From Twinkle, With Love by Sandhya Menon

Twinkle feels that she is a "nobody." Ignored by her parents, she longs to be noticed at school. An opportunity to shine comes when Twinkle is asked to direct a movie for the local arts festival.  Film geek Sahil has offered to help produce her filmmaking debut. They brainstorm an imaginative story concept, turning the classic Dracula into a gender-reversal version. But Sahil clearly wants more than just a business relationship. Twinkle has an ongoing crush on Sahil's athletic superstar twin brother Neil. When she begins receiving anonymous emails from a secret admirer, Twinkle assumes (hopes) that the sender is Neil. Menon uses a series of imaginary emails that Twinkle sends to famous women of filmdom in this story of finding where one's heart lies.

Rain is Not My Indian Name by Cynthia Leitich Smith

​Fourteen-year-old Cassidy Rain Berghoff, still mourning the death of her best friend, agrees to photograph the local newspaper's story of this summer's Indian Camp, organized by her Aunt Georgia. Prominent members of this mostly white Kansas community protest the use of public funds for Indian Camp. Rain's heritage includes Muscogee Creek-Cherokee, Scots-Irish and Irish-German-Ojibway.  Her mother refers to the loving, close-knit family as her "patchwork tribe."  ​After introductory pages detailing her friend's  tragic death, readers follow Rain's  chronological description of nine days: June 26 to July 4.  Smith begins each chapter with a journal excerpt which gives the narrative intimacy and poignancy. ​​Rain uses her camera to help her face the world after her heartbreaking loss, acknowledge her heritage, and bring closure and peace to her heart.

Photographic: The Life of Graciela Iturbide
​by Isabel Quintero ill Zeke Peña

Quintero and Peña employ a mixed media approach to this biographical graphic novel illuminating the life and work of  Graciela Iturbide.  The pastiche of eloquent text, artfully arranged sequential panels, and photographs blend together seamlessly. Quintero's glorious text is rich with layers of meaning. Peña's realistic line drawings combined with black and white photographs and artful panel and page design provide a stellar reading experience. This biography is much more than a chronology.  It is a celebration of art, creation, and culture.  "I photograph and exist in the in-between: those spaces where unknown worlds, real and imagined intersect."

Turning Pages: My Life Story 
by Sonia Sotomayor ill Lulu Delacre

Sonia Sotomayor, the first Latina Supreme Court Justice, has penned a tribute to the power of books and the pivotal role that they have played in shaping her life. Born and raised in New York City, Sotomayor is the product of a vibrant Puerto Rican culture.  Books played an integral role in her young life. Superhero comic books encouraged her to be brave in the face of daily insulin shots. The local library provided solace following the death of her father. Mystery books meant searching for clues and figuring out puzzles. Novels invited her to discover the importance of law. The Bible gave her an appreciation for the importance of distinguishing right from wrong. A set of encyclopedias, science fiction, and the university library opened new vistas. Books became her maps, mirrors, lens for viewing the world, and loyal friends. Turning Pages: My Life Story highlights the importance of reading and the value that knowledge from books can have in attaining one's goals.

Bonus

Pasando páginas: La historia de mi vida, the Spanish edition is also available.

Meet Justice Sotomayor in this interview conducted during the National Book Festival in Washington, D.C.

Pocket Bios by ​Al Berenger

"You would need a big pocket to hold one of these." commented an adult when first encountering one of these micro-biographies. Measuring 5 3/4" tall by 7 1/4 " long, these little gems fit nicely into a small space and are perfect for small hands. Think ultra-thin board book. For such a small package, Berenger manages to pack in a sizable amount of information. Arranged chronologically, each page highlights in simple text a significant life event. Dates are boldly centered on the page's  bottom. A facing page illustrates the event in full color. Illustrations feature cartoon-style figures with proportionately large heads. Arresting bold color covers with a single cartoon image catch the eye. The unique size, shape, and color of the series presents an interesting shelving consideration. For the purposes of my users, I will shelve these tiny volumes as a series.

Path to the Stars:
​My Journey from Girl Scout to Rocket Scientist 
by Sylvia Acevedo

Meet Sylvia Acevedo, daughter of a Papa, Texas chemist originally from Mexico and Mami, a native of Mexico who didn’t speak English. She recalls this story of her birth: ​Some of the babies had blond hair. Some had brown hair or no hair at all, and nearly all of them had fair skin. Only one baby had very dark hair. “That was me!” Acevedo grew up in Las Cruses, New Mexico, surrounded by a close-knit family. Young Sylvia had the desire to learn about her world and the drive to excel in a wide variety of endeavors. She credits the Girl Scouts with helping her learn to set goals and work to achieve them. From childhood she realized that she had an affinity for numbers and a curiosity to learn how things work. By the age of thirteen, she assumed the responsibility of maintaining the family vehicle, including changing the oil. In junior high school, she opted out of home economics class, choosing instead to take an additional math course. Interestingly, one of the most challenging Girl Scout badges for her to earn was the cooking badge.

