Doreen Rappaport
Walking through the copse overlooking the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia, Doreen Rappaport was completely at home in the woodland setting, since she lives part of her life in rural Copake Falls in New York State.(She lives the other half of the time in New York City where she thrives on the music and theatre.) We were enjoying the late afternoon sun and anticipating the sunset over the foothills after having attended the Shenandoah University Children's Literature Conference. Ms Rappaport entertained everyone present with her witty comments and observations about life. Obviously capable of being the "life of a party," she has an extremely observant nature and a heart filled with compassion for others. Having grown up in a musical family, her father was a musical arranger and her mother a singer, she was well prepared to pursue her own music degree from Brandeis University. She taught music (and reading) and became involved in the Civil Rights Movement in the 60's. Her commitment to the people of McComb MS, where she taught in a freedom school, influenced her decision to research and write about the "unsung heroes." She felt compelled to write about the extraordinary "ordinary" people who made such a difference for the continuing development of our country. And so, she began her efforts to delve into the lives of a variety of people; people who exemplified bravery of a sort not usually expected from such "ordinary" humans. Her stories and biographies are acclaimed for their honest, yet human approach - we get the warts as well as the roses; but, we always get a glimpse of what was actually happening in the world during the era she portrays.
Because of her own love of music, she has written a number of books which open a new perspective on many of the songs used by different cultures to express their sadness at the loss of their freedom or their joy in anticipating freedom, even if it only comes in the next life. She has helped to preserve many spirituals and other "freedom songs" for future generations to learn of the miserable conditions many people endured to give our country its shape and regain its original purpose to serve as a land where freedom is the highest ideal.
At the Conference, Ms Rappaport kept the audience of several hundred teachers and librarians mesmerized with her explanations of how tone, rhythm, pace, and accents -- all musical concepts - have helped to form her writing style. She revealed her strenuous efforts in diligent research to get to the straightforward truth of a person's life. Having won many accolades, her collaborations with Bryan Collier and many other illustrators have received high praise and many honors. Doreen Rappaport's books are a springboard for discussions all across America and, indeed, all across the world. Her work gives readers the opportunity to learn from the past in an accessible, gentle, compassionate, and truthful way; while also inspiring them to consider how they might have behaved in similar situations.
To learn more about Doreen Rappaport visit her official website: www.doreenrappaport.com
Browse through the following reviews and seek out some of the titles to share with others, young or old - everyone can experience a bit of the bravery that she so poignantly reveals when she writes about her "ordinary" people.
Contributor: Sheilah Egan
Reviews
Dirt On Their Skirts: The Story of the Young Women Who Won the World Championship
Doreen Rappaport and Lyndall Callan
Pictures by E.B. Lewis
Rappaport and Callan have collaborated to bring to life the championship baseball game between the Racine Belles and the Rockford Peaches. It is told through the eyes of a young fan, Margaret, who has avidly followed the team. She is anxiously awaiting the outcome of the championship game, which is now at the bottom of the fourteenth inning and scoreless. The date is 1946 and the teams are part of the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League that was formed during World War II. The text offers the play-by-play action, while Lewis complements the action with scenes of the women players batting, running and sliding into home plate while dressed in their skirts. These women played a serious game of baseball and, when it was over, the fans really let loose cheering for the winning team. Margaret on her father's shoulders looks for her favorite player, Sophie Kurys, the one who brought home the winning run. Margaret looked at Betty's scraped knees and muses "You have to be tough to play baseball in a skirt." A great slice of Americana and a chance for kids to learn that women have been active in professional sports for many years. 2000, Dial/Penguin Putnam, $16.99. Ages 5 to 9. Reviewer: Marilyn Courtot (Children's Literature).
