Who Said That?

Who Said That? Famous Americans Speak by Robert Burleigh, illustrated by David Catrow, Henry Holt and Co., 1997, ISBN 0-8050-4394-2
PS: A collection of quotations along with the story behind the words and the people who voiced them.
Grades 5-8.
A wide assortment of people are included in this entertaining volume, from Christopher Columbus and Martin Luther King, Jr. to Abagail Adams and Susan B. Anthony. Not all is serious, as he includes a quote from Daniel Boone: "I've never been lost; but I was bewildered once for three days." Also included are possibly lesser known quotes from famous folks which might reveal more of their character, such as this one from Harriet Tubman: "Anyone who tries to turn back gets a bullet between the eyes." This she uttered because her mission was so dangerous that she did not want any runaways trying to return to disrupt her work for the rest of the slaves.

Night Flight

Night Flight: Amelia Earhart Crosses the Atlantic by Robert Burleigh, paintings by Wendell Minor, A Paula Wiseman Book for Simon and Schuster Books for Young People, 2011, ISBN 978-1-4169-6733-0
PS: An account of Amelia Earhart's dangerous 1932 flight across the Atlantic Ocean from Newfoundland to Ireland, in which she survived bad weather and a malfunctioning airplane. Includes a brief biography of the aviator.
This is a great adventure book and gives a personal glimpse into one of Earhart's most dangerous and stressful flights. Her reaction upon finally landing in Ireland says a lot about her character: "AE looks down (at a man in the field). She pauses. There is so much that one could say. But not now. Instead, she simply smiles the widest smile of her entire life. 'Hi", she says simply. 'Hi, I've come from America.'"

Blockhead (***** 5 Stars!)

Blockhead: the life of Fibonacci by Joseph D'Agnese, illustrated by John O'Brien, Henry Holt and Co., 2010, ISBN 978-0-8050-6305-9
From the book jacket: "As a young boy in medieval Itlay, Leonardo Fibonacci thought about numbers day and night. He was such a daydreamer that people called him blockhead. When he grew up and traveled the world, he was inspired by the numbers used in different countries, especially the Hindu-Arabic numerals he learned about in Africa. Then he realized that many things in nature seem to follow a certain pattern. the boy who was once teased for being a blockhead had discovered what came to be known as the Fibonacci Sequence! Today he is famous for his simple word problem about multiplying rabbits and is now considered one of the greatest Western mathematicians of all time."
This is an absolutely fascinating book, if only in the fact that something that seems so complicated can be so SIMPLE! And to think that Nature follows a pattern!!! I cannot wait to share this with my 4th graders. I have looked into the subject further and found some books that will compliment the study. These will be posted as soon as I get my hands on them!!
It doesn't surprise me that this book has its own website and its own Facebook page! The possibilities introduced by this man and his idea are endless! So exciting!

You Forgot Your Skirt, Amelia Bloomer!

You Forgot Your Skirt, Amelia Bloomer! by Shana Corey, illustrated by Chelsey McLauren, Scholastic Press, 2000, ISBN 0-439-07819-9
Bookjacket: Would you dare to bare your underwear? If you like clothes and people with the courage to SKIRT conventions and adDRESS injustice, then Amelia Bloomer and her unFITTING ideas will charm the PANTS off you!
Amelia Bloomer was NOT a proper lady, and she thought all the silliness associated with being a proper lady were completely unnecessary, and she did her part to change certain laws and rules. She was one of the original "women's libbers", and we can all probably thank her that we don't have to still wear corsets and long, full skirts!
A good biography told in story-type fashion.

Paths to Peace by Jane Breskin Zalben

Paths to Peace: People Who Changed the World by Jane Breskin Zalben, Dutton Children's Books, 2006, ISBN 0-525-47734-9
Mother Teresa, Anne Frank, MLK Jr., Wangari Maathai, Elie Wiesel, Gandhi, And JFK. Princess Diana, The Dalai Lama and Cesar Chavez. Eleanor Roosevelt, Ralph Bunche and Anwar El-Sadat. What do all these people have in common? Their desire for peace in their time. Some died for it, all spoke about it and worked for it. Some are still working for it. And their lessons are as pertinent today as they were then.
This book is set up beautifully: a two-page spread dedicated to each person, one age textual information, the facing page a wonderful collage of artwork highlighted by a well-known quote of the person. It lends itself well to a biography study, where each student can study one of the 16 people included in the volume. Art notes, glossary, and bibliography in the back of the book add information.