NF Picture Books - Those Who Fought the Norms

Visit Alyson Beecher on Wednesdays for Non-Fiction Picture Books at Kidlit Frenzy.  Thanks to her hosting and sharing and those who add their posts, you can discover and celebrate terrific nonfiction picture books!  I always learn from these books, am happy that they are more and more available today for children, for everyone!

       Since I live and taught in the Rockies, I've read and had students read her book A Lady's Life In The Rocky Mountains, highlighting her climb up Long's Peak, today still a favorite and challenging climb and today, with real paths, not close to the harrowing experience Isabella had. She was born with an illness noone could fix, but taking to the air on horseback with her father helped. That's when Isabella began to learn of the wider world, the adventures that awaited her. Back and forth she went during this Victorian age, feeling society's pressure to stay home to learn ladies' arts, stay home to take care of family. But each time she did relent and become a "lady", her illness and pains returned. At last, in her late thirties, she took charge of her life and began the travels that made her whole. Lori Mortensen has included so many, many of Isabella's adventures, the physical challenges that made her stronger, even the scary ones when she was attacked as a "foreign devil" or falling off a cliff, thank goodness into a snow bank! Illustrations by Kristy Caldwell reflect the ups and downs of Isabella's life, showing darkened hues when Isabella was home, reclining, taking up womanly expectations, and brighter tones as Isabella traveled, dining with a friend's two pet apes, riding "spider-legged horses", muddy mules, and belligerent camels. She wrote nine books, did good works and established several orphanages and missionary hospitals, learned photography as it became available and then carried that heavy equipment with her. What an amazing woman!

              There is an author's note with further information, a timeline, source notes of quotes used, and a bibliography.

             A biography of Tantoh Nforba, a man who has improved many lives in Cameroon by helping communities access clean water starts with his fascination as a young boy in growing things. He takes a few onions from his grandmother, cannot understand why they won't grow, but shrivel and die. Taken as his first lesson in gardening, this very young boy has grown up to follow his passion, meandering through some education, then more, then a long bout with typhoid fever, then to the U.S. where the learning about catchment areas to store clean water is another piece of the puzzle he needs.   He was pressured to get better grades early in order to obtain a better-paying job, NOT farming. Yet, Nforba, The Farmer, stayed with his passion, has made a huge difference in the lives of the people in his country. Zunon's colorful pages manage to show both the drought that happens in this land, but the lush countryside when water is available. 

             There is an author's note, a glossary, a map, photos of Tantoh Nforba, and several proverbs that are also sprinkled throughout the text. One is "When you don't have what you want, use what you have." The text follows with "While he doesn't have much, he does have people." Much was accomplished when they all worked together! It's an inspiring story.