People Who Made A Difference

art by Sarah S. Brannen

          Visit Alyson Beecher on Wednesdays for Non-Fiction Picture Books at Kidlit Frenzy.  From her and others, you will discover and want to celebrate terrific nonfiction picture books!
           I can't argue with the Sibert Award winners because I haven't read any, sad to admit, and have only heard of one. You can find all the winners here in case you missed them. Congratulations to all the winners!

Also, Cybil's Awards will be announced today. I had a wonderful time discussing the finalists in the poetry category. Congratulations to them, too. 

And, Happy Valentine's Day!

       This book infuses some of the challenges faced by African Americans, especially women, during and after World War II, focusing on four black women who were very smart in math and wanted to help their country in ways they were so capable of doing. It begins with the work on airplanes during the war and continues through beginning computer work through the forming of NASA and the trip to the moon.  In Shetterly and Conkling’s text, the reader is introduced to the reasons these figures were hidden through giving some details of U.S. history of segregation and the Civil Rights movement. Freeman’s illustrations are boldly colored, like the cover. It's great to see a picture book story made for younger readers from the original book. There is enough information given to satisfy parts of this history and to spark interest in discovering more. Added information at the end includes a timeline of pertinent events, short biographies of each woman, a glossary, and an author's note.

             As Andrew Carnegie gained power, he acquired a greedy reputation because of his fight against the workers at his steel mills. However, this book focuses on his story growing up in a poor family, finally giving up and migrating to American. There as a fourteen-year-old, Andrew had to work to help his family, began as a bobbin boy in a cotton mill, twelve hours a day, small breaks for lunch and dinner. Wow! Slowly, he moved into more important jobs, and through hard work, he became one of the richest men in America. His story is briefly told, with emphasis on his first opportunity to spend time reading from a rich man's library. He remembered that, and later, as a wealthy man, began to spend his millions building libraries, the first in his birthplace, that small village in Scotland. Illustrations done by Katty Maurey are made in muted tones of few colors, interesting to see. Andrew Larsen has added additional information about Carnegie's legacy.