JUNETEENTH Is Not Just a DAY!

 JUNETEENTH is now a national holiday. This recognition is a mere century-and-a-half-plus overdue. Hmmm...  more about that at the end of this post.

Perhaps the long delay is appropriate because the holiday marks a two-and-a-half year delay in news of the Emancipation Proclamation reaching enslaved people in Texas. Who knew that lateness was worth celebrating?  It's an event worthy of our acknowledgement and honor, yes, of course. Even such a criminal-yet-legally-sanctioned practice was eliminated by executive order, those who were its victims were denied news of that freedom until the announcement was asserted by federal soldiers who brought the news to their area, eventually.

EERDMANS BYR, 2010

BEN AND THE EMANCIPATION PROCLAMATION is written by Pat Sherman and illustrated by the enormously talented and recently deceased  Floyd Cooper.  This book has stayed in publication for more than a decade. The story is one of truth and determination. Based on a real, enslaved young man, Benjamin C. Holmes. Ben was enslaved but apprenticed to a tailor in Charleston, SC. He was inspired to learn to read, despite the serious punishments that could result from that effort. As a tailor-helper, he was often tasked with errands around town. In that role he cautiously discovered ways in which he could teach himself to read using carefully framed questions, public signage, and the few letters his father had taught him before leaving home. 

His warm and supportive family connections are important and defy any notion one might hold that "his life wasn't so bad". His mother was sold away shortly before slavery ended and he never saw her again in his life. 

The value of literacy, of Ben's ability to read at all, was treasured by other enslaved people. When rumors of a change in their condition filtered through to them, they secreted a copy of the paper into their miserable communal housing. There they begged Ben to read the contents to him, to let them know if the rumors were true, or not. We all know that the proclamation was, indeed, true, and binding. After reading, the men surrounding Ben broke out in cheers. It was several moments before Ben recognized that the cheers were not only for the news, but also for BEN. For his proof that reading was within his reach, and so was possible for them, too. 

I rarely convey the full arc of a story, but his one has been around for more than a decade and the significance of this news being obscured,  even in the battlegrounds of the South, is a perfect underscore to the JUNETEETH DAY element in this post. The fact that Southeast Texas plantations were more remote and rumors/news was a further reach there, more easily denied or hidden, does not change the overall effort to deny them freedom in any way possible.

Eerdmans BYR,2010

Eerdmans is a publisher that actively pursues stories of strength and truth. In that same year they published THE BEATITUDES; From Slavery to Civil Rights, written by Carol Boston Weatherford and illustrated by Tim Ludwig. This picture book is gorgeous in its use of the timeless Beatitudes to underscore lyrical, limited text that depicts the history captured/enslaved people from the horror of the Passage through their efforts to sustain hope and faith in makeshift church services, through both song and prayer. This depiction of Black-American history extends through Jim Crow as formally enforced in the South and "unofficially" in de facto practices throughout the rest of this country. Once again, it is evident that even when legal proclamations insist that ALL people deserve freedom and equality, social efforts and patterns undermine and outright deny those facts.

Back to JUNETEENTH, which was not even referenced in either book. Why not share titles regarding this overdue holiday recognition? I did share a book that directly explores those specific events HERE, in my review of  A FLAG FOR JUNETEENTH. I also interviewed the author/textile artist KIM TAYLOR, HERE.  Of course I'd welcome you taking a look at both posts and checking out that lovely book, learning more about the actual events that sparked the holiday.

More importantly, I hope you will take these posts to inspire you to share more actual history and backstory about our American approach to freedom and those who are free-- or not. Black Americans have informally celebrated this occasion since the beginning, but why should it matter to any of us who are not BLACK? In my opinion, and that of many others, this event is an iconic example of institutional racism, so often denied to exist. Let's see this occasion as an opportunity to recognize real history, to accept it as a symbol of that history. Juneteenth acknowledges our endless national effort to deny the reality of unjust treatment of anyone who does not appear to be part of the dominant culture, even when their credentials and accomplishments might be demonstrably more "worthy" of rights and freedoms than anyone else, of any color or heritage.

Admitting that, accepting the truth and proclaiming that changes are long overdue, is the least we can all do. The VERY least. But it is a start.