​I was nine years old, living in a small desert town. And on that day I decided I would go to Stanford someday.

They'd never had a woman engineer, so they didn’t even have a bathroom for women in the test labs.

From Brownie to NASA scientist. Still the same winning smile!

My Journey from Girl Scout to Rocket Scientist (English edition)   ​is also available in Spanish:  Camino a las estrellas: Mi recorrido de Girl Scout a ingeniera astronáutica This autobiography is enhanced with liberal use of personal and family photographs inserted throughout the text. The author's "Note about Girl Scouts Yesterday and Today" provides context.

Companion Reading

Super Women: ​Six Scientists Who Changed the World

First Girl Scout: ​The Life of Juliette Gordon Low

Hidden Figures: ​Young Readers Edition

How Sweet the Sound: The Story of Amazing Grace
by Carole Boston Weatherford ill Frank Morrison

Carole Boston Weatherford uses pairs of end-stopped couplets to create a lyrical retelling of the life of John Newton and the origins of this famous hymn. The pictures book chronicles the history and popularity of this hymn, sung by African Americans, Cherokees, Civil War soldiers, activists, gospel singers, recording artists, and even a president of the United States. Back matter includes a current version of the lyrics, an Author's Note, and suggestions for further reading and viewing. All enhance the value of this compelling story.

Marvelous Art

Multi-talented artist Frank Morrison painted classic images that are well-suited to the text. I had the opportunity to view some of Morrison’s original work for this book. The framed paintings are awe-inspiring. He has eloquently captured the heartfelt emotion reflected in the song's lyrics. Below are my photos of two Morrison paintings, paired with the illustrations and accompanying text as they appear in the published book. ​​This picture book, signed by the artist, is now one of my treasures.

Amazing Sounds

Grandad Mandela
by Zindzi Mandela , Zazi Mandela, and Ziwelene Mandela
​ill Sean Qualls

Eight-year-old Zazi and six-year-old Ziwelene discover an old photograph. Their grandmother Zindzi Mandela,  the youngest child born to Winnie Madikizela-Mandela and President Nelson Mandela, recognizes the photo immediately. It is a picture of her father. Through a series of questions, the great grandchildren learn about their heritage, their great grandfather's legacy, and the struggle to dismantle apartheid and win the freedom for all peoples in South Africa. The deprivation, pain, and imprisonment Mandela endured are explained. However, Grandmother lovingly frames the story in a positive light, pointing out the strength and dignity of her father and his firm resolve to remain true to his principles.  ​"I want to see you strong, ​you must hold your head up high."

Grandmother continues, relating Mandela's release from prison and his subsequent South African presidency, as well as his tireless efforts to champion equality and justice for all. The children are encouraged to honor him by volunteering and working to create a better world. Ambassador Zindzi Mandela, with her grandchildren Zazi and Ziwelene have written a personal and powerful tribute to Mandela's life and legacy.   Grandad Mandela is an exquisite volume and a treasure for children throughout the world.

Additional Resources

Nelson Mandela by Kadir Nelson​

A is for Activist by Innosanto Nagar

Chester Nez and the Unbreakable Code:
A Navajo Code Talkers Story
by Joseph Bruchac ill Liz Amini-Holmes

Chester Nez and the Unbreakable Code: A Navajo Code Talker's Story is an inspiring retelling of the life, courage and important contributions of Chester Nez. Joseph Bruchac organizes Nez's story chronologically, using descriptive names of Navajo months as page headings. In October 1929, Month of Small Wind, an eight-year-old boy named Betoli leaves his family home to attend boarding school. Immediately he is stripped of his Navajo name and given the English name of Chester. The school's objective is to help Navajo children "survive in the white man's world." They accomplish this by systematically removing and erasing all traces of Navajo language, religion, and culture. While Chester successfully masters the English language, he loves and longs for the language and traditions of his people. He makes a concerted effort to retain his Native tongue and his connection Navajo heritage.

In 1941, during the Month of Crusted Snow, tenth grade student Chester Nez resolves to serve his country. Along with a group of Navajo men who speak both English and Navajo, he develops an unbreakable code developed to relay information in the Pacific Theater during World War II. This code becomes a key communication component used by the U.S, military. Using simple, yet powerful language Bruchac conveys the majesty and enduring strength of Navajo religion, traditions, and language. The book makes it clear that pride in his heritage and a determination to retain his identity and language is a defining aspect of Chester Nez’s character. Illustrations by Liz Amini-Holmes boldly fill each page with images that are both realistic and highly symbolic. Large black birds flying off with strands of his shorn locks is graphically arresting. Likewise, the two-page spread with a praying altar boy facing a boy praying outside a Hogan stand in stark contrast to each other.

