel about the May events at Kent State. In a remarkable narrative, Wiles presents accounts of the happenings from variety of perspectives—from students (protesters, bystanders, the Black United Students), from townspeople, from the National Guardsmen who were called in, from the local police and more. To convey the chaos and concerns as events unfolded over several days, voices from each perspective are written in different fonts—a sort of prose poem enabling readers to grasp the disparate emotions and conflicting opinions. 

 

One might call Kent State a “docu-novel”—a fictional story based on authentic sources, intended to convey the true import of happenings. Encyclopedia Britannica says: “history [is a] discipline that studies the chronological record of events, usually attempting, on the basis of a critical examination of source materials, to explain events.” Using primary sources, author Wiles draws readers into the immediacy of the occasion, forcing an awareness of multiple points of view in the context of our U. S. Constitution’s First Amendment. Those several days on the Kent campus and town seem nothing short of terrifying when long-held beliefs feel suspended. The narrative in Kent State does not draw conclusions about whether calling out the National Guard was warranted by the student protests. The intent of the demonstrations was peaceful protest; the origin of some disruptive activities and a fire on campus was never fully determined. What does our nation’s dedication to “the freedom of speech, or of the press; the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances” mean at a particular time and place? What does it mean when innocent people are harmed? Who are the other people affected and in what way? What role does media play? Whose role is it to protect First Amendment rights, or to exert control? These questions remain pointedly relevant in today’s world. Freedom of speech and of expression are cornerstones of a vital democracy. What steps can we take to protect them in challenging times? Ages 12-18. Scholastic Press, 2020.

 

Readers can visit the May 4 Visitors Center online: https://www.kent.edu/may4visitorscenter/online-exhibits . 

To read and think further about documentary novels, visit the author’s website: https://deborahwiles.com .

Saving American Beach: The Biography of African American Environmentalist MaVynee Betsch, by Heidi Tyline King, illustrated by Ekua Holmes

 

Sometimes the actions of just one person can leave a lasting footprint on the course of history. MaVynee Betsch left such a footprint. Growing up along the northeast coastline of Florida, MaVynee came to love the ocean beach. Her great grandfather Abraham Lincoln Lewis loved it too, but despaired that the ocean water was divided by an orange rope separating black swimmers from white—customary segregation during the Jim Crow years of our history. Lewis, a successful entrepreneur, bought the beach and established a lively and beautiful recreation spot for the black community. It soon became American Beach—a magnet for people far and near, including such performers as Ray Charles and Duke Ellington. Meanwhile, MaVynee had grown up to become an opera singer, performing across the wide ocean in Europe. Returning to America when her mother became ill, MaVynee discovered  that “her” American Beach had suffered from neglect as a result of desegregation laws that opened facilities across the nation to all races, drawing people to new venues. MaVynee made a pledge to save the beach and restore it to its rich natural beauty. In the process, she fought with beachfront developers and garnered supporters through her determined and flamboyant energy. Ultimately just a sliver of beach front remained but through her tireless efforts, the U. S. President George W. Bush signed the protection of American Beach into law. It became part of the National Park Service, and a site on the National Register of Historic Places and Florida Black History Trail. In Saving American Beach: The Biography of African American Environmentalist MaVynee Betsch, author Heidi Tyline King weaves MaVynee’s personality and passion into a wonderful story. Ekua Holmes’s vibrant paint-and-collage illustrations capture the moods and spirit of both the beach and its indomitable advocate MaVynee, a true “agent of change.” Ages 4-9. G. P. Putnam’s Sons, 2021.

 

For more information about MaVynee and American Beach, explore https://www.thehistorymakers.org/biography/mavynee-beach-lady-betsch-39 and https://www.nps.gov/places/american-beach-nana-sand-dune.htm

Because Claudette, by Tracey Baptiste, illustrated by Tonya Engel

 

