So while I was reading We Are the Ship, The Story of the Negro League Baseball by Kadir Nelson and it kept talking about how fast these guys could pitch and hit – I kept wanting to wince.  It’s no fun to get hit.  I have to admire these athletes for even getting out on that field.  Me?  I am now officially scared of any ball which may potentially break all the bones in my face.

But as I was saying, I don’t follow baseball nor do I know its history or its present.  So reading We Are the Ship was literally my first history lesson of any sort of the sport.  So Natasha, you may ask, why read about baseball if you’re not that interested in it?  Let me tell you.  Kadir Nelson can illustrate the back of a cereal box and I would be all over it.  His artwork is simply brilliant and I’ll read anything that has his name attached to it.  Plus, teasing my husband is kind of fun too. If I mention Nelson’s name, my husband always says, “Oh yeah, that guy that you think is really good looking.”   I know I’m not alone in this sentiment.  Kadir Nelson is one good looking guy.   He’s also incredibly soft-spoken and gracious which makes him even more appealing.

Plus, he can paint.  Wow, can he paint.  The talent just oozes from him.  I am always blown away with his books and We Are the Ship was no exception.

This is a book that I was in awe of.  Turning each page to discover the next illustration was a treat in and of itself.  Kadir Nelson presents the portraits of Rube Foster, John Henry “Pop” Lloyd, Jackie Robinson, Oscar Charleston, Willie Foster, Andy Cooper, Wilber “Bullet” Rogan, Josh Gibson, William Julius “Judy” Johnson, Raleigh “Biz” Mackey, Leroy “Satchel” Paige, Norman “Turkey” Stearnes, Willard Brown, Hilton Smith, Buck Leonard, James “Cool Papa” Bell and many more.  These are strong illustrations and one doesn’t doubt the strength or determination of these players.

In nine chapters, or better called, nine innings, our narrator who seems to have his eyes on every aspect of the sport and in what feels like a reminiscing by the fireplace takes the reader through the beginnings of the Negro Baseball League to its eventual desegregation with the crossover of Jackie Robinson to the minor leagues.

Let me tell you.  Reading about the history of baseball?  Fascinating!  These men were simply amazing and one can only leave the book with a new-found appreciation for these men who did so much for the history of baseball and paved the way for many athletes who would come after them.

I loved how the story was narrated and wanted to share Kadir Nelson’s thoughts on this in the author’s note:

I have attempted in earnest to present these men (and one woman) in all their dignity, pride and spiritual strength. They are my heroes.

[. . . ] Where these was no way, they made a way. I admire this independent spirit.

In keeping with this spirit, I chose to present the voice of the narrator as a collective voice, the voice of every player, the voice of we.  Under the leadership of Rube Foster, who declared the leagues’ independence from major league baseball by saying, “We are the ship; all else the sea,” the owners and players formed and sustained a successful league, demonstrating the power of the collective.  And after reading interviews and listening to former players speak about their lives in baseball, it became clear that hearing the story of Negro League baseball directly from those who experienced it firsthand made it more real, more accessible.  I hope that the way I have chosen to present the story has the same effect.

He later says,

I hope that I have done justice to these somewhat forgotten men and given them the tribute that they deserve.  I have tried to honor them, to portray them as the heroes they were, and to further solidify their place in history.  I hope that the reader will agree.

Yes, I completely agree.   This is not just a picture book.  It’s so much more than that.  It’s special and if you have been fortunate to read this book as well, then you know what I’m talking about.

Links of interest:  Kadir Nelson website, more book blogger reviews. Also illustrated by Kadir Nelson and reviewed by Maw Books: Moses, When Harriett Tubman Led Her People to Freedom and Henry’s Freedom Box, A True Story from the Underground Railroad.
We Are the Ship is part of my themed reading for the month of February which celebrates Black History Month.  Join me this month as I explore books that celebrate the history of African-Americans.
Genre: Non-fiction Picture Book, approx ages 9-12.
Publisher: Hyperion Books.  January 8, 2008.
Hardcover, 96 pages. ISBN 0786808322
Source Copy:  Own
We Are the Ship is available from your favorite independent bookstore, Powell’s, and Amazon.

