Our Eleanor: A Scrapbook Look at Eleanor Roosevelt's Remarkable Life by Candace Fleming

Bibliographical citation:  Fleming, C. (2005). Our Eleanor: A Scrapbook Look at Eleanor Roosevelt's Remarkable Life. New York: Antheneum Books for Young Readers. 176 pages. ISBN: 9780689865442.

Awards: ALA Notable Children's Books (2006), Best Fiction for Young Adults (2006), SLJ Best Books for Children (2005). 

Author's website:  http://www.candacefleming.com/

Annotation: Loved by most and disliked by few, Eleanor Roosevelt was an extraordinary woman.  This scrapbook look at Eleanor's life shows how she worked tirelessly in all of the positions that she held-that of wife, mother, politician, activist, pacifist, and friend.

Personal Reaction: Growing up, Eleanor Roosevelt had no real mother figure or model for family life.  When she was only 2 1/2, her parents decided to tour Europe and left young Eleanor behind to stay with her father's aunt and uncle.  This separation had a enormous impact on Eleanor and deeply affected her relationship with her mother.  Although Eleanor's mother was distant, Eleanor developed a very close relationship with her father.  He doted on her and they spent a lot of time together.  Unfortunately, his excessive drinking and reckless behavior eventually broke up their family when  Eleanor's mother, Anna, decided to leave her husband and this upset Eleanor greatly.  When Eleanor was only 8, her mother contracted diphtheria and died within a few days.  Since Elliott Roosevelt was an alcoholic, Anna had deemed him unfit to raise their children and had specified that the children were to go and live with her mother, Mary Hall.  The children's new guardian was a harsh and unpleasant woman.  Elliott's behavior continued to be erratic because of his alcoholism, so his visits to his children and his contact with them was erratic and disappointing.  Only a few years after the death of his wife, Elliott Roosevelt killed himself while in a drunken stupor. 

It wasn't until she went away to boarding school and came under the influence of headmaster Mlle Marie Souvestre that Eleanor came into her own.  This influence gave Eleanor the confidence to be more adventurous in life and less reserved.  It is this time period, I believe, that leads to the woman that Eleanor later becomes.  When Eleanor married Franklin D. Roosevelt, she was in love with him.   That relationship later changed as she became more politically active and was essentially the voice and representative of the President, visiting places and meeting people that he could not because of the effects polio had on his physical condition.  Eleanor also had to endure a dominating mother in law who worked to undermine her in every way possible for 36 years.  Although Eleanor and Franklin cared for each other deeply, their marriage became more of a companionship than a love affair.  Franklin's sexual relationships outside of their marriage also did some damage.  Eleanor struggled with her role as mother and she had some trouble with raising her own children.  This is not surprising, considering her lack of emotional attachment to her mother as well the fact that her childhood did not take place in a loving, nurturing environment.

Eleanor Roosevelt was a real person who was compassionate, caring, and who spoke on behalf of those who were in need.  She had great influence over her husband when he was President and used her position as the First Lady to make changes for people everywhere.  She was determined to make positive changes and was always able to make connections with the common person.  Eleanor championed for women's rights, and worked hard against racial discrimination.  Eleanor was down to earth, saw everyone as equals, was a friend to all, and was well respected and loved by almost everyone who knew her.  She worked tirelessly to offer support to those who needed it, regardless of their racial background.  Eleanor assumed many roles during her lifetime-that of wife, mother, politician, activist, pacifist, and friend.  She had so much energy and spent so much time doing for others, but inside she was quite lonely.  In this narrative, I think that Candace Fleming not only gives readers a genuine look at the real Eleanor and all that she stood for and accomplished, but also the Eleanor that was so giving of herself and of her time because of the emptiness that she felt inside.  Her strength and determination to make the world a better place are what made her a trusted friend to the people, and are what still make her so well respected and loved almost 50 years after her death.

Front/Back Matter: Acknowledgements, Table of Contents, A Personal Note, Eleanor's Days, An Abridged Roosevelt Family Tree, More About Eleanor, Picture Credits, Source Notes, Index.