Best Books:
Adventuring with Books: A Booklist for Pre-K-Grade 6 13th Edition, 2002; National Council of Teachers of English; United States
Children's Catalog, Eighteenth Edition, 2001; H.W. Wilson; United States
School Library Journal Book Review Stars, March 2000; Cahners; United States
State and Provincial Reading Lists:
Emphasis on Reading, 2001-2002; Nominee; K-2; Alabama
Emphasis on Reading, 2001-2002; Nominee; Grades K-2; Alabama
ISBN: 0803720424
Escape from Slavery: Five Journeys to Freedom
Doreen Rappaport
Illustrated by Charles Lilly
Escaping from the binds of slavery meant facing the very real risk of torture or death for anyone with the misfortune of getting caught. But some slaves felt so strongly about living in freedom that they were willing to take the chance. Based upon actual accounts of slave escapes, Escape From Slavery examines the incredible odds five such individuals confronted in their determination to leave behind inhumane living conditions and wretched abuse. With its suspenseful tone and detailed illustrations, Escape From Slavery is a "must-read" for all young readers, as it brings into focus a shameful, but often forgotten, piece of American history. 1999 (orig. 1991), HarperTrophy, $4.95. Ages 9 to 12. Reviewer: Helen J. Gaush (Children's Literature).
Bravery is shaped by the person and the circumstances, not by a dictionary definition. The woman who risks her life and that of her 2-year-old to escape from being separated is one form of bravery. Rappaport has researched five stories of slaves who were willing to risk everything for freedom. Each tale is a thrilling episode in the work of the Underground Railroad. 1991, HarperCollins, $14.95 and $4395. Ages 9 to 12. Reviewer: Jan Lieberman (Children's Literature).
Best Books:
Adventuring with Books: A Booklist for Pre-K-Grade 6, Tenth Edition, 1993; National Council of Teachers of English; United States
Kaleidoscope, A Multicultural Booklist for Grades K-8, 1994; National Council of Teachers of English; United States
Middle And Junior High School Library Catalog, Eighth Edition, 2000; H.W. Wilson; United States
Middle and Junior High School Library Catalog, Ninth Edition, 2005; H.W. Wilson; United States
State and Provincial Reading Lists:
Iowa Children's Choice Award, 1995-1996; Nominee; Iowa
Utah Children's Book Awards, 1993; Nominee; Informational; Utah
ISBN: 0-06-021631-X
ISBN: 0-06-021632-8
ISBN: 0-06-446169-6
Free at last!: Stories and Songs of Emancipation
Doreen Rappaport
Illustrated by Shane W. Evans
Covering the years from Emancipation in 1863 to the 1954 Supreme Court decision ending school segregation, this is the middle book in a trilogy about the experience of black Americans in the United States. Using factual incidents and examples of experiences of specific people, Rappaport poignantly reveals the disappointment and anger experienced by black people as it became obvious that for many of them, the promise of the emancipation was hollow. Many continued to work in jobs akin to slavery or were arrested for bogus reasons and forced to do slave labor as part of prison chain gangs. The Ku Klux Klan terrorized black communities and lynchings of innocent men were common. The stories of some of the people who resisted such unfair treatment are included. Jane Kemper managed to find her young children and steal them back from her former owner. Harriett Postle patiently rocked her child as they sat atop the trap door hiding her husband. A. Philip Randolph led his fellow railroad porters in a protest march in Washington and pushed for integration in the armed forces. Jackie Robinson exhibited bravery as the first black baseball player. Thurgood Marshall and Robert Carter proved that "separate was not equal." Interspersed throughout these vignettes are songs and poems demonstrating the courage and spirit that sustained black Americans throughout this period of history. As in No More! Songs and Stories of Slave Resistance, Evans' large and vividly colored illustrations contribute to the meaning and message. A table of important dates, an artist's note, a bibliography, and an index contribute to the value of this book as a reference source. 2004, Candlewick Press, $19.99. Ages 8 to 14. Reviewer: Phyllis Kennemer, Ph.D. (Children's Literature).