Each spread highlights key figures in African American history including George Washington Carver, Jesse Owens, Hattie McDaniel, Ella Fitzgerald, Jackie Robinson, Rosa Parks, Ruby Bridges, Martin Luther King Jr., Thurgood Marshall and Barack Obama.  Amazing pioneers of change.  After reading the book and pouring over the beautiful illustrations, children can read more about each leader at the back of the book.  This simple biography will enhance the reading and teach children about those who came before them.

What’s incredible about this book is that each spread is illustrated by a different celebrated African American illustrator.  Yes – thirteen illustrators:  Cozbi A. Cabrera, R. Gregory Christie, Bryan Collier, Pam Cummings, Leo and Diane Dillon, Ag Ford, E.B. Lewis, Frank Morrison, James Ransome, Charlotte Riley-Webb, Shadra Strickland and Eric Velasquez.  I loved how different each spread was but how cohesive the book was as a whole.  My favorite illustrations were Jesse Owens by Ag Ford and Martin Luther King Jr. by Frank Morrison.

As the dust jacket aptly says,

Our Children Can Soar is the story of a people rising.  It is a story for anyone, for it is one the backs of our ancestors that every child is raised.

I wholeheartedly agree.  It’s a special book.

Our Children Can Soar part of my themed reading for the month of February which celebrates Black History Month. Join me this month as I explore books that celebrate the history of African-Americans.
Links of interest: More book blogger reviews.  Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast has a great feature with all the illustrators.
Genre: Non-Fiction Picture Book, Biography approx age 4-8.
Publisher: Bloomsbury. April 14, 2009.
Hardcover, 32 pages. ISBN 1599904187
Source copy: Library
Our Children Can Soar is available from your favorite independent bookstore, Powell’s, and Amazon.

From the criticisms that I’ve read of the book and a discussion that we had at book club is the fact that the braille text is virtually unreadable as braille.  The raised dots simply are not raised high enough off of the paper.  I’d be curious to know if a blind individual could actually read the book.

But the book isn’t intended for the blind but rather those with sight and it’s very cool.  I enjoyed feeling the raised line art.  I knew what I was feeling for as I could see the image that the line art created but I would often close my eyes to see if I could figure out what I was feeling.

Thomas thinks that without the sun, water, doesn’t amount to much.
It has no color, no taste, no smell.
He says that green tastes like lemon ice cream and smells like grass that’s just been cut.
But black is the king of all the colors.  It is as soft as silk when his mother hugs him and her hair falls in his face.

How does one describe a color?  A very creative book that would be a welcome addition and a different type of reading experience for any children’s library.

Links of interest:  More book blogger reviews.
Genre:  Picture Book, approx ages 4-8.
Publisher: Groundwood Books.   June 28, 2008.
Hardcover, 24 pages. ISBN 0888998732
The Black Book of Colors is available from your favorite independent bookstore, Powell’s, and Amazon.

My boys and I have been excited ALL summer (photo on the left is my baby about 2 1/2 years ago) because Christy, the elephant at Hogle Zoo, which we frequent about two times a month, was expecting a baby elephant.  In August her due date had finally approached.  I had talked with somebody at the zoo and was thrilled when he told me that if all goes well, the new baby elephant would be on display immediately following the birth.  Wow!

When Hogle Zoo twittered about the new arrival, I was ecstatic and asked again when the elephant would be on display.  I literally was ready to drop everything to see this elephant.  I was so bummed when this was the reply: @mawbooks Baby elephant and her mom are not on exhibit yet. Should be six to eight weeks and we’ll keep folks posted on the big debut! Dang it!  I’d waited all summer.  But the wait is finally over!  Our newest arrival will be on display a week from today.  I’ve already put in on the calender and told my friend I want to be there when they open.   And we have a new giraffe too.  It will be an exciting day.

Why am I talking about elephants?  ‘Tis funny because Tilbury House Publishers were on the look out for reviewers for two of their elephant books and they happened to catch me Twittering about well – elephants.  It’s like they read my mind, because I was thinking that reviewing some picture books about elephants would be a perfect tie-in to our own arrival here! I’ve reviewed other Tilbury titles and have enjoyed them. So I’m really excited to share two of their elephant titles with you.  But first, I have to share the baby with you!

(Photos attributed and copyrighted to the Hogle Zoo)

Isn’t she a cutie?!  I can’t wait to go visit my first baby elephant on Friday.  If any of my local readers are  planning on going bright and early in the morning, do let me know.

Let’s talk about elephant books!