*Bibliographical citation information, award information, as well as image retrieved from www.bwibooks.com (Titletales).

Kakapo Rescue: Saving the World's Strangest Parrot by Sy Montgomery

Bibliographical citation:  Montgomery, S.; with photographs by Nic Bishop. (2010). Kakapo Rescue: Saving the World's Strangest Parrot. Boston:  Houghton Mifflin Books for Children. 74 pages. ISBN: 9780618494170.

Awards: ALA Notable Children's Books (2011), Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Medal (2011).

Author's website:  http://symontgomery.com/, http://nicbishop.com/

Annotation:  This book document the history and current crisis of a New Zealand bird on the verge of extinction, the Kakapo Parrot.  Text and beautiful photographs illustrate the efforts of the Kakapo Rescue Team to saving this beautiful and unique bird.

Personal Reaction: After reading this book, I have to say that the title is completely appropriate. Once again, the Scientists in the Field series has knocked me over with its excellence.  I learned so much about this very unique and definitely strange parrot that lives on an island off the coast of New Zealand. Upon looking at the cover, I had an idea in my mind that this bird was a small one, about the size of a parakeet, especially since it kind of looks like one.  Once I began reading, however, I realized that I couldn't be farther off the mark.  This story of the history of the Kakapo and its danger of current extinction is both sad and hopeful.  Montgomery shares the history leading up to its almost extinction which has been caused by people eating the Kakapo, as well as people bringing new predators into the Kakapo's environment.  Since these birds walk and cannot fly, they easily became prey to such animals not native to their home that came along from ships that carried people to the Kakapo's islands, such as rats, cats, and other such dangers.  Kakapo's also do not reproduce on any regular basis, making it difficult for their numbers to increase.  Montgomery also documents the previous unsuccessful attempts by Richard Henry at saving this bird.

The Kakapo rescue group volunteers are certainly dedicated individuals who are working hard to ensure survival of this species.  I could just imagine the women mentioned in the story huddling in their tents in the middle of the night waiting for Lisa to leave her nest so that they could weigh and check in on her chick.  Imagine their disappointment when, several days later, the chick doesn't survive.   Since the author followed individual parrots and gave readers each parrot's history and current situation, the narrative enabled me to really feel connected with the story.  I would believe that this would also engage readers of the book's targeted age group.  The photographs that accompany this text are excellent in showing the habitat, eating and mating habits of this special bird, as well as the devotion and commitment of the Kakapo rescue group.  I was glad to learn about this beautiful and unique bird.  I hope that this group is able to increase their number, since at the time this book was printed, there were currently only 91 Kakapo's on earth.  The author provides a website at the back of the book which enables readers to get an update on the Kakapo.  The website is www.kakaporecovery.org.nz.  The last update is from March 5, 2012, which states that as of that date, there are currently 126 Kakapo on earth.  This number has increased since the publishing of this book, however, it is a constant battle against extinction.

Front/Back Matter: Basic map of New Zealand/Islands (Location of study), Help Save the Kakapo, Acknowledgements, Selected Bibliography, Index.

*Bibliographical citation information, award information, as well as image retrieved from www.bwibooks.com (Titletales).

The Great and Only Barnum: The Tremendous, Stupendous Life of Showman P.T. Barnum by Candace Fleming

 

Bibliographical citation:  Fleming, C. (2009). The Great and Only Barnum: The Tremendous, Stupendous Life of Showman P.T. Barnum. New York: Schwartz & Wade Books. 151 pages. ISBN: 9780375841972.

Awards: ALA Notable Children's Books (2010), Best Fiction for Young Adults (2010), YALSA Award for Excellence in Nonfiction for Young Adults (2010).

Author's website: http://www.candacefleming.com/

Annotation: This is the story of Phineas Taylor Barnum's childhood, family, marriage, and how he started out on the road of fame and success.  Always a showman, readers can experience Barnum's roller coaster journey through life with all its ups and downs.

