Books About Unsung Heroes

It is rare to have a book about a child involved in the Civil Rights struggle. Here is one:
THE YOUNGEST MARCHER : the Story of Audrey Faye Hendricks, a young Civil Rights Activist by Cynthia Levinson.

Here is a sample: "Whenever Mike flew into town Audrey and her momma coo-cooked! [sic] Barbecued ribs, stewed greens, sweet potato souffle, and Audrey's favorite--hot rolls baptized in butter."

Who was Mike? That was the nickname for the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

This would be a good title for Black History Month. Teachers could have their students write and perform a skit. Students could write their own story about Audrey.

Cynthia provides resources for teachers.

The Importance of Little Known Stories

Many people have contributed to the story of America. This picture book biography, MUDDY : the Story of Blues Legend Muddy Waters by Michael Mahin tells the story of one McKinley Morganfield.

"...McKinley did have Grandma Della. She scooped him up and tried to keep him clean and finally just started calling him Muddy."

Grandma Della tried to discourage his interest in blues music. But Muddy did what he wanted to do.

Readers learn how he left the South for Chicago and got his music career started.

I used to hear Muddy Water's music on a radio program called WOODY'S CHILDREN.

Why Black Girls Should Become Ballerinas

Ballet is a form of dance that attracts few African Americans. Two African American ballerinas would like to change that and both of them wrote books.

FIREBIRD by Misty Copeland is really an essay in picture book form. The subtitle is Ballerina Misty Copeland shows a young girl how to dance like the firebird, character in a famous ballet.

Misty tells a potential ballerina of color what ballet means to her.

Sample: “you will soar become a swan, a beauty, a firebird for sure.” 

One illustration in this book demonstrates the five positions of ballet.

Today Misty is a principal dancer for the American Ballet Theatre.

BALLERINA DREAMS by Michaela and Elaine DePrince  is a biography reader in the STEP INTO READING  series.

Michaela DePrince is an orphan from Sierra Leone who was adopted by an American couple.

She told her new mother that she wanted to study ballet. Her mother bought her a video of the ballet The Nutcracker.

Michaela began her dance lessons. When she was eight years old she was able to audition for The Nutcracker. She won two roles in the ballet. Eventually she danced the role of The Sugar Plum Fairy, an important roll. She is now a professional ballerina.

Sample: “The music begins, and my heart beats fast with excitement. I fly on to the stage.”

This book gives definitions of ballet terms such as combinations: putting ballet steps together.  

Activity

Write definitions for these ballet terms:

Firebird

The Nutcracker

Sugar Plum Fairy

Ballet barre

Port de bras

Tendu

Five positions

Plie

Combination

Grand jete

Pas de cat

En pointe

Trombone Shorty

1. 

TROMBONE SHORTY by Troy Andrews is a picture book biography of his growing up in New Orleans and the importance of music in his life. One day he found a broken trombone.

Sample: “The next time the parade went by my house, I grabbed that trombone and headed out into the street. My brother James noticed me playing along and smiled proudly. ’Trombone Shorty!’ he called out, because the instrument was twice my size.”

Activity:

Make your own musical instrument like Trombone Shorty did.

He made a drum from a 12 pack soda box and used pencils for drumsticks. He used empty soda bottles as wind instruments.   

History Through the Eyes of Unknown People

Sometimes you can learn about  American history through stories of people you may have never heard  of.  One example is: Searching for Sarah Rector : the Richest Black Girl in America by Tonya Bolden.

Because Sarah and her family had a relationship with the Creek Nation, they qualified to receive land.  Sarah's land had oil wells.

Sample: "If that first oil well kept kicking.... eleven-year old Sarah Rector would be able to afford piles of playthings, clothes, and doodads, not to mention a bigger house for her family."

Activity

Do you know someone who  participated in a historical event?
Ask this person for an interview.
 Find out what he or she thought while the event was going on.
What details does the interviewee remember?

Yours for Justice, Ida B. Wells: the Daring Life of a Crusading Journalist by Philip Dray is a picture book biography of the enterprising African American woman who began life as a slave  and then went on to become a teacher and journalist who exposed the evil practice of lynching.

When her parents died Ida began teaching to support her siblings. This snippet reflects the preparation Ida made:
"Her aunt lowered the hems of Ida's dresses and taught her to put her hair up. When she saw herself in the mirror, Ida couldn't believe her eyes: she looked like a grown-up!"

The back-matter includes additional information about Ida, lynching and a bibliography.

 The title  is the signature Ida used for her writing.