Fact Friday: Enigma Girls: How Ten Teenagers Broke Ciphers, Kept Secrets, and Helped Win World War II by Candace Fleming

Image: Scholastic Inc.

Enigma Girls: How Ten Teenagers Broke Ciphers, Kept Secrets, and Helped Win World War II by Candace Fleming. 384 p. Scholastic Focus/ Scholastic Inc., March, 2024. 

Fact Friday features Enigma Girls: How Ten Teenagers Broke Ciphers, Kept Secrets, and Helped Win World War II by Candace Fleming. During World War II, the Axis powers sent coded messages that were very difficult to crack due to their use of Enigma machines. The British government sent telegrams to hundreds of young women from all walks of life, many of them teens to Station X at Bletchley Park. There, they were sworn to secrecy and embarked on work attempting to decode intercepted messages from the enemy. Ms. Fleming introduces the reader to ten of those extraordinary women in this intense and fascinating work of narrative nonfiction. Some of the women were skilled in mathematics and others spoke several languages. All worked tirelessly to turn the tide of the war. Their work was instrumental in the British Navy's defeat of the Italian Navy as well as during the planning of the D-Day invasion. 

The book is chock full of photos, side stories and information about codes and ciphers. Any new book by Ms. Fleming was an automatic purchase for my school library. This should have wide appeal and one I highly recommend. Happy reading!  

ETA: Here's a short video of the author talking about Enigma Girls. 

Fact Friday: A Meerkat Diary: My Journey into the Wild World of a Meerkat Mob by Suzi Eszterhas

Image: Owlkids

A Meerkat Diary: My Journey into the Wild World of a Meerkat Mob by Suzi Eszterhas. 40 p. Owlkids, October, 2024. 9781771476386. Review of finished copy borrowed from public library.

Fact Friday features A Meerkat Diary: My Journey into the Wild World of a Meerkat Mob by Suzi Eszterhas. Whenever I hear that Ms. Eszterhas has a new book out, I make sure to read it and usually buy it for TMS' collection. She is a renowned photographer who travels the world documenting wildlife. In this book, she travels to the Kalahari Desert in Botswana with her zoologist assistent to spend two weeks with meerkats and the naturalists who observe the meerkats and accustom the mob to the presence of humans.

Readers will learn about the region and fun meerkat facts as well as facts about other animals that share the ecosystem with these curious and inventive furry creatures. As usual, the photographs are the stars of the show as Ms. Eszterhas manages to get up close and personal. If you're a reader who loves wildlife, this is the book for you. If you're a facthound who laps up information, this is the book for you. If you don't care a fig about nature or meerkats, read this book and you will.

#tbt: The Good, the Bad and the Barbie: a Doll's History and Her Impact on Us (Unauthorized) by Tanya Lee Stone

Image: Author's Website

The Good, the Bad and the Barbie: a Doll's History and Her Impact on Us (Unauthorized) by Tanya Lee Stone. 130 p. Viking? Penguin Young Readers, 2010. 9780670011872. (Own.)

Happy Thursday! How are you keeping cool in this heat? Boo and I have to take our long walks pretty early to avoid the heat. It's pretty bad. 

In honor of the release of the movie, Barbie, #tbt features The Good, the Bad and the Barbie: a Doll's History and Her Impact on Us (Unauthorized) by Tanya Lee Stone. Published in 2010, this book is part biography of Ruth Handler, creator of the doll and of Barbie, the doll itself, but it also examines the impact that the doll and its popularity had on culture. There are lots of photos and personal anecdotes from girls and women reflecting on their love or hatred of Barbie. Back matter includes a note from the author, source notes and a bibliography.

The book was named an SLJ (School Library Journal) Best Book and won the Golden Kite Award. I enjoyed knowing this backstory a bit before watching the film, however, I realized I forgot a lot and decided to reread it. Very balanced and informative! Happy reading!