Every Word, Every Voice, Every Ride Advances Freedom

In the earliest weeks after launching this blog, nearly a decade ago, I wrote a post titled: WHAT'S SO SPECIAL ABOUT FEBRUARY?  In it, I shared my concern that THEME MONTHS, such as BLACK HISTORY MONTH, serve many valuable purposes but also carry risks. My concerns are many, but topping the list are two worries: 

That history, stories, and books shared during a specified month will be predominantly about a single topic, like slavery, 

and

collections of important and amazing books (and other resources) will be hauled out and packed away following the turn of a calendar page. 

A third worry is that the stories shared will focus exclusively on well-known facts and figures. Stories of magnificent talent and achievements abound, and the point of historic or honor month is to EXPAND our knowledge of the contributions of various individuals and groups. Since many of these are not at our fingertips, or already part of well-worn collections, there are countless worthy stories to share that are NOT household names, but should be. One example of a book profiling such a leader is MIDNIGHT TEACHER: Lilly Ann Granderson and her Secret School, by Janet Halfmann.

My firm belief about the importance of these stories is why I make it a point to spotlight outstanding stories throughout the year, books about and by people of every color and culture. Please, do NOT view these two titles as suggested books for "next month". These are outstanding nonfiction books for every day of every year, as their contents reveal. 

Schwartz & Wade Books, 2019

The first of two books in this post actually does portray a former-enslaved woman, but it focuses on the story of her freedom- through the power of reading. THE OLDEST STUDENT: How Mary Walker Learned to Read is written by Rita Lorraine Hubbard and illustrated by Caldecott honor winner Oge Mora.

It is always inspiring to read authentic stories about overcoming illiteracy, about fulfilling a lifelong desire to read. This true story of Mary Walker,  enslaved from her birth in 1848, leaves many gaps in her long life. But the Bible she was gifted has served as documentation of her major life landmarks (marriage, birth of children) even though she was unable to read or write for herself. She understood the value of written records and intentionally added her personal mark to each of those entries in her Bible. To her, though, it was all scribbles.
Mary and her family lived in the South, where she worked a hardscrabble life of injustice and struggle, but she carried her Bible to church on Sundays. There she joined in the singing, even though she couldn't read a word in her Bible or in the hymnals.
By the time she was 114 years old she had outlived every other family member, but had still not learned to read or write. She was saddened that a lifetime of meaningless scribbles and wiggles in print remained a puzzle to her. Mary may have felt untaught, but she was not unable to learn. She joined a reading class in her senior living center and began a dedicated effort to become a reader and writer. 
Mary lived to 121 years old, winning attention from presidents and the general public. She missed her family members, but took comfort in being able to read the words of her Bible. 
From her earliest enslaved years in the fields to an amazing flight in an airplane, she reveled in the ability to fly free, which her reading finally provided. 
This is among the most inspiring stories I've encountered in recent years, and that would be true if only from the facts about Walker's remarkable life. The restrained but compelling narrative style of the text combines well with the gorgeous illustrations (acrylic paint, china marker, collage with patterned paper and print clippings). Mary Walker's well-documented story comes to life with the flair of the cakes she baked until her last year-- light as a feather- and delicious!

Harry N. Abrams, 2020

Mary Walker's longevity and eventual literacy garnered extensive attention in the previous century. Another event from that era gained global attention at the time and continues to shape discussions and decisions about Civil Rights to this day. A recent post makes my point that major events such as the Washington March for Jobs and Freedom on August 23, 1963 are the subject of amazing books, including recent ones. 
On the very day of that march, in a Baltimore neighborhood, another momentous event occurred, peacefully and significantly, and yet that story is NOT widely know, until now. It is long overdue, and welcome.
A RIDE TO REMEMBER: A CIVIL RIGHTS STORY is co-authored  by Sharon Langley and Amy Nathan, with emotionally powerful and evocative illustrations by award-winning Floyd Cooper. 
As the text clearly describes, some gains for equality of opportunity had arrived in Baltimore by that summer of 1963. Equal access to the local amusement park was not among them. The history-making little tot featured in the story is co-author Sharon Langley. Her parents raised her to understand the significance of an event she admittedly cannot remember from that day. After all, she was the first African American to ride the carousel with permission at only eleven months old. 
The text is well-structured to reveal the irregular and inconsistent application of social customs and laws, arbitrarily barring "some people" from access to particular events and locations. The narration offers a light but effective treatment of the symbolism of horses of every color and type, all traveling round and round together, carrying children of various ages and skin colors, all starting and ending in unison. 
A lovely post-event stage of the story reveals that the actual carousel from those events was eventually relocated to the Washington Mall, operated by the Smithsonian Institute. The fiftieth anniversary of Sharon Langley's ride was celebrated on the Mall when she and her extended family were invited to view the refurbished horse she actually rode as a child, with an historic plate added to the saddle and her name inscribed on one of the horseshoes. 
I was even more pleased that the narration and images revealed details about the protests preceding her ride, protests involving religious leaders of many faiths, skin colors, and ages. Those peaceful protests resulted in arrests, and images of those arrested included a family with three young white boys in a police car. Images like those, and the attention provided by the media, helped turn public opinion from resistance to acceptance much more quickly than might otherwise have been the case. That does not mean privileged people are more heroic than people of color, but that the combined support and unified actions of so many, together,  made clear the need to eliminate barriers and share the community and its resources peacefully. 
Perhaps I'd finally stop whining about the mixed benefits of theme months if I was sure that books like these would continue to be published, purchased, circulated, and shared throughout the year, each year, and every year. 
Every voice DOES matter, and that is especially true when it comes to sharing the good news about books like these.

