Always one of my favorite categories!
Survivor Tree by Marcie Colleen, illustrated by Aaron Becker and This Very Tree by Sean Rubin
Published by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers and Henry Holt and Co.
Both of these books may be considered for a Caldecott, and both movingly tell the story of the Survivor Tree in this year that we observed the 20th anniversary of 9/11. I couldn’t choose just one!
Rescuing Titanic: A True Story of Quiet Bravery in the North Atlantic by Flora Delargy
Published by Wide-Eyed Editions
I’m as surprised as you are to see this book on one of my favorites lists after I vowed to never read another Titanic book. But this one is more about the Carpathia, the ship that sped to the rescue and that is often just a footnote in the Titanic story. The “quiet bravery” of the subtitle is the emphasis and makes for an inspirational read.
Revolution In Our Time: The Black Panther Party’s Promise to the People by Kekla Magoon
Published by Candlewick
Already a National Book Award finalist, this history of the Black Panther Party is likely to win other awards in a few weeks. I loved how Kekla Magoon never shied away from all aspects of this history, yet also conveyed the vision of the people who were part of the movement and tied it to the work of Black Lives Matter.
If the World Were 100 People: A Visual Guide to Our Global Village by Jackie McCann, illustrated by Aaron Cushley
Published by Crown Books for Young Readers
I love this kind of visual information that makes abstract concepts easier to understand and raises awareness about global issues we may not think much about. An invaluable resource for social studies classes at many levels.
Escape at 10,000 Feet by Tom Sullivan
Published by Balzer + Bray
Who doesn’t love a good unsolved mystery? The world has wondered what happened to D. B. Cooper since he parachuted into oblivion in 1971. This graphic presentation is well-researched, with various theories presented and debunked. It’s book 1 in the Unsolved Case Files series that now includes Jailbreak at Alcatraz.
January 2, 2022 at 04:30PM Janet Dawson