Fact Friday: Infinity: Figuring Out Forever by Sarah C. Campbell

Image: Astra Publishing House

Infinity: Figuring Out Forever by Sarah C. Campbell. Photographs by Sarah C. Campbell and Richard P. Campbell. 32 p. Astra Young Readers/ Astra Publishing House, August, 2022. 9781629798752. (Review of finished purchased copy.)

Happy Friday TMS Readers! I hope you dress for the weather today because it's cold and windy out there! Fact Friday features Infinity: Figuring Out Forever by Sarah C. Campbell with photographs by Sarah C. Campbell and Richard P. Campbell. The rather abstract concept of infinity is explained here using fairly simple language and interesting photographs. When approached concretely, it is easy to understand that no matter how high one counts, there is always a larger number. The philosophical approach is a bit mind-blowing. The astrophysics? Whoa! This attractively designed book is really fun!

Fact Friday: Art of Protest: Creating, Discovering, and Activating Art for Your Revolution by De Nichols

Image: Candlewick Press

Art of Protest: Creating, Discovering, and Activating Art for Your Revolution by De Nichols. Illustrated by Diana Dagadita, Molly Mendoza, Olivia Twist, Saddo, and Diego Becas. 80 p. Big Picture Press/ Candlewick Press, November, 2021. 9781536223255. (Review of finished copy courtesy of publisher.)

Fact Friday features Art of Protest: Creating, Discovering, and Activating Art for Your Revolution by De Nichols. The author calls herself an "artivist," meaning she uses her art to protest injustice. This short volume is part-memoir, part history of protest art and part how-to and sure to inspire budding "artivists." She collaborated with other artists on this colorful and compelling book. Protest art can take many forms from posters to performance art, from song to dance. Short biographies of notable artists are sprinkled throughout. Informational literature at its finest. 

Waiting on Wednesday: Meltdown: Discover the Earth's Irreplaceable Glaciers and Find Out What You Can Do to Save Them by Anita Sanchez

Image: Workman Publishing

Meltdown: Discover the Earth's Irreplaceable Glaciers and Find Out What You Can Do to Save Them by Anita Sanchez. Illustrated by Lily Padula. Workman Publishing Company, November 1, 2022. 9781523509508.

Waiting on Wednesday features a non-fiction/ informational title I'm interested in reading and adding to my middle school library collection. Meltdown: Discover the Earth's Irreplaceable Glaciers and Find Out What You Can Do to Save Them by Anita Sanchez will release on November 1.

Publisher synopsis:

Meet the glaciers—before they disappear. Meltdown: Discover Earth's Irreplaceable Glaciers and Learn What You Can Do to Save Them is a kids’ guide to the glorious but endangered world of glaciers. Glaciers may not be as well-known as rain forests or coral reefs, but they are just as vital to the health of the planet, and just as threatened by climate change. 

Packed with information, grounded in the latest science, with lively writing and illustrations throughout (including graphs, charts, infographics, photographs, and full-page art), Meltdown gives readers an eye-opening overview of glaciers and how important they are: There are over 100,000 glaciers covering 10% of earth’s landmass, that hold almost three-quarters of the planet's fresh water, and act as protective shields to cool the atmosphere and combat climate change. We learn how glaciers were formed (some over two million years ago), how they move and carve the planet's landscape, and how scientists study them (the bluer the ice, the older it is). We learn the secrets of earth’s climate history hidden deep in a glacier’s core—and discover how climate change is causing glaciers to melt at unprecedented rates, putting the health of the planet in jeopardy.

But we are not left without hope. The final chapter offers positive steps readers can take to become climate activists, reduce their carbon footprint, and save the glaciers.

Fact Friday: A River's Gifts: the Mighty Elwha River Reborn by Patricia Newman

Image: Lerner Books

A River's Gifts: the Mighty Elwha River Reborn by Patricia Newman. Illustrated by Natasha Donovan. 48p. Millbrook Press/ Lerner Publishing Group, September 6, 2022. 9781541598706. (Review of arc courtesy of publisher.)