Claudette Colvin’s name may not be easily recognized among the luminous heroes of the civil rights movement—such people as Martin Luther King, Jr, Rosa Parks and John Lewis. This wonderful picture book introduces readers to young Claudette in a compelling way, in a narrative echoing the “Because” in the title with a series of instances that had a ripple effect. Only 15 years old, Claudette began the ripple when she was arrested in March, 1955, refusing to give her seat on a public bus to a white person two years before Rosa Parks’s similar action initiated the Montgomery Bus Boycott. At the time of her arrest, Claudette’s parents obtained a lawyer who suggested she meet with Rosa Parks, then a member of the NAACP, an active civil rights organization. Ms. Parks and Claudette became good friends. As she learned more and more about historical heroes working for equality and women actively working for equal rights in the present, Claudette did not feel alone in her pursuit. When a young preacher named Martin Luther King, Jr. spoke at a local church, he inspired key citizens of Montgomery to take immediate action, and the ripple expanded outward. One person after another did their important parts to organize a bus boycott urging the mayor of Montgomery to change the law regarding sitting on the city's buses. Flyers were printed, people who normally rode the buses walked or shared rides to work, people far away donated money to the cause, and young Claudette was asked to testify in court about her experience and belief about equality. Claudette was so convincing, the judge changed the law, but the city of Montgomery and the state of Alabama refused to comply, and the bus boycott went on for well over a year. Finally, the issue was settled in a U. S. Supreme Court decision: “On December 21, 1956, anyone could sit wherever they liked on the bus.”

 

In Because Claudette, author Tracey Baptiste describes the journey begun by Claudette in a clear, matter-of-fact manner that allows readers to follow this important path of activism on the part of ordinary citizens. Tonya Engel’s luminous illustrations invite readers into the moments described, completing a riveting account of this important time in the history of civil rights. Ages 6-9. Dial Books for Young Readers, 2022.

Further information about the Montgomery Bus Boycott: https://www.nps.gov/articles/montgomery-bus-boycott.htm

Choosing Brave: How Mamie Till-Mobley and Emmett Till Sparked the Civil Rights Movement, by Angela Joy, illustrated by Janelle Washington

Our nation has become increasingly aware of Emmett Till’s name and circumstances in recent years as the history of injustice to African Americans is documented more thoroughly and accurately. Readers may be less familiar with the voice and the relentless actions of Emmet's mother Mamie Till-Mobley, who spoke immediately and publicly about his death by lynching in August 1955. Her actions led, ultimately, to the passage by the U. S. Senate of the Emmett Till Antilynching Act on March 7, 2022, making lynching a federal crime. In the nonfiction illustrated book Choosing Brave: How Mamie Till-Mobley and Emmett Till Sparked the Civil Rights Movement, author Angela Joy and artist Janelle Washington document the extraordinarily painful and courageous role Mamie Till-Mobley played in the movement to bring justice and healing to individuals and communities suffering from loss and injustice. Emmett’s mother insisted that his body—beaten, killed and thrown in the Tallahatchie River in Mississippi where Emmett was visiting relatives—be sent home to Illinois and displayed publicly for people to see the horror her son endured. The men responsible for Emmet’s death were not convicted, the result of an inaccurate, incomplete, unjust trial. The book’s text is concise and lyrical, describing Emmet, his mother, his lynching and the events and advocacy that followed in powerful simplicity. Janelle Washington’s cut-paper and colored illustrations capture telling moments in the narrative, inviting readers to sense deeply the import of Emmet’s story. Mamie Till-Mobley, through her relentless energy, connected with African Americans well familiar with the discrimination of the Jim Crow era, including Rosa Parks, spurring further activism that powered the Civil Rights movement. Till-Mobley, as an educator and activist, founded the Emmett Till Players in 1973, a group of young people who brought the inspiring words of Martin Luther King, Jr., to audiences across the nation. An author’s note, an illustrator’s note, the “Choosing Brave: The Soundtrack," vocabulary related to the story, a timeline and sources provide excellent additional insights to the story of Emmett Till. The importance of this story cannot be overemphasized, difficult though it is, and this is the book through which young people and their grown-ups can experience it. Ages 8 to adult. Roaring Brook Press, 2022.

 

For readers interested in more books for young people related to peace, social justice, global community and equity, please explore the Jane Addams Children’s Book Awards.

Down Cut Shin Creek: The Pack Horse Librarians of Kentucky, by Kathi Appelt and Jeanne Cannella Schmitzer & That Book Woman, by Heather Henson, illustrated by David Small

 

Winter can be cold, damp and stormy for many people around the country. Can you imagine how chilly it would be riding a horse in the mountains of eastern Kentucky in the wintertime, delivering the books stored in your saddlebags to isolated homes across the region? That’s exactly what librarians did during the Great Depression, a difficult period in our history following the collapse of the stock market in 1929. The Pack Horse Library Project of Kentucky--part of the WPA (Works Progress Administration) program created by the federal government in 1935--served residents of a state hit particularly hard when many coal mines were closed. Books were delivered by flatboat in parts of Mississippi and Louisiana as part of free public library services on the rise for rural communities across the nation. In eastern Kentucky, rough terrain and winding creek beds required navigating by horse; the courageous and determined women delivering materials were called “Pack Horse Librarians.”

