Nonfiction Notable: A SONG FOR THE UNSUNG

I continue to read picture books extensively while enjoying the many beginning readers  and early chapter books I've been exploring for CYBILS AWARD consideration.  Some picture books are guaranteed to snag my attention due to the subject matter, the reliably high quality of the author and/or illustrator, and my own connections to prior readings and/or postings. This nonfiction biographic account of BAYARD RUSTIN is such a book on all strands of that appeal. 

Henry Holt & Company, 2023

A SONG FOR THE UNSUNG: BAYARD RUSTIN, the Man behind the 1963 March on Washington did not disappoint. This is written by multi-award-winning Carole Boston Weatherford and LGBTQIA advocate Rob Sanders, with impressively informative illustrations by Byron McCray. In an earlier post featuring another picture book focused on the 1963 March on Washington, here, I also featured a book aimed at older readers, one that profiled the largely unrecognized CIVIL RIGHTS leaded, Bayard Rustin. (That book is one of the sources cited in the bibliography for A SONG FOR THE UNSUNG.)

The title alone is brilliant, because it signals that Rustin was a talented and devoted singer for whom music played a central role throughout his life. The same can be said about the role of music in the Civil Rights Movement. Threaded throughout each double spread are scrolled lyrics from many different hymns/songs that reflect specific moments throughout his life and his role in the shaping of that movement. This includes the fact that Rustin's roots run deep in Quaker peace activism, including refusing to bear arms during WWII and his consequent imprisonment. 

The authors open on the eventful August day in 1963 with Rustin's perspective of the Washington mall, empty other than himself and a few reporters. His confident assertion that this unprecedented event would happen, would succeed, contrasts with the absence of evidence at that early morning moment. And yet Rustin, the organizer/coordinator behind the scenes, stood tall and sure. he had orchestrated every detail, from placement of portable potties to bus parking  to box lunches and the program itself. 

Each page turn that offers incredible details about his development of the strength and skill and talent that underpinned such confidence. As a relative "elder" in comparison to young Martin Luther King, Jr., his experiences with adherence to non-violent strategies for social change were rooted in studies with Gandhi and led to his later instruction and guidance for MLK,Jr. and the entire movement. 

An essential (and never denied or hidden) aspect of his identity is that he was a gay man. Thankfully, and despite immeasurable forces still attempting to discriminate against non-straight individuals and organizations, we have arrived at a time of greater openness and awareness that people are people and their sexual lives are not a matter of public concern. This was far from the case at the time of Rustin's life, making his willingness to be "out of the closet" another bold and honest example of his personal integrity. This fact, though, accounts for why so few folks know his name in comparison to others from those Civil Rights Movement years in the sixties. It was deemed necessary and advantageous to access Rustin's organization skills and network contacts to make a gathering of a quarter million people possible, yet leaders within the movement insisted that his public role should be minimal, fearing that his gay identity could undermine and detract from the greater goals. 

Very likely they were correct. Even so, it meant that Rustin's long history, credentials, and support of equal rights and social justice remained "appreciated" by insiders but "unsung" in the public accounts of this history-changing day and the entire movement surrounding it. There is no justice in that, at any level. Now, more than sixty years later, young people can access Rustin's life story through works for older readers but also through this gorgeous, dynamic, and lyrical account of a man who merits everyone's attention and admiration. 

I had some limited awareness of this remarkable figure in American history as a young person who viewed the march and speeches live on television, awed by the safe, civil, overwhelmingly effective gathering at our nation's capital at a time when few were willing to speak aloud the need for legal civil rights for all in a public venue. (My reflection on why CIVIL RIGHTS and the movement mean so much to me can be read an early post on that topic, HERE. Equality for all SHOULD connect with everyone, even a straight, white, privileged woman such as myself. And yet my connection to the subject matter runs deep, and I wish more folks would examine their own lives to see that success on behalf of the least protected among us elevates the quality of life for us all.)

I fear, though, that this very title will be among the extensive and absurd lists of books for kids that face censorship due to both aspects of his Rustin's life story: being Black and being gay. Please learn more about that misguided group that is comparatively small in numbers but powerful in political clout. Make it a point to read any books on the list for yourselves and then speak up for open access and rights to read! (For more on that topic, THIS LINK is from the American Library Association.)

I DON'T CARE... DO YOU?