Fact Friday features A River's Gifts: the Mighty Elwha River Reborn by Patricia Newman. Thousands of years ago, glaciers carved canyons and valleys in Washington State. Over time, water flowed north from the mountains to the sea. Salmon made their way up its churning waters to spawn and die. The river was given a name, the Elwha, by the Strong People, also known as the Lower Elsha Klallam Tribe. While the tribe relied on the salmon for food, they only trapped what was needed and the life cycle of the salmon were undisturbed for thousands of years.

That symbiosis was disturbed in the late 1700s when white settlers arrived with the attitude that the wilderness was a place to be tamed. They drove out the Strong People, cut down the trees and eventually built two dams, which effectively blocked the salmon population from spawning due to the destruction of its habitat and warming of the water. River banks eroded, wildlife that depended on salmon for food left the area. Once the dams outlived their usefulness, they were no longer used to generate electricity, but they still blocked the river. The Strong People who remained in the area began to campaign for the dismantling of the dams, hoping to restore the salmon. 

Ms. Newman is one of my favorite authors of informational literature. She has a knack for explaining complicated concepts lucidly while keeping things lively and engaging. The spare text is lyrical, subtly underscoring the magnitude of the destruction of this vital ecosystem and its long road to recovery. Side bars provide extra information such as how salmon feed a river or what the inside of a dam looks like. Back matter includes notes from both the author and illustrator and from a tribal member of the Strong People; a timeline; before and after photos; sources and recommendations for further reading. The end pages feature before and after topographical maps. Finally, the cartoonish illustrations are really beautiful featuring earth-tones with heavy black outlining and pops of color. 

A River's Gifts is truly a picture book for all ages - informative and inspirational, appropriate for use from STEM classes to social studies.

Fact Friday: Mushroom Rain by Laura K. Zimmerman

Image: Sleeping Bear Press

Mushroom Rain by Laura K. Zimmerman and illustrated by Jamie Green. Unpgd. Sleeping Bear Press, March, 2022. 9781534111509. (Review of finished copy borrowed from public library.)

Fact Friday features another #nevertoooldforpicturebooks entry. What are your thoughts on mushrooms? Mine? Never ate them as a kid, but was weirdly fascinated by them. As an adult, I adore the earthy goodness of lots of varieties. My own kids? Not so much. 

Mushroom Rain by Laura K. Zimmerman and illustrated by Jamie Green is a terrific introduction to these fascinating fungi. I love a good impressionistic lesson. One that piques curiosity and avoids info-dumps. Ms. Zimmerman's simple yet lyrical text conveys the variety, diversity and hardiness of mushrooms and Ms. Green's earth-toned illustrations just dazzle with their depth and detail. Backmatter is designed to look like a scrapbook or scientific notebook and contains more information about mushrooms as well as instructions for making mushroom art and suggestions for further reading.

Recommended for all libraries. Happy reading!

Fact Friday: Honeybee Rescue: a Backyard Drama by Loree Griffin Burns.

 

Image: Charlesbridge

Honeybee Rescue: a Barnyard Drama by Loree Griffin Burns. Photograps by EllenHarasimowicz. 40 p. Charlesbridge, May, 2022. 9781623542399. (Review of finished copy borrowed from public library.)

Happy Friday! Did you see the Sturgeon Moon last night? Wowzers! It was just gorgeous. The Persied showers are also visible, but there's too much light pollution to really see them around here. And today is just a wonderful break from the heat.

Fact Friday features Honeybee Rescue: a Backyard Drama by Loree Griffin Burns. Backyard drama indeed! Mr. Connery keeps honeybees on his property as pollinators. He is surprised to hear a loud buzzing coming from his barn/ garage, which is in disrepair. He found a colony of honeybees had set up a nice big nest in a corner. When honeybees outgrow their hives, they swarm and set up a new one. Mr. Connery missed the signs, otherwise, he would've added a new layer to his hive boxes. The concern here was not the fact that there was a hive in his mostly empty garage, but for its viability through the winter. The building was leaky and would offer little protection to the hive in the cold months. What to do? Even though Mr. Connery was a beekeeper, he wasn't skilled at removing hives. That was a job for Mr. Nelson, who actually invented a bee vacuum and knows how to move hives without damaging it or harming the bees. You never want to spray a honeybee hive with pesticides to kill them because they are valuable pollinators.