Best Books:
Best Children's Books of the Year, 2004; Bank Street College of Education; United States
Booklist Book Review Stars, Feb. 15, 2004; United States
Children's Catalog, Eighteenth Edition, Supplement, 2005; H. W. Wilson; United States
Choices, 2005; Cooperative Children's Book Center; United States
Kirkus Book Review Stars, December 15, 2003; United States
Teachers' Choices, 2005; International Reading Association; United States
ISBN: 0763614408
Freedom River
Doreen Rappaport
Pictures by Bryan Collier
One dramatically told, suspense-filled incident based on fact brings the history of the Underground Railroad into focus for young readers. John Parker, an ex-slave who has bought his freedom, runs a business in Ripley, Ohio, only a thousand feet of Ohio River away from the slave state of Kentucky. He must twice dare the crossing to bring a family to freedom. The repetition of "Run, run," "Crawl, crawl," "Wait, wait," and "Listen, listen," raises the level of tension in the narrative. Collier's visual telling is equally dramatic, contributing a powerful emotional impact. He combines cut and torn patterned papers to create the settings, with modeled, painted faces in full-page scenes that are energized by the construction and combination. He includes vignettes of those he calls "protectors," spiritual ancestors painted with symbolic wavy lines on their faces to symbolize the river, the "key to freedom." The period map on the endpapers shows us the river, while notes fill in both the historic background and the motivations of author and illustrator. 2000, Jump at the Sun/Hyperion Books for Children, $14.99. Ages 5 to 9. Reviewers: Ken Marantz and Sylvia Marantz (Children's Literature).
Best Books:
Children's Catalog, Eighteenth Edition, Supplement, 2002; H.W. Wilson; United States
The Children's Literature Choice List, 2001; Children's Literature; United States
Kaleidoscope, A Multicultural Booklist for Grades K-8, Fourth Edition, 2003; National Council of Teachers of English; United States
Notable Books for Children, 2001; American Library Association-ALSC; United States
Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People, 2001; National Council for the Social Studies NCSS; United States
Recommended Literature: Kindergarten through Grade Twelve, 2002; California Department of Education; California
Awards, Honors, Prizes:
Coretta Scott King Awards Honor Book 2001 United States
Storytelling World Awards Honor 2001 Stories for Young Listeners United States
White Ravens Award Winner 2001 United States United States
State and Provincial Reading Lists:
Black-Eyed Susan Book Award, 2001-2002; Nominee; Picture Books; Maryland
Louisiana Young Readers' Choice Award, 2003; Nominee; Louisiana
ISBN: 0-7868-0350-9
ISBN: 0-7868-1229-X
ISBN: 0-7868-2291-0
Freedom Ship
Doreen Rappaport
Illustrated by Curtis James
With the same deft touch that this talented duo employed for The School Is Not White, this title presents a fictionalized account of an actual event based on newspaper accounts and details from the book From Slavery to Service: Robert Smalls, 1839-1915 written by Okon Edet Uya (Oxford University Press, 1971). Told from the viewpoint of the young boy Samuel, the story unfolds as he works on a merchant ship in Charleston's harbor while the Union ships blockade the port. Samuel's father and the first mate of the ship have formulated plans to take the "Planter," now loaded with Confederate cannons and "lots of ammunition" out of the main harbor and turn it over to the Union Army. Their determination to escape to freedom (and to prevent the cannons being used in the conflict of the Civil War) is such that they are committed to "blowing up the ship" if they cannot reach the protection of the Union vessels. The wives and children of some of the men involved scurry to the docks in the middle of the night and they are all terrified that their bid for freedom may end in tragedy. Rappaport tells the story with careful, succinct straightforward prose that builds with the drama of the escape but is not above the level of younger readers to comprehend. The illustrations cross the gutter creating 2/3 spreads, which leaves ample white space for the text--making it easy for reading aloud in a group setting. The facial expressions and the active movement of the pictures create tension as the brave men and women make their way to the ship and set off. Samuel's family and the others on the ship collectively hold their breath as each phase of the journey proceeds. After receiving permission to exit the harbor, they have to worry that the Union ships will fire on them; but when they raise Samuel's white bed sheet from the "Planters" mast they are accepted by the patrolling Union ships. Freedom is, indeed, theirs. As the back matter reveals, the actual story did not end there. The real Robert Smalls went on to become the captain of the "Planter" and later to be elected to the South Carolina state legislature. He also served five terms in the U. S. House of Representatives. In 1887, he became the customs collector for Beaufort, SC. A bibliography is included, as well as numerous web sites to learn more about Robert Small and "other brave African Americans." The end papers feature a "Plan of Charleston Harbor, And its Fortifications" compiled by Elliot and Ames in 1861. A photograph of "Robert Smalls. Captain of the Gunboat 'Planter'" is superimposed on the end papers giving a concrete look at an extremely brave man--a concrete example for all. 2006, Jump at the Sun/Hyperion Books, Ages 6 up, $15.99.