On this national holiday commemorating Martin Luther King, Jr. and his immeasurable contribution to a better country and world, I'll feature a new picture book that embodies everything important about his messages for young audiences. 

Neal Porter Books, 2022
Holiday House Imprint

I DON'T CARE is written by multi-award-winning Julie Fogliano, and illustrated by a pair of award-winning illustrators Molly Idle and Juana Martinez-Neal. 

Among the best of all interviewers is Scott Simon of NPR's Weekend Edition Saturday. In December, Simon hosted both illustrators, Molly and Juana, for an interview that knocked me flat. I was entertained, informed, uplifted, and... disappointed.

 WHAT?!?!?  Disappointed? Here's why. I had been offered a chance to submit interview questions for all three creators, but after hearing their conversation I realized that nothing I could offer would be more engaging and powerful than that session together with Scott Simon. Whether you read anything else here or not, (and I hope you will), do yourself a favor and listen to this remarkable interview, HERE.

Foregoing an interview allows me space to dig even more deeply into the work itself, trusting you to read/listen to the discussion linked above. It will reveal back story and details about the choices for color, style, even paper! All of these make the experience of the book itself all the more powerful. Don't let my gushing endorsement of their illustration work and of the interview content suggest I'm overlooking the brilliance of the text itself. That can't happen.

Julie Fogliano has produced some of my all time favorite picture books, including THESE. The common trait among them is the author's gift for using the "just right" words in the "just right" order to focus readers on the heart of each particular story. She often writes in rhyme, but that approach never overwhelms or even leads the way for readers. She allows the unfolding text to reveal the heart of what is happening, what is at stake, and what is resolved. Those qualities are most often "quiet" in her works, and "quiet" books are reportedly not easily sold in today's market. 

Ha!

As with rhyming, another approach writers are  frequently cautioned to avoid, the secret to success is to do it well, even perfectly. Julie does just that. Her books often, and especially this one, provide ideal mentor text for anyone attempting to write for children. 

In this case, her full text is voiced by what she had envisioned as a single child, addressed to a "you". That "you" would seemingly be another child who the speaker is evidently rebuffing, assuming the "other" likely thinks negative things about the speaker. About their hair, boots, clothes, drawing, what they have or where they live or what they eat. The speaker's guard is up from the first moment the other, the "you", appears

 The speaker's words imply suspicion, defensiveness, and (likely) a bias toward others who in any way seem different. The text continues to allow the "I" voice to see and consider a possible connection to the other, one that might actually be an opportunity for company, for play, for... friendship. 

This development allows for caring: about what matters most, and about the other as much as about themselves. The lines and language, gently rhymed and paced, provide time for growth, inner reflections, and the possibility for change. The childlike pattern used (and the use of lower case /i/ for the pronoun stating the characters feelings) remind readers of any age that  such a suspicious, tentative approach to new encounters, to change, to expectations that remain unpredictable, are common negative reactions at any age, to one degree or another. If the illustrations had developed with this single perspective, I have no doubt that I'd still love and praise this new offering. 

But, as the interview linked above reveals, handing text to an illustrator allows for an entirely expanded interpretation, and that was the impact on Molly Idle when she was asked to illustrate. The text spoke to her entirely as an interactive dialogue between TWO characters, alternating that /i/ voice and those cautious feelings, allowing both to gradually recognize themselves as being safe in the other's company and, in fact, very much caring about the newly developing friendship. 

This delightful, gentle, powerful exploration of inner and interactive emotions is a perfect reflection of the spirit of Martin Luther King, Jr.'s lifetime efforts. Neither character tried to reshape the other, but each is able to overcome cautious defensiveness and give the other a chance. 

This is no quick transition; no abracadabra moment occurs. But sustained "tolerance", close observation, and human curiosity serve as magnets to explore further. What this seemingly simple picture book captures is a human being moving through initial discomfort, sitting with those feelings long enough to explore and overcome them. None of that would happen if the initial response was to shut down and go away, or to find like-minded folks and reconfirm that anything other than the familiar presented danger.

Interior spread, I DON'T CARE, 2022

That gave the two a chance... for what? To be who they are, and to accept the other fully, finding safety and respect in the process. And, in this case, making new friends. Transformation of our historically silo-evolved society comes one encounter at a time. This new book not only provides mentor-text and mentor-illustration for creators, it is a mentor offering for life, for all ages. 

