Crow Call

Author: Lois Lowry
Illustrator:   Bagram Ibatoulline
Publisher:  Scholastic
Publication Year:   2009
Location: Knox County Public Library- Lawson McGhee

Awards:   Booklist starred review

Summary: (An autobiographical story)  Liz's father has just returned from war and he is a stranger to her. The two set off on a morning together, sharing breakfast of cherry pie at the diner and then heading out into the woods to hunt. They talk about the war and then Liz calls dozens of crows into the trees. Liz's joy in the crows is evident and her father decides not to hunt them that morning after all as the two head back down the hill hand in hand. A sweet book of the relationship between father and daughter.

Classroom Ideas: The description in this book is amazing: "Grass, frozen after its summer softness, crunches under our feet: the air is sharp and supremely clear, free from the floating pollens of summer; and our words seem etched and breakable on the brittle stillness." The setting is shown through the details in the illustrations- the signs in the diner, haircuts, and the car they drive; but the book would be relevant for any child whose parent has served in the military.





Extras: Author's note with a photograph of Lois Lowry from that time period.

Brothers at Bat: The True Story of an Amazing All-brother Baseball Team

Author: Audrey Vernick
Illustrator:   Steven Salerno
Publisher:  Clarion
Publication Year:   2012
Location: Knox County Public Library- Lawson McGhee

Awards:   NYT Notable, Booklist Editor's Choice

A NewYork Times Notable Book for 2012
A 2012 Booklist Editor's Choice
- See more at: http://www.hmhco.com/shop/books/brothers-at-bat/9780547385570#sthash.KdGqYFCX.dpuf

Summary:  "It sounds like a fairy tale: twelve baseball-playing brothers." But the Acerro family was real and they had 16 children- 12 boys who formed their own semi-pro team in 1938. In the 1940s, six of the brothers joined the armed forces during World War II. After the war, they continued playing together even while starting careers and families of their own. In 1997, the family was put into the Baseball Hall of Fame and the seven brothers still living made the trip to the ceremony. Beautiful colorful, realistic drawings fill the spreads with details of the times in which the Acerro brothers lived.

Classroom Ideas: Classroom studies of the 1940s/1950s, with a mention of World War II. I can see boys in particular being very interested in this story, and there is a lovely lesson here about love of activity and family.

Extras: Author's note with a photograph of the family. Artist's note about his own family story.

The Butterfly

Author & Illustrator:   Patricia Polacco
Publisher:  Philomel
Publication Year:   2000
Location: Knox County Public Library- Halls

Awards: School Library Journal & Kirkus starred reviews, Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People

Summary:  Monique lives in France during the Nazi occupation when she discovers that her family has hidden a Jewish family with a young daughter named Sevrine. Although she is scared of the Nazi soldiers, she does not let on that she has discovered Sevrine's existence and the two girls become friends. Monique brings Sevrine gifts from the outside - flowers, earth, and even a butterfly. When the next door neighbor sees Sevrine, the family must run taking Monique's beloved pet with them and leaving a gold Star of David necklace in return.  One day months later, tens of butterflies visit Monique in her garden and she is sure that they are a sign from Sevrine of her family's safety.

Classroom Ideas: A beautiful addition to any class study of World War II and the Holocaust, as well as a story of bravery and friendship.

Extras: In the author's note, Polacco explains that this is a family story of her great-aunt Marcel and her aunt Monique. Sevrine and Monique continue to be friends.

You Never Heard of Willie Mays?

Author: Jonah Winter
Illustrator:   Terry Widener
Publisher:  Schwartz & Wade
Publication Year:   2013
Location: Knox County Public Library- Powell

Awards:   Booklist Top Ten, Publisher's Weekly & Kirkus starred reviews,

Summary:  "You never heard of Willie Mays?! THE Willie Mays?! Oh, geez, where to begin?" As accessibly written as any non-fiction I've ever read, this book tells the story of the life of Willie Mays starting as a kid in 1941. Willie was a natural and he grew up to play pro ball in the Negro League and then finally in the major leagues for the New York Giants. After serving in World War II, Mays returned to play on TV and show America that a black player could be one of the best to ever play the game. The conversational tone would appeal to any child reader who's interested in baseball.

Classroom Ideas: classroom studies of civil rights, segregation, World War II

Extras: Detailed facts given in small green "tickets" included within the text, glossary, resources, quotations, author's note, lenticular cover

Grandfather's Journey

 

Author & Illustrator:  Allen Say
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin
Publication Year:  1993
Location: Knox County Public Library- Powell

Awards:  Bulletin Blue Ribbon, Caldecott Medal, ALA Notable, Booklist Editors' Choice, Horn Book Award, School Library Journal Best Book, NYT Best Illustrated  

Summary: Through the story of his Grandfather's life in both America and Japan, Say tells the story of immigrants and immigration. His poignant words and beautiful watercolors explain the feelings of love for two different countries.

Classroom Ideas:This book could be used to teach mood through a discussion of both Grandfather and the narrator's feelings. It would also be a good example of point of view. I used it in my 5th grade classroom in our study of immigration as well as referring back to it when we talked about World War II.

The Cats in Krasinki Square

Author: Karen Hesse
Illustrator: Wendy Watson
Publisher: Scholastic Press
Publication Year: 2004
Location: Personal Collection

Awards: Sydney Taylor Book Awards Honor Book 2004 Older Readers, ALA Notable Book for Children 2005

Summary: This is a book about a  Jewish girl living in Warsaw during the Nazi occupation. The girl and her sister and friends use stray cats to trick the Nazi gestapo to smuggle food into the Ghetto. This book could be used with young children as a lesson in bravery.

Classroom Ideas: I used this book in my 5th grade classroom each year when teaching about World War II and the Nazis' treatment of other Europeans. The washed out colors of the illustrations perfectly convey the sadness of the time period without delving too deeply into the horrors of the Holocaust. The factual information in the afterward gives details about the true story that forms the basis for the book.