Reviewer: Sheilah Egan (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 0-7868-0645-1
In the Promised Land: Lives of Jewish Americans
Doreen Rappaport
Illustrated by Cornelius Van Wright and Ying-Hwa Hu
A Supreme Court justice, a famous movie producer, an astronaut, a scientist and ten more Jewish Americans are featured in this beautifully illustrated book. The author begins in the 1600s and travels through the centuries to contemporary Jewish American contributors. Each personality is accompanied by a beautiful watercolor portrait/portrayal and a one-page biography that reads like a short story. The author gives us a glimpse into each person's life and provides a context for their extraordinary work. This book informs young readers of the contributions of Jewish Americans to our country. The illustrations of the husband and wife team of Cornelius Van Wright and Ying-Hwa Hu are lifelike and artistic. The book includes a bibliography and suggests additional resources. This is a great addition for libraries. 2005, HarperCollins Children's Books, $15.99. Ages 5 up. Reviewer: Gilda R. Daniels (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 0-688-17150-8
ISBN: 0-06-059395-4
John's Secret Dreams: The Life of John Lennon
Doreen Rappaport
Illustrated by Bryan Collier
In their second collaboration, Rappaport and Collier merge image and word to relate the life and dreams of John Lennon. Rappaport arranges salient facts of John's central life events in free-verse lines that are sometimes spare and other times sing with rhythms that measure the fullness of Lennon's life. Throughout are Collier's '60s-style circles that illustrate events in John's life and imagery from his songs. Through words and pictures we view the sadness and loneliness of a young artistic boy who, deserted by his mother, retreated into a secret world of self-made stories, and we see the magical nature of John's music. These random elements weave in and out, creating patterns that are a textural tour of John's contributions to music, culture and peace. 2004, Hyperion, $16.95. Ages 7 to 12. Reviewer: Susie Wilde (Children's Literature).
This distilled picture book biography of John Lennon interweaves Rapport's spare and distilled text, phrases from Lennon's song lyrics, and Collier's exciting and adventuresome collages to create an artful whole. Readers need to know at the outset that Lennon was a songwriter and a Beatle in order to make much sense of a first reading. The story begins with Lennon's early abandonment by his parents, the influence of his relatives and of American music on his ideas, the early death of his mother, and his feeling of needing to keep his dreams to himself. The Beatles' rise to fame, Lennon's first encounter with Yoko Ono, and the experimental turns his music and his life took are mirrored in Collier's wonderfully creative and colorful evocations of bizarre images. For those who know the words, Lennon's song lyrics have readers completing verses only begun in the streams of words that banner the pages, and adult readers will recognize Collier's nod to record jacket images and photos from the press coverage at the time. The illustrations make good use of circles, both symbolic and literal (again, adults will recognize the shapes of 45-rmps floating in the backgrounds). The book ends abruptly, as did Lennon's life, with a mention of his hoping to grow old with Yoko, and his murder at forty. Rappaport ends with an admonition that "it's up to us to make John's dream for the world to come true" and a peace-loving quote from "Imagine." It is a fitting introduction for middle grade readers as well as an artful homage to a great poet and songwriter. A note by the author and illustrator reveals the challenges both faced because one grew up with Lennon's music and the other began as an outsider to it. A timeline, selected discography, a list of solo albums Lennon and Ono created, research sources, websites, and an excellent selection of selected references for young readers end the book. 2004, Hyperion, $16.99. Ages 9 to 14. Reviewer: Susan Hepler, Ph.D. (Children's Literature).
