This Land Is Our Land: A History of American Immigration, by Linda Barrett Osborne -- Day 56

America has long been thought of as a land of opportunity by both those who live here and those who may wish to come. Most of us have a general perception of our country as welcoming others who seek freedom and a better life. But since colonial times and continuing to the present day, immigration has been a complex and ever-changing situation. Drawing on numerous original sources – including policy documents, publications of the times, personal stories, and archival photographs – author Linda Barrett Osborne presents a comprehensive, nuanced, highly informative yet very accessible history of immigration. She identifies sets of issues regarding our nation’s policies, practices, and public sentiment over three centuries. Indeed, at various points in the text, she poses explicit questions to readers for sharing and serious discussion. “Why do we sometimes invite immigration and sometimes fear it? How much does race play a part in whether we accept new immigrants? Does the legacy of our country’s origin as a group of English colonies still shape our attitudes?” We know that, except for native peoples who lived here before our continent was “discovered,” all our ancestors were immigrants. Immigrants sometimes came in waves activated by economic, religious, or social strife, or, simply, the prospect of a better life – Germans, Irish, English, Italians, Jews, Eastern Europeans, Asians, Latin Americans and more. Why, then, do new immigrants and refugees, with the same hopes and dreams as those coming before, often face discrimination or outright exclusion? While the issues are complicated and our ability to be generous is sometimes compromised, we cannot deny that immigrants have brought rich diversity and growth to our country that could not have been obtained otherwise. This Land Is Our Land: A History of American Immigration enables us to learn about our history and examine our attitudes, serving us well as we move forward. Ages 11 to adult.

I Dissent: Ruth Bader Ginsburg Makes Her Mark, by author Debbie Levy, illustrated by Elizabeth Baddeley -- Day 55

I Dissent: Ruth Bader Ginsburg Makes Her Mark by Debbie Levy, illustrated by Elizabeth Baddeley, is a dynamic, enjoyable introduction to a notable woman. When Ruth Bader was growing up, the expectations and opportunities for girls did not match those of boys. For a woman to study law, go into business, even to work at any profession outside the family were all-too-rare occurrences. Ruth was smart and determined, and from the outset she begged to differ when she felt there were injustices. When her teacher said left-handed students should write with their right hand, Ruth said “No.” She saw signs reading “No Jews” and “No Coloreds” and “No Mexicans,” and she knew this was prejudice – clearly unjust – and she thought “No.” Her mother had encouraged her to read about strong women and to speak out for herself; Ruth took her mother’s support to heart. She married a man who agreed that women were capable of just about anything they set their minds to, and she and Martin Ginsburg crafted a family life that supported their dreams. Yet, even after graduating at the top of her law school class, Ruth faced challenges because she was a woman (and a mother and Jewish). Ruth persisted, becoming a valued lawyer and law professor. She became well known for her ability to disagree when she saw injustice – to disagree in such a way that others came to understand she was right. In her first case before the Supreme Court, she advocated for equal treatment for women, but her sense of justice did not stop there. She became a valued judge, and now at the highest court in the land, Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg says clearly, “I dissent” when she feels people are being treated unfairly. She says: “Fight for the things that you care about. But do it in a way that will lead others to join you.” Wise words from a wise woman. Ages 5-10, plus anyone needing inspiration in working for social justice.    

On a Beam of Light: A Story of Albert Einstein, by Jennifer Berne, illustrated by Vladimir Radunsky -- Day 54

Albert Einstein said hardly a word when he was a very little boy. One day when his father showed him a compass, Albert was mesmerized. “Suddenly he knew there were mysteries in the world – hidden and silent, unknown and unseen.” When riding his bicycle he observed rays of sunlight coming toward him and wondered what it would be like actually to travel on that beam of light. He gained a reputation at school for being different; he didn’t talk very much and he thought in different ways from most children. These experiences marked the beginnings of Einstein’s relentless curiosity and mind-bending journey as a scientist – indeed, a true genius – who would transform our way of understanding the universe. On a Beam of Light: A Story of Albert Einstein by Jennifer Berne does a remarkable job of introducing Einstein’s way of thinking to young readers, and Vladimir Radunsky’s spare, textured watercolors bring light, energy, numbers, atoms and Einstein’s mind and persona into focus. Einstein asked new questions and found new answers, continuing to dream and write throughout his life. Berne reminds readers that many big questions still remain for scientists now, questions that might be answered by today’s young readers. Endnotes mention the way of imagining events in time and space that Einstein called his “thought experiments” as well as his views as a pacifist involved in harnessing atomic power. Readers can explore further resources to learn about Einstein’s decision to leave Germany in 1933, becoming an American citizen, and his work to ensure that other German Jewish scientists would gain safety outside of Germany. Ages 6-9.