Walking Home to Rosie Lee by A. LaFaye, illustrated by Keith D. Shepherd
no awards that I know about, but it was published in 2011, so there might be some coming still! I think it's worthy myself!
This story takes place right after the civil war, when slaves were set free. "War's over. Government say we free. Folks be on the move. Getting the feel for freedom. Not me. I'm looking for my mama, Rosie Lee."
So many families were separated during slavery and the war. Rosie Lee had been sold away from her children, and now her boy Gabe set off to find her. It is a well told story about a slice of history that there aren't as many stories about.
I like this picture book A LOT and would heartily recommend it.
Showing posts with label Historic Fiction. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Historic Fiction. Show all posts
Thursday, January 26, 2012
Tuesday, November 22, 2011
Zora and Me
Zora and Me by Victoria Bond and T. R. Simon
2011 Corretta Scott King new talent award
I didn't realize this was an award winner until just now. I was going to post about it anyhow, because I thought it was very good. I found it because I was looking for books about Florida to share with the kids before we traveled there earlier this fall. This book caught my eye while I was searching because Zora Neale Hurston's book Their Eyes Were Watching God is one of my all time favorite books, and this book is a fictionalized account of her growing up years in Eatonville Florida.
It's based on her writing and other historical info and is true enough to fact that it is the only project to be endorsed by the Zora Neale Hurston Trust that was not written by Hurston herself.
I read this one aloud to Jabu (age 10) and we both enjoyed it. I was a little worried about selling him on it at first, but I shouldn't have been concerned. . . the first chapter tells the story of an alligator attack! He was hooked from that point on!
The characters of Zora and her friends (one of whom is telling the story), the people of Eatonville both distinguished and odd, were all people I was glad to meet and the authors did a great job of bringing them to life.
There were several strands of the story that I appreciated very much. One featured a misunderstood loner named Mr. Pendir who the kids in the book spent most of the story being completely afraid of. Turns out "All the time Mr. Pendir had lived in Eatonville knocking around in his old house, alone and weary-looking, he had been making things, and the things he made were beautiful."
But the one that still stays with me the strongest (I'm writing this actually a couple of months after reading the book) involved a sister and a brother of mixed race. The brother was brown, the sister could "pass" and DID. The price of turning away from her people was very dear and watching Jabu come to realize that as the story unfolded was definitely worth the read all by itself.
I liked this book very much and would recommend it.
2011 Corretta Scott King new talent award
I didn't realize this was an award winner until just now. I was going to post about it anyhow, because I thought it was very good. I found it because I was looking for books about Florida to share with the kids before we traveled there earlier this fall. This book caught my eye while I was searching because Zora Neale Hurston's book Their Eyes Were Watching God is one of my all time favorite books, and this book is a fictionalized account of her growing up years in Eatonville Florida.
It's based on her writing and other historical info and is true enough to fact that it is the only project to be endorsed by the Zora Neale Hurston Trust that was not written by Hurston herself.
I read this one aloud to Jabu (age 10) and we both enjoyed it. I was a little worried about selling him on it at first, but I shouldn't have been concerned. . . the first chapter tells the story of an alligator attack! He was hooked from that point on!
The characters of Zora and her friends (one of whom is telling the story), the people of Eatonville both distinguished and odd, were all people I was glad to meet and the authors did a great job of bringing them to life.
There were several strands of the story that I appreciated very much. One featured a misunderstood loner named Mr. Pendir who the kids in the book spent most of the story being completely afraid of. Turns out "All the time Mr. Pendir had lived in Eatonville knocking around in his old house, alone and weary-looking, he had been making things, and the things he made were beautiful."
But the one that still stays with me the strongest (I'm writing this actually a couple of months after reading the book) involved a sister and a brother of mixed race. The brother was brown, the sister could "pass" and DID. The price of turning away from her people was very dear and watching Jabu come to realize that as the story unfolded was definitely worth the read all by itself.
I liked this book very much and would recommend it.
Time-Traveling Twins
Time Traveling Twins by Diane Stanley
I've read Roughing It on the Orgeon Trail
and Joining the Boston Tea Party
No awards that I know of, but I just enjoyed these books and so did both of my children (Jabu age 10 and Makayla age 7). It reminds me of the Magic School Bus books, but about history.
The Time Traveling Twins go to see their grandma, they select an ancestor they'd like to visit, they dress accordingly, the grandma puts on her time traveling hat, they hold hands, someone grabs the dog, and they find themselves in another time and place! They have their adventures, and then return to Grandma's house.
Lot's of pictures, and a cartoon element on each page with "talk bubbles" coming from the characters in the illustrations (including the dog!)
A fun way to learn some history!
I've read Roughing It on the Orgeon Trail
and Joining the Boston Tea Party
No awards that I know of, but I just enjoyed these books and so did both of my children (Jabu age 10 and Makayla age 7). It reminds me of the Magic School Bus books, but about history.
The Time Traveling Twins go to see their grandma, they select an ancestor they'd like to visit, they dress accordingly, the grandma puts on her time traveling hat, they hold hands, someone grabs the dog, and they find themselves in another time and place! They have their adventures, and then return to Grandma's house.
Lot's of pictures, and a cartoon element on each page with "talk bubbles" coming from the characters in the illustrations (including the dog!)
A fun way to learn some history!
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