Review of Wild Places

The Life of Naturalist David Attenborough

A TRUE TALE WITH

A CHERRY ON TOP

G.P. Putnam's Sons

(Penguin Random House)

(pub. 2.27.2024)

48 pages

Ages 4-8

Author: Hayley Rocco

   Illustrator: John Rocco

Character: David Attenborough

Overview:

" As a boy, David loved exploring the wild places near his home in England, collecting fossils, rocks, and newts. When he grew older, he got a job in television, where he had an idea for a new kind of show: He would travel to wild places all over the world to film animals in their natural habitats. Over the span of seven decades, David's innovative documentaries have been treasured by millions of people.

But as time went on, he noticed the wild places he loved were shrinking. What could David do to help? What could we all do?"

Tantalizing taste:

"But as time went on, David noticed that the wild places were shrinking, while the not-so-wild places kept on expanding.

'We are replacing the wild with the tame.'

"The animals were becoming more and more difficult to find.

There weren't as many fish in the sea.

There weren't as many birds in the sky...

The natural world he cared for was in trouble.

Humankind was in danger too...

He realized he had to share what he'd learned and what we needed to do to fix it.

'We must rewild the world. If we act now, we can yet put it right.'"

And something more: The Back Matter includes a section, "What Can You Do to Help?" which states: "It may seem like many of the problems and solutions ... are out of your control, and in some ways, that is true. While reducing, reusing, and recycling is a great start, most of these problems need to be solved through new laws at the local, state, national, and even global level. The people who make these laws need to hear your voice… The more people who do this, the more likely they will create laws that will protect our planet."

"It's surely our responsibility to do everything within our power to create a planet that provides a home not just for us, but for all life on Earth." - David Attenborough

Review of Jimmy's Rhythm & Blues

The Extraordinary Life of James Baldwin

A TRUE TALE WITH

A CHERRY ON TOP

Harper

(HarperCollins)

(pub. 1.30.2024)

48 pages

Ages 4- 8

Author: Michelle Meadows

   Illustrator: Jamiel Law

Character: James Baldwin

Overview:

" Before he became a writer, James “Jimmy” Baldwin was a young boy from Harlem, New York, who loved stories. He found joy in the rhythm of music, family, and books.

But Jimmy also found the blues, as a Black man living in America.

When he discovered the written word, he discovered true power. Writing gave him a voice. And that voice opened the world to Jimmy. From the publication of the groundbreaking collection of essays The Fire Next Time to his passionate demonstrations during the civil rights movement, Jimmy used his voice fearlessly."

Tantalizing taste:

"Jazz is passion purple,

paintbrushes, bebop, blues,

singing, swinging, soul.

On the advice of a friend, Jimmy met a painter.

Knocking on Beauford Delaney's door in Greenwich Village changed Jimmy's life.

Beauford was kind.

He introduced Jimmy to jazz and the blues,

to the stories of Black people tucked inside music,

to art, color, and light.

He showed Jimmy how to see with an artist's eyes."

And something more: In the Author's note, Michelle Meadows explains: "While writing this book, it moved me most to learn how James Baldwin found comfort in words from a young age. Words have always soothed me too. My mother says that when I was a child, I left little notes all around the house about how I was feeling. I hope this book inspires young readers to find joy and power through written expression."

Review of Unshakable Eleanor

How Our 32nd First Lady Used Her Voice

to Fight for Human Rights

A TRUE TALE WITH

A CHERRY ON TOP

Balzer + Bray

(HarperCollins)

(pub. 7.2.2024)

40 pages

Ages 4 - 8

Author: Michelle Markel

   Illustrator: Alejandro Mesa

Character: Eleanor Roosevelt

Overview:

" Before she became First Lady, Eleanor Roosevelt was a girl trying to find her voice.

As a young orphan, she was shy and made to feel like a failure. But every night, Eleanor would read her father’s letters, full of love and belief in her, and she used his words to help her face her fears.

She took them to school across the sea, where she excelled at her studies and helped other girls with theirs. And back to New York, where she volunteered in immigrant communities.

Using her voice to help others gave her courage. Eleanor began speaking out in bigger ways.

When her husband, Franklin, became president, she worked with—and learned from—leaders of marginalized groups, using her standing to fight for workers, women, and people of color. Every victory, big and small, drove Eleanor to do more."

Tantalizing taste:

"To many white citizens, especially in the South, Eleanor's behavior is scandalous. She's always in the news, rallying support for her causes. Some people think she's overstepped her bounds, as a woman and as a First Lady. Some say she's dangerous.

The press runs ugly cartoons, the FBI tracks her activities, the public sends vicious letters – one even asks Franklin to chain Eleanor up and muzzle her.

But they can't crush her dreams...

The truth is, change is slow and painful.

Is she discouraged? Yes.

Will she give up? Never.

Every small victory makes a difference."

And something more: Author Michelle Markel shared some thoughts with me about her inspiration for writing Unshakable Eleanor: "One of the most surprising things about Eleanor is that she was a shy, fearful girl - someone unlikely to succeed. She was made to feel like a failure, because she didn't inherit the beauty of her mother and aunts.  Luckily, a few nurturing figures helped Eleanor find her  inner strength.  Her father told her she had the makings of a noble young lady, her uncle (Teddy Roosevelt) threw her into the ocean to teach her how to swim, and the headmistress at her finishing school praised her intelligence and generosity. Which proves that a little encouragement goes a long way!" It certainly did, in Eleanor's case!

The Back Matter of the book includes detailed "Timeline of Eleanor Roosevelt's Life and Her Work for Human Rights", More about People of Color and Women During the Depression, "People of Color and Women During the New Deal", and "Mary McLeod Bethune (educator and civil rights advocate), Walter White (civil rights activist, investigator, and writer), and the Roosevelt Administration."

The wonderfully written story of Unshakable Eleanor tells the fascinating and inspiring story of the influential Eleanor Roosevelt who overcame her insecurities and advocated for the rights and needs of others.