This book was fine.  There are many like it available.  It reminds kids that they are perfect the way they are, and that everyone is different.  It does in the back have some information about Down Syndrome, but it is not really illustrated on the pages, or in the story. 

 

What an amazing and powerful story.  Many may know the name of Emmet Till, but not many know the name of his mother: Mamie Till-Mobley.  Emmet Till is a line in history, that most people will have heard of, but his mother was more than he ever got a chance to become.  She was one of the Civil Rights leaders who set out to make our nation better for everyone.  This book is written as a love poem to a remarkable woman.  It has an ebb and flow that is edgy but commanding and dripping in love.  This is a 5-star read and an amazing biography for young readers. 

 

This book is an ode to Isamu, not a biography.  If one reads this story, as a story, it is quite nice.  It is about a child’s view of wonder. If one is reading it as a biography about the artist Isamu, one will be highly disappointed.  As there is very little, almost nothing about the artist.  This is all about how the artist viewed life.  It’s an interesting read, but not one that readers would gravitate to over and over again. 

 

What a wonderful story about a wonderful woman.  Joan Proctor had a chronic illness.  And while it hampered somethings, it did not hamper her love for reptiles.  She became an expert and used her expertise to make things better at the London Zoo for all reptiles.  Particularly, a set of Komodo Dragons.  Her legacy lives on in her research and her friendship with her scaley friends. 

 

I think this book is very well done.  It’s not really a biography, more of a this is me and could be you, and that is okay.  It’s a story to read that show differences as natural and accepted.  This book is not preachy and is not trying to turn more kids trans (as is sometimes suggested).  It is a sweet picture book about a child who experienced something other kids may experience as well.  

 

This was a fun book about a girl who tries to bring some color to her drab world, when a muralist shows her how to go big.  They get everyone involved and brighten up their community.  This is based on real events in San Deigo, California and the creation of the Urban Art Trail.  This book is not a biography, or a non-fiction, but a gateway to learning more about art and how it can change a city. 

 

When ever I read this title, Jim Goche starts playing in my head.  He was singing about Roller Derby Queen, but I easily change it to Motorcycle Queen. I think Bessie would have liked it.  Bessie was a woman before her time.  She was free with her own set of wheels to take her any place at the flip of a penny.  This book does an excellent job of giving the reader a window to her world.  The author made poetry, and did not miss the hard, or the sad parts.  Everything was coved from her wins to her chases.  Add the amazing illustrations on top, and this book is just excellent. 

 

this is the story of costume designer Edith Head. Edith Head was the best at what she did, which was making actors into the characters they would play on screen. While many may have heard of Edith, as her style is legendary, they may not have known she had very humble beginnings. This book gets into those beginnings and is overall well done and a great simple biography of this amazing person. 

 

this is a beginning look at Florence Nightingale. It is very basic and very general. It makes Florence Nightingale come across as someone who knew to keep a clean house rather than as someone who knew how to nurse. Yes, cleaning and sanitation is a big part in nursing but for that to be noted as her biggest contribution is a bit underwhelming for the contributions she actually made. This is one of the books in this series that I think could have been done better but I am glad it exists. 

 

I have heard about Galloping Gertie most of my life.  I have been over the Tacoma Narrows Bridge many times and thought “wow that is a long way down!”  I can only imagine how much worse if it would have been if the bridge moved like a roller coaster.  While there are videos and Discovery channel documentaries that can be watched, this book puts the story in a child’s perspective, and what they thought when the bridge collapsed.  This book is extremely well done.  It was entertaining and engaging at the same time.  This will be a staple in libraries for a long time to come, even if one does not live in Washington State.