Lillian's Right To Vote - picture book review

      I don't re-run many picture book posts, but this post first appeared on August 5, 2015 while Perfect Picture Book Friday was on hiatus. Because reviews are starting on Sept. 11, Patriot Day, I think this book is a great one to feature and make sure it's on everyone's Perfect Picture Book list!

     Every American should be having a big celebration tomorrow. You probably don't have this marked on your calendar. Go ahead and check. I'll wait . . .
     August 6, 2015 is the fifty-year anniversary of the Voting Rights Act. This Act, signed into law by President Lyndon Johnson, prohibits racial discrimination in voting. And every American should be proud of this historic piece of legislation. Proud because this Act is evidence of the strength of our democratic process. Evidence that EVERY American has a voice. Evidence that when our laws aren't perfect (the 15th Amendment to the Constitution passed in 1870 was intended to solve racial voting discrimination)  we improve them. Our country is constantly evolving.
     So what does this have to do with children's books?
     Voting laws don't sound like exciting plot material?
     Read this book.

Title: Lillian's Right to Vote

Author: Jonah Winter
Illustrator: Shane W. Evans
Publisher: Schwartz & Wade, 2015
Intended Age: 5-9
Themes: Civil Rights, Voting, Diversity
First Lines:  "A very old woman stands at the bottom of a very steep hill. It's Voting Day, she's an American, and by God, she is going to vote. Lillian is her name."
Synopsis: A 100-year old African-American woman recalls her ancestors' stories of discrimination and famous Civil Rights moments as she climbs a hill on her way to cast her vote.

Why I like this book: I am a big humongous fan of Jonah Winter and Shane W. Evans work. When I reviewed Shane's book We March I used the word "powerful." And that's what I felt here. The steep hill Lillian climbs is literal, and metaphorical. The reader sees it and feels it and midway through the book I found myself huffing and puffing with imagined exertion, willing Lillian up the climb. The author and illustrator don't shy away from showing the horrible indignities that people suffered from slavery to Selma. Men. Women. Children. Treated as less than others. The muted sketchy-quality used to illustrate the generations past that accompany Lillian feel like present day ghostly figures reminding us not to forget. The illustrator has put Lillian in a vibrant Sunday-best coat and hat with matching high heel shoes, emphasizing the dignity and importance of her personal moment. An unforgettable book. It may be targeted for young readers but I say it is for all ages.
A master class for illustrators, my favorite spread uses the gutter to show Lillian's voting history.

During the 2008 election, I remember reading the story of the real woman, a fellow Pennsylvanian, who inspired the book. In research for this post I was sad to see that Lillian Griffin Allen passed away earlier this year at the age of 107. I hope advance reader copies were passed out in heaven.
Note to parents: the book contains one nude male figure  (the second spread) seen from the back. This slave figure in bondage is the focal point of the illustration. It is not gratuitous. The image, standing next to his wife (wearing a skirt made of burlap-gorgeous mixed-media texture) is concise and powerful.
Resources/Activities:

• Surfnetkids recommends five websites relating to the Voting Rights Act for parents and children. 
• For older children (grades 7-12) -The National Archives - Center for Legislative Archives
• Take your children along with you to vote.
• Talk about democracy and why you vote. Have mock elections for everyday things - ex. vegetable to be served at dinner! Then talk about how it feels if everyone else in the family gets to vote except one person.
• Read all of Jonah Winter and Shane W. Evans books. Vote on favorites.

Note: I received a review copy from Random House in exchange for my honest review. No other compensation was received.  I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

 

This review is part of PPBF (perfect picture book Friday) where bloggers share great picture books at Susanna Leonard Hill's site. Along with tons of writing wisdom, she keeps an ever-growing list of Perfect Picture Books. #PPBF
Thanks for stopping by! Leave a comment to let me know what you think of my selections!

BETSY'S DAY at the GAME

Baseball season is in full swing! (pun intended!) and here's a book you may have missed.

Title: BETSY'S DAY at the GAME
Author: Greg Bancroft







Illustrator: Katherine Blackmore
Publisher: Scarletta Kids, 2013
Intended Age: 6-10
Themes: Baseball, Grandparents
Opening Line: "Elisabeth, Grandpa's here," Betsy's mom called out."

Synopsis: Betsy goes to the ballpark with her grandfather and shows him her score-keeping skills.
What I like about this book: During my senior year in high school I was scorekeeper for the boy's varsity baseball team, so right away I liked the idea of a story with a female scorekeeper for a male sport. And I enjoyed the way the story weaves the idea of family tradition in with baseball. Betsy even gets to show off her own fielding skills with a foul ball into the stands. Unlike faster paced sports, baseball is easy for younger family members to understand, perfect for inter-generational sharing. Note: the book is text dense, almost a chapter book in picture book clothing, thus the intended age group. Some pages don't have illustrations. Score-keeping is explained in the story and the last four pages repeat the explanations and include blank scoring pages.