Both Tarra and Carol have unusual lives and it’s in this photo essay entitled  Travels with Tarra by Carol Buckley that Carol shares with us her unusual relationship with Tarra, who happens to be an elephant.  Imagine sitting at home doing homework when you look up and see a baby elephant walking down the sidewalk.  For Carol that’s exactly what happened and it was love at first sight.

Tarra belonged to a tire store owner who bought her from an elephant broker (who literally snatched Tarra from her herd in Burman and shipped to the U.S.).  Tarra served as a mascot for this tire shop and the owner hoped that she would bring in more money.

Carol visited the tire shop so often that she soon became her caretaker and even took the elephant home with her night.  Tarra was still very much a baby and needed the physical and emotional contact that every baby needs.  For Tarra that need was accomplished through Carol and they became the best of friends.

Carol purchased Tarra and for twenty years the two of them traveled the world in shows, circuses and even making an appearance in the movie Annie.  Tarra loved to perform and was generally a very happy elephant.  But she would also get tired of the same tricks and Carol had to be inventive on how to keep her entertained.  There were a few times that she was kept in a zoo but ultimately Carol knew that Tarra was happiest with lots of room to run around.  She purchased 800 acres and founded The Elephant Sanctuary.  It’s not a zoo or a theme park in the sense that it’s not open to the public, but rather, I thought of it as more as a retirement home for elephants.  A place where they could live with other elephants and roam and play openly.

Travels with Tarra did an excellent job conveying how social elephants are.  They need attention and touch.  They truly care and comfort each other.  It also illustrates how many elephants were cared for by ignorant owners (the tire shop owner would literally drive Tarra home in the trailer, turn off the lights and go to bed – leaving her alone for hours in a very small space).  Although, Tarra loved to perform she was always the happiest when she had the opportunity to just run around in open space.

The Elephant Sanctuary has recently received a lot of media coverage and I found Travels with Tarra a good book to introduce me to the sanctuary and its background.  It would make for a good read-a-loud book in the classroom or in your home with your children.

Just for Elephants also by Carol Buckley is the story of two other elephants at the Sanctuary.  Shirley had lived a long life.  She had performed in a circus and after breaking her leg and being unable to perform tricks was sold to a zoo.  After many years with the zoo, it was decided to move Shirley to The Elephant Sanctuary where she could live out the rest of her life roaming freely with other elephants.

When she arrived, she was greeted by another elephant named Jenny who just happened to be a baby elephant in Shirley’s circus many years earlier.  The old adage, “elephants do remember” is only too true and these two elephants instantly remembered each other, stood close together.  They touched each other affectionately and often wrapped their trunks together.  They became inseparable best friends.  I enjoyed learning how the elephants lived in the sanctuary and the importance of friendships to them.

The narration in both Travels with Tarra and Just for Elephants left just a bit to be desired in its simplicity.  In Just for Elephants, I was taken a bit out of the story when the entire book was told from a third person omniscient and then at the end the author inserts herself in the story and switched to first person with the use of I.  I wouldn’t let this override your pleasure of either book, but thought that I would mention it.  Both books are full of large photographs which my children enjoyed very much.

Carol Buckley has a new book entitled Tarra & Bella: The Elephant and Dog Who Became Best Friends which comes out in just under a week and published by Putnam Juvenile.  The Elephant Sanctuary has created the following video about Tarra and her elephant friends and it’s my pleasure to exclusively debut it here on the Maw Books Blog!

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The Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee is the nation’s largest natural habitat refuge developed solely for endangered African and Asian elephants. It operates on 2,700 acres.  For every 100 copies of their elephant books sold, Tilbury House has pledged to sponsor a much-needed item from the Sanctuary’s wish list. These gifts will include 100 lbs of peanut butter (a favorite treat), a day’s worth of meals for one elephant (including more than 10lbs of fruits & veggies and 100 lbs of hay!), and an elephant-sized piece of land (to support the Sanctuary’s recent expansion.)  This “Trunk Sale” will run through the end of this year December 31st.

Giveaway!

Tilbury Publishers is sponsoring this giveaway of the following titles:

• Copy of Just for Elephants signed by Sanctuary co-founder Carol Buckley
• Copy of Travels With Tarra signed by Carol and stamped by Tarra the Elephant
• Package of Tilbury House Animal Books— The Goat Lady, Thanks to the Animals, and an advance copy of Bear-ly There.