Best Books:
Middle and Junior High School Library Catalog, Ninth Edition, 2005; H.W. Wilson; United States
ISBN: 0-7868-0817-9
Martin's Big Words
Doreen Rappaport
Illustrated by Bryan Collier
Narrated by Michael Clarke Duncan
Martin Luther King, Jr. believed that love could conquer hate. Those are big words, indeed. His leadership during the Civil Rights movement kept the movement non-violent and, ultimately, helped make it successful. This story follows Martin's life from the time he was a boy and found big words and ideas in the bible to when he became a minister and began dreaming of a better future for everyone. The text is filled with Martin's ideas and his sense of hope for the future of all Americans. From the Montgomery bus boycott to his "I Have a Dream" speech in Washington, D.C., Martin Luther King, Jr. made a difference. The Caldecott Award-winning collage illustrations by Bryan Collier help tell this marvelous story. Weston Woods includes a teacher's guide on the inside cover of the videocassette complete with extension activities. Coretta Scott King Illustrator Award. Caldecott Honor Book. Closed-Captioned. Iconographic, 8 minutes. 2002, Hyperion Weston Woods/Scholastic, $60.00. Ages 5 to 12. Reviewer: Joan Kindig, Ph.D. (Children's Literature).
Awards, Honors, Prizes:
Storytelling World Awards Honor 2003 Stories for Young Listeners United States
ISBN: 0-78820-975-2
Martin's Big words: the Life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Doreen Rappaport
Illustrations by Bryan Collier
Beautiful it its simplicity, this small biography of Martin Luther King shines forth. Rappaport's text portrays King's childhood in two pages with his discovery that in spite of the "whites only" signs, his mother's words that "You are as good as anyone" would sustain him. When he sang hymns and read from the Bible in church, he vowed that he would grow up to "get big words." His career as a minister, being influenced by Gandhi, participation in the Montgomery Bus Boycott and subsequent civil rights marches, winning the Nobel Peace Prize, threats to his family and his death are touched upon. Each short paragraph ends with a memorable quote relevant to the subject of the page and many are familiar to adult readers. Instead of drawing from the "I have a dream" speech the quote about judging people by the content of their character, the author has selected--"I have a dream that one day in Alabama little black boys and black girls will join hands with little white boys and white girls as sisters and brothers." It is more accessible to the intended audience, if less ringing and memorable to the adult reader. Collier's stunning collage and bold watercolor illustrations are layered with meanings, textures, light and shadow. Stained glass windows, which appear in many of the illustrations, serve multiple symbolic purposes including providing light and a way of looking past where you are, says the illustrator in a front note. This is obviously a work of great care and love for the subject, a fine introduction and a fitting tribute to the Dr. King and his work. A chronology of important dates includes 1986 when Dr. King's birthday became a national holiday, and a fine selection of additional readings and web sites are suggested. 2001, Jump at the Sun/Hyperion, $16.49 and $15.99. Ages 4 to 9. Reviewer: Susan Hepler, Ph.D. (Children's Literature).
Yes, there have been a million biographies of Martin Luther King, Jr., but there's something special about Doreen Rappaport and Bryan Collier's Martin's Big Words: The Life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. This year it deservedly won both Coretta Scott King and Newbery honor awards. The uniqueness of this book is apparent before you ever open it; the cover bears only a large, smiling, monochromatic illustration of Martin Luther King. The title, author and illustrator are on the back. Opening to the end flaps, one sees the thoughtfulness, artistry and intriguing contrast of brightness and monochromes in Collier's stained glass window collage. His illustrations continue to compel readers through the book. The text begins with notes by author and illustrator. Rappaport notes that she was inspired by King's words, which were simple and direct, yet profound and poetic. Collier explains his use of stained glass as metaphors that blaze out at you like beams of light. The multitude of colors symbolize multi races...and allow you to look past where you are. The book's combination of text, layout and illustrations have a powerful emotional impact. Rappaport's spare style and prosaic words serve as a background to highlight King's quotations. These appear on every page, emphasized with color and size. Quotations like, "Hate cannot drive out hate. Only love can do that," could be read alone to show King's life, message and legacy. Rappaport's rhythmic, simplistic statements seem inspired by King's rousing sermons and are a tribute to both the man and his vision. 2001, Hyperion, $15.99. Ages 5 up. Reviewer: Susie Wilde (Children's Literature).
