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The artist Jackson Pollack’s style and energy in his piece Number 1 1950 earned him the nickname Action Jackson. Fascinating details emerge as the art, environment, and inspiration of Jackson Pollack are presented in a carefully crafted, well-told, and vivaciously illustrated picture book biography.
Action Jackson
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From her early days in Harlem to becoming the First Lady of Jazz, the story of Ella Fitzgerald is presented by a cool feline named Scat Cat Monroe. As Scat Cat steals through the pages of this book, Ella Fitzgerald’s life and work are revealed in jazz-inspired language accompanied by dramatic scratchboard illustrations. The result is a lively and loving picture book biography.
Ella Fitzgerald: The Tale of a Vocal Virtuosa
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Inspired by jazz great Charlie Parker, rhythm and repetition are woven together to create a musical effect. Animated watercolors and lively text combine in a story that begs to be read aloud.
Charlie Parker Played Be Bop
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Christine recalls growing up with her brothers (known as M.L. and A.D.) in a family in which laughter and love were celebrated. She describes a pivotal moment in their childhood when her brothers are told by the white boys who live across the street that they can no longer play together because the King’s are “Negroes.” The story provides insight into the child M.L. King was, and the man he would become. Realistic watercolors evoke the era and events of this well-told memoir.
My Brother Martin: A Sister Remembers Growing Up With the Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr.
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At just over 5 feet tall, no one thought Mamie Johnson, also known as “Peanut” because of her size, would become a baseball star. But she sure could pitch! The author collaborated with the actual Mamie Johnson to tell the riveting — and real — story of how Peanut Johnson became one of three women to play professionally in the Negro Baseball League.
A Strong Right Arm: The Story of Mamie “Peanut” Johnson
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The lives of real people inspire the tales that are told about them. Retold here with humor and colorful language, the stories and people of the mountains are larger-than-life in the actions and pictures of this tall tale book.
Mountain Men: True Grit and Tall Tales
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Life as fiction comes together in this attractive and engaging picture book biography of the man who is known for his fairy tales. Excerpts from these tales are juxtaposed with real events in Andersen’s life to provide a fresh look at the stories and their creator.
The Perfect Wizard: Hans Christian Andersen
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Born in 1908, in a small Mexican village, Jose Limon seemed destined to become an artist. The lyrical language incorporates onomatopoeic and Spanish words. The distinctive illustrations with swirling colors reveal the life of a great modern dancer and choreographer.
Jose! Born to Dance: The Story of Jose Limon
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Rosa Parks was an ordinary woman who became a hero because she “was not going to give in to that which was wrong.” A catalyst for the famous Montgomery Bus boycott in Alabama, she turned the nation’s attention to a glaring injustice in our society. Powerful illustrations evoke a time before the Civil Rights era and give the reader a glimpse at a person, her impact, and a period in American history.
Rosa
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In spite of looming war, librarian Alia Muhammed Baker was able to save the books from the library of Basra by moving them to safety. Simple forms and deep colors in a naïve style evoke the war without being explicit. The bravery and action of one person celebrates both everyday heroism and books as a unifying force.
The Librarian of Basra: A True Story From Iraq
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Celia Cruz began singing on the streets of Havana as a child. She grew up to become a legendary singer and lasting influence on salsa. Bright, bold illustrations echo the vibrancy of the music in this handsome picture book biography.
Celia Cruz: Queen of Salsa
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Trudy Ederle loved to swim and was determined to be the best. Through hard work and determination she became the first woman to swim the English Channel.
America’s Champion Swimmer: Gertrude Ederle
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By sharing her own struggles as a child and later as a successful author, Helen Lester demonstrates that hurdles are part of the process. She uses her unique ability to laugh at her mistakes to create both a guide for young writers and an amusing personal story of the disappointments and triumphs of a writer’s life.
Author: A True Story
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A remarkably rounded picture of Shakespeare’s life and the period in which he lived includes a thoughtful attempt to relate circumstances in his personal life to the content of his plays.
Bard of Avon: The Story of William Shakespeare
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An easy to read biography of the woman who made the first American flag.
Betsy Ross
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A pictorial biography about love, war, culture and ambition shown through the story of Cleopatra, the Queen of Egypt.
Cleopatra
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Charles Lindbergh was only 25 years old when he made his historic non-stop flight across the Atlantic Ocean. Through Burleigh’s vivid retelling and Wimmer’s bold paintings, the reader soars with Lindbergh as he follows his dream.
Flight: The Journey of Charles Lindbergh
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Bessie Coleman grew up picking cotton in Texas, but she aimed high — soaring into history as the first African American woman aviator. Her riveting story is told in inviting, rhythmic language and engaging illustration.
Fly High! The Story of Bessie Coleman
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Lou Gehrig played 2130 consecutive games for the Yankees (a record that stood until Cal Ripkin many years later). His story as a baseball great is told simply and with humility, reflecting the man himself. As his health deteriorated, Gehrig gave his farewell to a filled Yankee Stadium, declaring he was indeed the “luckiest man on the face of the earth.”
Lou Gehrig: The Luckiest Man
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This beautifully written book, illustrated by four-time Caldecott Honor recipient Jerry Pinkney, makes the story of Harriet Tubman’s childhood accessible to very young readers. As a young slave nicknamed Minty, Harriet Tubman was a feisty and stubborn girl with a dream of escape, and a rebellious spirit that often got her into trouble. Pinkney’s expressive illustrations bring every emotion to brilliant life – from troubled sorrow to spirited hope for freedom.
Minty: A Story of Young Harriet Tubman
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“When I was twelve years old, I knew what I wanted — to be an artist.” So begins this lovely picture-book portrait of American artist Georgia O’Keeffe.
My Name is Georgia: A Portrait
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A portrait of a true American sports hero, Jackie Robinson, who was the first African American to play on a major league baseball team.
A Picture Book of Jackie Robinson
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In 1802, when Champollion was eleven years old, he vowed to be the first person to read Egypt’s ancient hieroglyphs. He faced great challenges over the next twenty years as he searched for the elusive key to the mysterious writing.
Seeker of Knowledge: The Man Who Deciphered Egyptian Hieroglyphs
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Every year the narrator and his family take a trip down to Cottondale, Florida, to visit his grandmother, Bigmama. This autobiographical story recalls the joys of summer and the contrast between the author’s life in the city and Bigmama’s lush, rural home. While the illustrations suggest it was a period of segregation, this thought never overpowers the carefree summer celebration.