Don't miss it. then share it and actively practice. Seek out opportunities to spend time outside your usual circles, habits, locations. Be patient and fair. Change CAN come, given a chance.

"Essential Worker" Heroes- in Good Times and Bad

Anchoring this post in time: 
Day thirteen of local social distancing directives and schools closing, followed by other days of even stricter guidelines. I would never suggest that anything about all this is "a new normal", but it does feel as if I and others in my life are gradually establishing patterns that stabilize daily life a bit. Within those patterns I've been reflecting on gratitude. 

Image from https://www.wilddhearts.com

In these unprecedented times and circumstances, many are praising the daily, life saving work of medical personnel at every level, and well we should. Focus of praise is often on the front line folks in ICU settings, those testing, working as paramedics, and other visible professionals. There have been shout-outs to thank those at the checkout stations in grocery stores, gas stations, and pharmacies, too. 
Less often mentioned are those one-tier removed, those at the desks, phones, warehouses, and laboratories who provide the scaffolding that allows direct intervention and service to continue. Fewer still are songs of praise for the nearly invisible essential workers who are the foundation of that complex scaffolding system on which society depends: delivery drivers, housekeeping staff in all essential service centers, those reporting, writing, and distributing news in print and digitally, and our ever-on-duty police and firefighters. 
In these two weeks of home-based life, my trash collection service has remained consistent and as seemingly "automatic" as ever. I'm so grateful for the men and women who deliver those services. 

The following content appeared on a friend's FaceBook post recently, which she read and copied from her community's social media site:

"Hey community named here -- You may have been laid off or had your hours cut at work. You may have trouble paying your bills or feeding your family, but, rest assured, your city streets will be kept clean, by hook or by crook!! Yes, not only are the street sweepers out, they are even cleaning the ALLEYS!! ... Don't bother complaining to the Mayor. He will NEVER admit he's wrong. He will NEVER walk back a bad idea. He will CERTAINLY NEVER criticize a city department or suggest cuts. Keep paying your taxes!"

This was my friend's reply:

 "I am grateful for the streetsweepers and all city employees that perform services that keep our city functioning to the extent possible. I am grateful that the streets are being kept clean of debris and litter, which apparently some people are unable to put in trashcans themselves. Even if fewer people can drive on them, I'm glad the streets are being kept clean. I'm also glad that those people who do that work still have jobs. I'm glad they can continue to have income even though others don't right now. That is one way to keep the economy and society from collapsing completely."

(Shared with her permission.)

When it released, I wrote in praise of an outstanding picture book, MARVELOUS CORNELIUS: Hurricane Katrina and the Spirit of New Orleans, written by Phil Bildner and illustrated by John Parra.
Since writing that post and the reveiw (below) on Goodreads, I've read this one again several times, always enjoying it even more and on more levels:
On my second read, (because I was still wowed by the quality after the first read), I  wondered if it was or wasn't fiction. I knew it was "based on" a real man. The third time through I finally read the back matter. 
I'm a huge fan of back matter, but try not too read too early so that the "author's insight" won't shape my initial reactions. 
What I learned is that this is NOT biographical, any more that John Henry (which is based on an actual character) is biographical/nonfiction. Cornelius clearly incorporates things that are exaggerated, uses the language and patterns of tall tales, and absolutely captures the larger-than-life quality of a legendary hero.
It represents that amazing ability to appeal to older readers/adults and yet the youngest love it for the delight of the action and language as well as the kid-friendly folk-art illustration style. 

This book bounces, sings, and captures a city and culture as if it is character itself. Scenes shifts throughout, from the earliest pages where the grittiness is transformed by the touch (and hard work) of Cornelius to sparkling and appealing. Eventually, the overwhelming destruction of nature's force is countered by the binding and building of a community, inspired by the spirit of Cornelius. 
Beyond that, it offers all those connections to curriculum- geography, careers, infrastructures, the role of government, weather, community action, goal-setting, and more.


Before the first word there is the full page spread quotation by MLK, Jr. about the dignity of work. It's as if he had lived to know Cornelius, and his quote comes from his dealings with the garbage collection workers strike, an episode in his life that realtes directly to his assassination.

 "All the hosts of heaven and earth will pause to say, 

Here lived a great street sweeper who swept his job well."

I'd never try to out-write MLK, Jr, and it seems I can't  say it any better than a Janet Jackson post: "You are seen and forever appreciated!"

