Book Review - Voices of the Civil Rights Movement by Lori Mortensen

“We Shall Overcome” (Series)
Voices of the Civil Rights Movement: A Primary Source Exploration of the Struggle for Racial Equality
Author: Lori Mortensen
Publisher: Capstone Press, 2015
Ages 8 to 10, Nonfiction
Pages: 32

The voices of key Civil Rights activists come to life through documented primary sources in Mortensen’s Voices of the Civil Rights Movement. Readers learn the different points of view, and how participants in the movement actually felt. Photographs show the emotions on people’s faces, their actions and reactions, and elsewhere in quoted speech, the words they spoke. 

After slavery was abolished in 1865, “Jim Crow” laws quickly fell into place in the southern states, separating the black and white races. Hate groups and mob activity rose against African-Americans, threatening all who disobeyed. Blacks grew weary of being separate and not equal. In 1955, Rosa Parks of Montgomery, Alabama, said she “was tired of giving in.” Mortensen describes the bus boycott that resulted when Parks went to jail over a bus seat she refused to yield to a white rider. Leaders on both sides of the argument rose. 

Alabama Police Commissioner Clyde Sellers argued that the law had been broken, plain and simple. Black leader Martin Luther King Jr. initiated a nonviolent protest, in which blacks in Montgomery refused to ride on the bus line. The boycott gained national attention and protest spread throughout the south to other areas of concern, such as school segregation. Black leaders Thurgood Marshall and Daisy Bates spoke out, demanding more action, against objections by Governor Orval Faubus and George Wallace, who fought against racial integration. Freedom Riders made the news, like Jim Zwerg, a white Civil Rights worker who was beaten. 

The fight for freedom changed America, Mortensen writes. White prejudice continued to surface and more lives were lost, but southern viewpoints eventually changed. The Civil Rights Act was passed in 1964 and America's first African-American president was elected in 2008. A Glossary and Critical Thinking Using the Common Core section are included to generate classroom discussion. A good primary source for teachers to introduce, as well as for interested parents.

The First Airplanes by Megan Cooley Peterson: Book Review

 
"Famous Firsts"The First Airplanes
Author: Megan Cooley Peterson
Publisher: Capstone Press, 2015  
Ages: 4 to 8, Picture Book
Pages: 24


For young children interested in airplane history, The First Airplanes is a great introduction. Given the vastness of the airplane’s development, Peterson does a good job selecting a few representative planes. Beginning with The Wright brothers’ first flight in 1903, Peterson takes readers on a photo journey that covers the monoplane, flying boat, four-engine plane, metal plane, jet airplane, jet fighter, and jumbo jet. There is just enough information to tweak one's interest, with short lines of text on the left and full-size black and white photos on the right. A simple timeline with captions runs along the bottom of every page of text.

Language is basic and age appropriate, as in the introductory sentence, "Zoom! Airplanes soar through the clouds." There are new words to learn, and repetition of words and phrases helps in the learning process, as does the glossary at the end. The First Airplanes complies with the National Social Studies Standards related to science, technology, and society. Included are Table of Contents, "Read More" section, List of Internet Sites, "Critical Thinking Using the Common Core" section, and Index.

Personally, I loved this little book, which now sits in my china cabinet for when the grandkids visit. I have a Wright Flyer displayed on one shelf already, and it fits nicely behind all. 



Copyright 2015 © Sharon M. Himsl

Sharon M. Himsl

Writer/Author. Blogging since 2011. 
Published with Evernight Teen: 
~~The Shells of Mersing

Great Explorers - Neil Armstrong by Jim Ollhoff: Book Review

 

Great Explorers: Neil Armstrong
Author: Jim Ollhoff
Publisher: ABDO Publishing Company, 2014

Age: 9-15, Middle Grade Nonfiction
Pages: 32

Neil Armstrong was a great American hero. His legacy today as the first person to walk on the moon continues to inspire the most ardent of dreamers. “There was a feeling that if people could do that,” Ollhoff writes, “they could do anything.” Ollhoff describes Neil Armstrong as a modest, quiet man, but whose talents and achievements as a military pilot and aeronautical engineer, placed him in a unique position in history. 

In the 1950s and 1960s, the U.S. and the Soviet Union were engaged in the Cold War. The Soviet Union had just sent a man into space, and the U.S. was worried about losing control of the space frontier. In 1961 President Kennedy made landing a man on the moon a U.S. goal within the next ten years. Armstrong was accepted into NASA’s Gemini space program as an astronaut the following year. 

Ollhoff describes the training process and command decisions that demonstrated Armstrong’s skill in controlling a spacecraft. In one example, two ships had spun out of control. His intelligent response and quick action saved the lives of everyone on board. Armstrong was subsequently selected into the Apollo space program, which included many missions, one of which eventually went to the moon. 