Resources:

• Most obvious? Score a game! There are plenty of games on television, so you don't have the expense of tickets or the risk of short attention spans for kids who don't connect with the activity. You can photocopy the scorecards from the book or get them here from the publisher.
• Talk about why people fill out scorecards in baseball. Do the individual statistics matter? To whom? Does it make watching a game more or less fun? Visit the MLB statistics page.
• A ten-page curriculum guide (baseball shapes, ideas and more!) is available on the publisher's page.
• Watch the classic "Who's on First" comedy sketch by Abbott and Costello on Youtube. 
• Compare this book to other picture books about baseball. Goodreads has a list here, but it isn't a comprehensive one--one of my favorites is David A. Kelly's MAGIC MUD (illustrated by Oliver Dominguez, Millbrook Press, 2013). Ask your readers to list them from favorite to least favorite and talk about what they liked and didn't like.
• Attend a baseball game. Little league, major league or anything in between. How does your visit compare with Betsy's?

Note: I received a review copy from Mighty Media Press. No other compensation was received.  I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
Thanks for stopping by! :)

A Curious Mind - The Secret to a Bigger Life

     I am guilty of failure to post a Perfect Picture Book Friday post two weeks in a row!
     Not because I haven't read some great ones, in fact I am taking Susanna Leonard Hill's fabulous Picture Book Magic class and reading tons. Unfortunately, the writing has been homework, not picture book recommendations.
     C'mon, you're probably saying. You couldn't fit in ONE recommendation?
     Okay.
     In addition to reading boatloads of picture books, I read an adult title that has to get a shout-out first. A book that smacks you up-side-the-head with the power of possibility. This recommendation can't wait.

jacket image by Jeff Koons

Title: A Curious Mind - The Secret to a Bigger Life  
Authors: Brian Grazer and Charles Fishman
Publisher: Simon & Schuster, 2015
ADULT NF
Theme/Subject: Curiosity
Publisher's summary: "From Academy Award-nominated produced Brian Grazer and acclaimed business journalist Charles Fishman comes a brilliantly entertaining peek into the weekly "curiosity conversations" that have inspired Grazer to create some of America's favorite and iconic movies and television shows--from 24 to A Beautiful Mind."

What I liked about this book: I'm not a movie buff. I don't watch a lot of television. So yes, I have a seen A Beautiful Mind, but I've never watched 24. So why would I want to read, and recommend, a book written by a movie producer?
     It isn't really about movies, television, or even Hollywood. It's about the benefits and process of being curious. My interest was piqued when I read that. But as a busy person, what made me go that step further? I didn't recognize the name Brian Grazer or Charles Fishman. Why would I want to spend my evenings reading something they wrote?
     I read in a promo that Brian Grazer had interviewed science fiction writer Isaac Asimov and medical researcher and polio vaccine creator Jonas Salk. As a writer and someone with a MS in Microbiology, my inner geek screamed "I have to read this one!" And Malcolm Gladwell blurbed it on the back cover. Ooh, I'm a Gladwell fan.
     I plunged in.
    And I wasn't disappointed. I couldn't put it down. As a creative person, the reminder that our creativity comes from everywhere around us, and that we can take an active role in pursuing it is a great one. Its use may not be immediately obvious but ever interaction is growth. Brian uses his life experiences in Hollywood to illustrate concepts that apply to everyone, everywhere. You don't need to be interested in Hollywood. You don't need to be a writer. You don't need to know anything about microbiologists past or present. It's just a great read. Engaging. Inspiring. Energizing.
     And now I do know a little about what a Hollywood producer does. At least more than the zero I knew before. Bonus.
Go. Read. This. Book. Tell me what you think.

Note: I received an advance copy of this book from Simon & Schuster through Shelf Awareness. No other compensation was received.  No review was required. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Eastern PA #SCBWI workshop March 7, 2015

     I often blog about writing workshops I’ve attended.

     This time I’m looking forward -- to March 7^th.

     I belong to a local critique group with other eastern-PA SCBWI members, and when our RA’s sent out a call for people to host “intimate” workshops (smaller than the 75-150 that show up for the big conferences) we answered. 

     On March 7^th you are invited to "Spring into Writing!"

     From 9AM-12:30 at the historic Moland House in Hartsville, PA you can ask ANY question about kidlit to prolific local authors Debbie Dadey and Kay Winters, and agent Marie Lamba. There will be a first page session (get those pages in by Feb 22!), a presentation about what to do and not do, and open informal question time.

     Oh, and you’ll get to talk to me AND have a snack.

     I hope to meet you there! (may the weather be in our favor)

     For more information: ‪ check the SCBWI calendar of events for March 7 or just click here.https://epa.scbwi.org/events/spring-into-writing/.