A Place to Land: MLK, Jr.'s DREAM Challenges Us

Happy Birthday Celebration Day, Martin Luther King, Jr. There will never be "too many" books about this remarkable man whose national and global leadership and sacrifice should never be forgotten. 

Neal Porter Books, 2019

A PLACE TO LAND: Martin Luther King, Jr. and The Speech That Inspired a Nation is
among the remarkable nominated for Cybils nonfiction awards for 2019. There were several about this iconic man. This one stands out, a product of impressive collaboration by author Barry Wittenstein, illustrator Jerry Pinkney, and publisher Neal Porter Books.
Watch for this title to garner multiple awards and honors in the coming weeks, particularly at ALA Midwinter Conference in Philadelphia January 24-26.

I write my own notes about the outstanding books I choose to share here, but in this case I'll quote directly what Indiebound.org says, which is exactly what I want you to know:

"Much has been written about Martin Luther King, Jr. and the 1963 March on Washington. But there's little on his legendary speech and how he came to write it. Find out more in this gripping book with illustrations by Caldecott Medalist Jerry Pinkney.
Martin Luther King, Jr. was once asked if the hardest part of preaching was knowing where to begin. No, he said. The hardest part is knowing where to end. "It's terrible to be circling up there without a place to land."Finding this place to land was what Martin Luther King, Jr. struggled with, alongside advisors and fellow speech writers, in the Willard Hotel the night before the March on Washington, where he gave his historic "I Have a Dream" speech. But those famous words were never intended to be heard on that day, not even written down for that day, not even once." 

When I began this blog eight years ago, one of my earliest posts shared thoughts about why MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. is such a personal hero of mine. If you have the time and haven't read that early post before, I invite you to do so. In it I include a variety of titles that can (and should, IMO) be read and shared across many ages. As I continue in my ninth year of considering and celebrating wonderful picture books, the list of recommended titles related to MLK,Jr. has grown. In the next few days I'll share some very recent titles and add them to my page of suggested books to consider. 
For now, on this celebration day, let's retain the focus on this remarkable story. It is a story of dedication, mindfulness, intention, collaboration, and grace. 

After reading it, I also encourage you to seek out and read a book about a very significant behind-the-scenes contributor to this iconic event, the speech, and many other aspects of the Civil Rights era (and beyond). I wrote about TROUBLEMAKER FOR JUSTICE: BAYARD RUSTIN in a post on my website blog, here. Co-authors Jacqueline Houtman, Walter Naegle, and Michael G. Long have produced an authoritative story of the many ways in which Bayard Rustin should be celebrated today, too, and every day, for the ways in which determination, hard work, and collaboration can change the world.

Whether our interest is in the Women's March, the Fridays For Future, the MARCH FOR OUR LIVES, or BLACK LIVES MATTER, let's not fall into the trap of imagining ourselves as activists because we scroll through various sources, verify validity of content, and then speak up for others (and TRUTH) among our various contacts. 

Those steps matter. 
Reading these books and sharing them matters. 
But taking actual STEPS matters more.
That might involve SHOWING UP at a meeting, march, or protest for which others have done the hard work to organize and promote it. 
Or volunteering to help on the next project. 
Or making phone calls. 
Or lending design skills. 
Or writing skills. 
Or registering voters.
Or offering rides to those who need them. 
Or... getting inspired and finding ways to offer yourself to the betterment of our world. 
Others who have done so can inspire you.

Start today.

The Anniversary of Uplifting Leadership: Look Back and Learn

It was six and a half years ago that I featured a book with the title associated with this date, August 28, 1963. 

"I HAVE A DREAM..."

Those iconic words are irrevocably associated with a leader who inspired a nation to become "woke" about truths long ignored. Click on the start of Martin Luther King's quote above for a link that lets you hear a recording of his speech and provides other useful background sources. 

I'm old enough to remember the day of the march well. I wasn't there, but I was active in the movement locally and that day, that public response, that speech, shifted the air around us as a nation. I felt it.

Did it change every mind? 

No.

Did laws change overnight?

Of course not.

But laws did change, eventually, and that changed MY life. For those to whom all of this is ancient history, I invite you to read one of my earliest posts about why working for racial justice also served my own needs, goals, and future, HERE. I tend to limit my begging to serving kids or charitable needs, but if you have no clue about why a white, middle class teen girl in the sixties would have reasons to care about Civil Rights, I'm begging you to PLEASE read that post.