The Case For Loving: Supreme Court Decisions Matter

While serving as a first round panelist for Cybils nonfiction earlier this winter, I read and posted some notes about THE FIRST STEP: How One Girl Put Segregation on Trial, written by Susan E. Goodman and illustrated by E. B. Lewis. (Read it HERE.)

As Goodman so adeptly points out, within the text and in the back matter, the court loss described was, in fact, a gain. By laying the foundation for future cases and eventual successes, civil rights cases culminated in the landmark BROWN vs. BOARD OF EDUCATION ruling in 1954-55.
Labeling that last ruling as landmark is not meant to suggest it succeeded in ending segregation and discrimination in education. Nor was that the last case the Supreme Court would face regarding Constitutional protections for civil rights. Far from it. But it, too, was another step, a giant one, in the continuing process of opening hearts and minds to the reality that the only race that matters is the human race. 

Arthur A. Levine Books, 2015

The same is true for the Supreme Court ruling described in The Case for Loving:

The Fight for Interracial Marriage, written by Selina Alko and illustrated by Sean Qualls and Selina Alko. Although this simple picture book portrays an adult issue (confirming the constitutional right to interracial marriage), the narration and illustration combine to make it a kid-friendly, empathetic experience for even the very young. 

(A 2016 film depicts an adult version of the true story of Richard Loving and Mildred Jeter . See a Movie trailer on YouTube, HERE.)

At its core, this compelling and dramatic story is  about family. Alko focuses on the human desire (and right) of all people to pursue happiness through marriage and raising a family, freely and safely, anywhere in our country. From the cover, through the end pages, and winding across every spread, iconic images of happiness and love (hearts, flowers, birds and music) combine with active children engaging in familiar family situations to depict real people living real lives. The illustrations adopt a folkart approach with colorful collage, paint, and stamp art, presenting a child-like take on a mature story. Kids "get" this, they rebel against the injustice, cheer for the strength and validity of of the court challenge, and revel in the eventual victory.

An equally valuable use for this book will be with older readers. It's an ideal way to introduce an immediate experience with the mid-twentieth-century "legal" manipulations and maneuvers that sustained Jim Crow laws for more than a century beyond the emancipation of enslaved people. The inimitable Diane Rehm conducts an outstanding program on the topic of Jim Crow laws, providing voice to several points of view in an interview, here. Another resource to share is the NPR program that examined the official Congressional apology for slavery and Jim Crow laws from the summer of 2008, here. In each case, both the transcript and the recordings are available to allow for careful discussion and review. 

A rude awakening to the reality of those years can be explored by researching the NEGRO MOTORIST GREEN BOOK, an annually updated resource for anyone of color traveling south during the many decades of segregation and unchecked activity by the Klu Klux Klan. This article in Smithsonian Magazine details the origins and need for THE GREEN BOOK.

