This is a story about a boy with autism, as told by his family in a scrapbook style. I didn't care for this book very much despite the time and care pThis is a story about a boy with autism, as told by his family in a scrapbook style. I didn't care for this book very much despite the time and care put into creating it, simply because it makes some real strong generalizations. As someone with autism, I feel I can safely say I don't experience autism in the same way as their son (in some ways, yes. In others no) which is why this kind of language bothers me.
What was worse though, as this book takes a lot of time to explain how someone with autism is 'different' from those around them. This feels 'othering' to me, which can be dangerous as it teaches kids to look at those who are different as having something 'wrong' with them.
It's a shame, really, because I really wanted to like this book....more
That we needed a child CRAWLING to the top of the stairs at the U. S. Capitol in WashingtonThis book.
I have a lot of strong emotions about this book.
That we needed a child CRAWLING to the top of the stairs at the U. S. Capitol in Washington D. C. to get things done makes me sick. Just that. Why did legislators need to be pushed THIS hard to do the right thing?
That said, this little girl was raised by some great parents, who supported her as she fought to make the world a better place. Jennifer is a girl every kid should read about. And seeing as how the author of this book did a great job on sharing this story, this should be the book to teach them.
I'm still mad though.
I've spent time in a wheelchair when I had a leg injury a few years back. My husband spent most of a year in a wheelchair after losing his leg, and still needs a cane to get around. We are both really, really aware of why these changes needed to be made. We still struggle to get where we want to go sometimes. We'll be traveling soon and some of those accommodations will not have an elevator or lift, so yes, it will be difficult. I'm happy to know that people are working hard to make places more accessible. I wish we could say this is a fight which is over and done with.
If you want to understand more about this issue, start with this book. It's a good introduction to the topic, and is really eye-opening on many levels. I'm glad I read it even if I got a little angry. You will be too....more
The Everglades is such a neat place. It's a real pleasure finding a book which focuses on how important this portion of the United States is. Even morThe Everglades is such a neat place. It's a real pleasure finding a book which focuses on how important this portion of the United States is. Even more important is finding out what's been done to preserve the Everglades, and what needs to be done going forward.
The story focuses on Marjory Stoneman Douglas who is a quite notable figure in the story of the preservation of the Everglades. Learning more about how she came to Florida or what her life's work looked like is incredibly intersesting. I learned a lot of new things, and appreciated how the artwork only enchanced the story.
What I was bothered by was how other people who worked to save the Everglades are pretty much ignored. What about Coe? What about all the people who have been working on this problem for the last hundred years? Where are the Seminole in all of this?
The problem with this book is that it makes it sound so much like one woman stepped up and single-handedly did all the work of saving the Everglades from destruction. The role of others is downplayed to an almost disturbing extent. I hate giving this book 3 stars because I really enjoyed reading it, but my training is in history and the way this story is presented makes me hesitate to recommend this book....more
A look at the life of Queen Elizabeth through the pets she had. I love how much her corgis meant to her, and really enjoyed learning about how her dogA look at the life of Queen Elizabeth through the pets she had. I love how much her corgis meant to her, and really enjoyed learning about how her dogs played such an integral part of her life. Susan sounds like she was an amazing dog. This was a fun way to learn more about Queen Elizabeth. Great book!...more
I really wanted to know more about the life of Steven Spielberg after watching "The Fabelmans" so I picked up this book when I saw it at the library. I really wanted to know more about the life of Steven Spielberg after watching "The Fabelmans" so I picked up this book when I saw it at the library.
It's interesting to see how much Spielberg uses his life in his movies. The fact that he draws so heavily on his own experiences makes me really want to look a little more closely at the stories I choose to tell as a writer. what I wished for though, was this to be told in more of a story format. I felt like I was being given a lot of facts and trivia when I wanted to know where the story of Steven was. So, as a biography, it was kind of 'meh.' As a book full of facts about Spielberg though, I did enjoy reading it, so I'm giving it 4 stars....more
This is one of those difficult stories which makes you want to cry when you realize what it's about. Yaff Eliach is a girl whose family takes portraitThis is one of those difficult stories which makes you want to cry when you realize what it's about. Yaff Eliach is a girl whose family takes portraits of those in their town. But when the Nazi's come and round up all the Jews, they manage to escape - while the rest of the Jews in their town are killed. Over 3500 in all.