 

Authors Kathi Appelt and Jeanne Cannella Schmitzer interviewed former pack horse librarian Grace Caudill Lucas and drew on the resources of numerous research libraries and historical societies to compile the riveting nonfiction book Down Cut Shin Creek: The Pack Horse Librarians of Kentucky. Stories and documentary photos of the mountainous routes librarians traveled and the homes they visited bring readers immediately into the experience. Librarians lived in the regions they served, establishing trusted relationships with the families and small schoolhouses that gladly received the precious books and tattered magazines. Upon occasion, a librarian could pause to read a book to listeners or receive a handful of walnuts or a handwritten recipe as a thank you. By and large her days were long and hard; energy came from knowing how much her services and supportive words meant to her patrons. Too, she looked forward to returning to her own family, rubbing down her horse, and having a hot meal at the end of her day before starting the next journey. Pack horse librarians earned $28 a month; daily trips were about eighteen miles long and librarians traveled fifty to eighty miles on horseback each week. Teams of librarians met regularly at a headquarters library to share information; they kept materials (all of which were donated) rotating among various locales. They endeavored to bring “just right” items to their patrons, knowing that the gifts of literacy and literature were precious. Childrens books were in great demand; sometimes children read them aloud to parents and grandparents who were not themselves able to read, contributing to an ever-expanding need for reading materials.

 

Pack horse library services ended in 1943; not until 1956 did the Library Services Act establish federal support for libraries generally, founding a valuable system of collections nationwide. There is no doubt that the determination of Kentucky pack horse librarians exemplified the value of unwavering support for libraries in our country. The next time you visit your school or public library, be sure to say “Thank you!” to the librarians who serve us so well! Ages 8-12. Purple House Press, 2019.

For younger readers, That Book Woman, written by Heather Henson and illustrated by David Small, provides a fictional glimpse of pack horse librarians through the eyes of young Cal. He is at first dubious about the value of learning to read but comes to admire the loyal librarian who rides in all weathers to bring his sister books. Once his older sister helps him learn to read, he decides it's okay! Ages 4-7. Atheneum books for Young Readers, 2008.

Hear My Voice: The Testimonies of Children Detained at the Southern Border of the United States; compiled by Warren Binford for Project Amplify; illustrations by Latinx artists

 

The topic of immigration is a difficult one. The reality of being an immigrant is immeasurably harder. In recent years and months the news has carried countless stories of the daunting journeys immigrants take to achieve a better life in the United States. Immigration has been a legal and policy issue for our government—at both state and national levels—for many, many decades, into previous centuries. Some U. S. citizens regard immigrants with fear, others with concern for their well-being. We learn with appreciation about individuals who came as immigrants and contributed mightily to our culture and progress; we know that American society today is largely comprised of immigrants—from Europe, from Asia, from Africa and South America. What are we to understand? How are we to greet newcomers to our shores and borders today? In the book Hear My Voice: The Testimonies of Children Detained at the Southern Border of the United States, Warren Binford, an international children’s advocate and a professor of both law and pediatrics, records the voices of children who have crossed the Rio Grande from Mexico, sharing their experiences first-hand as they waited in detention centers. Published in 2021, the book provides a vivid look at the circumstances floods of migrant children faced, separated from their parents and guardians, in the migration process beginning in 2017. How did they sleep, eat and keep clean? We know that today, policies and practices surrounding the rights of immigrants are confusing, and injustices are too often the result. Michael Garcia Bochenek, of Human Rights Watch, says in his Foreword to the book: “This book, a story for children by children, wasn’t easy to tell and isn’t easy to hear.” Indeed, the truths of the young people interviewed are probably best shared by adults and children together in reading Hear My Voice. Readers hear the voices of 61 young people; 17 Latinx artists amplify their voices in startling yet tender double-page illustrations, providing crucial insight to the detention situation. Throughout, the courage of child migrants comes through. Additional notes provide depth on the legal and social context of child migrants, suggestions for what families might do to help, and thoughtful questions that could be the basis for family discussions. The book is presented in English from one cover and in Spanish from the other. Ages 8 to adult. Workman Publishing, New York, 2021.

 

Further information: United Nations Declaration on the Rights of the Child and the United Nations focus on the topic of migration

Keepunumuk: Weeâchumun's Thanksgiving Story--by Danielle Greendeer, Anthony Perry and Alexis Bunten; illustrated by Garry Meeches Sr.