Carllrhoda Books, 2010

Those sophisticated investigations, though, can be translated to the heart by another picture book, RUTH AND THE GREEN BOOK, written  by Calvin A. Ramsey and Illustrated by Floyd Cooper. In this case, as in Alko's and Goodman's books, the immediacy of individual lives and  the relatable illustrations evoke personal and visceral responses from readers of any age. In each book the back pages provide further insights and explorations from the authors and offers resources for further exploration and research on the topics and characters portrayed. Now, more than ever, providing young people with the facts of our own history and the ease with which individual liberties were distorted and restricted is essential. Actually, it's not a bad time fro adults to review these stories and resources.

(For more on the Supreme Court, check this recent post about Deby Levy's I DISSENT: Ruth bader Ginsberg Makes Her Mark.)

THEME MONTHS: Black History and Others

I've long considered Theme Months to be double-edged swords, including BLACK HISTORY MONTH, right through to POETRY MONTH and beyond. I addressed the question, here, in one of my earliest posts on this blog. 

Some tools and strategies can do as much harm as good.

The double-edged sword, to me, springs from the fact that a spotlight is long overdue for many topics. Certainly theme months are a step to correct that situation. That's better than nothing, one might argue.
 True, a month of attention is more than those topics might otherwise receive, but then the calendar page flips and the spotlight moves on to the next topic. 
Why would I view that as a curse? Doesn't fairness count for anything?

My concern comes from years of experience in classrooms, at many grade levels. When a month is designated it is all too easy (and often happens) that a limited collection of books, poster images, and activities is "brought out" to be displayed and shared, then packed away again when the next topic rolls around. The very fact that topical themes, especially in history, gain such designations reflects the absence (or disproportionately small amount) of attention devoted to those subjects throughout the rest of the year. 

A fairly recent development has begun making inroads to changing that pattern. Just last week Multicultural Children's Book Day celebrated a vast array of books that feature our world-- our REAL world. By that I mean a world of diverse and unique people. When you click the link you'll connect to multiple posts with outstanding recommendations by teachers, librarians, parents, and kids. These books span genre, topics, and target audiences. What they have in common is that they are appealing, engaging, and thought-provoking books in which readers can find themselves and the people who surround them without waiting for an event or occasion to do so.

That is, indeed, a blessing. It's also sending the message we want readers to receive- that people (and books) offer world-views that defy categorization or limitation to a single day, week, or month of our attention. The deepest cuts of that double-edged sword come when a theme-month offers unstated but implied messages of "otherness". It arbitrarily declares  that certain topics or books offer nothing of merit apart from those designated periods, nothing that would engage our attention when offered freely throughout the year.

As you read in my opening lines, this isn't the first time I've raised the issue on this blog. As I was about to add "nor will it be the last", I stopped to reflect. Could the day actually dawn when the need for THEME MONTHS disappears? Yes, I believe it could. When multicultural, diverse children's literature is so ubiquitous, when books fully represent ALL people, a "history month" would suffice. 
We're a long way from that day, but we're closer than we've ever been before.
This is no time to rest. I've linked to just a few previous posts in which I celebrate books without an eye on the calendar. If you're new to this  blog, I hope you'll check them out.
Folk Tales and Facts: Marvelous Cornelius

Heather Lang and Floyd Cooper Launch a Winner: Queen of the Track 

Drum Dream Girl: A Trio of Titles
and
NON-Fiction Notes: Kid Athletes and Other  Biographies

If you have other titles to recommend, or other posts to suggest, please add your comments!

Dreaming Beyond Our Limits

A DANCE LIKE STARLIGHT: One Ballerina's Dream

by Kristy Dempsey, illustrated by Floyd Cooper

Philomel, 2014

And… I'm back again. Notice, though, I held out for this post until March, Women's History Month, ended. I've done this in the past, but this title is was such a powerful book it was a struggle not to share it sooner. I'll also mention some related titles I've reviewed in the past. Here's what I had to say about A DANCE LIKE STARLIGHT on Goodreads:

"This is both fiction (the young girl's dream) and fact/biographic  (Prima Ballerina Janet Collins breaking of the color barrier with her performance at the Met). Dempsey's language should be used across many ages as mentor text. It's figurative language ("streetlights spreading bright halos round their pin-top faces") grabs you and lifts you to New York City rooftops from page one. This young "colored" girl's dream of becoming a prima ballerina is firmly anchored in two realities: her frequent exposure to the highest levels of ballet through her mother's job, and her culture-limiting skin color. Together Dempsey and Cooper create a girl so real I was sure that links to her career in ballet would be listed at the back."

