Probably the best known author for young readers, particularly males, has to be GARY PAULSEN. His outdoor adventure stories have been responsible for turning more young males on to reading than perhaps any other contemporary author. This story centers on 13 year old Samuel and takes place in the British Colony of Pennsylvania. Samuel and his parents live on the frontier. They are probably “well educated” by frontier standards meaning they can read and write. Samuel is off hunting bear when he notices smoke coming for the general area of where his family and other settlers live. By the time he races home, he finds most of the cabins burned and many of the inhabitants slaughtered. His family was not among the corpses. He buries the dead and then determined to rescue his parents, he begins tracking the survivors.
For visitors to New York City who have spent any time in Central Park, this story will have special relevance. In March 1855 an article in the New York Daily Times warned citizens the city would be taking over a large area to make a park. Much of the area was swampy and rocky and occupied by the lowest dregs of the city. Also included was a little settlement called BLACK VILLAGE.
Ben, a slave in Charleston, taught himself to read. At one point his master was a tailor who sent Ben on errands around the city. By politely asking white men if he was in the correct spot he learned his way about at the same time he was learning to read street and other signs. As the Civil War neared Charleston, Ben’s master fled but not before he put Ben in a prison to await sale after things settled down.
Every school library collection should have copies of the series, TALES OF YOUNG AMERICANS, published by Sleeping Bear Press. This Press is an imprint of Gale, a part of Cengage Learning. One of their frequent authors, Gloria Whelan, has an exciting new book, THE LISTENERS , Illustrated by MIKE BENNY (2010, $17.95)
The story revolves around slave children Ella May, Bobby and Sue. Ella May works in the fields from dawn to dusk, but her work does not end after dusk. Then she collects the other two children and they head for their master’s house. Once there they settle themselves on the ground outside the window. Here they have been instructed to listen to the family conversation and report any pertinent information to the other slaves back in the quarters.
If you are ever interested in a study of Alaska, at any level beyond say Grade 6, than may I recommend an amazing book, THE GREAT DEATH by John Smegler ( Henry Holt, 2009, $16.99). This book of only 166 pages follows two young Alaskan native girls at the beginning of the twentieth century who are fleeing a pandemic of measles, smallpox and influenza. Some light-colored strangers with red spots on their bodies came to their village. Very quickly disease and death spread everywhere.
Another oversized picturebook arriving this week was JANUARY’S SPARROW by Patricia Polacco (Philomel Books Penguin Young Readers Group 2009, $22.99.) This remarkable 96 page treasure needs all the pages to relate a monumental tribute to the Crosswhite family.
WE TROUBLED THE WATERS Poems by Ntozake Shange, Paintings by Rod Brown (Amistad An Imprint of HarperCollins 2009, $16.99) arrived yesterday and my mind is still mulling over the message found here.
The first image to hit the reader comes from the title page. Minimum amount of text giving pertinent data about the book at the top of the two page spread. One’s eyes instead are drawn immediately to the body of a black man floating the stream on the bottom half of the page. No words other than the book data. What a shocking sight. It helps set up the reader for what is to come.
Teaching the Civil War in history class can be a tedious job going from skirmish to skirmish until the class dies of sheer exhaustion. No more need this happen. Do the Civil War by reading a chapter a day from BLACK ANGELS by Linda Beatrice Brown (Putnam, 2009, $16.99). To quote Nicki Giovanni ,” BLACK ANGELS has found a way to bring home the sadness and the hope of the Civil War.”
On a more serious note another picture book by a friend introduces Michelle Obama. The book MICHELLE by Deborah Hopkinson, illustrated by AG Ford ( Katherine Tegen Books, an imprint of HarperCollins, 2009, $17.99 ) comes soon on the heels of many television reports talking about the heritage of this remarkable First Lady. The book opens with scenes from the inauguration of her husband as the first black man elected to the presidency. The text then shifts to following the life of Michelle.
Humor needs to play an important part in reading with youngsters. One graphic picturebook which should guarantee a chuckle or two, maybe even a giggle or four is TWO BAD PILGRIMS by Kathryn Lasky, illustrated by John Manders (Viking, 2009, $16.99). This text, while loaded with good information about the Pilgrims and the settlement at Plymouth Rock, has a counterpoint delivered by two young scamps.