On July 19, 1969, Apollo 11 had reached its destination and was orbiting around the moon. A lunar module, the Eagle, was launched with Armstrong at the controls. It landed on the lunar surface and Armstrong became the first man to walk on the moon. Over television, he uttered the now-famous words: “That’s one small step for a man. One giant leap for mankind.” 

Armstrong went on to have a full career, teaching and lending his expertise to NASA and the aviation industry. Ollhoff also describes Armstrong’s equally impressive early years and personal life. Model airplanes and books about flying were long his interest as a young boy. Timeline, Glossary and Index are provided. 

Great Explorers is a light introduction to the history of the space program and the life of Neil Armstrong. Designed to inspire, the story certainly does that. Personally, the moon landing is still a major event in my lifetime. On the day of the landing in 1969, I was at the switchboard working as a telephone operator in Tacoma, Washington. News came over the air on TV that the Eagle had landed. There must have been fifty or more of us working the switchboard that day. One by one we took turns taking breaks so we could run to the break room and watch the exciting news. The transmission was poor, in black and white, but the message was loud and clear.

We had landed a man on the moon!  

Independent Publisher Book Awards: 2013

Last but not least, the IPPY Awards. The Independent Publisher Book Awards were created in 1996 in recognition of independent authors and publishers. Since then there have been over 3,000 IPPY Awards . . . and the number is growing. Included are genres reviewed here, but there are plenty more at their site. Check it out!


Fiction: Juvenile

--Gold - The Bulldoggers Club: The Tale of the Ill-Gotten Catfish by Barbara Hay (The RoadRunner Press)
--Silver - Martin McMillan and the Secret of the Ruby Elephant by Elaine Russell (Create Space)
--Bronze - Prairie Journey by Frances Bonney Jenner (Irie Books)

Fiction: Young Adult

--Gold - The Immortal Von B. by M. Scott Carter (The RoadRunner Press)
--Silver (tie) - Bi-Normal by M.G. Higgins (Saddleback Publishing) and Untraceable: The Nature of Grace series, Book 1, by S.R. Johannes (Coleman and Stott)
--Bronze - The Elephant of Surprise by Brent Hartinger (Buddha Kitty Books)

Fiction (Multicultural): Young Adult and Juvenile

--Gold - Three Years and Eight Months by Icy Smith, illustrated by Jennifer Kindert (East West Discovery Press)
--Silver - Robinson’s Hood by Jeff Gottesfeld (Saddleback Educational Publishing)
--Bronze - Tessa’s Dance by David Edward Walker (Thoughtful Publishing Company)

Nonfiction (Multicultural): Young Adult and Juvenile

--Gold - People Who Said No by Laura Scandiffio (Annick Press)
--Silver - I Call Him My Brother by Chris Morse and Robel Alemu; edited by Carolynne Krusi (Authorhouse Publishing)
--Bronze - Rangoli: An Indian Art Activity Book by Suma O’Farrell (Mazaa LLC)

Nonfiction: Young Adult and Juvenile

--Gold - Their Skeletons Speak by Sally M. Walker and Douglas W. Owsley (Lerner Publishing Group)
--Silver - Understand Your Self by Dale Carson and Kishore Khairnar (Bick Publishing House)
--Bronze (tie) - Soup Should Be Seen, Not Heard! by Beth Brainard (Good Idea Kids); and Wondrous Creatures by Dean Jacobs and Amy Tharp (Self-Published)

Picture Books: Children (7 and under)
--Gold - Arlo Needs Glasses by Barney Saltzberg (Workman Publishing)
--Silver (tie) - A Night Time Story by Roberto Aliaga, illustrated by Sonja Wimmer (Cuento de Luz); and Bee Life by Lynette Evans, illustrated by Francesca D’Ottavi (Insight Kids)
--Bronze - You Can Count on Gracie by Joan Harrison (Little Minute Publishing)

Picture Books: All Ages

--Gold - America’s National Parks: A Pop-Up Book by Don Compton (W.W. West)
--Silver (tie) - Whose Egg? by Lynette Evans, illustrated by Guy Troughton (Insight Editions); and Rabbityness by Jo Empson (Child’s Play)
--Bronze - Belle, the Last Mule at Gee’s Bend by Calvin Alexander Ramsey and Bettye Stroud, illustrated by John Holyfield (Candlewick Press)

E-BOOKS

E-Books: Juvenile and Young Adult Fiction 
 
--Gold - Wish I could have said goodbye by Shari A. Brady (Wise Owl Press)
--Silver - Finding Peace: A Medieval Romance by Lisa Shea (Minerva Webworks)

--Bronze - Long Black Veil by Jeanette Battista (Self-Published)

E-Books: Children's Picture Books

--Gold - Red Is… by Ivy Wong (Ripple Digital Publishing)

--Silver - Every Walrus Can Fly by Brian Phillips (The Basement)

--Bronze - Egg Mania by Sherry Maysonave (Empowerment Productions)

  

Good Reads Choice Awards 2013: Young Adult and Younger

Really like the Good Reads Choice Awards. Readers vote on their favorite books. Be sure to click on the Good Reads link for more information and other genres. Below is a handy list of books for  young adults and younger. Books are listed in descending order, the first one having the most votes. Not my choices necessarily, but it is interesting to see what readers like. Enjoy!

