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(3)
4-6
Illustrated by
R. Gregory Christie.
Thirteen combined biographies showcase the different experiences of African Americans in the years surrounding the American Revolution. James Lafayette was a spy and double agent; Phillis Wheatley became a renowned poet; John Kizell worked post-war to end the slave trade in Sierra Leone. Each tale carefully highlights both the individual's unique story (soldier, slave, minister, trader, etc.) and unifying themes. Timelines, websites. Bib., ind.
(2)
K-3
Illustrated by
Alix Delinois.
Mumbet was a slave in Massachusetts during the Revolutionary War. Talk around her owners' table about freedom from England led Mumbet to a lawyer and then to her eventual freedom--and the freeing of all Massachusetts slaves. Woelfle brings Mumbet to life as a strong, smart person; using a vibrant acrylic palette, Delinois shows both humor and strength on her face. Reading list, websites. Bib.
Reviewer: Robin L. Smith
| Horn Book Magazine Issue:
May, 2014
40 pp.
| Boyds/Calkins
| March, 2012
|
TradeISBN 978-1-59078-822-6$16.95
(3)
4-6
Illustrated by
Alexandra Wallner.
This picture book biography details the life of a Patriot poet who kept her identity hidden until years after the Revolutionary War. The informative text drives home the message that expectations for women in the eighteenth century were low; excerpts of Warren's poems are challenging but manageable for an intermediate audience. The pale-toned gouache illustrations capture the New England parlor atmosphere.
161 pp.
| Holiday
| April, 2011
|
TradeISBN 978-0-8234-2281-4$16.95
(2)
4-6
Illustrated by
Thomas Cox.
Cutpurse-turned-carpenter Kit, striving to find his place in the world, works as a stage boy, messenger, and even bit player with the Lord Chamberlain's Men (the theater troupe home to Will Shakespeare et al.). His journey from lost boy to young man with a future is as satisfying as the detailed portrait of place and time in this accessible, you-are-there Elizabethan saga.
102 pp.
| Boyds/Calkins
| March, 2007
|
TradeISBN 978-1-59078-437-2$18.95
(4)
YA
This intriguing biography of the first woman elected to the U.S. Congress highlights her dedication to women's and children's rights, social equality, and peaceful conflict resolution. Although occasional unevenness in sentence structure detracts from the narrative at times, the text demonstrates Rankin's tenacity in striving to promote positive change. Timeline. Bib., ind.
32 pp.
| NorthWord
| April, 2005
|
TradeISBN 1-55971-901-X$15.95
(4)
K-3
Illustrated by
Robert Hynes.
Divided into three thematic sections--animal parents, animal families, and animal communities--this informative book describes how groups of animals work together to survive. The number of different animals described makes for varied, yet somewhat scattered reading. The text is accompanied by realistic illustrations.
32 pp.
| Candlewick
| September, 2001
|
TradeISBN 0-7636-1347-9$$15.99
(3)
K-3
Illustrated by
Nicola Bayley.
Katje the cat's life is disrupted when her master marries. Her mistress shoos her out of the house and away from the cradle, which soon holds a brand-new baby. But when Katje saves the child during a flood, she regains her status in the household. Inspired by a true event in Holland in 1421, the text is accompanied by small illustrations that focus in tightly on the action but also help develop the characters.