It Happened in Salem: a Picture Book Packed with Power

 The term "witch hunt"  has been used a great deal throughout the centuries, and particularly so in the past decade. Kids growing up in modern times tend to associate "witch" with Halloween or The Wizard of Oz. If asked to draw a witch, most would lean toward black clothing, a pointed hat (and likely a pointed nose on a sneering face), perhaps adding a broom for flying and a big cauldron containing spell-casting ingredients. 

Few would draw a picture of their neighbor, teacher, or relative in contemporary clothing.

In the earliest years of colonization of North America, Europe had both history  and culture that established witches as residing among them in the realm of everyday life, especially handy when that accusation could provide a scapegoat for anything from the plague to crop failure. Finger-pointing (as seen on the cover and used throughout this picture book as both literal and metaphorical cause for the Salem witch trials and murders) was common for centuries. Those who traveled to make new homes on this continent brought their beliefs and cultures with them. 

There were countless struggles and disasters within the lives of colonizers here, spanning many decades. No doubt an occasional rumor or bit of public distress led to such finger pointing among locals in a village or town. The few years surrounding the  Salem witch uproar (in Massachusetts, in 1692) were a kind of societal infection sparked by accusations and leading to trials. The resulting murders by the hanging, of nineteen local women, came from finger pointing, much of which was instigated by attention-seeking, possibly fearful young girls. To learn more about the actual historical facts of who was involved, how the events accelerated and cascaded, I suggest reading Kate Messner's  HISTORY SMASHERS: The Salem Witch Trials, an upper elementary nonfiction offering from 2024. 

CREATIVE EDITIONS, 2024

IT HAPPENED IN SALEM is also for older readers, in large part because both the images and text suit that age range and also because the theme and historic background relate directly to those preteen years in several ways. Written by award-winning nonfiction author Jonah Winter with art by Illustration Hall of Fame member Brad Holland, this account of the period of the trials focuses very directly on a young person's impulse to start rumors and make accusations. 

To what end? 

The text makes it clear it might be someone mean-spirited, but could also be someone seeking attention, bearing a grudge, or, as time passed, shifting accusations toward themselves onto others. A sort of group hysteria among young people occurs even in our times, and may have also contributed to the sustained belief among the  "adults in charge" that their only choice was to identify and destroy the "witches" of their community. It was not until very recently that the current residents of this historic/notorious community publicly acknowledged the wrongs done by creating named memorials to the nineteen women who were unjustly hung as a result of these impulses and pranks.

As you can see from the cover art, the residents at the time appear even to the modern eye to be familiar, they could be us. The first line of text opens before the title page, with two heads leaning in, whispering, and the lines:

"It could happen anywhere, any time."

From that opening, the author speaks directly to young readers, reminding them that intention does not excuse result. This does not take on a finger-pointing or accusatory voice toward the  audiences, but does invite reflection about their own lives. Adults reading this will feel the same challenge, to flashback to days of youth (or more recent) in which which rumors began or were shared, in which moral wrong was carried out with our silence making it possible. The text is brief but compelling, the events are described clearly and explicitly, but not gruesomely (although murder is always gruesome.)

The art/illustrations anchor the story in a distant past, and yet the settings and expressions and interactions feel both authentic and immediate. Women are pictured hanging from trees, at a distance, and the clothing of the time hides their faces. This is a serious subject and it is treated seriously. Even so, it is handled in a way that invites discussion and connection to modern day patterns in daily life, or in the news. 

It's hard to image any better picture book offering (including the author note in back matter) to introduce a troubling period  in our national story and the troubling nature of social dynamics that are with us still. It is well-researched and incorporates verifiable facts (ones that have been known for centuries) with relevance to life as we know it today. I hope you'll give this one a careful read and share it well. 

An Invitation to the Botanical Gardens: Come Along!

 

In a past CYBILS AWARDS cycle I discovered an impressive nonfiction picture book written with the premise of a museum tour to reveal oddities within the human body, vestiges of once-important parts: THE MUSEUM OF ODD BODY LEFTOVERS: A Tour of Your Useless Parts, Flaws, and Other Weird Bits, Written by Rachel Poliquin and illustrated by Clayton Hammer. If you missed it, learn more about it HERE.) I found it to be an ideal blend of information, humor, discovery, and an irresistible invitation to learn even more. This treatment came to mind when I received a copy of a CYBILS nonfiction nominee for the current season. The tour approach is especially well suited for this VIP access visit, and the tone is both serious and appealing.

Get in line for this magnificent and memorable virtual tour.

Welbeck Books, 2024

Consider that  as your INVITATION TO THE BOTANICAL GARDENS, written by Charlotte Gullain and illustrated by Helen Shoesmith.

I was delighted with the excellence of this nonfiction approach to the function and contents of a botanical garden. The particular site used to illustrate the many aspects and appeals of a complex botanical garden is a place I'd like to visit... again and again. Just as I will revisit this book often.

The material within its many pages (and multiple fold-out expansions) can reach audiences of various ages. The detailed and colorful illustrations will absorb the attention of even quite young lap-readers, while the labels for each area and element are readable for slightly older ones, and are likely to spark conversations. The smallest text for each and every labeled component elaborates on the science and systems at work to make these distinct aspects  of a botanical garden contribute to the success of the whole. These details are specific and intriguing, making a fantastic approach in  developing content area information for older readers and adults alike! 
Careers can be found and pursued through using this book- from scientist to archivist to photographer to field worker to educator/docent to gift shop manager and more.
This is a book worth spending time on, and worth gifting to many potential readers.

