Walking the Walk, Playing the Long Game

The past two weeks of COP sessions (and arguments and protests) have dominated the news regarding the current state of our planet and its looming future, for better or for worse. If each of the words exchanged had been a tree planted, or had been a dollar donated to a flooding island, or otherwise had any real action attached to it, we'd already be ahead in the battle to save Earth as a habitable planet. 

This post features two biography/profiles of individuals who moved beyond words to actions, who recognized serious problems early, then engaged with powerful political, social, and governmental forces for decades to make changes that saved countless lives and the environment.

One of these remarkable people had a relatively unknown name outside of Florida until there was a mass shooting at a school that was named to honor her lifetime environmental work in Florida, Marjory Stoneman Douglas. MARJORY SAVES THE EVERGLADES: The Story of Marjory Stoneman Douglas is written by Sandra Neil Wallace and illustrated by Rebecca Gibbon. 

This picture book is a testament to the power of a single individual dedicated to the study, support, and protection of nature and a world larger than themselves. The many ways in which Marjory Stoneman Douglas defied conventions, expectations, assumptions, and powerful forces set a template for young readers to look around, recognize a need for change, and "walk the walk" on behalf of important causes and issues.

Back matter is superb, and the occasional quotations by Marjory are all documented in sources, as well as making connections to present day environmental and other activists. Her rescue of the Everglades is jaw-dropping, but the truth that even her heroic efforts only managed to preserve/restore half of the original expanses is heartbreaking. Art enriches and expands the information and tone of a very powerful biography.

On an entirely different continent and dealing with quite a different issue, Joseph Bazalgette's commitment to improving the quality of life and prevention of disease in Old London is equally impressive. THE GREAT STINK: How Joseph Bazalgette Solved London's Poop Pollution Problem is written by Colleen Paeff and illustrated  by Nancy Carpenter. 

There is plenty to love about this book, despite it being about the disgusting and deadly deposits in the River Thames during the mid-1800s. Joseph Bazelgette brought phenomenal insight, engineering, and persistence to his understanding of and commitment to correcting the situation. The countless hurdles he overcame and the result of his efforts on a massive (and ever-growing) London population are inspiring. What might sound like a gross and uninteresting story are instead elevated in this biographic account to heroic status. The intricate and well-researched illustrations combine with dramatic and comedic elements in this topic to make it appeal across a wide audience of ages and interests. The patterns and voice within the narrative are appealing as well as supportive of language and vocabulary development, while the remarkable back matter answers questions and invites further investigation.

These are two nonfiction picture books that will leave adult readers impressed and informed while entertaining and inspiring young audiences. It is true that our feverish planet needs an all hands on deck approach to recover and survive, but it is equally true that one committed individual can rally support and make changes that others thought to be impossible.

Let's Hear It for the LADIES! Cybils Award Nominees Continue

If you are new to this blog you may want to check out one of my earliest posts, my manifesto on the double-edged sword of THEME MONTHS. I'm very discouraged by the common practice of establishing collections of quality books, especially picture books, related to various designated theme months or topics, only to haul them out and pack them away again as pages of the calendar are turned. That's why I'm always happy to feature terrific topics, especially nonfiction picture books, throughout the year. 
In this post I'll share some brief notes about four of the nonfiction CYBILS nominees that impressed me, all of which feature outstanding women!
It's October 31st and snow is falling outside my window, so MARCH (Women's History Month) is a long way off. That means it is a perfect time to bring to readers some fantastic bits of history without waiting for an arbitrary signal at a designated time to share them. 
The first two are fun to compare, since they both explore the significance of MULTIPLE women of history, both books offering deep dives into the past to explore the heroic women who helped create the world we now inhabit. 