To learn more about the many years of struggle and suffering (and unsuccessful attempts) that preceded the amazing march fifty-six years ago, you should check out a book I reviewed on my own website, HERE.  It's a biography of Bayard Rustin, TROUBLEMAKER FOR JUSTICE. 

School resumes and teachers of every age are actively addressing "No bullying" rules, stressing the power of standing up rather than standing by. Kids today witness attacks and bullying displayed by their president on a daily basis. They sense that even our laws (and rules) can support bullying of a social sort. They are aware of protests about many worthy causes (and other causes far from worthy). They've lived every year of their lives and taken every breath in their lives in a  world of pollution and warming climate, protests echoing in their ears, with no evidence of positive change. They can't be blamed if they've become jaded, convinced that a protest is no more than an "activity" or flashmob, a social event that will make no changes. 

But they also live in a time in which they can take for granted integrated schools, workplaces, buses, and restaurants. They see candidates and elected officials (even a president!) of every ethnicity and gender. The many years in which that was not true are unknown or forgotten. 

They can't be blamed if this nation went straight from slavery to Civil Rights. They need to learn that story.

History.

Our story. 

THEIR story.

In this post I am not sharing a new title, but urging readers to check out past posts I've linked, check the pages tab on the right margin of this page for other MLK titles, and otherwise bring the past to life- for yourselves, for young people, and for all our sakes. Kids are always my beacon of hope for the future, but it is our responsibility to light a few lamps that clarify our past, providing evidence that even slow change is change worth pursuing.

Help the next generations DREAM, and work to make dreams come true.

In Daddy's Arms... a Mirror for ALL of Us

I'm nearly ready to post a series about some of the picture book poetry nominees I'm reviewing as a CYBILS panelist this season. Winnowing is no easy process, but one that I enjoy. For today, though, I want to spotlight three picture books that aren't among the nominees for 2017. I haven't posted in a couple of weeks, so I found myself running long on this one, and also sending readers to multiple cross-links. Please consider following my leads.

Veterans Day had me thinking about my dad, a WWII German-American soldier who was fighting on his grandparent's homeland. Earlier this year I reviewed JABARI JUMPS, by Gaia Cornwall.  If you missed it, I hope you'll take a moment to click the title above and read about the book, about the way it connected me to memories of Dad. Not only will it mean you'll get to know a bit about him, but also about  a book that continues to win praise from far-more-influential reviewers than I am. Look for this title to float to the top during end-of-year awards season. 

One of the most enjoyable things about having this blog is that it allows me to explore inner connections and reactions, (okay, emotions), that might otherwise get only passing attention from me while reading. Warm, sometimes worrisome, responses triggered by words and images on the page are essential to being "a reader". When the process of engaging with discreet text and pictures reveals a whole world in your hands, a world that vibrates through you and awakens memories, emotions, and connections, you know you are really reading.

Lee & Low Books, 2001

It's fun to read and review a newly released picture book like Jabari Jumps and celebrate it here, even before a tidal wave of praise and support arrived via social media. It's also fun to make a quiet discovery, to share it year after year and see its effects on young readers, only to learn much later that it had been awarded accolades that I was too busy teaching to notice at the time. 
IN DADDY'S ARMS I AM TALL: AFRICAN AMERICANS CELEBRATING FATHERS, an anthology edited by Javaka Steptoe, is such a book. My classroom copy of this book was worn-thin and replaced several times in the span of a few years. This long-time favorite collection of poems foreshadowed, in a sense, the current wave of anthologies (both poetry and prose) by  long-successful and newly minted diverse authors. It's loaded with poems kids love to memorize, to use as mentor text or forms, and to internalize- regardless the readers' ethnicities. My classroom students, though diverse, were primarily as "white" as I am, but the love within the pages transcended the images and settings to connect with the truth of each poem. 
What truth?
Just read that title.
There is no larger truth than that- IN DADDY'S ARMS I AM TALL. 

