Reviewed by Brenda Randolph Review Source: Africa Access Book Author: The setting for this picture book is generic “Africa,” a place “Many people might be afraid to go…all alone.” Cynthia Moss an American scientist from Ossinging, New York “was not afraid of the BIG continent.” She settled in “the wide-open savannahs of East Africa” and […]
Author Zetta Elliott to Middle Schoolers: The World Needs Your Stories
On Friday, February 10, 2017, author Zetta Elliott captivated nearly 100 middle school students at D.C.’s LaSalle-Backus Education Campus (DCPS) with her stories about coming of age, the foster care system, friendship, addiction, mystery, and more. Teaching for Change arranged the visit to LaSalle-Backus, a partner school for the Tellin’ Stories parent organizing project. Elliott’s […]
Martín de Porres: The Rose in the Desert is a Thorny Choice
Reviewed by Amy Rothschild Book Author: As an early childhood educator looking for excellent texts that promote diversity, inclusion, and equity, I looked forward to reading Martín de Porres: The Rose in the Desert, written by Gary D. Schmidt and illustrated by David Diaz. The book tells the story of Martín de Porres, a brother […]
Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption
Reviewed by Enid Lee Book Author: Halfway through reading Bryan Stevenson’s Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption I wanted to hop on a plane and fly to wherever Stevenson was to say, “How can I help?” Stevenson has written an incredibly moving narrative of the injustice that is visited by the justice system […]
The Sky Painter
Reviewed by Deborah Menkart Book Author: Audubon is a familiar name, but how about that other influential painter of birds, Louis Agassiz Fuertes? Born in New York, Agassiz Fuertes’ father was Puerto Rican. Agassiz Fuertes created exquisite illustrations of birds that were printed on collectible cards and distributed to homes across the country by Arm […]
NOT Recommended: A Birthday Cake for George Washington
Reviewed by Allyson Criner Brown Review Source: Teaching for Change Book Author: Update: The widespread response to the publication of A Birthday Cake for George Washington has led to its recall by Scholastic. Read about the social media campaign that led to Scholastic stopping distribution of the book. A Birthday Cake for George Washington, recently published by […]