Best Books:
Adventuring with Books: A Booklist for Pre-K-Grade 6 13th Edition, 2002; National Council of Teachers of English; United States
The Best Children's Books of the Year, 2002; Bank Street College of Education; United States
Booklist Book Review Stars, Oct. 1, 2001; United States
Books About Relationships and Community-Building, 2002; Children's Book Council; United States
Books to Read Aloud to Children of All Ages, 2003; Bank Street College of Education; United States
Bulletin Blue Ribbons, 2001; Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books; United States
Capitol Choices, 2001; The Capitol Choices Committee; United States
Children's Books of Distinction, 2002; Riverbank Review; United States
Children's Catalog, Eighteenth Edition, Supplement, 2002; H.W. Wilson; United States
Children's Choices, 2002; International Reading Association; United States
Kirkus Book Review Stars, August 15, 2001; United States
Editors' Choice: Books for Youth, 2001; American Library Association-Booklist; United States
Los Angeles' 100 Best Books, 2001; IRA Children's Literature and Reading SIG and the Los Angeles Unified School District; United States
New York Times Notable Books, 2001; New York Times; United States
Notable Books for Children, 2002; American Library Association-ALSC; United States
Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People, 2002; National Council for the Social Studies NCSS; United States
School Library Journal Book Review Stars, October 2001; Cahners; United States
School Library Journal: Best Books, 2001; Cahners; United States
Teachers' Choices, 2002; International Reading Association; United States
Awards, Honors, Prizes:
ABC Children's Booksellers Choices Award Winner 2002 Non-Fiction United States
Coretta Scott King Awards Honor Book 2002 Illustrator United States
Great Lakes Great Book Award Honor Book 2004 Grades K-1 Michigan
Jane Addams Children's Book Award Winner 2002 Picture Book United States
New York Times Best Illustrated Children's Books of the Year Winner 2001 United States
Orbis Pictus Award for Outstanding Nonfiction for Children Honor 2002 United States
Randolph Caldecott Medal Honor Book 2002 United States
State and Provincial Reading Lists:
Black-Eyed Susan Book Award, 2002-2003; Nominee; Picture Books; Maryland
Great Lakes Great Book Award, 2003-2004; Nominee; Grades Pre-K-1st; Michigan
Kentucky Bluegrass Award, 2003; Nominee; Kentucky
Monarch Award, 2005; Nominee; K-3; Illinois
Prairie Bud Award, 2003-2004; Nominee; Grades K-3; South Dakota
Red Clover Children's Choice Picture Book Award , 2002-2003; Nominee; Vermont
South Carolina Book Awards, 2003-2004; Nominee; Children's Book Award; South Carolina
Standards of Learning Information
Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People, 2002; Culture-I; Time, Continuity and Change-II; Civic Ideals and Practices-X; National Council for the Social Studies NCSS
ISBN: 0-7868-0714-8
ISBN: 0-7868-2591-X
No More!: Stories and Songs of Slave Resistance
Doreen Rappaport
Illustrated by Shane Evans
February brings Black History Month, with No More! paying tribute to slaves who fought for their dignity and freedom. In these stories and songs of slave resistance, Doreen Rappaport draws upon historical records and memoirs to tell of Frederick Douglas, who struck the white man whipping him, of Nat Turner, leader of an uprising, of Suzie King Taylor, who learned to read and write in secret. Rappaport explains the hidden meanings behind spirituals such as "Gospel Train" (about the Underground Railroad) and "Go Down Moses" (about Harriet Tubman). These powerful stories are well matched by Shane Evans's compelling oil paintings. 2002, Candlewick, $17.99. Ages 7 up. Reviewer: Mary Quattlebaum (Children's Literature).