I learned so much about honeybees from Ms. Griffin Burns in this fantastic book which features plenty of full-color photographs showing every step. Back matter includes an interview with Mr. Nelson, a glossary, and author's note, sources and suggestions for further reading. This is the perfect book for young readers who are interested in honeybees, the environment or just a plain great informational read! I can't wait to add it to my school library collection. 

Happy reading!

Fact Friday: The Stardust That Made Us: a Visual Exploration of Chemistry, Atoms, Elements and the Universe by Colin Stuart

Image: Candlewick Press

The Stardust That Made Us: a Visual Exploration of Chemistry, Atoms, Elements and the Universe by Colin Stuart. Illustrated by  Ximo Abadia. 80 p. Big Picture Press/ Candlewick Press, March 2022. 9781536223835. (Review of finished copy courtesy of publisher.)

Fact Friday features a book I wish I had in school, The Stardust That Made Us: a Visual Exploration of Chemistry, Atoms, Elements and the Universe by Colin Stuart. Maybe I would understand it. It's oversized and vibrantly illustrated, but more importantly, the text is easy to follow and fascinating. The author is a British astronomer who speaks and writes on the topic. 

How can we be made of stardust? What a mind-blowing idea! The author uses the analogy of a cookbook full of recipes, and the fact that lots of different dishes can be made from similar ingredients. The ingredients in nature are the elements. Readers learn vocabulary, chemistry, the Big Bang theory, how to navigate the Periodic Table, important physicists, how the elements were named and how we interact with them in real life.

There is no index or other back matter. The Table of Contents should help researchers locate information, but this volume lends itself more to browsing and contemplating. That's not a bad thing. The Stardust That Made Us is a worthy addition to any library or science class. 

Fact Friday: Unforgotten: the Wild Life of Dian Fossey and Her Relentless Quest to Save Mountain Gorillas by Anita Silvey

Image: Author's Website

Unforgotten: the Wild Life of Dian Fossey and Her Relentless Quest to Save Mountain Gorillas by Anita Silvey. 96 p. National Geographic Kids, June, 2021. 9781426371851. (Review of finished purchased copy.)

Happy Friday! Phew! This was a long one what with horrible sleeps and weird weather. I hope the weekend weather allows for lots of walks and gardening for me. 

Fact Friday features Unforgotten: the Wild Life of Dian Fossey and Her Relentless Quest to Save the Mountain Gorillas by Anita Silvey. This biography of the third and final member of the "Trimates," three female recruits of Louis Leakey, a famous paleoanthropologist who mentored them in their respective research fields - Jane Goodall studied chimpanzees, Biruté Mary Galdikas studied orangutans in Borneo and Dian Fossey studied gorillas. 

Dian Fossey was not a trained scientist. She was a physical therapist who worked in Louisville, Kentucky who had a lifelong dream to visit Africa. So she did. She spent all of her savings and borrowed money to trek to Africa for seven weeks. There, she fell in love with the Mountain Gorillas of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). She also met Louis Leakey, who was impressed by her passion and intelligence. He raised money for her to return to DRC to set up camp and study the elusive primates. She spent the next 18 years doing so, first in DRC and then in neighboring Rwanda. She was fiercely protective of the gorillas and often clashed with poachers who set traps for the creatures.

Informative and well-organized, succinct text pair with amazing photographs and maps! The back matter is just terrific starting with field notes, mini-bios of eight of Fossey's gorillas, a timeline, a key to plants, books, articles, websites and film suggestions for further research, source notes, an endnote and an author's note add interest.