Pair this with a more recent release, CROWN: AN ODE TO THE FRESH CUT, written by Derrick Barnes and illustrated by Gordon C. Hayes. 
I found this to be a brilliant blend of text and illustration, inviting readers through the door of a black barbershop, into the cultural experience of transformation and observation, to the process of growing into yourself and into your community. It's a celebration in concept and images, each with rhythm and depth, both with shimmer and shine, delivered with swagger and smiles. 
The afterward was particularly moving, to me, after recently hearing an interview with Gary Younge, author of ANOTHER DAY IN THE DEATH OF AMERICA, on my local NPR station, WUWM. I encourage you to listen to the full interview linked above.
Kirkus Reviews gave it a starred review, and I'd give it one, if I had one to give. But I disagree with three words in their note:
"One of the best reads for young black boys in years, it should be in every library, media center, and, yes, barbershop." 
Their statement is true, as far as it goes. I fear, though, that it will be seen as a book for YOUNG BLACK BOYS (which it is) but ONLY for them. Worse yet, only during February.
The only kinks I had in my hair were at Easter, the day after Mom sat me on a stool in the kitchen and gave me a "TONETTE". It fried my hair to frizz and kept my Easter bonnet from fitting. Even so, as I did with Jabari Jumps, as I and my students did with In My Daddy's Arms I AM Tall,  in this book, I found connection. It was easy to sense the truth underlying both common and different experiences. 
One of my earliest posts, written just weeks after launching this blog, was titled, HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. Reading that might make what I say next more understandable. 
I recently heard a woman interviewed, a member of a white-nationalist group. She claimed to be one of the "fine" people taking part in recent protests throughout the country. She insisted that she didn't hate anyone or any race, she was just so tired of having everything "in her face". Why couldn't we go back to the way things were? (Paraphrasing, except for the quote.) She specified, when asked, that "everything" meant media displaying mixed couples, LGBTQIA individuals and couples, and "so many blacks" in every kind of program.
I feel certain that, if she read this post or even scanned the book covers, she would ask me, "Why?" Why would I feature THREE books with black characters when there are so many good books out there with whites. WHY would I want to erase her and her race from discussion? It's not even FEBRUARY!
My answer would be too long to include here, but this is the gist of it: 
These books are about HER, about her sons, their fathers, her community. 
She just sin't willing to find those connections, to look into the books and see herself reflected there. To recognize that the distinctions are important but the similarities are even greater.
After all, that's what those "many good books" about "whites" would say to any people of color or difference, right? That's the "in your face" reality, still, for 95+% of the books that people of color and difference encounter on most library, classroom, and bookstore shelves.  We  ask "others" to find themselves and their truths within  the words and pages  of "white" books NOW nearly as often as we have for centuries. Let's realize that they are provided NO CHOICE but to succeed in that "in your face" effort. Shouldn't we do the same? If we fail to see ourselves in these works, to connect at a visceral level with experiences and identities that are not our own, isn't it our own failure? 
Until we can do that, spontaneously, naturally, eagerly, our society will continue to see surface differences as barriers rather than mirrors. 
And we'll miss opportunities to find our own truths and emotions in everyone we meet.

Folk Tales and Facts: Marvelous Cornelius (One that got away)

Updating this with a link to one of my earliest posts, explaining why Martin Luther King, Jr is a personal hero of mine. Hope you'll read it here.

Awards season for books for young readers increases in intensity at this time of year. I'm truly a fan of the NERDY BOOK CLUB blog and its decision to name all top contenders as "WINNERS" of their self-named "Nerdies" rather than finalists or honorees or also-rans. Anyone who reads and uses books with others, especially with young readers, knows that as soon as a single "winner" is named, there's a ripple effect of heartache among those whose favorite title just missed the cut. 

Participating as a first round panelist for the Cybils Awards this year in the fiction picture book category was an exciting, demanding, positive experience and one I'd love to repeat in some future year. Narrowing the worthy contenders to seven finalists was far from easy, but was actually less stressful than if I had to name that list myself. I know that the titles we ultimately agreed to send forward (here)  represent a wide range of experienced points of view, a much more fair approach than placing that burden on a single set of shoulders.

One interesting complication, though, had to do with categorizing and defining books. Thankfully, there's a separate set of administrators who determine if books are considered fiction or non-fiction, picture books or early readers or graphic novels, and so on. Once they were in our hands we judged them as fiction. A few raised my eyebrows, appearing to be hybrids of more than one category. Still, that's the way of publishing these days, and I believe we're better off for it when books can be "crossovers", as in music becoming hits in both pop and country genres. Perhaps that genre-bending factor explains why this title wasn't mentioned among the amazing ALA Youth Media Awards (view here).