Personal Reaction: Growing up in Connecticut as a young boy, Phineas Taylor Barnum (named after his grandfather) was aware that his grandfather, called Uncle Phin by everyone, was known for his outlandish jokes and pranks.  Nobody was safe from his pranks, not even P.T. Barnum, who was known as "Tale" back then.   Born into a large family who struggled a bit financially, Tale was taught early the lessons of hard work and saving his pennies.  He was also taught, thanks to his grandfather's pranks,  how to be a prankster himself.  Tale was naturally good at enterprising and finding ways to make money.  He could add up large numbers in his head without delay despite his erratic education.  Since his father frequently needed Tale to help him on the farm, he wasn't always in school.  However, during those times, he was considered well off with the education that he did receive.  When his father became ill and died rather suddenly, Tale was only fifteen and found himself having to work hard to pay his father's debts and make sure that his mother and many siblings were well fed and dressed.  Not fond of physical labor, Tale took a job in his Uncle's store in order to support his family.  It is here that he learned of ways to earn extra money.  Tale always had creative ways of generating income, such as lotteries and prize drawings. 

Married at the age of 19, Taylor became a father a few years later.  It was then that he decided to move his family to someplace exciting and stimulating-New York City.  Taylor always had excess energy, and when he arrived in New York, he put that energy to work and started calling himself Barnum.  Always intrigued by the mysterious and unusual, it is in New York that Barnum became involved in exhibitions, realizing that people enjoyed harmless hoaxes and it could make him money.  This small seed blossomed into the American Museum, a place where Barnum could exhibit all sorts of interesting animals, fossils, people and many other rare sights for tourists to experience. Barnum became a rich and powerful man overnight.  Never wanting to wait for anything, he would get an idea and run with it, whether it was rebuilding the museum after a fire, or building a mansion for his family.  The circus was his next venture, and although many saw Barnum as a "deceiver," he worked hard to make sure that his exhibits and shows were places that were morally decent and appropriate for families.  Barnum also showed concern for his animals and did his best to make sure that they were well attended and cared for.  These are the reasons that people flocked to all of his exhibitions. 

Barnum was a mover and a shaker and did not let any dust gather under his feet.  He spent time traveling all over Europe to find new acts and animals for his projects and it was during this time that his wife Chastity died.  Only 13 weeks later in February 1874 while in England, Barnum secretly married the daughter of one of his closest friends.  It wasn't until September that Barnum brought his new bride, Nancy, to the United States where they were married in front of family and friends.  The secret marriage wasn't discovered until 120 years later when the marriage certificate was revealed. 

P.T. Barnum is a name that has become legend and is always associated with all that is mysterious, thrilling and  outrageous.  Up until a few months before his death at the age of 81, Barnum was still going and traveling with the Barnum and Bailey Circus in London.  Not only does this comprehensive and fascinating biography give readers an in-depth look at the man behind all of his fantastic shows and exhibits, but it provides a true history of showmanship and the circus here in the United States.  Barnum's story is told in such a way that you can feel his energy and drive to provide entertainment and to make people laugh.  The marvelous photographs of the man himself, his family, and his many ventures throughout his life add to this noteworthy narrative. 


Front/Back Matter: Acknowledgements, Table of Contents, Bibliography, Finding Barnum on the Web, Source Notes by Chapter, Picture Credits, Index.

*Bibliographical citation information, award information, as well as image retrieved from www.bwibooks.com (Titletales).



Terezin: Voices from the Holocaust by Ruth Thomson

Bibliographical citation:  Thomson, R. (2011). Terezin: Voices from the Holocaust. Somerville, MA: Candlewick Press. 64 pages. ISBN: 9780763649630.

Awards: ALA Notable Children's Books (2012), Orbis Pictus Honor (2012).

Author's website: none

Annotation: During WWII, the Nazis took over a small town in the Czech Republic and turned it into a ghetto to imprison Jews.  This narrative tells the tragic and horrific stories of those prisoners through their own words and artwork.