Yaffa begins a project later as an adult to find all the pictures of those who died, so they can be remembered.
Sad and poignant, my heart broke over this story. At the same time I was fascinated by the this tale and am so glad for people like Yaffa who worked so hard to make sure no one ever forgets. Beautiful book....more
What a beautiful look back at the place which formed the author. Seeing her world through her eyes is a beautiful and magical thing. Truly. Yes, this What a beautiful look back at the place which formed the author. Seeing her world through her eyes is a beautiful and magical thing. Truly. Yes, this story is tinged with sadness, but it gently leads the reader through grief to hope and even joy. This is so deeply resonant, I am glad I read this story....more
I have been a longtime fan of figure skating, starting with when I first learned to skate in third grade. So when I saw this book at the library I hadI have been a longtime fan of figure skating, starting with when I first learned to skate in third grade. So when I saw this book at the library I had to pick it up.
In this story we see a boy who figure skates who has a big competition coming up. He gets nervous about it and as a result starts having trouble with his skating. His mother's wise advice helps him to remember why he skates in the first place.
What I love most about this story is how the author really understands what this feels like. As a professional figure skater, Nathan Chen faced this exact same situation and came to triumph over his feelings of self-doubt and fear. What an inspiring story! One worth hunting down. :)...more
The idea of wearing styles which flatter your body is something not everyone understood. Doing so at an affordable price for the consumer is especiallThe idea of wearing styles which flatter your body is something not everyone understood. Doing so at an affordable price for the consumer is especially rare. Thankfully Lane Bryant did just this, creating a fashion empire based on the idea that everyone has a right to wear comfortable clothes.
As with more picture book style biographies, there isn't a lot of detail about Lane Bryant (except her name is a mispellimg?) but which offers enough to whet the appetite. Maybe this is the right approach with this book, as we don't really know how much more there was to the real story. What I did like though was the illustrations which were beautiful and spot on. This was a fun book to read, but nothing to necessarily go out of your way to track down....more
I love this story of how a little girl follows around a poet (a real one - as this book is based on Mary Oliver) and learns how to really savor the woI love this story of how a little girl follows around a poet (a real one - as this book is based on Mary Oliver) and learns how to really savor the world she's in. Poets know more about living in the moment and being aware of who and where they are, more than anyone I know. This book is beautiful in how it guides the reader to see the world in a new way, and to learn how to put words to it. Wonderful!
This is one of those books which make your heart hurt. It's such a beautiful story, told with tenderness leaving a bittersweet poignant feeling as youThis is one of those books which make your heart hurt. It's such a beautiful story, told with tenderness leaving a bittersweet poignant feeling as you finish. The art is incredible, using a technique which speaks of the meaning of this story to the author. Based on the author's own life we learn about how hard it can be sometimes to be different from those around us. Learning about shame is not an easy lesson, nor is it one which can be ignored. But there's other lessons here about family, heritage, and making the best of a difficult situation.
I think this is one of my favorite books of the year. So worth picking up!...more
If you've ever wondered where Famous Amos cookies came from, here's your answer. :)
I'm going to call this book a biography but it's based a lot on thIf you've ever wondered where Famous Amos cookies came from, here's your answer. :)
I'm going to call this book a biography but it's based a lot on the author's life, so it's more a narrative nonfiction. We meet a boy whose father has a passion for baking cookies. What he does with that passion is something our hero doesn't always understand. He has other dreams than selling cookies. But as he helps his father to set up a cookie store he learns a lot about what it's like to dream, and what kinds of people will come to share in those dreams.
I think I liked best the trip back to the 1970s. This is a story which is interesting for both historical context and also for characters who live and breathe and just about jump off the page. The whole story was interesting to read and I'm glad I picked this book up.
Bonus content alert: Don't forget to try out the recipe at the end of the book!...more
You can't help but love Julia Child. I was so delighted to find this book at the library the other day. Told in an engaging way you get to learn all aYou can't help but love Julia Child. I was so delighted to find this book at the library the other day. Told in an engaging way you get to learn all about how Julia Child found her true calling. She really did have the most interesting life. I was enthralled with all the food pictures, and really loved seeing her relationship with Paul. Told so respectfully, you can't help but feel how much the author really cared about Julia because they put a lot of effort into telling the story 'right.'
