- Jul 29, 2024
Updated: Feb 8
The Extraordinary Life of James Baldwin
A TRUE TALE WITH
A CHERRY ON TOP
Harper
(HarperCollins)
(pub. 1.30.2024)
48 pages
Ages 4- 8
Author: Michelle Meadows
Illustrator: Jamiel Law
Character: James Baldwin
Overview:
" Before he became a writer, James “Jimmy” Baldwin was a young boy from Harlem, New York, who loved stories. He found joy in the rhythm of music, family, and books.
But Jimmy also found the blues, as a Black man living in America.
When he discovered the written word, he discovered true power. Writing gave him a voice. And that voice opened the world to Jimmy. From the publication of the groundbreaking collection of essays The Fire Next Time to his passionate demonstrations during the civil rights movement, Jimmy used his voice fearlessly."
Tantalizing taste:
"Jazz is passion purple,
paintbrushes, bebop, blues,
singing, swinging, soul.
On the advice of a friend, Jimmy met a painter.
Knocking on Beauford Delaney's door in Greenwich Village changed Jimmy's life.
Beauford was kind.
He introduced Jimmy to jazz and the blues,
to the stories of Black people tucked inside music,
to art, color, and light.
He showed Jimmy how to see with an artist's eyes."
And something more: In the Author's note, Michelle Meadows explains: "While writing this book, it moved me most to learn how James Baldwin found comfort in words from a young age. Words have always soothed me too. My mother says that when I was a child, I left little notes all around the house about how I was feeling. I hope this book inspires young readers to find joy and power through written expression."
- Jul 29, 2024
How Our 32nd First Lady Used Her Voice
to Fight for Human Rights
A TRUE TALE WITH
A CHERRY ON TOP
Balzer + Bray
(HarperCollins)
(pub. 7.2.2024)
40 pages
Ages 4 - 8
Author: Michelle Markel
Illustrator: Alejandro Mesa
Character: Eleanor Roosevelt
Overview:
" Before she became First Lady, Eleanor Roosevelt was a girl trying to find her voice.
As a young orphan, she was shy and made to feel like a failure. But every night, Eleanor would read her father’s letters, full of love and belief in her, and she used his words to help her face her fears.
She took them to school across the sea, where she excelled at her studies and helped other girls with theirs. And back to New York, where she volunteered in immigrant communities.
Using her voice to help others gave her courage. Eleanor began speaking out in bigger ways.
When her husband, Franklin, became president, she worked with—and learned from—leaders of marginalized groups, using her standing to fight for workers, women, and people of color. Every victory, big and small, drove Eleanor to do more."
Tantalizing taste:
"To many white citizens, especially in the South, Eleanor's behavior is scandalous. She's always in the news, rallying support for her causes. Some people think she's overstepped her bounds, as a woman and as a First Lady. Some say she's dangerous.
The press runs ugly cartoons, the FBI tracks her activities, the public sends vicious letters – one even asks Franklin to chain Eleanor up and muzzle her.
But they can't crush her dreams...
The truth is, change is slow and painful.
Is she discouraged? Yes.
Will she give up? Never.
Every small victory makes a difference."
And something more: Author Michelle Markel shared some thoughts with me about her inspiration for writing Unshakable Eleanor: "One of the most surprising things about Eleanor is that she was a shy, fearful girl - someone unlikely to succeed. She was made to feel like a failure, because she didn't inherit the beauty of her mother and aunts. Luckily, a few nurturing figures helped Eleanor find her inner strength. Her father told her she had the makings of a noble young lady, her uncle (Teddy Roosevelt) threw her into the ocean to teach her how to swim, and the headmistress at her finishing school praised her intelligence and generosity. Which proves that a little encouragement goes a long way!" It certainly did, in Eleanor's case!
The Back Matter of the book includes detailed "Timeline of Eleanor Roosevelt's Life and Her Work for Human Rights", More about People of Color and Women During the Depression, "People of Color and Women During the New Deal", and "Mary McLeod Bethune (educator and civil rights advocate), Walter White (civil rights activist, investigator, and writer), and the Roosevelt Administration."
The wonderfully written story of Unshakable Eleanor tells the fascinating and inspiring story of the influential Eleanor Roosevelt who overcame her insecurities and advocated for the rights and needs of others.
- Jul 2, 2024
Updated: Jul 29, 2024
A TRUE TALE WITH
A CHERRY ON TOP
Beach Lane Books
(Simon & Schuster)
(pub.4.2.2024)
40 pages
Ages 3 - 8
Author: Todd Boss
Illustrator: Rashin Kheiriyeh
Character: Ronan Mattin
Overview:
" When Grandfather comes to take his grandson to a concert, Ronan is quiet as they leave the house, quiet in the car, and quiet at the concert hall. But when the performance is over and the beautiful music fades out at last, Ronan opens his mouth…and lets out a great big WOW!
Not any old WOW, but Ronan’s very first WOW! That one word fills up the hearts of Ronan’s family, the musicians, the audience, and—when the recording goes viral—the world."
Tantalizing taste:
"The darker instruments sound cool and frightening.
ZUMMITY ZUMMITY ZIM
The lighter instruments sound warm and friendly.
ZIMMITY ZIMMITY ZUM
Together they sound like a sky full of stars.
Now the music is done.
Everything is silent. The stars fade away.
Then Ronan's mouth opens and out comes a great, big ...
WOW! "
And something more: "This story really happened. On May 5, 2019, at Boston's Symphony Hall, a nine-year-old boy named Ronan Mattin broke the silence after a performance of Mozart's Masonic Funeral Music by the Handel and Haydn Society with a 'Wow!' that echoed throughout the hall and inspired laughter, cheers, and applause [and] was caught on a radio recording that was heard around the world."
