Nonfiction Picture Book Challenge

Alyson Beecher over at Kid Lit Frenzy hosts a Non-fiction Picture Book Challenge and has a roundup every Wednesday. This week I read quite a few of the new biographies of women that I bought for my elementary library. Unless otherwise noted, the images and summaries are from IndieBound.

Title: Shining Star: The Anna May Wong Story

Author: Paula Yoo

Illustrator: Lin Wang

Publisher: Lee and Low

Summary: Born in 1905, Anna May Wong spent her childhood working in her family's laundry in Los Angeles s Chinatown. Whenever she could afford it, Anna May slipped off to the movies, escaping to a world of adventure, glamour, and excitement. After seeing a movie being filmed in her neighborhood, young Anna May was hooked. She decided she would become a movie star.

Anna May struggled to pursue an acting career in Hollywood in the 1930s. There were very few roles for Asian Americans, and many were demeaning and stereotypical. Anna May made the most of each limited part. She worked hard and always gave her best performance. Finally, after years of unfulfilling roles, Anna May began crusading for more meaningful roles for herself and other Asian American actors. 

Anna May Wong the first Chinese American movie star was a pioneer of the cinema. Her spirited determination in the face of discrimination is an inspiration to all who must overcome obstacles so that their dreams may come true."

My thoughts: I really appreciate learning about people who have done amazing things. I am so happy to find biographies that shed light on people that I may otherwise have missed. Anna May was a persistent person and she was also a trailblazer. In her time, and unfortunately sometimes still today, Asian characters were usually played by non-Asians. She had to compromise early in career and take parts she didn't necessarily like, but later she stood her ground and only took positive roles. She fought for change. This would be an excellent book to introduce when talking about racism or white washing in the media. It is also simply a very interesting biography.

Title: Flying Solo: How Ruth Elder Soared Into America's Heart

Author: Julie Cummins

Illustrator: Malene R. Laugesen

Publisher: Roaring Brook Press

Summary: In 1927, airplanes were a thrilling but dangerous novelty. Most people, men and women, believed that a woman belonged in the kitchen and not in a cockpit. One woman, Ruth Elder, set out to prove them wrong by flying across the Atlantic Ocean. Ruth didn't make it, crashing spectacularly, but she flew right into the spotlight and America's heart. This is the story of a remarkable woman who chased her dreams with grit and determination, and whose appetite for adventure helped pave the way for future generations of female flyers.

My thoughts: There have been many books about women flying, but I never really get tired of them. I love seeing Ruth's spunk. It's also fun to see that even as she was doing these dangerous things, she still enjoyed evening gowns and dressing up. I especially enjoyed the spread at the end that highlights many other women pilots and there is information about them in the author's note which is thorough and informative.

Title: Baby Flo

Author: Alan Schroeder

Illustrator: Cornelius Van Wright and Ying-Hwa Hu

Publisher: Lee and Low

Summary: Straight up: Florence was a remarkable child, and that’s a fact. 

Pint-sized dynamo “Baby Florence” Mills was singing and dancing just about as soon as she could talk and walk. She warbled a tune while her mama did laundry. Everywhere Flo went, she strutted through the streets of Washington, D.C. with a high-steppin’ cakewalk. Flo’s mama and daddy knew they had a budding entertainer in the family, so they entered Florence in a talent contest. Baby Flo went on to become an international superstar during the Harlem Renaissance—but first she had to overcome a case of stage fright and discover that winning wasn’t everything. 

Here is the spirited story of that spunky young girl learning to chase her dreams with confidence. A sensation in her time, Baby Flo is back, dancing and singing her way into hearts and history.

My thoughts: I loved seeing the joy Flo found in singing and dancing. It reminded me of Josephine Baker. Florence Mills appears to have had a flat out love of singing. It's fun to see a child succeeding and having fun while accomplishing her goals. The book was very upbeat and the story concluded while Flo was still young. The author's note tells about the rest of her life. While it was mostly positive, I found the end of her life rather tragic as she died at thirty-one. The photograph that shows thousands of people at her funeral definitely shows that she touched many people's hearts and lives.  

Title: Red Bird Sings: The Story of Zitkala-Ša, Native American Author, Musician and Activist

Authors: Gina Capaldi & Q.L. Pearce

Illustrator: Gina Capaldi

Publisher: Carolrhoda Books

Summary: This is a picture book biography of Zitkala-Ša, born Gertrude Simmons Bonnin, a Native American woman at the turn of the nineteenth century. Zitkala-Ša was a writer, editor, musician, teacher, and political activist in a time when even basic education was uncommon among Native Americans.

My thoughts: I really appreciated finding this biography of a Yankton Sioux woman. It is great to see her strength, persistence, and her contributions to the world. Through this book, readers learn a bit about what it was like for Zitkala-Ša to be separated from her family and culture while she was educated at a residential school. We see the conflict as she learns the white ways and begins to lose her feeling of belonging with her family and culture. Books, music and writing were places that she found comfort. 

In adulthood, Zitkala-Ša worked for equality for women and Native Americans. She became an activist and supported American Indian issues. She also received national acclaim for her writing and music. 

The book made me want to read Zitkala-Ša's own works though. I wondered a few times about the word choice I was seeing - whether they were her own or those of the authors since the authors note explains that they have "reworked her language and substituted modern phrasing for clarity." One example of this is on pg. 21 when she was giving a speech and the text says, "I spoke of the noble Indian and urged my audience to accept us as equals." It's not necessarily a big thing, but I wondered if she used the phrase "noble Indian." It is possible since that is a phrasing that was often used. Another instance is p. 14 when the text says, "I was neither a small girl nor a tall one, neither a wild Indian or a tame one." These instances definitely made me curious to find her own words. Besides, she won awards for her speeches and writing, so I am wanting to experience the real deal now.  -- Cover image and summary via Goodreads

I am happy to have all of these illuminating biographies available for my students and am excited to share them next year.