The publisher will draw 3 lucky winners from all of those who comment on any of the participating tour posts from Sept. 1-9, and announce the winners on Sept 10th.  Open to U.S. and Canada.  Other stops on this tour this week are  Reading Rumpus, Sacred Elephants, Read These Books and Use Them!, Shelf Elf,  Bees Knees, Through The Looking Glass, and ending Tuesday the 8th with Bri Meets Books.

To enter this giveaway, simply answer this question:  have you ever seen a baby elephant? As you can tell, I’m a tad excited.  Am I in for a treat?

Links of interest:  The Elephant Sanctuary website is very in-depth and a fantastic resource.  It also includes a curriculum for teachers for an in-depth study of elephants.
Just for Elephants Genre:  Picture Book, non-Fiction.  Approx. ages 9-12
Publisher:  Tilbury House.  November 15, 2006.
Hardcover, 32 pages.  ISBN 0884482839
Just for Elephants is available from your favorite independent bookstore, Powell’s and Amazon.

Travels with Tarra Genre:  Young Adult, non-fiction photo essay.
Publisher:  Tilbury House.  July 2002.
Hardcover, 40 pages.  ISBN  0884482413
Travels with Tarra is available from your favorite independent bookstore, Powell’s and Amazon.

Tarra & Bella Genre:  Picture book, non-fiction.  Approx ages 4-8.
Publisher:  Putnam Juvenile.  September 8, 2009
Hardcover, 32 pages.  ISBN  0399254439
Tarra & Bella is available from your favorite independent bookstore, Powell’s and Amazon.

Zlata’s diary begins as any other eleven-year-olds diary would:  talk of vacations, friends, school, teachers, MTV, pizza, Michael Jackson, and sleeping in on the weekends.  The first entry in fifth grade begins, “Behind me – a long, hot summer and the happy days of summer holidays; ahead of me – a new school year.”

It is just a short month and a half into her journal that the war enters her life:

There’s a real war going on in Dubrovnik.  It’s being badly shelled.  People are in shelters, they have no water, no electricity, the phone’s aren’t working.  We see horrible pictures on TV.  Mommy and Daddy are worried.  Is it possible that such a beautiful town is being destroyed?

Little does Zlata know but those words echo a prophecy that will soon come true in her own life.  It isn’t long before the war moves to Sarejevo.  She slowly watches the life that she knew crumble all around her.  She readily admits that she doesn’t understand the politics of the war nor why people have to be so cruel as to kill each other.

Zlata’s story is one that is difficult to summarize.  I’ve decided that I will randomly pick some passages from the book in a chronological order from beginning to near end.  No rhyme or reason to the passages picked.  Just opened the page and see where it took me.

I’m watching the American Top 20 on MTV.  I don’t remember a thing, who’s in what place.

I feel great because I’ve just eaten a “Four Seasons” Pizza with ham, cheese, ketchup and mushrooms.  It was yummy.  Daddy brought it for me at Galija’s (the pizzeria around the corner).  Maybe that’s why I didn’t remember who took what place – I was too busy enjoying my pizza.

I’m not going to school.  All the schools in Sarajevo are closed.  There’s danger hiding in these hills above Sarajevo.  But I think things are slowly calming down.  The heavy shelling and explosions have stopped. There’s occasional gunfire, but it quickly falls silent.  Mommy and Daddy aren’t going to work.  They’re buying food in huge quantities.  Just in case, I guess.  God forbid!

Two shells exploded in the street and one in the market.  Mommy was nearby at the time . . .  Daddy and I were besides ourselves because she hand’t come home  . . . We kept going to the window hoping to see Mommy, but she wasn’t back.  They released a list of the dead and wounded.  Daddy and I were tearing our hair out.  We didn’t know what had happened to her.  Was she alive? . . . I looked out the window one more time and  . . . I SAW MOMMY RUNNING ACROSS THE BRIDGE.  As she came into the house she started shaking and crying.  Through her tears she told us how she had seen dismembered bodies . . . Thank God, Mommy is with us.  Thank God.  A HORRIBLE DAY.  UNFORGETTABLE.  HORRIBLE! HORRIBLE!

I have another sad piece of news for you.  A boy from my drama club got KILLED!  A shell fell in fron the community center and a horrible piece of shrapnel killed him.

Today is Alma’s birthday . .  .  We had a super time, but . . . .I looked out the window and saw a flash. . . BOOM!!  Shattered glass, falling plaster . . . The birthday party wasn’t bad, but it would have been better if that shell hadn’t spoiled it.

