Roberta, Author at Wrapped in Foil

August 16, 2010September 6, 2010

Seeds of Change

Seeds of Change: Planting a Path to Peace by Jen Cullerton and illustrated by Sonia Lynn Sadler is about the life of Wangari Maathai, a woman whose story is both uplifting and complex.

The book begins with a scene of Wangari’s mother showing young Wangari the mugumo, the wild fig tree, and explaining its importance to both the environment and her culture.

Her brother tells her of the things he learns at school, and Wangari decides she would like to go too. Although it is unusual for a girl to receive an education, Wangari does go to school. In fact she goes all the way to study in the United States and becomes a scientist.

When Wangari returns to Kenya, she find many things have changed. She finds the trees have all been cut down and the resulting environmental damage means that people can no longer grow food for themselves. In a move that is in one hand simple, and in the other incredibly insightful, she encourages the women to re-plant the trees.

Her tree-planting movement grew and flourished as did the trees themselves, but not completely without hardship. Wangari had to overcome harsh political resistance and was even briefly imprisoned. She was released, however, and in 2004 Wangari became the first African woman to win the Nobel Peace Prize.

You will not believe this is Jen Cullerton Johnson’s first picture book. She has done a masterful job of incorporating multiple layers of meaning. She adds important concrete details, such as the feel of the rough bark of the tree, the sounds of the birds, and the things Wangari’s brother taught her from his school. Children can relate to these things. Mothers reading the book can relate to the mothers being able to feed their children. People interested in environmental issues will be encouraged by the message that simple things initiated by a handful of people can make a positive difference in our world. People of many ages and backgrounds will find something that resonates in this wonderful book.

Sonia Lynn Sadler’s illustrations are bright, bold and beautiful. I was not surprised to read that she is inspired by quilts, you can see the influence of warm, colorful, geometric quilt designs on almost every page.

Together the text and illustrations make a fabulous package, sure to sow some Seeds of Change of its own.

Reading level: Ages 9-12
Hardcover: 40 pages
Publisher: Lee & Low Books (June 30, 2010)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 160060367X
ISBN-13: 978-1600603679

Book supplied by publisher.

Nonfiction Monday is a blogging celebration of nonfiction books for kids. For more information, stop by Anastasia Suen’s Nonfiction Monday page. This week’s post is at Apples with Many Seeds

August 13, 2010May 24, 2012

Children’s Author Trivia Volume 8

Ever hear, “That movie was based on a book?”

Today let’s test your knowledge of children’s books turned into movies.

Question 17. Like her main character, the author of this book (part of a series) spent a lot of her childhood living on a small island with no electricity and no phone. The reluctant hero of her books lives in a desolate environment and has to overcome some fierce challenges. The story line has been changed substantially in the recent movie, but the title remains intact. Any ideas who the author might be?

Question 18. Known for his black and white illustrations, both the movies made from this author’s books are not only full of color, but full of special effects, too. Who is he?

Question 19. In this case the main character gave his name to both the book and the movies, but the green guy’s story in the book was changed for the scripts. What author developed the unique character who then launched a series of successful animated films?

The answers are now posted.

August 12, 2010May 24, 2012

Answers to Children’s Author Trivia Volume 7

Question 15. This prolific author’s first book for children was about cockroaches. Since then she has written books that combine science and humor in a way that has captured the imaginations of millions of school children. A major character in her most popular books is known to dress appropriately for each book. Who is the author?

The words school, science and dress might have been clues to the famous author of the Magic School Bus series, Joanna Cole. Who can forget the fabulous Ms. Frizzle as she leads a field trip to the inside of the earth wearing a bright yellow dress covered with shovels and pick axes, with tiny shovels for earrings? Although she seems a bit larger than life, I think we all secretly wish we’d been in her classroom.

Here’s what Joanna Cole says about her books:

A few of her many books:

Question 16. This world famous children’s author started out writing for adults for fifteen years before he started writing for children. Despite suffering tragedies and having health problems later in life, he continued to write bestseller after bestseller. He now is celebrated on his birthday, September 13.