Personal Reaction: This short and painful account of what happened in the town of Terezin during WWII has been documented using words from Jewish prisoners and expressive artwork that displayed what life was really like in this ghetto.  Basically a place to starve and store Jews before the Nazis transported them to concentration camps, life was unbearable and filled with sickness, pain, and misery.  The Nazis slowed pushed the Czech residents out and brought Jews to this town which they renamed Theresienstadt.  Anyone who was a professional artist was retained and worked for the Nazis to create brochures and illustrate official documents.  In their spare time, these artists secretly created drawings and paintings of their reality. 

This narrative tells the story of Terezin from the beginning of the war with the German invasions, deportations of thousands upon thousands of Jews, life in the ghetto, and the monthly transports from which no one returned.  Husbands and wives were separated from each other and from their children.  Children were housed separately and were treated a little better than adults and old people.  Much of their artwork survives and is on display in one of the several museums that exists in Terezin today.  It only survived because both children and adults hid suitcases filled with artwork before they were sent to their deaths.  Shockingly, when a Red Cross visit to this ghetto was planned by a Danish King who heard rumours of mistreatment of the Jews, the Nazis staged what was called a "Beautification," cleaning up the town as well as the people in it and hiding the old and the ill.  Transports were increased before this visit in order to rid the town of as many sick and starving people as possible.  The Nazis presented Theresienstadt as a happy well-fed community which couldn't be further from the truth.  Their facade worked and kept the true atrocities of this place a secret from the outside world.

Despite the hopelessness of the situation, the survivors whose words exist in this story tell of their struggles to retain their culture, something that the Nazis couldn't take away from them. In secret at first, and then with the permission of the Nazis, the many musicians, artists, and actors performed concerts and plays which helped them to escape from the horrors of their situation, only if for a short time.  As the Germans became desperate to hide evidence of their crimes towards the end of the war, transports from Theresienstadt increased significantly.  Finally, on May 8 1945, the Russian army liberated Theresienstadt.  Ruth Thompson's use of the words and art of Holocaust survivors along with photographs have an enormous impact upon readers.  The horrors and truth of the Holocaust are depicted in this narrative and the voices of the victims are heard.

Front/Back Matter: Table of Contents, Timeline, Glossary, Sources, Index, Acknowledgements.

*Bibliographical citation information, award information, as well as image retrieved from www.bwibooks.com (Titletales).

Lincoln: A Photobiography by Russell Freedman

 

Bibliographical citation:  Freedman, R. (1987). Lincoln: A Photobiography. New York: Clarion Books. 150 pages. ISBN: 9780899193809.

Awards: ALA Notable Children's Books (1995), Newbery Medal (1988)

Author's website: none

Annotation: This comprehensive and inspiring study of Lincoln encompasses more than just facts about his childhood, family, marriage and time as President.  Freedman's expressive and meaningful words give readers insight into both the heart and mind of this most remarkable man.
 

Personal Reaction: I never realized until reading this book how little I knew about Abraham Lincoln.  Sure, he is on the front of our $5 dollar bill, was one of our most famous presidents, and as students most of us had to memorize his speech, "Four score and seven years ago," but what were we really taught about the man himself?  In this photobiography, Russell Freedman woos readers and really gets down to the essentials on Lincoln.  I learned that Lincoln was very poor growing up and worked hard at all sorts of physical labor in order to help support his family-chopping wood, helping farmers at all sorts of odd jobs to earn money, and helping his father build their home.  He was very strong physically, but also had a strong determination and willingness to push himself forward in life. Freedman's narrative pulled me in as a reader not only mentally, but emotionally.  While reading and listening to this biography, I fell in love with Lincoln the man.  He had little formal education and most of what he learned is what he taught himself by copying from books and through extensive studying. Lincoln earned his law degree by reading law books and studying them. 

Many don't know of Lincoln's bouts of melancholy and depression that he struggled with all of his life.  When he finally fell in love, he fell hard.  The woman he loved, Mary Todd, was from a very different social stratosphere than Lincoln.  Her family did not approve of their initial courtship because of the extreme social differences and was able to break them apart.  This caused Lincoln to fall into a time of deep depression, one of the worst of his life.  However, that separation lasted less than two years when against the Todd family's wishes, Lincoln and Mary resumed their relationship and got married. 

