On the 100th anniversary of his birth, a celebration of the extraordinary life of Ezra Jack Keats, creator of The Snowy Day. Andrea Davis Pinkney's powerful and poetic text tells the story of Ezra Jack Keats, who was born in Brooklyn in 1916, and grew up in extreme poverty. Keats's artistic talent was recognized even in high school, but his father's death made it impossible for him to accept the art school scholarship he was offered; however, Keats continued to study art informally whenever possible. He served in the army in World War II and subsequently lived in Paris, Eventually, Keats found his way to children's books, and with the groundbreaking Caldecott winner The Snowy Day, the first mainstream picture book to feature an African American child, he became part of children's literature history. Keats's best-loved books are the ones that portray the neighborhood where he grew up. He was an inspiration to many artists of color, who, for the first time, saw themselves reflected in his books. The Ezra Jack Keats Foundation was established after his death, with the goal of promoting more diverse books and helping new authors and illustrators. A perfect match for the text is the art of Steve Johnson and Lou Fancher, who use a colorful collage style to suggest Keats's own art. With beautiful writing from a distinguished author and about a distinguished author/artist, A Poem for Peter has the potential to be an award-winner.
Long before she was one of the Little Rock Nine, Melba Pattillo Beals was a warrior. Frustrated by the laws that kept African-Americans separate but very much unequal to whites, she had questions: Why couldn't she drink from a whites only fountain? Why couldn't she feel safe beyond home-or even within the walls of church? Adults all told her: Hold your tongue. Be patient. Know your place. But Beals had the heart of a fighter-and the knowledge that her true place was a free one. This memoir paints a vivid picture of Beals's powerful early journey on the road to becoming a champion for equal rights, an acclaimed journalist, a bestselling author, and the recipient of this country's highest recognition, the Congressional Gold Medal.
Melvin is an imaginative and noisy little boy who grows up to be Mel Blanc, Looney Tunes cartoon character pioneer and the voice behind Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Woody Woodpecker, the Tasmanian Devil, and so many more familiar personalities. Readers are treated to a typical day for young Melvin, when ordinary tasks like getting ready for school, riding the bus, and completing his chores are charged with sound effects and accompanied by his own personal soundtrack. His knack for making funny noises and using the versatility of his voice was like no other-much to the relief of his teachers. Penned by Blanc's daughter-in-law, this first-person fiction-based-in-reality story is a fun romp and is sure to inspire young readers to turn trouble into triumph!
At seventeen, Karen Chen has already achieved what some girls can only dream of-and it's only the beginning for her. The daughter of Taiwanese immigrants, she began figure skating at five. Ten years and many grueling training sessions later, she won a bronze medal at the 2015 US Championships after sustaining a nearly career-ending ankle fracture a year earlier. In 2017, she became the US National Champion, winning gold twice and receiving the highest score ever recorded for the short program at the US National level. Now for the first time, Karen shares the story of how she got where she is today-and where she's going next. She's already overcome astounding obstacles, and her grit, determination, and positive attitude have made her future truly limitless. In Finding the Edge, she shares, in her own words, what it takes to achieve the impossible. Including behind-the-scenes details from Karen's journey on and off the ice, Finding the Edge also features a foreword from Olympian Kristi Yamaguchi.
Born in the Carolina backwoods, Andrew Jackson joined the American Revolutionary War at the age of thirteen. After a reckless youth of gunfights, gambling, and general mischief, he rose to national fame as the general who defeated the British in the Battle of New Orleans. Afterwards, Jackson ran for president as a political outsider, championing the interest of common farmers and frontiersmen. Determined to take down the wealthy, well-educated East Coast elites, he pledged to destroy the national bank, which he believed was an engine of corruption serving the interest of bankers and industrialists. A staunch nationalist, he sought to secure and expand the nation's borders. Believing that we the people included white men only, he protected the practice of slavery and opened new lands for white settlers by pushing the Native people westward. A polarizing figure in his era, Jackson ignited a populist movement that remains a powerful force in our national politics.
