Mao's Last Dancer

Mao's Last Dancer

Written by: Li Cunxin

"At the age of eleven, Li Cunxin was one of the privileged few selected to serve in Chairman Mao’s Cultural Revolution by studying at the Beijing Dance Academy. Having known bitter poverty in his rural China home, ballet would be his family’s best chance for a better future. From one hardship to another, Cunxin demonstrated perseverance and an appetite for success that led him to be chosen as one of the first two people to leave Mao’s China and go to American to dance on a special cultural exchange. But life in the U.S. was nothing like his communist indoctrination had led him to believe. Ultimately, he defected to the west in a dramatic media storm, and went on to dance with the Houston Ballet for sixteen years.

This inspiring story of passion, resilience, and a family’s love captures the harsh reality of life in Mao’s communist China and the exciting world of professional dance. This compelling memoir includes photos documenting Li’s extraordinary life."

Publishers Synopsis

Online Resources:
http://www.licunxin.com/

The Librarian of Basra: A True Story From Iraq

The Librarian of Basra: A True Story From Iraq

Written and Illustrated by: Jeanette Winter

Easy Readability

"When war seemed imminent, Alia Muhammad Baker, chief librarian of Basra's Central Library, was determined to protect the library's holdings. In spite of the government's refusal to help, she moved the books into a nearby restaurant only nine days before the library burned to the ground. When the fighting moved on, this courageous woman transferred the 30,000 volumes to her and her friends' homes to await peace and the rebuilding of a new library. In telling this story, first reported in the New York Timeson July 27, 2003, by Shaila K. Dewan, Winter artfully achieves a fine balance between honestly describing the casualties of war and not making the story too frightening for young children. Although the invading country is never mentioned, this is an important story that puts a human face on the victims of war and demonstrates that a love of books and learning is a value that unites people everywhere."

School Library Journal Review

http://www.teachablemoment.org/elementary/iraqstudyguides.html

Alia's Mission: Saving the Books of Iraq

Alia's Mission: Saving the Books of Iraq

Written and Illustrated by: Mark Alan Stamaty

"The story of Iraqi librarian Alia Muhammed Baker, who, fearing looting and bombs, hid more than 30,000 books prior to the invasion of Iraq, is so compelling that two author-illustrators have retold it: Jeanette Winter, in her parable-like picture book The Librarian of Basra, and Stamaty, in this graphic novel. Sequential panels concisely depict complex sequences of actions and emotions, allowing Stamaty to pack more detail into 32 pages than is possible in a traditional picture book."

Booklist Review

http://www.teachablemoment.org/elementary/iraqstudyguides.html

My Librarian Is a Camel: How Books Are Brought to Children Around the World

My Librarian Is a Camel: How Books Are Brought to Children Around the World

Written by: Margriet Ruurs

"Ruurs visits 13 countries and explores the manner in which librarians provide services to patrons using everything from boats and wheelbarrows to elephants. Many of the full-color photographs were actually taken by the librarians themselves. A boxed section also provides a map and basic facts about the featured country. While this is an attractive browsing item, the amount of text on each page and the textbook style of writing may discourage students from reading it cover to cover. However, with little information available about libraries of the world, this title offers a glimpse into the world of books, which several countries consider as important as air or water. This might be an interesting revelation to many students who consider reading a laborious task and to those who take an abundance of books very much for granted."

School Library Journal Review

Online Resources
Look for "online teachers guide" at the bottom of this page:
http://www.margrietruurs.com/books/my_librarian_is_a_camel.html

Shoes: Their History in Words and Pictures

Shoes: Their History in Words and Pictures

Written by: Charlotte Yue
Illustrated by: David Yue

"The author traces the chronology of shoes from 10,000 years ago to the present. Considerable cultural information is presented as the drawings show how shoes have changed and even how they are used in different cultures."

Online Resources:
http://www.headoverheelshistory.com/

Frida Kahlo: Portraits of Women for Children

Frida Kahlo: Portraits of Women for Children

Written by: Robyn Turner

"Frida Kahlo was born near Mexico City in 1907. As a child, she battled polio, and later was injured for life as a result of a bus accident. This engrossing portrait of her life is illustrated with full-color reproductions of her work."