Keepunumuk: Weeâchumun's Thanksgiving Story tells the story of Thanksgiving from a Native perspective, deepening our understanding of the history and traditions related to this celebration. A foreword introduces readers to the time and setting with which most Americans are familiar: a 1621 harvest feast in Plymouth, Massachusetts, initiated by settlers widely known as Pilgrims. Further notes deepen our awareness of the many years before the newcomers arrived, during which the First Peoples (the Wampanoag people of this area) hunted, fished and cultivated essential crops, particularly a trio of crops known as the Three Sisters (Corn, Beans, and Squash). Readers learn a number of words in the language Wampanoag people speak (Wôpanâak), used by the grandmother who tells a story within the story: words for grandmother, corn, dwelling, foods, Ousamequin (a leader known as Massasoit) and Tisquantum (a man known as Squanto).

As young Quill and Maple accompany their grandmother gathering foods for lunch, she relates the story of Keepunumuk--the time of the harvest. Seagull and Weeâchumun (the Sister named Corn) notice new people arriving on the shores of their homeland. Over two winters, along with Fox, they wonder if the newcomers are to be trusted. The seasons change. The newcomers search for seeds. The First Peoples, observing them, worry the newcomers will not know what to do with the seeds. With springtime, the animals and plants of the region decide to help the newcomers with their crop-planting, manifested in the help of their leaders who work with the newcomers. When the newcomers hold a feast to celebrate their successful harvest, some of the First Peoples join them. As grandmother’s story ends, Quill and Maple understand how important their ancestors’ deep reverence for the creatures of land, sea and sky was to the newcomers’ sustenance and survival.

 

The book ends with further information about the geography of the Mashpee Wampanoag people, settlers and colonization, Wampanoag storytelling, the current recognition of the Day of Mourning, and the tradition of creating a Spirit Plate as part of giving thanks. Authors Danielle Greendeer (a citizen of the Mashpee Wampanoag Nation), Anthony Perry (a Chikasaw citizen), and Alexis Bunten (Yu’pik and Unangan) join with illustrator Garry Meeches Sr. (Anishinaabe) in presenting a thoughtful, resonant book that places First Peoples at the heart of a holiday celebrated by most Americans. Ages 4-9. Charlesbridge, 2022.

 

Further information for curious readers:

Reclamation of the Wôpanâak language: https://www.wlrp.org

The National Day of Mourning held on the U. S. Thanksgiving holiday: http://www.uaine.org/

 

Everything You Wanted to Know about Indians but Were Afraid to Ask (Young Readers Edition), by Anton Treuer & An Indigenous Peoples’ History of the United States for Young People, by Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz, adapted by Jean Mendoza and Debbie Reese

 

In October 2021, Indigenous Peoples’ Day was recognized as a United States national holiday celebrating Native peoples and their histories and cultures. It is regarded by many to be a counter-holiday to Columbus Day, which commemorates Christopher Columbus’s arrival in the Americas and often eclipses a recognition of our continent’s prior inhabitants. Everything You Wanted to Know about Indians But Were Afraid to Ask (Young Readers Edition) goes a long way toward untangling lapses in our common knowledge and misperceptions of history as well as contemporary Native peoples. Ten topical chapters contain engaging questions--questions that many of us might ask. Chapter titles include: Terminology; History; Religion, Culture and Identity; Powwow; Tribal Languages; Politics; Economics; Education; Social Activism; Perspectives: Coming to Terms and Future Directions; and a concluding commentary entitled Finding Ways to Make a Difference.

Author Anton Treuer describes the borderland in Northern Minnesota where he grew up. In the borderland, communities and schools were a mix of Whites and Indians; navigating the confusing mix of tribal, state and federal jurisdictions was difficult. Varied cultural and family contexts made understanding hard, perhaps particularly for young people: “…nobody talked about the bigger issues, which sat like a giant bear in the corner of the room every time the schools and Native families interacted.” After leaving the borderland of his childhood and completing his college degree at Princeton University in New Jersey, Treuer realized that the confusion of expectations and perceptions that the borderland presented to both Indian and White individuals remained deeply embedded in his and others' lives. He committed himself to studying, writing and teaching about Native issues--fully aware that he is but one Indian among many, though confident his research and voice could be useful in the process of striving for understanding. The result is a highly informative, thoughtful, challenging and useful book for both Native and non-Native readers. Ages 13 and up. Levine Querido/Chronicle Books, 2021.

