Several fun and creative nonfiction books have come in recently, and I'm very excited.
From the introduction:
"Here is a portrait gallery of men and women who left their mark on literature, the arts, the sciences, and history, despite their chaotic beginnings. At school, many were declared mediocre, incompetent, slow - in a word, dummies! Over time, history has bestowed genius and fame upon them... Encyclopedias describe them in hushed and serious tones, their pockets stuffed with virtues. But these pockets are more unevenly stitched than might be guessed."
Maybe this book is so striking to me simply because I know too many unappreciated geniuses - especially kids. Whatever the reason, I'm purchasing a copy for myself today.
Harlem Stomp!: A Cultural History of the Harlem Renaissance fills a gaping hole in our kids American History section.
The works of art, literature, and music from this era are among the best ever produced, but too often they are overlooked. This book is wide-ranging in scope and very informative, and the colors, pictures, and fonts do well to capture the energy and spirit of the Harlem Renaissance. Every middle or high school English teacher should have a copy!
Also noteworthy is a new Kingfisher book, The Middle East, a region that is written about very little, and almost never presented to kids. Its vibrant pictures and well-articulated descriptions of culture and history capture the beauty and complexity of this part of the world.
Several fun and creative nonfiction books have come in recently, and I'm very excited.
From the introduction:
"Here is a portrait gallery of men and women who left their mark on literature, the arts, the sciences, and history, despite their chaotic beginnings. At school, many were declared mediocre, incompetent, slow - in a word, dummies! Over time, history has bestowed genius and fame upon them... Encyclopedias describe them in hushed and serious tones, their pockets stuffed with virtues. But these pockets are more unevenly stitched than might be guessed."
Maybe this book is so striking to me simply because I know too many unappreciated geniuses - especially kids. Whatever the reason, I'm purchasing a copy for myself today.
Harlem Stomp!: A Cultural History of the Harlem Renaissance fills a gaping hole in our kids American History section.
The works of art, literature, and music from this era are among the best ever produced, but too often they are overlooked. This book is wide-ranging in scope and very informative, and the colors, pictures, and fonts do well to capture the energy and spirit of the Harlem Renaissance. Every middle or high school English teacher should have a copy!
Also noteworthy is a new Kingfisher book, The Middle East, a region that is written about very little, and almost never presented to kids. Its vibrant pictures and well-articulated descriptions of culture and history capture the beauty and complexity of this part of the world.
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