Lincoln's time in office as President was very difficult because of the onset of the Civil War. He was hated by many, especially in the South where they wanted slavery and the Confederacy to remain.  Lincoln worked hard to convince members of his cabinet to agree to an amendment to the Constitution that would free our country from slavery forever, especially since he knew that his wartime Emancipation decree could be easily overturned once the war ended.  Although the war was initially started in order to save the Union, Lincoln realized that the only way for our country to continue would be for the division of the country and slavery to end.  It was to this end that he worked, and he encountered many struggles in making decisions during this time.  During his life Lincoln also suffered many personal hardships, most specifically, the deaths of two sons.

Since I alternated between reading this text and listening to the audio book version, I was able to enjoy an interview of the author, Russell Freedman, at the end of the audio book.  What I found most interesting about this was Freedman's account that Lincoln hated writing but it was something that he persisted in doing anyway.  All of his speeches were ones that he wrote (no speech writers back then, not for Lincoln, anyway), and upon reading and listening to many of them, I find it surprising that writing was not something he enjoyed since he was so talented and inspired many with his words.  Freedman stated that it was common practice for Lincoln to have written many, many drafts of his speeches and he revised them often, sometimes right before he went up on a platform to present one. This text also includes so many important photographic images of Lincoln throughout his life, his family and friends, and many pictures documenting the Civil War. 

Front/Back Matter: Table of Contents, In Lincoln's Footsteps, Books About Lincoln, Acknowledgements and Picture Credits, Index.

*Bibliographical citation information, award information, as well as image retrieved from www.bwibooks.com (Titletales).

Persepolis: The Story of a Childhood by Marjane Satrapi

Bibliographical citation: Satrapi, M. (2003). Persepolis: The Story of a Childhood. New York: Pantheon Books. 153 pages. ISBN: 9780375422300.

Awards: Alex Award (2004), Best Fiction for Young Adults (2004).

Author's website: none

Annotation: Marjane Satrapi tells her story of survival as a young girl during the Islamic Revolution in Iran.  Her stark pictures and straightforward text reveal her family's subjection to constant fear, anger and oppression under an unpredictable and radical political regime.

 

Personal Reaction: As a young girl, Marjane doesn't understand the politics and social classes that exist in her country.  As she tells her story, readers can witness her awakening and realization of what is going on in her neighborhood, her government, and her country as violence erupts, the Shah is overthrown, and radicals take over.  Removed from a school where girls and boys learned together, Marjane is forced to wear a habit and attend a girls only school where she is taught the ways of the new Fundamentalist regime.  Raised by Marxist parents, Marjane has enormous difficulty with this since she has always been encouraged to be herself and follow her heart.  Although Marjane is free to be who she wants to be within the confines of her own home, she must adhere to the rules that are expected of her when she is out in public, otherwise she and her family could be punished or possibly killed.  Any action outside of what is expected endangers citizens.  Her parents participate in protests, but there is always worry and concern about what the consequences might be if they are caught.

Although the situation is quite sad and extremely dangerous, it is hard not to laugh with Marjane when she defies and challenges her teacher, talks her way out of a possible interrogation, and insists on accompanying her parents to a demonstration.  This is a girl with guts who really believes in herself.  Marjane's story and pictures portray her strength and confidence and give readers hope that eventually she and her family will find a better life for themselves.

Front/Back Matter: Introduction, Credits.

*Bibliographical citation information, award information, as well as image retrieved from www.bwibooks.com (Titletales)

Who Was First? Discovering the Americas by Russell Freedman

Bibliographical citation: Freedman, R. (2007). Who Was First?: Discovering the Americas. New York: Clarion Books: Publisher. 88 pages. ISBN: 9780618663910.

Awards: ALA Notable Books for Children (2008).

Author's website: none

Annotation: In this comprehensive and inquisitive account, Freedman explores the numerous theories put forth by historians that speculate who were the first people to discover the Americas.  Newly unearthed artifacts and evidence of additional cultural influences have revealed more historical possibilities.