Publishers Description

Online Resources:
http://www.fridakahlo.com/
http://www.pbs.org/weta/fridakahlo/guides/parents_act1.html

Faith Ringgold: A View From the Studio

Faith Ringgold: A View From the Studio

Written by: Faith Ringgold and Curlee Raven Holden

"This is an important new book published which explores Faith's work in her studio and her personal artistic journey, it is also an encounter between one artist and another, between Faith and her collaborator Curlee Holton. The mix provides unique insights into the struggles and triumphs of a woman who is at once an activist and an artist and whose achievements are admired throughout the world."

Publishers Description

Online Resources:
http://www.faithringgold.com/ringgold/default.htm

The Story of Religion

The Story of Religion

Written by: Betsy Maestro
Illustrated by: Erika Weihs

"This informational book provides a brief introduction to various religious such as Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. The art in the book is related to the cultures of each of the religious groups. This book can introduce a study in which students research one of the religions discussed."

Publishers Description

Online Resources:
http://www.uri.org/kids/world.htm

Vincent Van Gogh: Portrait of an Artist

Vincent Van Gogh: Portrait of an Artist

Written by: Jan Greenberg and Sandra Jordan

"Vincent van Gogh–one of the 19th century’s most brilliant artists will forever be remembered as the Dutchman who cut off his ear. But this incident only underscores the passion that consumed him–a passion that, when he took up painting at age 27, infused his work. Whether painting a portrait, a landscape, or a still life, Van Gogh sought to capture the vibrant spirit of his subject. It didn’t matter that others found his work too unconventional. Van Gogh persevered. And as he moved from the cold climate of Holland to balmy southern France, he pioneered a new technique and style.
In a career spanning only a decade, Van Gogh painted many great works, yet fame eluded him. This lack of recognition increased his self-doubts and bitter disappointments. Today, however, Van Gogh stands as a giant among artists."

Publishers Synopsis

Online Resources:
http://www.vangoghgallery.com/

Lives of the Musicians: Good Times, Bad Times (and What the Neighbors Thought)

Lives of the Musicians: Good Times, Bad Times (and What the Neighbors Thought)

Written by: Kathleen Krull
Illustrated by: Kathryn Hewitt

"It's no secret that Beethoven went deaf, that Mozart had constant money problems, and that Gilbert and Sullivan wrote musicals. But what were these people - and other famous musicians - really like? What did they eat? What did they wear? How did they spend their time? And - possibly the most interesting of all - what did their neighbors think?

Here are the fascinating and often humorous stories of twenty famous musicians - people of all shapes, sizes, temperaments, and lifestyles from various countries and historical periods. Beginning with Vivaldi and ending with Woody Guthrie, Lives of the Musicians will appeal to everyone."

Publishers Description

Online Resources:
http://www.classicsforkids.com/

Talking with Artists

Talking with Artists

Edited by: Pat Cummings

"Three volumes of conversations with prominent children's book authors and illustrators. They tell about how the authors got started, and where they get their ideas and techniques. There are chatty bits of information about the artists themselves, examples of their childhood drawings, and beautifully reproduced samples of current work. The same questions are asked of each contributor, but the answers range from serious commentary to lighthearted humor. The cumulative result is a short course in how to succeed in the book business, and general agreement that illustration is a tremendously satisfying and enjoyable occupation. Young artists will learn a lot; teachers and other children will also love it. Well designed and well conceived, this book will be welcomed in all those classrooms in which children's literature has become central to the curriculum."

School Library Journal Review

Online Resources:
http://www.rif.org/kids/readingplanet/bookzone/cummings.htm

Shakespeare for Kids: His Life and Times

Shakespeare for Kids: His Life and Times

Written by: Colleen Aagesen & Marcia Blumberg

"This book presents the life and works of Shakespeare. It includes activities to introduce Elizabethan times, including making costumes, making and using a quill pen, and binding a book by hand."

Publishers Description

Online Resources:
http://www.folger.edu/template.cfm?cid=588&CFID=4339026&CFTOKEN=88480048
http://www.nosweatshakespeare.com/shakespeare-for-kids.htm