It took a great many people to bring
into being our Statue of Liberty, which stands so majestically in New York
harbor. In Lady Liberty: A Biography, author Doreen Rappaport describes
the statue’s creation from numerous perspectives – among them that of Édouard Laboulaye, who in 1865 conceived it as a gift from France to
celebrate America’s century of independence; sculptor Auguste Bartholdi;
engineer Gustav Eiffel; poet Emma Lazarus; and advocate Joseph Pulitzer, who
inspired over a hundred thousand ordinary citizens to contribute small amounts
of money to complete the project. Matt Tavares adds his magnificent artwork to
Rappaport’s authentic chronicle of a monument whose lamp held aloft has
symbolized hope and freedom for generations of newcomers and citizens alike.
Ideal for ages 8-12 but able to be appreciated by younger and older readers
too.
Related activities and interviews may be found at: TeachingBooks.net
Young Kek is a Sudanese refugee, sent to
a new home in Minnesota after losing his father and brother to civil war and
getting separated from his mother. Arriving in the cold claw of winter, he
wonders if he will ever feel at home. He finds friendship in schoolmate Hannah
and in caring for a neighbor’s old cow, and, as hard as it is, he brings a
sweet humor and perspective to mistakes he makes in language and custom. In Home
of the Brave, a middle grade novel told in spare, lyrical prose, author
Katherine Applegate crafts a memorable portrait of a newcomer to America. Ages
9-14.
Related activities and interviews may be found at: TeachingBooks.net
Born in Scotland, John Muir came to
America with his family in 1849. He was eleven years old and brought with him
his passion for the natural world. In John Muir: America’s First
Environmentalist, author Kathryn Lasky follows the adventurer and
naturalist from Wisconsin to Florida to Alaska and California, immersing
readers in descriptions of the commitment to the wild beauty of our continent
that Muir experienced at the core of his being. Through his writings and his example,
Muir greatly influenced the establishment of Yosemite National Park, and in
1892 he founded the Sierra Club. Lasky quotes extensively from Muir’s writing;
with vivid illustrations by Stan Fellows, this picture book biography is a
fascinating introduction to a remarkable individual. Ages 8 to adult.
Related interviews and activities may be found at: TeachingBooks.net