Other reviews of this book can be found here from some of my go-to sources: 

KIds Read: http://www.kidsreads.com

A Mighty Girl: http:// www.amightygirl.com

Children's Books Heal: http://childrensbooksheal.com

Kirkus reviews: https:www.kirkusreviews.com

KidLit Celebrates Women's History Month: http://kidlitwhm.blogspot.com 
(Don't miss the "INDEX" tab on this blog. It offers an alphabetized link to all previously reviewed titles for use throughout the year.)

They are universally impressed not only with the strength of the content of the story, but with the lyricism of the language and the illustrations rich with mood, detail, and underlayers of story. Neither is a surprise. Cooper participated in an interview in one of my earlier posts. His comments there and his many books demonstrate his versatility and talent, but are even more revealing of his insight into the richness of the text his illustrations support. 

Dempsey's line quoted in my review above offers only a sliver of her mastery and economy of language. That should come as no surprise once you click over to her website here and see that she is, first and foremost, a poet. Her home page says it best:

"Welcome! This site is for people who love words –

Words that call you like a whistle to come and listen…

Words that bounce you up and down and across a wondrous path called Story…

Words that make you never, ever, ever want to leave…"

See what I mean? An art form with the strength, delicacy, control, and power of ballet (and of dreams) could be in no better hands than with Dempsey and Cooper. 
Except, perhaps, when those creators are Rachel Isador and Tomi DePaulo.

In a much earlier post I featured three ballet titles and hope you'll take the time to read that now, if you haven't before. Just in case you're in a rush I'll provide the titles here so you can jot them down and find them later. Seriously, they're worth the effort. Each also pays homage to the importance of children's dreams.

Nancy Paulson Books, 2012 

First, BEA AT BALLET, with story and art by Rachel Isadore.
 In this little beauty, Bea is only one of a highly diverse group of toddlers participating in first experiences with the world of ballet. Apart from the beauty and grace of the story and images, the inclusion in this group of wee ones of  every race, ethnicity, and ability is understated brilliance. Every child has dreams, each can and does have innate appreciation of movement and music, of group interaction.

Greenwillow Books, 2003

An earlier offering from Isadore is ON YOUR TOES: A Ballet ABC. It does what only the best concept books do, it generates underlying themes and suggests worlds within worlds in each image. Alphabet books are particularly challenged by this, since the purpose of the book is to associate a distinct item to each letter, not to muddy the waters with irrelevant details. Isadore's book presents tones, word choices, and relationships in the art of ballet that infuse it with the dignity, value, and inspiration of dreams.

Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 1979

OLIVER BUTTON IS A SISSY by Tomi DePaulo, involves tap dancing, not ballet, but it is a perfect pairing with A DANCE LIKE STARLIGHT. Oliver Button is a boy in school in the days nearly as restrictive in gender-expectations as the color barrier was in those same days. His dream of dancing, though, is one he refuses to deny, as is the case with Starlight's young girl. 

These titles illustrate (no pun intended), the REAL importance of sharing themed titles throughout the year better than any arguments I might profess. In the case of Black History, Women's History, Hispanic Heritage or any other topic, the unifying element found in the best selections is that model of someone, somewhere who has a dream. It's generally a dream that circumstances would deny, or at the very least suppress. None were written to "teach a lesson" or "instruct", but each offers quality literary and visual experiences, entertainment, emotional engagement. The featured individuals who stand tall as examples of dreamers with the determination to push open doors, make their voices heard, and take up any gauntlet thrown in their path. 
If that doesn't merit year-round reading, what does?

And if you're not in a mood for dreams but love humor, check out this prior post featuring an interview with Molly Idol about FLORA and FLAMINGO. Ballet, friendship, and just plain fun.

Who Do You Trust: Sports Heroes?