. . . we are living in fear, we are suffering, we are not enjoying the sun and flowers, we are not enjoying our childhood.  WE ARE CRYING.

Well, I don’t want to write out the whole book for you but suffice it to say that this is a book that I will long remember.  And it’s one that I was constantly questioning what I was doing in my safe, sheltered life while Zlata was living a nightmare.  A nightmare of constant fear, hunger, coldness, hiding, and where getting water is a life or death feat.  I believe that I’m only a year older than Zlata so seeing the dates really put a perspective on the book.  She was even a huge New Kids on the Block fan!  Despite our shared commonality because Zlata lived in another part of the world her childhood was war torn while mine was much different.

Books like this are always worth reading.  Now I’m off to find out where she is now . . .

Genre:  Young Adult, Non-Fiction/Diary
Publisher:  Scholastic.  January 1994
Paperback, 200 pages.  ISBN:  0590487922
Zlata’s Diary, A Child’s Life in Sarajevo is available from your favorite independent bookstore, Powell’s, and Amazon.

Two things that I wanted to accomplish with this post today was to share with you a video of Tom Gonzalez describing the illustration process and then give a book away!

In this video Thomas Gonzalez shares his background, how he got involved with 14 Cows For America, and the process of illustrating what is specifically one of my favorite spreads of the entire book.

The illustrations are stunning.

If you’d like to bring this gorgeous book into your home, you’re in luck!  Peachtree Publishers is giving one away.  To enter, simply answer this question.  It’s a pretty deep one but at the heart of this book.  Where were you and what were you doing on September 11, 2001? Wilson Kimeli Naiyomah was in New York City attending school.  When he returned back home to Kenya, he brought his stories and compassion with him.  Thus the basis of the story of 14 Cows For America.

Giveaway open to U.S and Canada and will close in a week on the 12th.  Although I’m making it easy this time around w/ no extra entries etc. PLEASE spread the word about this particular giveaway.  It’s such a special book.

Links of interest: Maw Books review of 14 Cows for America, 14 Cows website with further study, teachers guide and more (still under construction), read more book reviews on the blog tour, Carmen Agra Deedy website, Thomas Gonzalez website.

Do not let this unassuming cover fool you.  14 Cows for America by Carmen Agra Deedy in collaboration with Wilson Kimeli Naiyomah and illustrated by Thomas Gonzalez is a purely stunning picture book.  When I finished reading the author’s note at the end, I had tears rolling down my cheeks.  It’s a book that I think everybody needs to pick up and read both for it’s truly heartening, beautiful story and for it’s spectacular illustrations.

I usually don’t start off my book reviews with the book trailer but in this case I am because I want you to first see the amazing spreads of this book.

In June of 2002, Kimeli Naiyomah returns home to his native Kenya and the Maasai tribe after studying abroad in New York City.  Kimeli was there on September 11, 2001 and watched the devastation upon his host country.  When he returns home,

A child asks if he has brought any stories.
Kimeli nods.

He has brought with him one story.
It has burned a hole in his heart.

And so he tells of buildings so tall that they can touch the sky, fires so hot they can melt iron and smoke, dust so thick they can block out the sun.  A story that this village in Kenya had not yet heard.

The story ends.
More than three thousand souls are lost.
A great silence falls over the Maasai.

Kimeli waits.
He knows his people.

They are fierce when provoked
but easily moved to kindness
when they hear of suffering
or injustice.

At least, an elder speaks.
He is shaken, but above all, he is sad.
“What can we do for these poor people?

As a child, Kimeli’s greatest ambition was to own a cow for his mother which is an animal that is the heart and soul of the Maasai tribe.  He knows that to heal the pain in someone’s heart, you must give something that is close to your own heart.  Now that he has earned enough for a cow, he asks the elders to bless a cow,  “to make it special so the gift may take away some of the sadness from American hearts.”

The tribe is not content with just a gift of one cow and so they sacrifice from their own herd and give America a total of 14 cows which is presented in a beautiful, sacred ceremony.  In the afterward Kimeli says, “We felt we had taken some of America’s pain into our Maasai hearts.”

14 Cows For America left me with profound compassion and respect for the Maasai people.  I was truly touched.

The text of 14 Cows For America by Carmen Agra Deedy is simply beautiful and at the end of the book there is a note from Kimeli Naiyomah which fleshes out more of the details about his childhood, the 14 cows, and where those cows are now.