The songs once sung by slaves were sometimes their only way to express frustration as well as hopes for freedom because often their masters did not grasp the underlying meaning to the words. A number of such songs are interspersed with stories of slave experiences. Although some of the characters are composites and some of the descriptions are the author's words, she relied heavily upon autobiographies, slave narratives, folktales and transcripts of interviews, thereby creating compelling stories yet maintaining the integrity and authenticity of the historical period. The illustrations, done in oil, are expressive and capture the tone of the text. The book begins with the poem, "My Pa Was Never Slave" by Harriet Wheatley, expressing the thought that her Pa could look beyond those who made him a slave and his thoughts offered freedom. The individual stories of those enslaved, including the horrific journeys they endured, have a strong emotional effect upon the reader because they ring true and because the individuals come across as real people who are presented as more than victims of a cruel practice. 2002, Candlewick Press, $17.99. Ages 9 to 12. Reviewer: Carolyn Mott Ford (Children's Literature).
Best Books:
The Best Children's Books of the Year, 2003; Bank Street College of Education; United States
Children's Catalog, Eighteenth Edition, Supplement, 2003; H.W. Wilson; United States
The Children's Literature Choice List, 2002; Children's Literature; United States
Kirkus Book Review Stars, January 1, 2002; United States
Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People, 2003; National Council for the Social Studies NCSS; United States
School Library Journal Book Review Stars, February 2002; Cahners; United States
Awards, Honors, Prizes:
Flora Stieglitz Straus Award for Nonfiction Winner 2002 United States
Standards of Learning Information
Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People, 2003; Culture-I; People, Places and Environments-III; Individual Development and Identity-IV; National Council for the Social Studies NCSS
ISBN: 0763609846
The School Is Not White!: A True Story of The Civil Rights Movement
Doreen Rappaport
Illustrated by Curtis James
This story might be an eye-opener to those students unaware of the impact of segregation just a few decades ago and of the courage needed to challenge the existing order of the time. The laws had been changed, but not all hearts. Focusing on one family, the first in the district to send their children to the white-only school, the author is able to personalize their struggles and fears. Despite threats and ill treatment, Mae Bertha and Matthew Carter sent their children to the all-white school in 1965 in Drew, Mississippi. Although church groups and civil rights activists aided them, their difficulties persisted. Nonetheless, the Carters were determined that their children would get a good education and have better choices than their parents. It took time, but eventually other black children signed up to attend the white school. It is particularly inspiring to read the short bios of the Carter children in the back of the book because they, the children of share croppers, succeeded educationally and were the embodiment of their parents' dream of a better life for their children. This material would have a far stronger impact if it had been included in the body of the text. 2005, Jump at the Sun/Hyperion Books for Children, $16.99. Ages 5 to 9. Reviewer: Carolyn Mott Ford (Children's Literature).
Doreen Rappaport uses a rhythmic, image-filled style to portray a real family's fight for fairness in this title. Matthew and Mae Bertha Carter, 1965 Mississippi sharecroppers, know education is the way out of the cotton fields. Though threatening overseers and rifle shots pierce the walls and windows of their house, the Carters hold their children until their "trembling bodies quieted down," then send seven "off to war" at an all-white school "armed only with love." Prayer, love, and unwillingness to back down show the courage and resolve of one family that epitomizes the acts of many. Curtis James' chalk pastel illustrations record endless rows of cotton and angry faces, as well as the strong emotions of this family. 2005, Hyperion, $16.98. Ages 7 up. Reviewer: Susie Wilde (Children's Literature).