Personal Reaction: As one of those students who was taught the phrase that Freedman put on his book flap in order to remember when Columbus discovered America, "In fourteen hundred and ninety two Columbus sailed the ocean blue," I was very interested in this title.  There are so many new and exciting discoveries that Freedman documents in his narrative.  He also explores the various theories put forth by historians and the new evidence that indicates that Columbus was not the first person to come to the Americas.  Historians have studied the influences on various cultures  that prove the possibilities of peoples other than Columbus coming to the Americas.  Additionally, there are many artifacts as well as oral stories passed down from generation to generation that support these ideas.  One such idea was presented by a retired British Navy submarine commander, Gavin Menzies, who believes that the Chinese, led by Zheng He, may have been here in 1421 prior to Columbus.  His theory is based upon early European maps that show areas not yet known at the time by the Europeans.  Menzies also believes "mysterious carved stones and ancient structures found in the Americas" and what he believes to be the buried remains of shipwrecks (p. 27).  There are Europeans maps that he believes were made based upon charts that the Chinese made during their many long and extensive voyages. 

Freedman also explores the Scandinavian stories of the voyage of Leif Eriksson.  Although they were tales passed down orally from generation to generation before they were finally written down, historians have documented that some of the information in these tales are historically accurate.  A Norweigan writer and historian, Helge Ingstad, felt that these stories were based on fact and that the Vikings did indeed settle at some point in North America.  Ingstad's studies led him to a village in Newfoundland where he and his archaeologist wife excavated areas they believed to be Viking ruins. Their findings proved Ingstad's beliefs.

Aside from all of these discoveries, what about the fact that despite who arrived first-the Chinese, the Vikings, or Columbus, there were already people living in America?  Where did they originally come from and when?  The "not-so-new world" as Freedman describes it, was very well populated with people who spoke approximately 1,200 separate languages and who were quite capable of creating, learning, and building their own civilizations (p. 58).

 In his last chapter, Freedman explores yet another find in New Mexico in 1933 that proves that "humans were living in North America alongside mammoths, giant sloths, saber-toothed tigers, and other Ice Age creatures that are now extinct" (p. 71). As more and more information is uncovered, viewpoints keep changing as we add to our knowledge of history. We have to stop looking at history as a fixed entity, and instead see it as something that is always evolving and changing as we uncover  more ways of studying the past.


Front/Back Matter: Table of Contents, Before Columbus, Chapter Notes, Selected Bibliography, Acknowledgements and Picture Credits, Index.

*Bibliographical citation information, award information, as well as image retrieved from www.bwibooks.com (Titletales)

Stitches: A Memoir... by David Small

Bibliographical citation:  Small, D. (2009). Stitches: A Memoir. New York: W.W. Norton & Co. 329 pages. ISBN: 9780329775926 .

Awards: Alex Award (2010), Best Fiction for Young Adults (2010).

Author's website: www.davidsmallbooks.com

Annotation: Award winning artist and illustrator David Small tells the story of his unhappy childhood in this biographical graphic novel.  The bulk of the story is told through Small's drawings which convey the depths of his despair and dysfunctional family relationships.

Personal Reaction: David Small tells the story of his unhappy childhood through his pictures in this graphic novel. I don't think that his story could be as effectively told using words.  His sadness, anger and distress reach out to the reader from the illustrations and have such a strong emotional impact. Words wouldn't suffice to describe his feelings of terrible sadness and loneliness, and his drawings so accurately express the dismal surroundings of his family environment, the lack of parental love and affection, and his feelings of hopelessness.

Small's artistry allows readers to see and even feel how David was emotionally abandoned and also understand that this caused him to withdraw into himself. His desire to escape his situation both mentally and physically is obvious.  I don't think I have ever read a biography that was more insightful than Small's, and the way he bares his soul is both painful and heartbreaking.

Front/Back Matter: Photos of family along with brief biographies, Acknowledgements, About the Author.

*Bibliographical citation information, award information, as well as image retrieved from www.bwibooks.com (Titletales)

The Tarantula Scientist by Sy Montgomery

Bibliographical citation:  Montgomery, S.; with photographs by Nic Bishop (2004). The Tarantula Scientist. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Co. 80 pages. ISBN: 9780618147991.

