In an unusual move within book publishing, this author/illustrator team researched Horace Pippin together. The result is a remarkably tight text-illustration experience. While Bryant's careful word choice flows easily, delighting and informing simultaneously, Sweet's illustration conveys Pippin's life story via his folk-art style, as if we readers are privy to his sketching pad. Sweet prominently ...

A true story of one person's passion and can-do attitude changing the world. The story unfolds simply and through text that makes it an ideal read-aloud.

Large watercolor illustrations warmly portray Helen Keller—overcomer, speaker, and briefly, actress. This reading experience highlights Annie Sullivan's belief in Helen's potential, and Helen's increasing connections that strengthened her mind and ambition. Readers sense the importance of pushing beyond difficult limits. Large-print quotes give voice to Helen's dogged determination that hig ...

Watercolors rich with color and undertones speak to the deep character of Harriet Tubman, once General Tubman, Union Spy, Moses, Araminta, and more. Concise word selection shapes historical contrasts within short lines of verse on each spread, conveying poignant truth with hope and a relentless spirit bound only by freedom.

A perceptive look at how an artist discovers his skill, begins to play with it, and then, in spite of resistance and challenge, figures out how it becomes a way to express observations, ideas, and a unique perspective while serving those it captures. While this message could be presented in any arena, that it is a true experience of a black NFL player during a segregated era makes this a doubly po ...

Beautiful biography of a man who took the risk of doing on television what had not been done before: engaging children through authentic gentleness, imagination, and wisdom. Highly recommended!

More than a trailblazer, Patricia Bath was a brilliant and determined ophthalmologist. Overcoming doubt and obstacles was something she did over and over throughout her life, as if she believed that there is always a way. A remarkable and inspiring biography with a fascinating subject!

This thoughtful presentation highlights both the perceptive approach her music teacher took to understand Glennie's passion and open avenues of unheard-of possibility, and Glennie's same creative spirit that shaped her formative years. Her resilience led her to figure out ways to convincingly show what had not yet been done, could be done. An inspiring for young readers and teachers as well.

We can't get enough of this author/illustrator duo. They discover the most interesting individuals and masterfully shape the telling by relating familiar, present-day experiences with their characters' experiences, enabling details to stick. In this telling, William Carlos Williams faces the difficulty of balancing the need to earn a living with pursuing his artistic endeavors. He manages to estab ...

Compelling, life-sized, carefully-detailed illustrations, punctuate the depth of Frederick Douglass's devotion to justice and liberty for all. The dark pain of loss at a young age translated into grim determination to learn words because "...Frederick sensed that words had power. ...he traded food for words." In a world of fast food and e-books, Rappaport reminds us to value the influence of speak ...

This is a richly layered biography, best enjoyed by late elementary ages. Ada Byron Lovelace possessed an inquisitive mind that relished numbers, patterns, and challenge. However, she grew up during a time when measles and cholera puzzled the medical community, and both left her very ill. It was also a time when men were more readily associated with the mathematical work and invention for which Ad ...

While this is primarily Pedro Martinez's biography, it is equally a celebration of the relationship he shared with his talented baseball-player brother, Ramon. A humble upbringing challenged them both to creatively pursue their love of baseball, and eventually dedicated practice and big dreams gave way to major-league contracts, friendly rivalry on national stages, and a championship win. Gorgeous ...

A love of words carries a young man from the shackles of slavery to poetic heights in this brilliant biography. The story is inspiring, and appropriately, the illustrations have a very upward and uplifting orientation. A beautiful tribute to a man who was indeed remarkable!

When tragedy leaves you less than you were, how do you respond? Betty Robinson refused to let a horrible accident and a leg that would never be the same define the rest of her life. After an Olympic gold in 1928, Betty determined to return to the medal stand despite the seeming impossibility of getting there again. This true story of the first female track and field gold medalist will amaze and in ...

This presentation of Lincoln's life as viewed by his children gives the reader a more personal look at the man. A gratifying portrayal that conveys whatever his position in life, Lincoln took time to enjoy his boys.

Jacques Costeau was a man who dreamed big, and this book invites readers to use his story to inspire their own. Full of details about the choices he made and how he persevered, he is a brilliant example of the effects of hard work, creativity, and determination. By the end of the story readers will be anxious to find their passion and make a difference.

A magazine spread about migrant workers moved then-porter Gordon Parks to buy a camera and teach himself the craft. He sensed injustice, particularly "the unfairness of segregation" and soon learned to tell its story through the lens. His skilled shots eventually landed in major magazines, their first captures by a black photographer. An impactful way to show how the efforts of one man can give vo ...

This 1988 Newbery Medal Book tells the story of Abraham Lincoln with photographs and prints, providing a vivid look at the life and times of one of the nation's great leaders.