BOLD AND BRAVE: Ten Heroes Who Won Women the Right to Vote is written by Kirsten Gillibrand and illustrated by Maira Kalman. Each profiled woman is listed in backmatter in chronological order of their lifespans. The long history of American women suffering for suffrage (the right to vote) spans social class, race, and roles, placing their eventual success in the context of a long, difficult effort. 
It proceeds past that Constitutional amendment into the continuing struggles for equal treatment across many social categories. Gilliband (New York Senator) launches her profiles by placing them in the context of her own close relationship with Great Grandmother Mimi, her Grandmother Polly, and her mother Penny, each of whom instilled, by example and story, the significance of women's voting rights and responsibilities. 
Illustrator Kalman presents each profile with a single page portrait and added spot illustrations on the text spread. Her interpretive/primitive style and vibrant colors infuse personality and character in images of the ten women, allowing young readers to connect with the obviously older and often distant individuals. 
Gillibrand delivers the content and challenges directly back to readers in the final pages, with facing spreads of young girls in white, marching for the right to vote, contrasting with modern young people advocating for changing the world and getting out the vote. 

Charlesbridge, 2019

Pair the above with GIRLS WITH GUTS: The Road to Breaking Barriers and Bashing Records, written by Debbie Gonzales and illustrated by Rebecca Gibbon. Welcome to a parade of profiles of women who broke through arbitrary gender rules/laws to achieve full participation in athletic events, beginning with the ancient Olympics. 
These heroes span centuries, include many sports, and feature women/girls diverse in age, race, and ethnicity. The timeline in back matter is particularly well done, and the illustrations throughout are as energetic and empowering as the text, which is saying a lot. 

The next two titles share the word FEARLESS in their titles, and each is a biographic narrative of a brave woman who stood up to social restrictions, written and unwritten, that barred females from work or sports for which they were fully qualified. 
In HER FEARLESS RUN: Kathrine Switzer's Historic Boston Marathon is written by Kim Chaffee and illustrated by Ellen Rooney. Chaffee does gives entertaining insights to Kathrine's love of running from early childhood on, revealing how dedicated she was to improving and competing. Her older male coach had run the the world-famous Boston Marathon an amazing fifteen times, but girls/women were NOT eligible to enter. In fact, runners must prove their qualifications by running impressive times in other marathons, which Katherine had done. She entered using her initials rather than her name, and so she was issued an official number- the ONLY woman who had ever done so! 
Along the route people began to notice that a woman was running and many cheered her on. At one point she was physically attacked by a man from the sidelines, but another male runner intervened and she ran on. Some women cheered for her, but many did not. 
Her goal had been to prove to other women that they could compete in the Boston Marathon, and also to show other women that they could find the joy, health, and fun of running. An author note reveals some of the ways in which Katherine's fearless run moved her goals toward success. 

Albert Whitman & Company

FEARLESS MARY: Mary Fields, American Stagecoach Driver is written by Tami Charles and illustrated by Claire Almon. Since you're still reading, you noted my aversion to theme months mentioned in the first paragraph. However, a note at the back of this biography points out that it was a Facebook post and article from a previous Women's History Month that brought the amazing Mary Fields to the attention of author Charles. 
As i said, those theme months offer a double-edged sword. 
Let's make sure that this title finds its way to many readers ALL YEAR LONG!
It's a story that takes readers back more than a century to the barely settled young state of Montana. "Whites Only" signs were everywhere, even though it was long after the Civil War ended. That didn't stop Mary. She knew her qualifications could stand up to dozens of men trying to fill the job of stagecoach driver. She proved her worth with the horses, the hitching, and the stagecoach driving. Not a man there, all of them white, could outperform her skill and daring. 
Exciting, right? 
And that's barely the beginning of this story. With hints of her early life ("first thirty years without freedom") the author doesn't try to focus on Mary's childhood but instead reveals her remarkable confidence, skill, and fearlessness to hook readers of any age. 
This is yet another of those untold histories that deserves attention from all readers.

These amazing titles are but a few examples of the many outstanding books nominated for Cybils awards in nonfiction. In this round one stage, we will narrow those down to a few finalists. Eventually, there will be only one book each in the Elementary and Middle grade categories. That, of course, is an outstanding honor. 
Ultimately, though, many of these remarkable nominees could have made that final cut, depending on the panelists making the decisions. It may be Halloween, but the only thing that scares me today is the possibility that anyone would make the mistake of ignoring these terrific books. 
Do me a favor and get your hands on these, then start reading.

Baseball Strikes Again!