Best Young Adult Fiction (20):

--Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell (21,818 votes)

--Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell

--Dare You To by Katie McGarry

--United We Spy by Ally Carter

--The Moon and More by Sarah Dessen

--Just One Day by Gayle Forman

--Two Boys Kissing by David Levithan

--Out of the Easy by Ruta Sepetys

--Ali's Pretty Little Lies by Sara Shepard

--Perfect Scoundrels by Ally Carter

--If You Find Me by Emily Murdoch

--This Is What Happy Looks Like by Jennifer E. Smith

--The Distance Between Us by Kasie West

--Game by Barry Lyga

--Rose Under Fire by Elizabeth Wein

--Wild Cards by Simone Elkeles

--Forgive Me Leonard Peacock by Matthew Quick

--The Beginning of Everything by Robyn Schneider

--Where the Stars Still Shine by Trish Doller

--Golden by Jessi Kirby 

Best Young Adult Fantasy & Science Fiction (20)

--Allegiant by Veronica Roth (36,157 votes)

--Clockwork Princess by Cassandra Clare

--The Indigo Spell by Richelle Mead

--Opal by Jennifer L. Armentrout

--Scarlet (Lunar Chronicles) by Marissa Meyer

--Steelheart by Brandon Sanderson

--The 5th Wave by Rick Yancey

--The Elite by Kiera Cass

--Crown of Midnight by Sarah J. Maas

--Prodigy (Legend) by Marie Lu

--Unravel Me by Tahereh Mafi

--Requiem by Lauren Oliver

--The Darkest Minds by Alexandra Bracken

--Light by Michael Grant

--Through the Ever Night by Veronica Rossi

--The Dream Thieves by Maggie Stiefvater

--Etiquette Espionage (Finishing School) by Gail Carriger

--Siege and Storm (The Grisha) by Leigh Bardugo

--The Rithmatist (Rithamatist) by Brandon Sanderson

--The Fall of Five (Lorien Legacies) by Pittacus Lore

Best Middle Grade and Children's books (20)

--The House of Hades by Rick Riordan (42,877 votes)

--Fortunately, the Milk by Neil Gaiman

--Dork Diaries by Rachel Renee Russell

--The Land of Stories (The Enchantress Returns) by Chris Colfer

--Doll Bones by Holly Black

--The Runaway King by Jennifer A. Nielsen

--The Sun Trail (Warriors: Dawn of the Clans) by Erin Hunter

--Fyre (Septimus Heap) by Angie Sage

--Counting by 7s by Holly Goldberg Sloan

--Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library by Chris Grabenstein

--Navigating Early by Clare Vanderpool

--Chasing the Prophecy (Beyonders) by Brandon Mull

--Prisoner B-3087 by Alan Gratz

--Trust No One (The 39 Clues: Cahills vs. Vespers) by Linda Sue Park

--The Screaming Staircase (Lockwood & Co.) by Jonathan Stroud

--The School of Good and Evil by Soman Chainani

--The Girl Who Soared Over Fairyland and Cut the Moon in Two by Catherynne M. Valente

--The Royal Ranger (Ranger's Apprentice) by John Flanagan

--Loki's Wolves (The Blackwell Pages) by K.L. Armstrong and M.A Marr

--Rump: The true Story of Rumpelstiltskin by Liesl Shurtliff

Best Picture Books (20)

--The Day the Crayons Quit by Drew Daywalt, Oliver Jeffers (9,087 votes)

--The Dark by Lemony Snicket, Jon Kassen

--Chus's Day by Neil Gaiman, Adam Rex

--A Little Book of Sloth by Lucy Cooke

--Journey by Aaron Becker

--Unicorn Thinks He's Pretty Great by Bob Shea

--My Brother's Book by Maurice Sendak

--Count the Monkeys by Mac Barnett, Kevin Cornell

--Flora and the Flamingo by Molly Idle

--That Is Not a Good Idea! by Mo Willems

--The Matchbook Diary by Paula Fleischman, Bagram Ibatoulline

--Mr. Tiger Goes Wild by Peter Brown

--Exclamation Mark by Amy Krouse Rosenthal, Tom Lichtenheld

--Open This Little Book by Jesse Kausmeier, Suzy Lee

--On a Beam of Light: A Story of Albert Einstein by Jennifer Berne, Vladimir Radunsky

--Mr. Wuffles! by David Wiesner

--Mustache Baby by Bridget Heos, Joy Ang

--Deck the Walls! A Wacky Christmas Carol by Erin Dealey, Nick Ward

--If You Want to See a Whale by Julie Fogliano, Erin E. Stead

--Sophie's Squash by Pat Zietlow Miller, Anne Wilsdorf