This has been a tough week for Major League Baseball, and even more so for its loyal fans. Sadly, the abuse of steroids and the rationale that players must "cheat to compete" has tainted every player with suspicion in much the same way that Lance Armstrong's eventual admissions did with cycling competitors.
I've written previous posts about the need to offer young readers legitimate and significant role models beyond pop culture icons. During the Summer Olympics last year I featured biographies of  remarkable athletes whose accomplishments involved overcoming extraordinary hardships to even compete in their respective sports.
Which brings me to the question of how to approach discussions of tarnished  heroes with children. The title of this post harkens back to  Who Do You Trust, a popular 1950's game show originally emceed by Johnny Carson. Now that was a time before corruption and deceit were so pervasive (it's kind of tricky to type with my tongue lodged in my cheek). 
It's a tough question: Who DO you trust?
Perhaps some of the best advice to give kids is to avoid going "all in" when hero-worshiping current stars, saving their highest admiration for those they know the best. In many cases that means those who play a direct role in their lives, "up close and personally", to twist a familiar sports phrase into something real.
Another bit of good advice is to look back in time to those who have completed their careers, those whose lives have been scrutinized and evaluated through the lens of history. "Old school" heroes, if you will.
Picture books offer that view with an irresistible blend of immediacy, engagement, and a healthy dose of authenticated content.

Simon & Schuster for Young Readers, 2000

SATCHEL PAIGE, by Lesa Cline-Ransome with paintings by James E. Ransome, is one such book. It seemed particularly ironic to me that the announcement of baseball suspensions began immediately following the weekend designated to honor the Negro League teams. Leroy (that's his given name) was born with an abundance of natural gifts, as are so many sports and entertainment idols, but he devoted himself to developing those gifts through practice. He threw rocks instead of baseballs, but he also collected bottles for pennies and toted bags at the train station for tips to help his large family survive.
He swung a stick over his shoulders and hauled several satchels at once to increase his income (not to mention his strength) until his friends said he looked like a satchel tree.The name stuck. 

Perhaps his family's desperate economic conditions convinced him that some indiscretion was justified- he was caught stealing. That landed him in a reform school. There he had three meals a day, a pair of shoes, and a baseball team with an actual coach. It was a blessing in disguise.

The mystique of Satchel Paige's many baseball accomplishments is not based on hype, social media, or even statistics alone. His remarkable willingness to take what has been dealt to him (or what he may have dealt himself) and play that hand to the best of his ability is the quality that makes him a universally admired figure who transcends the realm of baseball. 
He trusted his talent to speak for itself.

Carolrhoda Books, 2013

Ransome makes the point that after decades of being excluded from Major League baseball because the color of his skin, "Satch" had little respect for the rules and rituals of the league, including pregame exercises and taking signals from the catcher. What he did respect was his own talent, and he NEVER saw a need to "cheat to compete".

I've written about this topic in earlier posts, including the 2013 release, SOMETHING TO PROVE: The Great Satchel Paige vs. Rookie Joe DiMaggio, by Robert Skead and Rob Skead, illustrated by Floyd Cooper.

Any young baseball fans who are disillusioned by the lies and rule-breaking of their current heroes need to look no further than non-fiction picture books like these and others to find role models that have already stood the test of time.  These names are remembered for their contributions to their professions and to their communities, not for flamboyance, or, worse yet, for inflicting damage on themselves, their fans, and their chosen careers.

Earlier this week Anna M. Lewis had a post on the  I.N.K. Blog(Interesting Nonfiction for Kids) with some related titles you should also check out:

We Are the Ship: The Story of Negro LeagueBaseball by Kadir Nelson

King of the Mound - My Summer with SatchelPaige by Wes Tooke

Interesting Non-Fiction Picture Books (and a plug for I.N.K.)

The recent release of the movie, 42 (The Story of Jackie Robinson) has garnered accolades from all quarters. Some reviewers have commented that Robinson's story is "new" to younger generations, but is deeply ingrained in the DNA of the boomer generation. The hallmark of the movie's success is its ability to be relevant, instructive, and entertaining across audiences of any age or prior knowledge.

Sandpiper (Paperback), 1992

 I haven't seen the movie yet, but my favorite picture book depicting Jackie Robinson's story is TEAMMATES, by sports journalist and author, Peter Golenbock, illustrated by Paul Bacon. It has that same capacity to touch all ages with the facts and the heart of Robinson's story.
The brutal racist attacks leveled at Robinson when he integrated major league baseball far exceeded what we call bullying. His strength of character and resilience in the face of such attacks serve as a beacon for anyone being bullied. Of equal importance in this book is the role of PeeWee Reese, who  put his own popularity (and safety) at risk to step forward and take a stand against the vicious assaults against his teammate. Another life lesson for discussions of bullying.