Awards: Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Honor (2005), SLJ Best Books for Children (2004).

Author's website:  http://symontgomery.com/, http://nicbishop.com/

Annotation: This journey follows Sam Marshall, Tarantula Scientist, to the rainforests in French Guiana.  Here Sam searches for and observes various tarantula spiders in their habitats before returning with his findings, and a few spiders, to his spider lab in Ohio.

Personal Reaction:  The large color photographs that accompany the text are so lifelike as to make a reader who is not a fan of spiders a bit uneasy.  Once you get past that, however, it is easy to become engrossed in Sam Marshall's study of these unusual creatures since his enthusiasm is contagious.  The first half of the book follows Sam on his field work through the rainforests of French Guiana, where he seeks out spider burrows.  The first introduction is to the largest spider on earth, the Goliath birdeater tarantula. Sam spends a lot of time observing and attempting to coax a variety of spiders out of their burrows, while providing readers with facts on the spiders' habitat, behavior, mating, and eating habits.  The second half of the book focuses on Sam's return to his spider lab at Hiram College in Ohio.  Here we learn about the many studies and experiments involving tarantulas that are being conducted not only by Sam Marshall, but by his students as well.  Some of the information that they are discovering about these spiders is previously unknown and/or undocumented. 

These spiders have a lot to tell us considering that they have been around for approximately 150 million years.  Amazingly enough, despite their long residency, there is still much that we don't know about them.  Sam Marshall's goal is to learn more and educate people on these spiders so that they can be taught to respect them. This study is not only an exciting and interesting read, but its insight into the lives of these large spiders provides an awareness and reverence for these creatures that I didn't have before.

Front/Back Matter: Map showing the area of the study, Spider Stats, Spider Speak, How this Book Was Researched, Special Acknowledgements, Selected Bibliography, Spiders on the Web, If you Visit French Guiana, If You Buy a Tarantula, Index.

*Bibliographical citation information, award information, as well as image retrieved from www.bwibooks.com (Titletales)

Amelia Lost: The Life and Disappearance of Amelia Earhart by Candace Fleming

Bibliographical citation: Fleming, C. (2011). Amelia Lost: The Life and Disappearance of Amelia Earhart. New York: Schwartz & Wade Books. 118 pages. ISBN:9780375841989.

Awards:  ALA Notable Children's Books (2012), Orbis Pictus Honor (2012), SLJ Best Books for Children (2011).

Author's website: http://www.candacefleming.com/

Annotation: This story is a realistic and engaging representation of Amelia Earhart's life and her mysterious disappearance.  Candace Fleming provides an account that depicts Earhart's determination and love of flying while also properly acknowledging her failings as well as her triumphs.

Personal Reaction: Candace Fleming's realistic portrayal and account of the life of Amelia Earhart keeps readers interested.  Fleming divides up the chapters into two areas: Amelia's life growing up and the events surrounding her disappearance.  Although it may seem like it would be tricky, formatting the narrative this way keeps readers thinking and wondering and it also keeps the text alive with suspense.  Each of these story lines is heading in the same direction and they will eventually collide and join in order to bring the story to its completion.  Amelia's early life depicts her as a tomboy who loved sports and wanted to try all kinds, despite the fact that girls weren't allowed to participate in some.  Nevertheless, she didn't let small things like that stop her and from early on was a very independent and stubborn individual. It was this dedication to following her own dreams that helped her to purse her love of flying.  Throughout the narrative are pictures and newspaper articles that share both the public and private life of Amelia Earhart. The format used within the book is such that it contains sidebars on many of the pages that contain photographs about the topic being discussed, explanations of aviation equipment, maps of Earhart's flights, family portraits and less formal pictures, and even handwritten notes.  These pockets of information lend great emphasis to the text, thereby engaging readers.

Front/Back Matter: Acknowledgements, Table of Contents, Navigating History, Bibliography, Finding Amelia on the Web, Source Notes by Chapter, Picture Credits, Index.

*Bibliographical citation information, award information, as well as image retrieved from www.bwibooks.com (Titletales)