Chronicle Books, 2015

 

I'm proud to raise my voice in praise of a book that didn't make the Cybils Fiction Picture Book finalists list, in part because it presented some of those confusions: MARVELOUS CORNELIUS: Hurricane Katrina and the Spirit of New Orleans. Written by Phil Bildner and illustrated by John Parra, it's a fictionalized version of an actual resident of New Orleans, a man who spent his life elevating his job as a sanitation worker into a shining inspiration.My second read (because I was still wowed by the quality of the book after the first read) made me wonder if it was or wasn't fiction. I knew it was "based on" a real man. 

The third time through I finally read the back matter. I'm a huge fan of back matter, but tried not too read too early so that the "author's insight" wouldn't shape my reactions in judging the work on its own merits. Too many kids/teachers don't bother with the back content and it shouldn't be exclusively the reason for choosing a book kids will love. However, if it made it into the book it provides a rare opportunity to get a message from the author aimed directly at the reader, almost as a colleague or partner.

In this case, it confirmed what I was thinking, which is that this is NOT biographical, any more that John Henry (which is based on an actual character) is biographical/nonfiction. Cornelius worked in the French Quarter, a place steeped in legendary stories of its own. This book clearly incorporates things that are exaggerated, uses the language and patterns of tall tales, and absolutely captures the larger-than-life quality of a legendary hero in text and image. It represents that amazing ability to appeal to older readers and adults yet the youngest adore its rhythmic, lyrical text, enhanced with repetitions and refrains. It offers delights for the ears and eyes, expanding the action and language with its exaggerated, kid-friendly folk-art illustration style.

This book bounces and  sings, capturing a city and culture as if they are characters. Scenes shift throughout, from the earliest pages where the grittiness is transformed to sparkling and appealing by the spirit (and hard work) of Cornelius. While the pastel and filagreed structures fill the background, mid-ground citizens reflect the vibrant impact of Cornelius and his energetic joy.
Katrina not only flattens the city, it nearly destroys the spirit of those residents. Eventually, the overwhelming destruction of nature's force is countered by even stronger determination, binding and building a community, inspired by the spirit of Cornelius.
Beyond all that, it offers connections to curriculum- geography, careers, infrastructures, the role of government, weather, community action, goal-setting, character development, and more. Young writers can experiment with turning their own local or pop heroes into mythical status using the simple advice offered in Bildner's notes at the back. 
This book incorporates excellent design features, too, with iconography of New Orleans on the end papers, shifting perspectives and proportions throughout, and an introductory quotation by Dr. Martin Luther King, Junior. Before the first word about Cornelius there is a full page spread sharing a quotation by MLK, Jr. about the dignity of work. It's as if he had lived to know Cornelius.  His quote comes from his dealings with the sanitation workers strike, an active stance that resulted in his assassination. 

"All the hosts of heaven and earth will pause to say, 

Here lived a great street sweeper who swept his job well."

As did Cornelius.

Harcourt Brace & Co.
August, 2015

A graphic nonfiction portrayal of the actual events surrounding Hurricane Katrina in the New Orleans area was written and illustrated by DON BROWN: DROWNED CITY: Hurricane Katrina and New Orleans. It is undeniably non-fiction and is the well-deserved winner of the NCTE Orbis Pictus award in that category. 

Pair this with Marvelous Cornelius: Hurricane Katrina and the Spirit of New Orleans to make history come alive, to bring that time and place "up close and personal" in a very real sense. 

Reposting this: Happy Birthday, Martin Luther King, Jr.

It's no wonder that few people (except for fellow geezers) actually know that Washington's birthday is February 22, Lincoln's birthday is February 12, and Martin Luther King, Jr.'s birthday is actually January 15. Designating official MONDAY celebrations for his commemoration and also for President's Day next month may allow federal and some other employees/schools to enjoy three-day-weekends, but my hope  is it will focus more attention on the accomplishments and integrity of these incomparable leaders than simply getting discounts on linens.

In recent months I've linked here to posts by by other bloggers who have said things about picture books better than I could. My endorsement of their words may or may not strengthen their voices, but I tried. 

Today I will repost my own voice, written in the first month of this blog's life three years ago.
I have been beating myself up over not producing an original post about this important day, so I reread my original thoughts, written as an open letter to Martin. They included this:

"Happy Birthday, Martin Luther King, Jr.

