We know what happens when entire nations cannot stymie their collective fears. We know what happens when whole civilizations select a scapegoat for inexplicable suffering. History maps these trends. Throughout the Myths Across the Map series (now available through Gareth Stevens Publishing), I chronicled 4 of the 6 major global myths. I tracked down the… Continue reading Myths Across the Map by Yours Truly
Tag: Common Core
Two First Amendment Books by Yours Truly
At a time when our national attention sits securely, sometimes obsessively, on the goingson of Washington, D.C. and our national leaders — be they elected, electoral, or judicial — young viewers and readers deserve thoughtful texts exploring the roots of our rights. For parents, teachers, and librarians seeking such books for the voracious omnivorous reader,… Continue reading Two First Amendment Books by Yours Truly
Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein
Wein, Elizabeth. Code Name Verity. New York: Hyperion, 2012. Print. Genre: YA historical fiction Summary: World War II historical fiction of the most gripping kind! Either the protagonist, Julie (AKA “Verity”) spills her guts about her spying exploits or her Gestapo torturers will…well, spill her guts for her! Critique: This book is an epistolary thriller (thought… Continue reading Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein
When the Beat was Born by Laban Carrick Hill
Hill, Laban Carrick. When the Beat was Born: DJ Kool Herc and the Creation of Hip Hop. Illus. Theodore Taylor III. New York: Roaring Book, 2013. Print. Genre: Picture book Summary: Clive Campbell falls in love with music and dance parties while growing up in Jamaica. He moves to New York where he eventually becomes… Continue reading When the Beat was Born by Laban Carrick Hill
The Elephant Scientist by Caitlin O’Connell and Donna M. Jackson
O’Connell, Caitlin and Donna M. Jackson. The Elephant Scientist. New York: Houghton Miffling Books for Children, 2011. Print. Genre: Nonfiction (photo) picture book Summary: This is a true story. Caitlin grows up with a love for science. She studies bugs, but then gets a chance to study elephants in Africa. One day, no joke, her… Continue reading The Elephant Scientist by Caitlin O’Connell and Donna M. Jackson