Fact Friday: African Icons: ten people who built a continent by Tracey Baptiste

Image: Workman Publishing

African Icons: ten people who built a continent by Tracey Baptiste and illustrated by Hillary D. Wilson. 176 p. Workman Publishing, October, 2021. 9781616209001. (Review of finished purchased copy.)

Happy Friday! We're having wild weather in northern NJ. I just want to hibernate! Fact Friday features African Icons: ten people who built a continent by Tracey Baptiste and illustrated by Hillary D. Wilson, Black history is much more than enslavement, Civil War and the civil rights movement. It is also much more than the American experience. The continent of Africa is vast, rich in diversity and culture, and often relegated to a single narrative. This gorgeously designed collective biography remedies that. Many eye-opening facts await readers right from the introduction where, a colorful map of Africa shows that it is large enough to hold 14 countries within its borders, including the U.S. and China! The book begins in 31 B.C.E. when Menes united Egypt. Ms. Baptiste includes historical context as well as helpful pronunciation guides. Ms. Wilson's lush illustrations give life to these larger-than-life figures. Photos of artifacts and relics add interest. Fifteen pages of back matter begins with an author's note and plenty of resources for interested readers to learn more about these ten important people in African history.

This is truly a first-purchase! 

Fact Friday: Africa, Amazing Africa: Country by Country by Atinuke

Image: Candlewick Press

Africa, Amazing Africa: Country by Country by Atinuke. Illustrated by Mouni Feddag. 80 p. Candlewick Press, November, 2021.9781536205374.

Happy Friday! Fact Friday features Africa, Amazing Africa: Country by Country by Atinuke and illustrated by Mouni Feddag. I am often dismayed at how many people think Africa is a country. It is a vast continent comprised of 55 countries rich in culture and history. Nigerian storyteller, Atinuke, makes her first foray into nonfiction writing with this colorful, slightly over-sized overview of Africa. 

The author shares everything she loves about her home continent and acknowledges in her introduction that she only had room for two or three favorite things per country, making this browseable book a wonderful impressionistic overview rather than a source for many facts. That said, it's a wonderfully energetic and colorful overview! 

Starting in Southern Africa, the book wends its way up to East Africa to West Africa to Central Africa before ending with the countries comprising North Africa. Readers learn how to say "Welcome" in each of the countries, two maps show the area both close up and inside Africa as a whole. The illustrations are as exuberant as the writing and add appeal. Don't skip the back matter for information on further reading, as readers will definitely want to learn more about this "amazing" continent.

Africa, Amazing Africa is a lovely introduction to any library. 

Fact Friday: What the Eagle Sees: Indigenous Stories of Rebellion and Renewal by Eldon Yellowhorn & Kathy Lowinger

Image: Annick Press

What the Eagle Sees: Indigenous Stories of Rebellion and Renewal by Eldon Yellowhorn & Kathy Lowinger. 136 p. Annick Press, November, 2019. 9781773213286. (Review of paperback borrowed from public library.)

Happy Friday! Forgive the short post ahead. I definitely did not do this important book justice. I must admit that I am still struggling with time, attention and energy.

Fact Friday features What the Eagle Sees: Indigenous Stories of Rebellion and Renewal by Eldon Yellowhorn & Kathy Lowinger. This slim volume presents an overview of significant events in the history of North American Indigenous Peoples who inhabited this land for 10,000 years before Europeans "discovered" it. 

Accessible and attractively designed, it is also packed with photographs and maps. Back matter includes a glossary, selected sources that includes websites, image sources and an index.

I don't know how I missed this back in 2019, but I'm adding it to my school library collection. Isn't that cover just stunning?

Fact Friday: Strike: the Farm Workers Fight for Their Rights by Larry Dane Brimner

Image: Calkins Creek/ Kane Press

Happy Friday! Boy, this week felt long. As Latinx Heritage Month draws to a close, I hope my students have found some new titles to read to diversify their reading. But don't just diversify one month a year, please. Try to read widely and with an open mind all year long.

