Review of Whirligigs

The Wondrous Windmills of Vollis Simpson's Imagination

A TRUE TALE WITH

A CHERRY ON TOP

Calkins Creek

(Astra Books for Young Readers)

(pub. 11.12.2024)

32 pages

Ages 7 -10

Author: Carole Boston Weatherford

   Illustrator: Edwin Fotheringham

Character: Vollis Simpson

Overview for Review of The Fabulous Fannie Farmer:

" Vollis Simpson was a man with a curious mind—always eager to know how things worked and how to fix them. Growing up on a farm in North Carolina, he loved to tinker with machines. And when he served in the Army Air Corps during WWII, Vollis kept right on tinkering. His ingenuity allowed him to build things no one would have thought to create from scraps—a washing machine out of airplane parts and a motorcycle out of a bike. 

After the war, his passion for metal creations picked up speed—turning into a whirlwind of windmills as far as the eye could see. Luckily, Vollis’s fanciful and colorful windmills have been preserved at a park in Wilson, NC, where visitors can behold his magnificent and towering creations forever whizzing in the air.."

Tantalizing taste:

"Vollis made birds, dogs, horses,

airplanes, cyclists, lumberjacks,

and a guitar player inspired by his son.

With fan blades catching the wind,

bike wheels revolving,

mirrors and reflectors beaming,

and chimes tinkling,

Vollis's noisemaking, mechanical marvels

put little Lucama on the map.

CLINK-PLINK-WHOOSH-SCREEE!"`

And something more: The author, Carole Boston Weatherford, shared in the Author's Note: "When Vollis Simpson began building whirly gigs at age 65, the locals thought he was wacky but his windmill farm in North Carolina became a roadside attraction, amusing and amazing travelers and school children alike.… Simpson created four whirly gigs for the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta… the whirly gigs have been named North Carolina's official folk art."

Review of A Flash of Color & Light

A Biography of Dale Chihuly

A TRUE TALE WITH

A CHERRY ON TOP

Cover of picture book biography A Flash of Color & Light

Little Bigfoot

(pub.10.15.2024)

48 pages

Ages 5 - 9

Author: Sharon Mentyka

   Illustrator: Shelley Couvillion

Character: Dale Chihuly

Overview:

" Travel along with Dale Chihuly on his life’s journey full of curiosity, discovery, teamwork, and perseverance as he overcomes challenges to become a glass artist of international acclaim.

Dale Chihuly’s early life presented many challenges, such as tragic losses in his family at a young age and an accident that left him blind in one eye, yet his resilience, hard work, and optimism taught him life-long skills that became inseparable from his body of work—incomparable glass creations."

Tantalizing taste:

"In gardens, galleries, and museums, visitors discovered Cylinders, Baskets, and Seaforms that seemed as if they'd been plucked out of nature; hothouses filled with blooming glass flowers just like in Dale's mother's garden; and canoes filled with glass Floats that recalled the marbles he played with as a boy.

Dale's pieces got bigger, bigger, and BIGGER still, until he was making some of the most enormous glass sculptures imaginable!"

And something more: At the back of the book, A Transformative Life explains that "Dale's lifelong love of the Pacific Northwest has been instrumental in nurturing the region's growth as a major glassblowing center - one that rivals Murano, Italy, where Dale first saw glassblowing teams at work. Today, more than one thousand glass artists live and work in the region, and the magnificent Chihuly Bridge of Glass welcomes visitors to his hometown of Tacoma."

Review of A Voice of Hope

The Myrlie Evers-Williams Story

A TRUE TALE WITH

A CHERRY ON TOP

Philomel

(pub. 9.24.2024)

40 pages

Ages 4 - 8

Author: Nadia Salomon

   Illustrator: London Ladd

Character: Myrlie Evers-Williams

Overview :

" Myrlie Evers-Williams’ voice is gentle yet strong, soft yet powerful. It is a soaring song of hope.

Myrlie’s voice didn’t start out that way. She was born into the segregated South and the beautiful brown color of her skin made her a target for hate. It meant she didn’t have the same opportunities as white children, and that meant her dream of playing music onstage one day would be harder to achieve. But this didn’t stop Myrlie.

As she grew, she marched for equal rights alongside her husband and activist, Medgar Evers. She fought against Jim Crow laws and for voting rights. She became the chair of the NAACP, and finally she realized her dream of performing at Carnegie Hall. After that, as a voice for hope and change, Myrlie spoke at President Obama’s second inauguration, inspiring a nation."

Tantalizing taste:

"Throughout her life, Myrlie had pushed against racism. She gave much of herself to impact change – and she never forgot her grandmother's words.

On that chilly January day, on the steps of the Capitol, Myrlie reminded the world that even a quiet voice can grow powerful.

Her voice rang out like a symphony –

Strong. Soft. Soaring.

And her words echoed hope."

And something more: The author, Nadia Salomon, shared in the Author's Note: "I interviewed Myrlie Evers–Williams one day before the anniversary of her late husband Medgar Ever's death…She graciously granted the interview because I was the only journalist in the room to ask about the significance of the photos on the poster board. She spoke about her life and explained why she chose those eight specific photos. Curiosity landed me a very heartfelt conversation with Ms. Evers-Williams. I learned a lot about her, her hurt, and her life's purpose. For that, I am grateful. I made a promise to one day do something special with the interview. I share it here in picture back book format for little hands and hearts to learn about her, her family's sacrifice, and her legacy."