An Afternoon At The Library

These days the problem selecting good history for kids is not the dearth but the abundance of material available. Picture books, biographies, historical narratives: all of these genres contain some outstanding work. Listed below is a mere sampling of volumes that I found while browsing the shelves in the local library one afternoon.

Admiral Richard Byrd's six-month sojourn to Antarctica is chronicled in Robert Burleigh's Black Whiteness. Based on Byrd's own descriptions interwoven with a tight narrative, Burleigh's book captures the nightmarish world that Byrd inhabited and his amazing efforts to help rescuers locate him. Set next to Walter Lyon Krudop's haunting illustrations, Burleigh's text make for an exciting tale of exploration, investigation, and survival. (Grade 3+)

Jean Fritz, Katherine Paterson, Patricia and Frederick McKissack, Margaret Mahy, and Jamake Highwater combine their talents to tell the story of The World in 1492. Although many learned in school about the European quest for empire, we tend to forget that there were thriving and sophisticated cultures elsewhere, which the Europeans encountered. The authors of this work seek to overcome this deficiency with a multicultural approach to world history. Chapters on Europe, Asia, Africa, Oceania, and Australia describe a world that was varied, diverse, complex, and exciting. Children and adults alike will be drawn into this engrossing narrative that brings various peoples, cultures, and beliefs alive. (Grade 4+)

Two books that explore the lives of notable African Americans are Marie Bradby's More Than Anything Else and Andrea Davis Pinkney's Duke Ellington. Bradby's short tale explores the determination of a young Booker T. Washington to learn how to read. Bradby's poetic prose is further highlighted by the lantern-lit paintings of Chris K. Soentpiet. The overall effect is a moving tale of how a nine-year-old boy's quest for learning marks a turning point in his life, and ultimately in the lives of thousands of others. An excellent story for young readers. (Grade 2+)

Pinkney's biography of composer and musician Duke Ellington jumps and jives right off the page. The narrative moves along with the spirit of an Ellington composition, sweeping readers into the world of "hot-buttered bop, sassy-cool tones, and plenty of jump." "Syncopated" by Brian Pinkney's electric illustrations, this biography is brimming with energy. (Grade 2+)

Amelia and Eleanor Go For A Ride is Pam Munoz Ryan's story of a historic flight. One evening in April, 1933, famed aviator Amelia Earhart and first lady Eleanor Roosevelt stole away from a White House dinner and went for an airplane ride. This wasn't just any old ride, either. The two "hijacked" an Eastern Air Transport plane and took off-still dressed in their fancy evening attire! They took in an aerial night view of the nation's capital and returned in time for dessert. A truly delightful story about friendship and adventure, illustrated by Brian Selznick's wonderful black and white drawings. (Grade 2+)

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