One minute you can't live without them . . . the next minute you don't want them breathing your air! Siblings everywhere will relate to this humorous look at famous brothers and sisters whose important bonds have shaped their accomplishments . . . (mostly) for the better.
They blame you when they get in trouble. They seem like your parents' favorite. They are the only enemy you can't live without. Almost everyone has a juicy story about their siblings-even famous people. Meet those who got along, those who didn't, and everyone in between!
* Demi Lovato and her sister
* Tennis superstars Serena and Venus Williams
* Walt and Roy Disney
* Princes William and Harry
* Stephen Colbert and his eleven older siblings
* Quarterbacks Peyton and Eli Manning
* The Jacksons (Michael, Janet, and family)
* Reality TV sensations, the Gosselins
* Queen Elizabeth I and the queen who history remembers as Bloody Mary
* Conjoined twins Chang and Eng Bunker
* John Wilkes Booth (the man who assassinated Abraham Lincoln) and his brother Edwin
* Vincent and Theo van Gogh
* Airplane inventors, the Wright brothers
* The Romanovs
* The Kennedys
Oh, brother! This could get ugly. . . .
This Chelsea House's Galaxy of Superstars book features the young diva who has taken the country by storm with a dynamic singing voice and notable acting credits.
Fourteen-year-old Lisa Jura was a musical prodigy who hoped to become a concert pianist. But when Hitler's armies advanced on pre-war Vienna, Lisa's parents were forced to make a difficult decision. Able to secure passage for only one of their three daughters through the Kindertransport, they chose to send gifted Lisa to London for safety.
As she yearned to be reunited with her family while she lived in a home for refugee children on Willesden Lane, Lisa's music became a beacon of hope. A memoir of courage, survival, and the power of music to uplift the human spirit, this compelling tribute to one special young woman and the lives she touched will both educate and inspire young readers.
Featuring line art throughout and B&W photos.
With dazzling, lyrical verse in the folk revival style and stunning cut-paper illustrations, Colin Meloy and Nikki McClure pay tribute to Pete Seeger, a visionary who changed the world with song.
Pete Seeger once sang that if he had a golden thread, he would use it to weave people from all over the world to one another. That golden thread, for Pete, was music.
Born into a family of traveling musicians, Pete picked up his first instrument at age seven. From then on, music was his life, whether he was playing banjo for soldiers during World War II, rallying civil rights activists and war protesters with songs such as "We Shall Overcome," "Where Have All the Flowers Gone?," and "If I Had a Hammer," or leading environmental efforts to clean up the Hudson River.
For decades, Pete Seeger's messages of universal understanding and social and environmental justice inspired generations-and have left a lasting legacy.
Convinced that unnamed babies are not truly alive, King Tuthmosis I's wife Ahmose immediately names her newborn daughter Hatshepsut. This tiny girl will one day rise above her name and become not just "the foremost of women" but ruler of all Egypt. Growing up in pharaoh's palace, the young princess prepares for her future by learning the essentials of Egyptian religious, political, and social life.
After 12-year-old Hatshepsut's father dies, she-following the royal custom-becomes queen by marrying King Tuthmosis II, the son of one of her father's lesser wives. And when her husband dies 18 years later, Hatshepsut ultimately becomes her nation's divine pharaoh. A Booklist Top Ten Youth Book, Hatshepsut is one of many enthralling works by author, journalist, and lecturer Ellen Galford. Susan Spain's superb narration enhances a balanced historical overview that sketches the life and times of a queen who-about 3,500 years ago-ruled for two decades as Egypt's monarch.
". a clearly written text . this provides an accessible introduction to Hatshepsut and her times."-Booklist
Jackie Robinson became the first black Major League baseball player of the modern era when he stepped onto the field as a Brooklyn Dodger in 1947. In simple, engaging language, this audiobook follows Jackie from childhood through his career as an MVP-award winning baseball player and a hero of the civil rights movement. This book is perfect for Black History Month and the start of spring training!