The story itself is beautiful enough that it could stand on it’s own regardless of the illustrations that accompany it but it’s truly remarkable that the strongest strength of this book is its stunning illustrations.  My husband called them “haunting, mysterious and alive.”  Thomas Gonzalez has set the tone for the story perfectly.

My two favorite illustrations are first when Kimeli is describing the 9/11 destruction and there is a swirl of color and clouds above him and the other is when the diplomat arrives in a jeep to the Maansai tribe and realizes that it’s no ordinary diplomatic visit but rather . . . turn the page and BAM! in your face full tribal splendor, dance and ceremony movement.  Truly spectacular.  I almost feel as though my meager words are giving the illustrations a disservice.  So if you didn’t watch the above book trailer go back and do so.

Tomorrow I’ll be posting a video of Thomas Gonzalez as he describes the illustration process and offering a copy of 14 Cows for America to you as a giveaway sponsored by Peachtree Publishers.  This book is one that you don’t want to miss so please a make a point of stopping by again.  Edited to add:  giveaway link.

A truly wonderful book that I’m proud to have in my home.

Links of interest: 14 Cows website with further study, teachers guide and more (still under construction), read more book reviews on the 14 Cows for America blog tour, Carmen Agra Deedy website, Thomas Gonzalez website, and more book blog reviews.  Edited to add:  14 Cows for America giveaway and Thomas Gonzalez illustration process.  Come share your thoughts about 9/11.
Genre:  Non-Fiction Picture Book, Africa
Publisher:  Peachtree Publishers, August 1, 2009.
Hardcover, 36 pages.  ISBN 1561454907.
14 Cows for America is available from your favorite independent bookstore, Powell’s, and Amazon.

After the revolutionary war and America’s declaration of independence from England, thirteen states each governed themselves independently, similar to small countries.  Did you know that each state used it’s own currency?  Not I.  But I do now.  Soon realizing that a strong national government was needed the Constitutional Convention was called and for four hot months an in upmost secrecy, delegates from the thirteen states hammered out the foundation for the current model of government in the United States and on September 17th, 1787 the United States Constitution was signed.

The text from Unite or Die is concise and informative.  Jules explains the background of the United States, why a national government was needed, how and which issues the delegates debated and how the constitution was created as a living document, intended to be fluid and changing for a nation that was still growing with issues not yet discovered.

The rest of the story is told in the form of a school play, which stems from Jules own experience as a elementary school librarian who wrote such a skit for her own students to celebrate Constitution Day.  Thirteen child cast members each represent a state and they literally fight it out on stage in their homemade costumes in front of their adoring parents.  There is a lot of amusing and informative bubble text which fills in gaps from the text.  Jef Czekaj is a popular Nickelodeon illustrator and although as a parent, it’s not a style I particularly like, kids will enjoy the familiar style.

Jules also includes an afterword and notes about particular statements made throughout the book.  A bibliography is also included for further study on the Constitution.

So what fun facts did I come away with?  Benjamin Franklin traveled to Independence Hall in a sedan chair carried on poles by four men because at 81 he was to old to ride in a carriage.  The meeting was held in secrecy so the delegates could discuss issues freely without worrying about the press or public reactions.  It was Roger Sherman who saved the day and turned the meeting around when he presented the Great Compromise:  every state, regardless of size, would have two representatives in the Senate, and representation based on population in the House of Representatives.  And originally, the vice president would be the runner up in the election.  Can you imagine?

Unite or Die is the type of book that kids won’t even realize that they are learning.  I love sneaky books.

Happy Independence Day!

Links of interest:  Jacqueline Jules website, Jef Czekaj’s website, Unite or Die book trailer, read the constitution for yourself.
Genre:  Non-Fiction Picture Book, ages 9-12
Publisher: Charlesbridge Publishing.  February 1, 2009.
Paperback, 48 pages.  ISBN:  158089190X
Unite or Die, How Thirteen States Became a Nation is available from your local independent bookstore, Powell’s, and Amazon.

Passage to Freedom is a story that illustrates that there were Japanese who did heroic things during World War II.  Told from the point of view of five-year-old Hiroki Sugihara, the eldest son of the Japanese consul to Lithuania, Hiroki and his family were friends to all.  Although Japanese, they were invited to celebrate Hanukkah with their Jewish neighbors.  One early morning in July, Hiroki’s life changes forever when hundreds of people began to crowd around the gate of their front house.