In an unexpected twist, it turns out that this author, Roald Dahl is in the news because his first wife, actress Patricia Neal, passed away this week. This has caused a renewed interest in Roald Dahl, as well.

Roald Dahl was a WWII flying ace, who started writing for adults about his war experiences. At the official website, it said his children’s books began to take off after about fifteen years, although I believe he may have actually started writing them much sooner. Roald Dahl and Patricia Neal experienced the death of one of their children (to measles), a devastating accident with another, and Neal’s life-threatening strokes while pregnant with their last child. Dahl became a bit of a medical expert, designing a valve for draining fluid from the brain with two of his friends.

On top of dealing with all these difficult events, Dahl managed to crank out such bestsellers as James and the Giant Peach, and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. The inspiring part is that the books have stood the test of time, and even given their unusual content and dark humor, are still as relevant and revered as when he wrote them.

Let’s celebrate his birthday on Septmeber 13 by reading one of Roald Dahl’s classic books.

August 9, 2010September 6, 2010

Candy Bomber Hits the Right Spot

Candy Bomber: The Story of the Berlin Airlift’s “Chocolate Pilot” by Michael O. Tunnell is a real treat. It has everything you could want from a book: drama, roaring airplanes, human interest, history, and candy all mixed into a powerful true story.

Candy Bomber is about pilot Gail Halvorsen, who was assigned to fly food and supplies into West Berlin after World War II ended. West Berlin was under siege at the time by the Soviets. They were trying to gain control of all of Berlin by cutting off supplies to its inhabitants. The United States, Britain and France were working hard to overcome the blockade by flying in a stream of cargo planes filled with flour, potatoes, meat, and medicine, but not candy.

One day Gail Halvorsen decided to spend the day in West Berlin after flying in and out many times. At the end of the runway he met some children. Once he had talked to them, he decided to share the two pieces of gum he had in his pocket. When he saw what a rare and special treat it was to them, he realized he wanted to do more. He told the children to watch for a plane that wiggled its wings. The next day he wiggled the wings of his plane and then dropped candy in bundles tied to little parachutes.

The amazing thing is that immediately he began to receive letters and artwork from the grateful children. News of his kindness spread, and the candy drops became an official U.S. Air Force operation. Other pilots joined in and he began receiving candy donations to distribute. Even after Halvorsen moved on to another position, other pilots continued the candy drops. But the people of West Berlin would not forget his acts of kindness. Halvorsen continued to have contact with several of the children long after they had grown into adulthood.

Author Michael Tunnell has an obvious passion for his topic. He got to know Gail Halvorsen personally, because it turned out he lived in a Utah town not far away. The book is illustrated with actual photographs and letters from Halvorson’s own collection, supplied by Halvorsen himself. Not many authors get to enjoy such access to primary sources.

This was not an easy book to write because, instead of rising conflict with drama at the end, most of the intense parts of this story come at the beginning. Yet Tunnell has overcome this obstacle to write a very compelling book that will appeal to both boys and girls of a wide range of ages.

Just like a piece of chocolate, once you get your hands on it, you will want to savor it.

Related activities:

1. Download an activity and discussion guide at Charlesbridge

2. Today children would probably text or e-mail their thanks, but in the time this story starts the children sent Mr. Halvorsen cards, letters and drawings. Show the examples in the book and ask your children to make and send a letter, card or drawing to a special someone. Or consider exchanging letters with someone from another country.

3. Make a parachute and test it at Growing With Science

Reading level: Ages 9-12
Hardcover: 110 pages
Publisher: Charlesbridge Publishing; New edition (July 2010)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1580893368
ISBN-13: 978-1580893367

Book supplied by publisher.

Nonfiction Monday is a blogging celebration of nonfiction books for kids. For more information, stop by Anastasia Suen’s Nonfiction Monday page. This week’s post is at Moms Inspire Learning.