Fact Friday features Strike: the Farm Workers Fight for Their Rights by Larry Dane Brimner. This book takes us back to the 1960s when migrant farm workers earned very little pay and lived in terrible housing as they made their way up and down California to harvest ripening crops. Latino civil rights activist, César Chavez teamed up with Filipino-American labor organizer Larry Itliong and when the workers walked off the vineyards in California in 1965, the Great Delano Grape Strike began and was to last five years.

The book is attractively designed and filled with photos and quotes from the workers. Strike is available to borrow from TMS Library or through ILL (Inter-LIbrary Loan) through BCCLS. It is not available in eBCCLS. Happy reading and have a wonderful weekend.

Middle Grade Monday: The International Day of the Girl: Celebrating Girls around the World by Jessica Dee Humphreys and the Hon. Rona Ambrose

Image: Kids Can Press

The International Day of the Girl: Celebrating Girls around the World by Jessica Dee Humphreys and the Hon. Rona Ambrose. Illustrated by Simone Shin. CitizenKid series. 32 p. Kids Can Press, Sept., 2020. 9781525300585. (Review of finished copy purchased for my school library.)

Happy Monday! I hope you made the most of your weekend. I spent all of Saturday out of doors since the forecast was for rain on Sunday. Middle Grade Monday features The International Day of the Girl: Celebrating Girls around the World by Jessica Dee Humphreys and the Hon. Rona Ambrose. Illustrated by Simone Shin. Did you know that October 11 is International Day of the Girl day? Ever since 1954, the United Nations has focused on the rights of the child globally, but in 2009, the Canadian, "Because I'm a Girl" campaign launched an online petition to ask the UN to establish a special day to focus on issues particular to girls. These include, gender-based violence, illiteracy and lack of access to education, nutrition, child marriage and others. In 2011, girl delegates were chosen to attend the meeing of the UN Commission on the Status of Women to discuss instituting a Day of the Girl. Canadian Minister Rona Ambrose had the privilege of meeting with the girls and helped to establish the day.

This oversize picture book features the stories of nine girls from Afghanistan to Brazil to Canada. Based on interviews of real girls in nine different countries, each spread describes each girl's accomplishments and briefly explains particular challenges for girls in that country. Back matter includes a timeline and web addresses to learn more about facts and statistics particular to girls internationally. This is a wonderful introduction to a global issue for middle grade readers.

Fact Friday: Zion Unmatched by Zion Clark and James S. Hirsch (Again a day late!)

Image: Candlewick Press

Zion Unmatched by Zion Clark and James S. Hirsch. 32 p. Candlewick Press, August, 2021. 9781536224184. (Review of finished copy courtesy of publisher.)

Happy Saturday! I'm stumbling out of the gate here with my posts this first week of school. I have managed to post to the learning platform at school and our public library's FB page, but not here! Apologies. We had quite the first day back at school on Thursday thanks to the remnants of Hurricane Ida.  As usual, Closter students rose to the occasion with good humor and energy, making my Fact Friday choice quite fitting. 

Fact Friday features Zion Unmatched by Zion Clark and James S. Hirsch. Students in sixth through eighth grades may remember viewing a video about elite athlete, Zion Clark during advisory last spring. Mr. Clark was born without legs and was quickly abandoned by his birth mother. He grew up in the foster care system, where he experienced abuse and neglect. Nevertheless, he taught himself to walk by using his hands and strove to do his best in school. He discovered wrestling in high school and also became a champion wheelchair racer and hand-cycler. Today, he's a motivational speaker and entrepreneur as well. This photo-essay/memoir is the first of a planned trilogy.

The full-color, slightly over-sized photos of Mr. Clark are striking. His energy and determination are evident in each. There are inspirational quotes sprinkled throughout, but unnecessary because the man is the inspiration. The photo-essay is a nice introduction to Mr. Clark. I am hoping that future volumes contain more detail about his life and what he did to overcome his challenges and thrive. 