Highly, highly recommended. This is one of my favorites and is on my list of books I'd like to own....more
A story about Tenzing Norgay and Edmund Hillary, the adventurers who reached the top of Mount Everest first.
While I liked the premise, telling the duA story about Tenzing Norgay and Edmund Hillary, the adventurers who reached the top of Mount Everest first.
While I liked the premise, telling the dual stories side by side, I wasn't particularly keen on the art and how they made it seem as though these two men were battling the mountain alone. While there's a long note at the end of the book detailing just how many people came with them on the expedition, I think you're shortchanging the reader by not sharing just how incredible it must have been to have a GROUP climbing like that, and how much support these men needed to accomplish their goals.
Still, I really appreciated Tenzing Norgay getting equal time so I'll give the book four stars instead of three just for that reason....more
This particular book takes the story of Anne Frank and looks at it from a slightly different point of view - from that of one of her friends who knew This particular book takes the story of Anne Frank and looks at it from a slightly different point of view - from that of one of her friends who knew her before she went into hiding. This is a somewhat different view of Anne, where we see her as a thoughtless child sometimes, not always very good at being a friend, but extremely passionate in all she said and did. This gives another dimension to Anne, helping us to see her as a human being and not some perfect girl or victim as she's often portrayed.
I enjoyed seeing what happened from another point of view, even if the story was simplified to make it appropriate for children. It at least gave me a flavor of something new, helping to enrich my understanding. This alone makes the book worthwhile and one I'm glad I read....more
The story of Malala told in a very simplistic form, that I think will still be a little bit disturbing for the picture book crowd so be warned.
Malala The story of Malala told in a very simplistic form, that I think will still be a little bit disturbing for the picture book crowd so be warned.
Malala is an important story to tell though. I wish the biography at the end in the author's notes might have had something more to say than to just reiterate the text from the book itself. There's just so much more to the story, and those notes should add to the story and not just repeat it.
Overall this is a good introduction to the topic, told in a way that's easy to understand. For that I would recommend it, alongside some discussion about the things that Malala stands for....more
A series of short biographies about amazing black women through history and their accomplishments. I really enjoyed reading these stories as I learnedA series of short biographies about amazing black women through history and their accomplishments. I really enjoyed reading these stories as I learned a lot. While there were many names I knew, there were quite a few that I did not. Overall while there is a sameness to the pictures that maybe got a little old, the stories themselves is what made the book. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this one!...more
I've put off writing this review as I wanted to include a copy of the cover of the book I read and since then have lost the book so here we are. The dI've put off writing this review as I wanted to include a copy of the cover of the book I read and since then have lost the book so here we are. The date is my best guess for when this was read. I'll see what I can remember about reading this book.
Jed Smith grew up with a yearning to go west. This biography told in very simple language follows the adventures of a man who eventually would become a fur trapper, a man who was one of the first cartographers in the early 1800s in the Rocky mountains. Think about that a moment.
What always impresses me about people from this era was how much courage it took to go into such unknown and wild territory. The people native to the area certainly weren't always friendly (the book is old so no, this isn't politically correct). Regardless of right or wrong of going out west, it took a lot of courage. Also, to be able to map something like the Rocky Mountains while on foot...who can do that? I couldn't map the ten acre forest I live in and get the clearings in the right spots.
Anyway, this was a fascinating little book, one I'm glad I read. I'll have to dig around and find other books in the same series....more
This is perhaps the most non-biographical kids' picture book biography that I've ever read. I really learned very little of substance about the authorThis is perhaps the most non-biographical kids' picture book biography that I've ever read. I really learned very little of substance about the author of several of my favorite books growing up. I'd really hoped to learn more about her than the fact that she had children that she wrote and drew for.
The illustrations were awesome. The style gets the feel across, making this suitable for younger children. The bit at the end helped to teach a little more, but still left me really wanting to know more. Overall, not a bad attempt, but not my favorite either....more
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