Keeping the Language Alive

Found it! The perfect gift for one of my literary-loving friends. She works as a children's librarian and is also an ardent fan of Jane Austen. It's mind-boggling to consider that a quiet little novelist, who never published a book under her own name and died at the age of 41, remains a model of literary excellence. Two hundred years have not diminished interest in her life and writing. Her works have been made into multiple adaptations for television and movies. No one could have predicted that her work would be the inspiration for pop culture hits such as Clueless and Bridget Jones. ​Purists delight in Austen’s perceptive portrayals of life: gently skewering the pompous, revealing the mind of the ardent searcher, and lovingly sympathizing with the tender-hearted.

Brave Jane Austin: Reader, Writer, Author, Rebel
by Lisa Pliscou ill Jen Corace

Lisa Pliscou's Brave Jane Austen: Reader, Writer, Author, Rebel is a thoughtful introduction to this well-known British author. Pliscou paints a portrait of a close-knit family who valued education and literary pursuits. The well-stocked family library included a globe and microscope. Her father read aloud to the family and her mother wrote poetry. When family finances permitted, Jane and her sister were sent away for schooling. Jane's remarkable determination to remain true to herself and direct her own life is one of the distinguishing features of this narrative. Austen "presented the idea that a girl could use her intelligence to help her live the best life possible." Back matter includes a brief statement on "The Life and Times of Jane Austen," selected quotations from the her writings, accolades from well-known authors, and a listing of additional resources.

Pour Your Heart Out:
​A Journal of Wit, Wisdom, and a Touch of Charm
quotes by Jane Austen ill Clare Owen

This attractive journal features quotations from all six of Austen's novels: Pride and Prejudice, Sense and Sensibility, Emma, Mansfield Park, Persuasion, and Northanger Abbey. Each quotation is followed by a journal entry prompt. For example, this quotation is paired with the following prompt.  Quotation: "There is nothing I would not do for those who are really my friends. I have no notion of loving people by halves. It is not my nature." Writing prompt: "What are the craziest things you would do for a friend?" Jane's feminist nature is revealed with statements such as "Songs and proverbs, all talk of women's fickleness. But perhaps you will say, these were all written by men" ​Clare Owen's calligraphy and lovely graphic designs add just the right touch to this easy-to-personalize journal.

Additional Austin-inspired Gift Ideas

Zippered Pouch

Pemberly postcards

Mr. Darcy Quote Pillow

Obstinate Girl Mug

Bonus: Ten Jane Austin Adaptations

Brazen: Rebel Ladies Who Rocked the World by Pénélope Bagieu

Recently I received a box of artisan chocolates. This was not your ordinary drug store variety. Each bonbon was a unique creation with a complex blend of flavors. Think burnt caramel, tarragon grapefruit, Piedmont hazelnut. Brazen: Rebel Ladies Who Rocked the World is the literary equivalent to a box of artisan chocolates. The gorgeous case holds a selection of biography bonbons. Like an assortment of confections, the micro-biographies are presented without regard to chronology, geography or sphere of influence. Entries showcase distinctive details of each woman's life, morsels to be savored.

Pénélope Bagieu has created a fascinating and highly entertaining compendium of female trailblazers. Each vignette consists of an introductory portrait with basic biographical  information. Most pages follow a six or nine panel-per-page format. Black and white line drawings are punctuated with bright spots of color. A chapter's color pallet is unique to the life and reflects the personality of the highlighted woman. Each entry concludes with a gorgeous two-page full color illustration, celebrating the life of this woman and her contributions to her world. Emphasis is placed on the circumstances which compelled each to take a stand. Bagieu's adds her own observations and witty asides to the narrative. Sometimes her tone is slightly sardonic. This is not an exhaustive in-depth historical treatise. The author is here to tell the story of rebels. In keeping of her purpose, she at times merely alludes to and occasionally omits historical details.

Girl Running: Bobbi Gibb and the Boston Marathon
​by Annette Bay Pimentel ill by Micha Archer

Meet Bobbi Gibb, a determined young woman. Annette Bay Pimentel chronicles her story in Girl Running: Bobbi Gibb and the Boston Marathon. The narrative begins during a bleak New England winter.  Bobbi, a young student, gazes longingly out the classroom window, turning her back on the students’ domestic activity. Bobbi is a runner and she wants to run. After viewing a Boston Marathon, her goal becomes to participate in this annual event. Wearing a pair of nurses' shoes (running shoes for women have yet to be manufactured) she trains for two years.  When her application to participate in the Boston Marathon is denied "women are not physiologically able to run twenty-six miles and furthermore the rules do not allow it"​, Bobbi decides to participate anyway.

Images from Girl Running

Women Who Dared