On the half-title page, we are treated to a quote from Nina Simone: "When I die...I'm gonnna know that I left something for [my people] to build on. That is my reward." This biography elegantly shows the progression of a woman bent on making a living through her music, to a woman bent on fighting … Continue reading Nina: A Story of Nina Simone – Perfect Picture Book Friday
My question is this: Is there anything related to words that Ben Franklin didn't have a hand in? I think the answer is "no." In Beth Anderson's new book: we are handed yet another example. The jacket flap reads: It may be hard for kids to believe, but once upon a time there was no … Continue reading An Inconvenient Alphabet – Perfect Picture Book Friday
Barb Rosenstock is my nonfiction picture book author idol for several reasons: She always makes me care about the story/person/event. She uses a repetitive and lyrical line that pulses throughout the story. (In this case, she uses two.) She's a meticulous researcher. She includes fascinating back matter. In OTIS AND WILL DISCOVER THE DEEP, we … Continue reading Otis and Will Discover the Deep – Perfect Picture Book Friday
Jilanne Hoffmann 