Best Books:
Best Children's Books of the Year, 2005; Bank Street College of Education; United States
Children's Book Sense Picks, Winter 2005-2006; Independent Booksellers Association; United States
Awards, Honors, Prizes:
SIBA Book Award Nominee 2006 United States
ISBN: 0-7868-1838-7
The Secret Seder
Doreen Rappaport
Illustrated by Emily Arnold McCully
During WWII, when Hitler took over France and began deporting Jews to concentration camps, some Jews pretended to be Catholics to escape. Rappaport tells the story of one such family from the point of view of young Jacques. It is the time of the Passover holiday, and Jacques is secretly learning the Four Questions to surprise his father at the Seder. His mother is afraid that it is dangerous for Jacques to go to the hidden Seder, but Jacques reminds her that they had promised his grandfather to celebrate Passover "no matter what." They fearfully avoid Nazi soldiers as they climb through the woods and up the mountain to arrive at a shack where others have gathered, and do their best to go through the ceremony with what they have. They keep the hope and faith of Passover in their hearts as the Seder ends. McCully's somber-toned watercolors tell the visual story that parallels the text. She details the uniformed "black boots," the small-town streets, the roughly dressed Jews, and the candle-lit hovel in which they celebrate the meager holiday ritual. She packs these scenes with the emotions of both fear and hope. More facts and sources of further information on Passover and the Holocaust are included. 2005, Hyperion Books for Children, $16.99. Ages 5 to 9. Reviewer: Ken Marantz and Sylvia Marantz (Children's Literature).
Best Books:
Children's Catalog, Eighteenth Edition, Supplement, 2005; H. W. Wilson; United States
Notable Children's Books of Jewish Content, 2006; Association of Jewish Libraries; United States
Publishers Weekly Book Review Stars, February 14, 2005; Cahners; United States
ISBN: 0-7868-0777-6
United No more!: Stories of the Civil War
Doreen Rappaport and Joan Verniero
Illustrated by Rick Reeves
The seven well-written pieces in this book do not appear to have an overarching theme, but they do illustrate notable events or experiences in the War Between the States. There is the story of how Julie Ward Howe wrote the "Battle Hymn of the Republic;" the experience of Eugenia Philips in a Union prison; the story of a Richmond, Virginia, woman during food riots; of Farragut's attack on Mobil Bay; of a black Union soldier's role in the attack on Fort Wagner in South Carolina; of newspaperman Noah Brooks's recollection of President Lincoln's second inaugural speech, "malice toward none and charity for all." The collection ends with the surrender at Appomattox Courthouse. "In some instances," the author states in the forward, "where we could not find every detail, we fictionalized some details, based on historical research." The fictionalized parts are listed in the source notes. 2006, HarperCollins, $15.99. Ages 8 to 12. Reviewer: Michael L. Cooper (Children's Literature).
Best Books:
Kirkus Book Review Stars, Dec. 1, 2005; United States
ISBN: 978-0-06-050599-8
ISBN: 0-06-050599-0
ISBN: 978-0-06-050600-1
ISBN: 0-06-050600-8
Victory Or Death!: Stories of the American Revolution
Doreen Rappaport and Joan Verniero
Illustrated by Greg Call
The exploits of eight heroes of the American Revolution, some famous, others unknown, are told in story form and, while the authors acknowledge fictionalizing some details, they have depended heavily upon historical research. The book is broken down in chapters and includes George Washington's crossing of the Delaware as well as the plea by Abigail Adams in one of her many letters to her husband, that as they write the new laws, they "Remember the Ladies" and "Do not put such unlimited power into the hands of the husbands." The story of Grace Growden Galloway, who refused to abandon her home and lose the inheritance she wished to leave to her daughter, is fascinating as is that of James Armistead, a slave who acted as a spy for the colonists. Lists of important happenings, detailed acknowledgments and sources, along with suggestions for further study are offered for young students. 2003, HarperCollins, $16.99. Ages 8 to 12. Reviewer: Carolyn Mott Ford (Children's Literature).
Best Books:
Children's Catalog, Eighteenth Edition, Supplement, 2005; H. W. Wilson; United States
Kirkus Book Review Stars, April 1, 2003; United States
Awards, Honors, Prizes:
Beacon of Freedom Award Winner 2005 United States
ISBN: 0-06-029515-5
ISBN: 0-06-029516-3
Added 07/26/06
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