Nonfiction Wednesday

Thanks to Kid Lit Frenzy, I made a goal to read more nonfiction this year which I will be featuring on my blog every Wednesday.

 

Here are the nonfiction books I read this week:

 

 

Brave Girl: Clara and the Shirtwaist Makers' Strike of 1909 by Michelle Markel, illustrated by Melissa Sweet

5 of 5 stars

2013-book, biography, gifted-girls, history, immigration, mock-caldecott-2014, multicultural, nonfiction, nonfiction-challenge-2013, social-studies-connections   Five foot tall Clara Lemlich arrived in America hardly speaking a word of English. Within weeks she was hired, along with thousands of other immigrant girls, to make blouses in a garment factory. She quickly realized that this life was not what she imagined. Long hours, filthy working conditions, and abusive bosses left Clara sore and exhausted. In spite of it all, she would walk to the library after her shift and learn to read. Soon Clara fought back and encouraged the other girls to fight with...moreFive foot tall Clara Lemlich arrived in America hardly speaking a word of English. Within weeks she was hired, along with thousands of other immigrant girls, to make blouses in a garment factory. She quickly realized that this life was not what she imagined. Long hours, filthy working conditions, and abusive bosses left Clara sore and exhausted. In spite of it all, she would walk to the library after her shift and learn to read. Soon Clara fought back and encouraged the other girls to fight with her. They would go on strike! She was arrested and beaten, but gritty Clara would not be defeated. She organized the largest walkout of women workers in U.S. history! "Proving that in America, wrongs can be righted, warriors can wear skirts and blouses, and the bravest hearts may beat in girls only five feet tall." Sweet's illustrations are charming and heartfelt. I really love her work. Great book to inspire girls!     Read an interview with Melissa Sweet at A Year of Reading: http://readingyear.blogspot.com/2008/09/you-must-meet-melissa-sweet.html       Sit In: How Four Friends Stood Up While Sitting Down by Andrea Davis Pinkney illustrated by Brian Pinkney  5 of 5 stars african-american, civil-rights, classroom-read-aloud, figuative-language, history, metaphor, multicultural, nonfiction, nonfiction-challenge-2013, picture-book   The Pinkneys did an amazing job with this book, and it's going to be a great addition to my civil rights unit. I love the way A. Pinkney compared the event with food. B. Pinkney's illustrations capture the dynamic energy of the young people's actions. Dr. Martin Luther King's quotes are interspersed throughout, my favorite being: "Be loving enough to absorb evil." These young people did a phenomenal thing without using violence.     This week I'm reading:     This won multiple awards on Monday at the ALA Youth Media Awards:   YALSA Award for Excellence in Nonfiction for Young Adults   2013 Robert F. Sibert Medal for the most distinguished informational book for children published in 2012   The 2013 John Newbery Honor Award   Right after my classes saw the awards, they were asking to read this book.  I have a long sign up list!   What nonfiction books are YOU reading this week?