Carolrhoda Books, 2013

A recent release portrays the equally cruel but longterm attacks of racism in the years before Robinson's courageous breakthrough. SOMETHING TO PROVE: The Great Satchel Paige vs. Rookie Joe DiMaggio, by Robert Skead and Rob Skead, illustrated by Floyd Cooper tells the story of rookie DiMaggio being tested against the best. He would have to try to get a hit against the undisputed (and unhittable) best pitcher anywhere- who just happened to pitch in the Negro League.
You don't need to be a baseball fan to appreciate the intensity and imbalance of the challenge game. Paige and DiMaggio shine through as personalities, and as extraordinary talents. Di Maggio passed his test, and Paige was told he'd be signed in a minute at top salary for the time, if only he were white.
The final pages and the author's note provide further details about segregation and Paige's eventual arrival in the Major Leagues and in the Baseball Hall of Fame.

Albert Whitman & Co.,
Paperback, 1996

This next title suggests I'm moving the discussion of baseball to Chicago, but WHITE SOCKS ONLY, by Evelyn Coleman, illustrated by Tyrone Geter is a story of Jim Crow segregation in the south.
When a young girl heads into town to test the theory that you can fry an egg on hot summer cement, she's dressed for the occasion. Experiment over, she needs a drink. The "Whites Only" sign is no problem, because she wore her best white socks. The confrontation that ensues involves the whole town, an ancient neighbor rumored to have magical powers, and the disappearance of the Whites Only sign.  In this case the story is fictional, but the situation is an accurate reflection of the practices of the time and place.

Atheneum Books for Young Readers
An Anne Schwartz Book, 2001

Another fictional story is based on real events of the 1964 civil rights work in Mississippi. In this case the author's note precedes the narrative, setting the stage for  FREEDOM SUMMER, by Deborah Wiles, illustrated by Jerome Lagarrigue. The author experienced questions and confusions as a white child in the deep South when the Civil Rights Act was passed, planting the seed for this story.
It depicts a common situation: two young boys, one black and one white became friends, but no amount of denial erased the fact that changing the law could not change the attitudes of the adults. The boys might now have equal rights, but they would have to take a stand for equal treatment and equal respect. 
The illustrations are a remarkable blend of detail and blurred edges, pulling the reader into the situation to fill in the blanks and participate in the situations.

In each case the books, like the movie, have the capacity to transport readers back through time to situations that are otherwise inconceivable to today's youth. Whether non-fiction or historical fiction with author notes, they turn dry facts, names and dates into vibrant characters and events. They stir the soul, stimulate curiosity, and generate empathy. 

I hope you'll click on this link to another blog, I.N.K. (Interesting Non-fiction for Kids). This collaborative effort by non-fiction writers for kids is always worth reading, but this particular post calls attention to the diverse and valuable topics in the posts. Along the right margin you'll find active links to the many award-winning contributing-authors' websites. Do yourself a favor and explore even a few. Then subscribe to the blog. It's a great way to get to know some of the finest writers and titles you'll ever want to read or share with kids.

Reinventing Friendships

Ta-Da... and the winner of the giveaway of an autographed copy of the paperback release of The Reinvention of Edison Thomas by Jacqueline Houtman is... Nancy Viau  @nancyviau1
Thank you to all who commented or shared the news about the giveaway!
   
I'm willing to concede the value of various "theme" months, Black History, Women's History,  Poetry, and others. But balancing out the benefits of the well-deserved attention to these topics is the likely side-effect that they appear to merit only a brief period of attention, only to be ignored throughout the rest of the year.
Despite that concern, this post is just in time for October,

 National Anti-Bullying Awareness Month.

With school now well underway, it's my hope that quite a few excellent titles about acceptance and appreciation of others, openness to friendship, and cooperation have already been shared to contribute to the positive culture developing in classrooms of all ages. I've always believed it's a more constructive and successful approach to build those qualities and skills proactively than to take a "Thou shalt not..." approach to bullying or anything else.

Some people seem to have been born with a powerful kindness-gene, while others have distinct needs for practice, discussion, modeling, and role playing of acts of kindness and acceptance. Thus, the title of this post: Reinventing Friendships. When attraction does not occur spontaneously, or differences generate avoidance or awkward behaviors, books serve well as models for building friendships on unfamiliar ground.

This post is already running long, even after several harsh edits, and so I have created a separate page with related titles (which I will continue to supplement over time) labeled APPRECIATING DIFFERENCES.