Although young, Hiroki recognized the fear in their eyes and their haggard dress.  As Jews from Poland escaping Nazi soldiers, they had all come to see his father and ask if he would give them visas to be able to officially travel to Japan and from there to another country and ultimately freedom.  There were hundreds of refugees and Hiroki’s father could only issue a few and thus would need permission from his superiors in Japan.  When Japan refused, he asked again and when they refused a second time he said, “I have to do something.  I may have to disobey my government, but if I don’t, I will be disobeying God.”

He spoke to the crowd which continually grew larger and made his decision with these words, “I will issue visas to each and every one of you to the last.  So, please be patient.”  For an entire month, there was a line of Polish Jews at their door.  From early morning to late at night, he issued more than three hundred visas.  When the Germans approached and the Soviets ordered his father to leave, they stayed in a hotel and still continued to write visas.  When it was time for the family to leave, refugee’s slept at the train station in hopes of receiving a visa before he left.  It is said that as the train pulled away, refugees ran alongside the train with Hiroki’s father handing permission papers out the window.  He was that dedicated to saving as many lives as he could.

Hiroki Sughihara wrote the afterword and I found it fascinating.  In 1985, his father received the “Rightous Among Nations” Award from the famous Holocaust memorial, Yad Vashem.  He was the first and only Asian to have been given the honor.  In 1992, six years after his death, a monument to his father was dedicated in his birthplace on a hill known as the Hill of Humanity.  He also heard from many “Sugihara survivors” who still had and treasured their visas that saved their lives.

Dom Lee’s monochromatic wax paintings, in which he scratches out the images are wonderful.  It is a style that I have not seen before, but man, it works.  As far as the text goes, the only thing I would be critical about is that I couldn’t find what Hiroki’s father’s name was anywhere.  I wonder how this piece of information is missing?  Or maybe I just missed it somewhere?  Because the story is told from Hiroki’s point of view as a five-year-old I didn’t even notice this until I was writing this review.

I loved discovering this hero of World War II.  I’d highly recommend Passage to Freedom:  The Sugihara Story for all those who would like to newly discover or revisit this amazing story about a man who’s compassion for others is inspiring.

In addition to Passage to Freedom, Ken Mochizuki is also the author of the picture books Be Water, My Friend:  The Early Years of Bruce Lee,  Baseball Saved Us, Heroes, and the young adult novel Beacon Hill Boys.  Ken Mochizuki joins us today in an amazing author interview (I’m biased, I think all of my interviews are amazing, but in this case, it really is amazing!).  Do go read it.  That is after you read my other reviews of his books that will be posted today as well.

Moses: When Harriet Tubman Led Her People to Freedom

Harriet Tubman relied deeply upon her faith in God.  Her journey back and forth is very much a spiritual journey, as the voice of God guides her.  Told in a lyrical text that incorporates the voice of both Harriet and God, the story flows well.  I also loved the use of font.   Enhancing the reading experience is a comprehensive author’s note that details the life of Harriet Tubman as well as a forward putting the text into context.

The illustrations by Kadir Nelson are dynamic, beautiful, and striking.  Well deserved of the Caldecott.  A picture book that should be read to all especially to introduce the story of one of the Underground Railroad’s most inspiring figures.

Visit Carole Boston Weatherford website and Kadir Nelson’s website.

Moses: When Harriet Tubman Led Her People to Freedom is part of my themed reading for the month of February which celebrates Black History Month.  Join me this month as I explore books that celebrate the history of African-Americans.  Also reviewed this month: Voice that Challenged a Nation: Marian Anderson and the Struggle for Equal Rights by Russel Freedman, Letters from a Slave Girl, The Story of Harriet Jacobs by Mary E. Lyons, The Story of Ruby Bridges by Robert Coles, The Slave Dancer by Paula Fox,  Barack Obama: Son of Promise, Child of Hope by Nikki Grime, The Well by Mildred D. Taylor,  Freedom Walkers, The Story of the Montgomery Bus Boycott by Russell Freedman, Through My Eyes by Ruby Bridges and  Show Way by Jacqueline Woodson.  Other reviews of interest:  A Thousand Never Evers by Shana Burg, Yankee Girl by Mary Ann Rodman.