Zion Unmatched will have wide appeal and is a recommended addition to any school, classroom or public library. 

Fact Friday: River Stories by Timothy Knapman.

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Image: HarperCollins Publishers

River Stories by Timothy Knapman. Illustrated by Ashling Lindsay & Irene Montano. unpaged. Egmont/ HarperCollins, June, 2021. 9781405292542. (Review of finished copy courtesy of publisher.)

Happy Friday TMS Readers! Fact Friday features River Stories by Thomas Knapman. Illustrated by Ashling Lindsay & Irene Montano. Travel the length of five major rivers of the world in this unique picture book. The text relates interesting facts, history and even mythology. An impressive gatefold opens to reveal gorgeous illustrations that depict the course and major landmarks of these rivers, making this book a terrific "impressionistic lesson" for young geographers.

Fact Friday and Arc Review: Revolution in Our Time: the Black Panther Party's Promise to the People by Kekla Magoon

Image: Candlewick Press

Revolution in Our Time: the Black Panther Party's Promise to the People by Kekla Magoon. 400 p. Candlewick Press, September 28, 2021. 9781536214185. (Review of arc courtesy of publisher.)

Fact Friday features Revolution in Our Time: the Black Panther Party's Promise to the People by Kekla Magoon. Teen readers wishing to learn the history of the Black Panther Party will find an accessible narrative in these 400+ pages. Ms. Magoon provides important historical context, linking the harsh and inhumane treatment of slaves to the Jim Crow laws that severely limited the activities of Black people once slavery was outlawed, through the Civil Rights movement to the formation of the Black Panther Party in 1966 in response to police violence against Black people.

The imagery projected in the media and by law enforcement, including the FBI, was one of militancy and menace, belying the fact that the foundational tenets of the organization were to provide food, education and health care to the community. They armed themselves for protection, not intimidation. Ms. Magoon breaks up the meticulously researched narrative with side stories that highlight various leaders, many of whom were imprisoned or killed. I was riveted.

The book design is pleasing as well, with plenty of white space and black and white, well-captioned photos sized to maximize effect. 75+ pages of back matter includes more information about the key people in the movement, a timeline, a glossary, books and websites for further reading, 32 pages of source notes, an extensive bibliography, image credits, copyright acknowledgements and an index, making this a mentor text for young researchers.

Revolution in Our Time belongs in every school and public library. Adults would do well to read it too. I'm sure that many are not aware of this history. I admit that I was, only because I read Ms. Magoon's debut, The Rock and the River, which planted the seed for this book, and Rita Williams-Garcia's 2010 novel, One Crazy Summer. 

Revolution in Our Time is not due out until September 28, so please put it on your radar. I expect it will make many year-end "Best" lists and there's lots of room on that striking cover for well-deserved awards.

Fact Friday: Sky Gazing: a Guide to the Moon, Sun, Planets, Stars, Eclipses and Constellations by Meg Thacher

Image: Storey Books

Sky Gazing: a Guide to the Moon, Sun, Planets, Stars, Eclipses and Constellations by Meg Thacher. 132 p. Storey Books, October, 2020. 9781635860962. (Review of finished copy borrowed from public library.)

Fact Friday features Sky Gazing: a Guide to the Moon, Sun, Planets, Stars, Eclipses and Constellations by Meg Thacher. If you've ever contemplated the night sky and wondered about what you are seeing, this is the book for you! Slightly oversized and attractively designed, young readers will find it appealing and inviting. It's well-organized and the text is conversational, chunked and accessible. There's science, there's folklore from diverse cultures and an amusing little guy named Star Dude who pops in from time to time to define things and add clarity. 

This first-purchase will be a brilliant addition to any library collection. It will be useful for young astronomy researchers and a browsable bonanza for tween fact hounds. I put it in my book order and can't wait to share this when I get back to school in September!