Some title choices are obvious selections, just as some differences are immediately visible to others. One excellent choice is BE GOOD TO EDDIE LEE,  by Virginia Fleming, illustrated by Floyd Cooper, whose work was featured in a previous post here. A detailed description and review can be found at Multicultural Literature for Children Blog.

Once again I can extol the power of picture books to open and explore discussions of significance at any age. This topic is yet another  great example of how picture books can be used to introduce a theme that is developed more fully in middle grade and young adult books and characters.

Here's one middle grade title worth sharing. There are already countless fans of WONDER, by R. J. Palacio, justifiably so. It's hard to choose just a few of the many reviews of this 2012 title, but a good place to start is at SLJ's A Fuse #8 Production. It was cited more than any other title as the first chapter read aloud of the year in Colby Sharp's back to school slide show recently.

In both of the above titles the differences are utterly apparent, unavoidably so. It's quite a different story when someone appears to have "no excuses" for observed differences, and this carries over to adult perceptions and expectations as well. 

CHAMELIA, written and illustrated by Ethan Long, is a fun read and an example of a character so clear in her own sense of self that she is basically oblivious to the reactions of those around her and the effects her choices and pursuits have on them. This book is all about finding ways to navigate sometimes murky social waters without losing a sense of self.
Kirkus review agrees.

Such is the case in THE REINVENTION OF EDISON THOMAS by Jacqueline Houtman, another middle grade novel winning awards and fans. I was hooked from my first reading and have reread and recommended "Eddy" throughout the past year. Boyds Mills Press Front Street's posted reviews from Booklist and Kirkus and Armchair Geek/GeekDad blog indicate what a complex, positive, and entertaining contribution this title is to the world of middle grade books. 
Author Jacqueline Houtman participated in an interview with Susan Kaye Quinn in the early days of Eddy's release in which she answered many questions about its origin. 
In honor of  its recent release in paperback, (debuting on Amazon as number one in “Hot new releases in special needs", Jacqueline has agreed to answer a few more questions here, and is giving away an autographed paperback copy of her book. 

Thank you for sharing your time and thoughts with us. Since your book came out you've visited schools and spoken with kids who read it. What stands out from those visits? 

One thing that surprised me is how much fun it is to do programs with kids. They also ask great questions. More than once, I’ve had so say “You, know, I never thought of it that way.”

One of the best things to come from the book was an adaptation by a youth theater group in Sheboygan, Wisconsin called Theater for Young Audiences. A group of kids did the adaptation, and we Skyped so they could ask me some questions. They put such thought into it. And it really showed. I went up to Sheboygan to see the production. It was surreal to see the characters that had been in my head for so long right there in front of me. I was wondering how they would deal with all the internal monologue in the book, but they came up with an ingenious solution.

I was so pleased to read that Eddy has moved into paperback because it will find an even wider audience in this format.
I’m excited about the paperback for a couple of reasons. First, I love the new cover. It’s quite striking in appearance and conveys a lot about what’s inside. I love the cover of the hardcover, as well, but I think this one will be appealing to a whole new audience of readers. We’ve also added some new material to the back. There are some discussion questions that teachers can use in their classes. I’ve also answered some of the questions people ask, mostly about autism and Asperger’s syndrome, and how I developed the character of Eddy without using the “A word.”

Was there anything about Eddy, as you came to know him, that surprised you while you were writing his story?

I was astounded at how real Eddy became to me. He sort of took on a life of his own.

He did for me as a reader, too! 
Thanks so much for stopping by, and for offering to give away a copy of your book.

GIveAway Rules:

• Must be 13 years or older
• Must have a mailing address within the US.
• Just leave a comment on the post. If you leave contact info (Twitter tag, email, or Facebook page) I'll notify you directly when the announcement is made on October 6. Otherwise, check back here where the winner's name will be posted.
• To enter, leave a comment below, or
• Cut and paste on Twitter: Giveaway of #ReinventionOfEdisonThomas offered by @PBWorkshop at http://UnpackingPictureBookPower.blogspot.com
• Deadline, Midnight, October 5, 2012.

For more titles and links take a look at this Playing By The Book post. Although I'm not crazy about the  labeling (characters with disabilities) I do endorse the purpose, which is to generate lists and links to titles in which characters may have some identifiable differences, but the focus is on the characters and the story, not the disability.