You’re a hero to so many, but I’d like to take a moment to tell you why you are mine.

When sharing your accomplishments with students, describing the doors you opened, opportunities you produced, changes resulting from your leadership in the USA and the world, my admiration is evident to them. 

Then I tell them about my experience in high school."

My post included links to a few outstanding titles, but there are numerous other titles released before and since that are being featured across the blogosphere. They can be found easily enough, and I urge readers to seek them out.

My post concluded with this:

"Because, thanks to your leadership, risks, and sacrifices, along with those of so many others, now every one of those schools accepts women. That change took place too late for me.

So, Martin, not just on your birthday or during Black History Month, I thank you for your vision and accomplishments. You threw open the doors of opportunity for me and for everyone else to live in a country that guarantees equality, or recourse when that has been denied."

I decided my own words are as true today as ever, and recent events across the country (the world, in fact) make them even more true. Instead of trying to generate a new post, I'll share this one, which shapes every day of my life. I hope you'll take the time to read the rest of the post, here.
Then find ways to honor my hero in every day life.

Where Were You When...?

Neil Armstrong set foot on the moon.        JFK was assassinated.     
The Twin Towers came down in New York City. 

There are iconic events, sometimes even slivers of time, which impress themselves indelibly on the minds of everyone who was alive to experience them. Even when that experience is indirect, filtered through media (especially Moon landings), it's easy to recall where you were and what you were doing at the time. 

Photo from archives: http://www.history.com/topics/march-on-washington 

For anyone alive in August, 1963, the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom was such an event.

Throughout the past fifty years (and long before that memorable day in Washington, D.C.) Martin Luther King, Jr. was in the spotlight in this country and around the world. The Time Magazine archives of cover articles demonstrates that fact. I've shared some stories of civil rights leaders in a previous post  of some of Kadir Nelson's biography titles. There are many picture books depicting specific events and full biographies about the history and struggles of civil rights. 
Martin often finds his way into my thoughts when leadership and inspiration are the theme of a post.

Little, Brown Books for Young readers, 2013

This week that's more true than ever. MARTIN AND MAHALIA- His Words, Her Song, by Andrea Davis Pinkney and Brian Pinkney is a perfect book for this week, and forever. With a release timed to celebrate this 50th Anniversary year, the Pinkneys reveal ways in which the leadership and inspiration of Martin and Mahalia were intertwined throughout their lives. This was never more true than on that remarkable day on the Washington mall fifty years ago, August 28, 1963. With so much at stake, each scheduled speaker prepared text well in advance, then vetted it and filtered it through numerous advisors. Martin did the same, despite his infamous capacity for extemporaneous speaking. As the final speaker that day, Martin's prepared speech was nearing its end when Mahalia, sitting nearby, exhorted him to "Tell them about your dream, Martin." That call, like a call to prayer, led him away from his script and deep into his heart to finish with the words that are now as much a part of the fiber of America as the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence.

Top Shelf Productions, 2013

One of those speakers was the very young John Lewis. As the last surviving speaker from that day, now-Congressman John Lewis partnered with Andrew Aydin and Nate Powell at Top Shelf Productions to produce MARCH: BOOK ONE. It's a graphic history of the past and recent present, a story within a story, tracing Lewis's personal history, on to the point at which he stood on that stage fifty years ago to speak, and into the near-present when he sat in the audience in 2009 as a congressman,  witnessing the inauguration of Barach Obama. There he was within sight of the original gathering. (Click here for a School Library Journal review.)

For those who lived at the time, regardless of their politics or perspective, images and memories of that day in Washington and many other Civil Rights protest moments are indelible. For those who came later, as is true for any other momentous event, the visceral impact of history is lost. 

In a recent syndicated column Leonard Pitts of the Miami Herald discussed the unusual audience he observed at a viewing of the movie, THE BUTLER. He noted the multi-generational nature of the audience, young children and teens in tow with grandparents who had lived through times now changed, at least to a degree. A movie has the capacity to bring history to life, to simulate experiences in ways that transmit some of the emotional and empathetic reactions of those who lived it.

Not unlike movies, and in some ways better, these titles offer readers a portal to the past. They also serve as a vivid reminder to those who experienced history to share our own stories, to extend our experiences into future generations.

Archives are readily available, but History.com has a wealth of photos, videos, and other documentation.