Freedom Over Me: Eleven Slaves, Their Lives and Dreams Brought to Life, by Ashley Bryan -- Day 38

In Freedom Over Me: Eleven Slaves, Their Lives and Dreams Brought to Life, Ashley Bryan imagines the realities, hopes and passion in the hearts of eleven individuals whose worth was measured only in dollars and labor by their plantation owner. Bryan drew inspiration for his moving narrative poems and vibrant artwork from actual documents of a slave owner’s estate in 1828. Each person’s role on the plantation is described and then, in a parallel profile, each individual establishes his or her preferred name, most valuable skills and the “precious secret” each holds inside – a dream of freedom. In January 2017 Bryan received the Newbery Honor award and the Coretta Scott King Author and Illustrator awards for this powerful book. In numerous books for young people throughout his distinguished career, poet and artist Ashley Bryan has conveyed the richness of African American culture. Ages 7-12.

The Tree Lady, by H. Joseph Hopkins, illustrated by Jill McElmurry -- Day 37

Katherine Olivia Sessions grew up among the redwoods of northern California and simply loved trees. In 1881, she became the first woman to graduate from the University of California with a degree in science. She headed south to San Diego to teach, but, dismayed by the area's lack of trees, she left teaching to establish a nursery, identifying species of trees that might thrive in this dry desert climate and terrain. Kate sought seeds from horticulturists far and wide, taking care that plantings be well suited for the conditions, and by the turn of the century her energy and commitment had transformed San Diego’s City Park into a verdant oasis. When Balboa Park was chosen to be the site of the Panama-California Exposition in 1915, Kate wanted thousands more trees – oaks, eucalypti, palms – to be planted. Through the efforts of countless volunteers and widespread support, the gardens of the exposition became truly spectacular, the fair stayed open an extra year, and Kate’s efforts established an enduring green legacy for the city. Author H. Joseph Hopkins’s picture book biography The Tree Lady is delightful for reading aloud, particularly with the repeating refrain “…and Kate did” as she met challenge after challenge. Jill McElmurry’s generous, joyful illustrations show just the right amount of detail, including identified tree varieties, and artfully support the story of a remarkable woman’s passion and accomplishments.  Ages 5-10.

Hidden Figures: Young Readers' Edition, by Margot Lee Shetterly -- Day 36

Margot Lee Shetterly’s Hidden Figures: Young Readers’ Edition explores some of the history of women in computing and events within the nascent National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), but most dramatically and importantly the historic role of black women at the Langley Memorial Aeronautical Laboratory’s West Campus. It tells the true story of four pioneering “computers” (humans who used calculating machines) who by their wits, will and sheer mathematical skill, made their mark on a world that excluded African Americans, and certainly women, from many roles. Dorothy Vaughan, Mary Jackson, Katherine Johnson and Christine Darden, early on, were pleased to be hired as computers because “for ambitious young women with mathematical minds, there wasn’t a better job in the world.” Their paths were rough, however, as they faced discrimination at every turn; they knew they had to prove themselves doubly well. Against the backdrop of the growing civil rights movement, these women showed extraordinary determination as they advanced in their professions and made game-changing contributions in the international space race dominating the public’s attention. Ages 8-12.