Baseball is a long season, almost a prototype for the classic Survivor slogan: Outwit, Outplay, Outlast. As excited as I was on opening day, I'm sad to report that my home team BREWERS have faced a trifecta of season-ending injuries and several others that range from from "nagging" to serious. Our impressive first day line-up has been shaken and stirred, but not yet consumed by this stroke of lousy luck.

In fact, the team continues to adjust, adapt, and endure. Sometimes winning, even if not as often as they would with a healthy team. Why? Of course, because they represent a wealth of talented players who are well-paid to do so. One reason I love this team, though, is the character and heart they display, trumping the miserable hand of fate with energy and oomph just when it is needed most.

I didn't grow up loving baseball, but the Brewers wooed me and won my devotion. There's just something about baseball... and I don't seem to be alone in that opinion. Several nonfiction picture books explore the love story that is baseball.

Perhaps the best example of playing for the love of the game can be found in BROTHERS AT BAT:The True Story of An Amazing All Brother Baseball Team by Audrey Vernick, illustrated by Steven Salerno. In the 1930's many families had lots of kids, and the Acerra family of New Jersey was no exception. All twelve brothers played baseball, but the four sisters didn't. In those days "sports were just for boys", although Salerno's period pictures clearly show that these sisters didn't agree with that presumption.
Each brother developed his own distinctive and impressive talent. In one game brother Alfred was blinded in one eye by a bunt gone wrong, but his brothers worked with him until he became "a pretty good one-eyed catcher". Four of the brothers went off to war, but each eventually returned to rejoin the team. It wasn't until 1997 that their unique family team was honored in the Baseball Hall of Fame.
Don't miss the author's and illustrator's notes at the back for even more inspiring background information about this remarkable family of baseball fanatics.

Baseball is a truly American sport. As the author's note indicates, in 1845, the year Lipman was born, the first official set of rules were drawn up to change a child's game into a sport played by adults. LIPMAN PIKE: America's First Home Run King, by Richard Michelson and illustrated by Zachary Pullen, is the story of speedy young "Lip" and his love of the game called "Base". He eventually battled his father's resistance, anti-semitism, and government corruption to apply his unequaled speed and hitting power to the game he loved.
We've all become convinced that superior sports talent will translate to big paychecks, life-changing paychecks. It wasn't until 1871 that the first all-professional (paid) league was formed. Lipman's earliest payments were "unofficial" and just $20 a week. One inflation calculator shows that Lipman, the leading player of the day, was paid the equivalent of about $280 per week. Professional players like Pike worked full time jobs in "real" life to allow them to live out their baseball dreams, playing with the best.

Yet another look back in time can be found in PLAYERS IN PIGTAILS by Shana Corey, illustrated by Rebecca Gibbon. The lead character, Katie, is a fictional composite of the very real young women who seized the opportunity to play professional baseball when history took most of the professional players off to fight World War II. No less than President Roosevelt himself mandated that baseball remain viable for the sake of the nation's morale. Just as women moved into factories they also took on the world of sports.
Katie's story is timeless- a girl whose talent and interests focused on sports, but the world judged her on traditional expectations- cooking, dancing, knitting. Until fate offered up the opportunity to live out her own baseball dreams.
The author's note reveals a surprise about the familiar "Casey at the Bat" and adds even more intriguing details about the way the AAGPBL came to be at that time. (All American Girls' Professional Baseball League).

Now for a nod to a title set in present day that partners well with these picture books,
SHAKESPEARE BATS CLEANUP, by Ron Koertge.
This story in verse speaks in the voice of Kevin, a fourteen year old boy, confined at home "resting" until given the "all clear" from mono, his tall, lean, baseball body losing its strength and instincts. The down time with his writer father involves a journal, a book on poetry forms, and plenty of time to reflect on baseball, girls, and his deceased mother, among other topics. Once he is back on the team he warms the bench, still writing, and sees people (including himself and girls) through new eyes.

Writing will do that to you.

Baseball's beauty is in offering a season long enough for overcoming adversity, gaining insights, and leading with your heart.

Not unlike the characters and story in a good book.

Cliche` or not, baseball (Life?) is a marathon, not a sprint. Reading and writing (and injuries) point out lessons along the way.