 

Excellent additional insight to the history of Native peoples is provided by An Indigenous Peoples’ History of the United States for Young People. Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz’s original work has been adapted by Jean Mendoza and Debbie Reese to reach readers in junior high and above. The authors mince no words in describing the reeducation needed within families, schools and institutions to understand better the history of our nation’s indigenous peoples, how they have fared over years of co-existence with larger populations, and, moving forward, what policies and practices can best respect the integrity and welfare of Native peoples. This is a valuable volume, inspiring reflection on and understanding of social justice issues. Ages 12 and up. Beacon Press, 2019.

 

For more excellent book recommendations, view https://americanindiansinchildrensliterature.blogspot.com

 

View the U. S. President’s Proclamation regarding Indigenous Peoples’ Day: https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/presidential-actions/2021/10/08/a-proclamation-indigenous-peoples-day-2021/

We the People: The United States Constitution Explored and Explained, by Aura Lewis & Evan Sargent

Many public discussions center around the U. S. Constitution, the document that frames how our national government works. It can be daunting to try to understand its contents; it was adopted in 1787 and has been added to twenty-seven times since then. We know that the initial words of the Constitution – “We the People” – convey that our government is formed with the intention of serving the people of the United States. That’s a big job. Aura Lewis and Evan Sargent, in We the People: The United States Constitution Explored and Explained, provide an excellent source for learning how the Constitution does (and sometimes does not) provide guidelines for our government. 

This helpful book is arranged chronologically: a description of our three branches of government is followed by the Preamble and the first seven articles of the Constitution and so on. Readers may wonder what a “preamble” is; the authors take care to define terms that may be new, within the narrative or in a glossary at the book’s end (for example, the preamble is “the opening statement of the original Constitution”). Double-page spreads clearly and concisely state the essence of and explain each Article, then the first ten Amendments called the Bill of Rights, and then move through each of the eleventh through twenty-seventh Amendments. Whew. But each part of the Constitution is not merely explained clearly and concisely. All the way through, the text invites thoughtful discussion with questions to the reader, such as “What do you think?” after the review of a concept, and “If you could be in one of the three branches of government, which would you choose and why?” Clear cross-references among pages lead readers to related facts on a topic without disrupting the narrative at hand. The pull and tug of authority (for example, between federal and states’ interests) and other knotty issues such as voting rights are addressed. Fun facts are sprinkled throughout, providing interesting information even adults aren’t likely to know! Numerous sidebars highlight historical and contemporary facts about people and events that enhance the story of our Constitution’s implementation through the years. 

All this information appears in graphically captivating form, with succinct and interesting text, Aura Lewis’s colorful illustrations, clear headlines and bold highlights. An activist message is conveyed throughout, encouraging readers to consider their role in contributing to the conversation about our nation’s values, laws, policies and practices. It is an excellent introduction to a foundational document. Ages 9 and up. Wide Eyed Editions / Quarto Group, 2020.

 

Take a look at the original Constitution and find additional resources at our National Archives.

The Voice That Won the Vote: How One Woman’s Words Made History, by Elisa Boxer, illustrated by Vivien Mildenberger

 

The 19th Amendment to the U. S. Constitution was passed by the U. S. Senate and House of Representatives in 1919 but it still needed to be ratified by thirty-six states in order for women to have the vote. Would Tennessee become the 36th and final state to say “Yes”? This pleasing picture book tells the little-known story of Febb Burn, an ordinary woman fed up with waiting. The campaign for women's suffrage had begun more than seventy years before in Seneca Falls, New York, at the first convention on the rights of women. Febb Burn, in August, 1920,  wrote a letter to a key legislator (and her son), Harry Burn: “Hurrah and vote for suffrage and don’t keep them in doubt”— and his one vote made the difference! This single episode speaks volumes about individual advocacy and standing up for one’s beliefs; it is set in context by a brief timeline of women’s suffrage. The Voice That Won the Vote: How One Woman’s Words Made History, by Elisa Boxer, illustrated by Vivien Mildenberger captures a fascinating turning-point in the journey for women’s rights. Ages 6-10. Sleeping Bear Press, 2020.

The 19th Amendment to the Constitution of the United States: "The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex. Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation."

More details from the National Constitution Center:  https://constitutioncenter.org/blog/the-man-and-his-mom-who-gave-women-the-vote/

View the original letter from mother to son at the Knox County Public Library in Tennessee!