WHEN BEAVERS FLEW... (You read that right!)

RANDOM HOUSE STUDIO, 2024

The lively title of this new picture book provides a first taste of its effective approach to sharing a highly successful environmental rescue operation. WHEN BEAVERS FLEW: An incredible True Story of Rescue and Relocation is written by Kristen Tracy and illustrated by Luisa Uribe. As the author note in back indicates, this was a project ahead of its time "to use coexistence techniques to peacefully solve problems". This was referencing directly the mixed blessing of beaver presence, but can and should be carried through to most conflicts we have with nature and humans.

What are those mixed effects of beaver habitation? On the plus side, beavers reshape the environmental design of their habitat: expanding wetlands, gnawing down trees, inviting a vast array of other wildlife to the area's offerings, turning rivers and creeks into ponds and lakes. 

On the negative side, see all of the above. 

When McCall, Idaho, began to grow from a rustic, lightly populated area, the increasing beaver population was seen as detrimental- an intrusion on buildable land, destruction of newly planted greenery and trees, and concern about rapidly multiplying beaver populations. This is as much an account of Fish and Game Warden Elmo Heter as it is a recognition that  the PRO side of beavers' engagements with nature can be managed successfully.

He realized that an excess of beavers would inevitably lead to a call to trap and kill them. His clever conception was to remove most of the beavers to an area in which they would benefit the environment, thrive in population, and allow local development with a manageable number of beavers to enhance that region naturally. His science and environmental background suggested non-invasive transport approaches (including pack mules!). The intended region for relocation was seriously inaccessible. Thinking "out of the box", he paired random information about excess parachutes available cheaply after the end of the war with brainstorming about ways to safely launch and land beavers into this wild paradise. 

STEM and science processes take center stage as the minimal text and easily understood illustrations reveal multiple examples of the many "NO"s that preceded eventual success. (No beavers were harmed in the process.) Finally, enough variables and test runs and resulting escapes to freedom were considered before a single beaver, nicknamed GERONIMO, was flown, dropped, landed, and successfully "sprung". Repeated tests encouraged a full program.

The various field science elements that went into making this such a success are briefly but clearly mentioned- weighing, aging, pairing, and identifying drop areas all led to the wide population of beavers that now inhabit an extremely isolated conservation area. Their protection (and survival) are well-documented, shared now after years in which this project and its originator were generally untold.  Geronimo and seventy-five fellow furry explorers transformed large swaths of what is now the largest protected roadless forest in continental United States. That's success on any scale.

Forgive me for including so much detail, but each element in this project was fascinating and begged to be shared. Elmo's efforts and success call for celebration through text that invites page turns, surprised and a very satisfying ending. The illustrator is from Bogota, Columbia and a back note explains the intricate indigenous stones wall art tucked behind a pack mule on one spread. Throughout, the territory is depicted with a blend of welcome and grittiness, with the actors (human and otherwise) offering appeal and admiration. Resources are included in the back matter, and  School Library Journal gave it a starred review. I hope you will, too!

MAMIE TAKES A STAND: A Chinese American Girl's Fight for School Rights

Decisions made by the United States Supreme Court matter. 

We  know that now than ever before. 

The 1950s decision, Brown v Board of Education, did matter. Even so, there are plenty of voices reminding us that the ruling meant that separate schools were by default "inferior". Many Black teachers and others lost jobs as a result. Mamie Tate, the central inspiring individual in this biographic picture book, played a role in winning that decision, along with Ruby Bridges, Linda Brown, Sylvia Mendez and others who were part of the case. Learn more about Mamie's little-known personal journey in this hew offering.

TEN PEAKS PRESS, 2024

MAMIE TAKES A STAND: A Chinese American Girl's Fight for School Rights is written by Marie Chan and illustrated by Sian James. Mamie Tate was born in the United States to parents who had migrated from China during a period in which this country offered open migration policies between the two nations. They arrived legally, established a secure home, and raised a family of three children in this country. All three were Chinese American, but entitled to full citizenship by birth. 

The family did not live in San Francisco's Chinatown, as many immigrants did. Their home was in a neighborhood of white folks who had also traveled to gain the opportunities California offered at that time. 

The Tate family assimilated fully: in home decor, dress, language, and social practices. Mamie played with the girls in her neighborhood and was eager to attend the local public school just around the corner. You can guess by our history and by the title that she was denied that right, turned away at the door by the school administrator.

This well-researched and compellingly told account of the struggle that ensued spans many years, with Mamie always holding center stage. Her parents, of course, deserve accolades for their pursuit of every legal avenue and their insistence on securing the rights of their children. Success through the Supreme Court decision did not come early in Mamie's education, but there were steps toward progress along the way. Her right to public education was granted, but only by building a separate school for Chinese American students. Administration from local through state levels were adamant that white and Chinese children NOT attend the same schools. Even there, Mamie was separate, often the only girl because it was considered  more important to educate boys. That did not keep Mamie from attending, learning, excelling, and continuing her progress to gain a full education. 

Her persistence and eventual success will win hearts of readers.

In back matter, author Chan reveals her efforts to use primary sources, contact Mamie's descendants, incorporate family photos and accounts within a story that resonates with authenticity. This is a welcome and important book to celebrate the value of education, and to expand awareness of bias and outright discrimination throughout history, aimed at a wide variety of differences. Add it to your hime libraries and classrooms.