Quality Kids’ Books – Peachtree Publishing Company Inc.

The Smile Shop: A Timely Story of Community from Author-Illustrator Satoshi Kitamura

Peachtree Publishing Company — Thu, 04 Mar 2021 19:00:13 +0000

A small boy has saved all his pocket money and visits the market to buy himself something for the very first time. The busy market is filled with shops and stalls where he can buy pies, clocks, boats, books, and more until… Oh no! A trip and fall sends his money down the drain! With only one coin left, the devastated boy is sure he won’t be able to buy anything now. But wait, what’s that? A Smile Shop? He could really do with a smile, although he doesn’t really feel like smiling right now. What will happen if he goes in?

Featuring charming, classic illustrations reminiscent of Maurice Sendak and Tomie dePaola, critically acclaimed author-illustrator Satoshi Kitamura’s (Hat Tricks) offerse an absorbing setting for readers to explore themes of independence, self-worth, and the simple but lasting effect of a smile shared between people. In the age of masks, isolation, and infrequent smiles shared in-person, this timely and hopeful picture book celebrates the value in human connection.

Can’t wait to read The Smile Shop? Take a look inside the book, and read an excerpt!

“Told in the first person, the boy’s narrative features evocative language that conveys his experiences as he takes in the sights, smells, and temptations of the shops…. Simple illustrations brimming with eye-catching details are stylistically reminiscent of Uri Shulevitz with a dash of Tomie dePaola. The classic, subdued palette perfectly complements the boy’s journey… A satisfyingly—and deceptively—simple tale about sincere pleasures in hectic times.” —Kirkus Reviews, STARRED REVIEW

Share The Smile Shop with those who make you smile when this story of community arrives April 1st at your local library, indie bookstore, or Barnes & Noble, and be sure to check out the rest of our brand-new picture books and middle grade and YA titles coming to Peachtree this season!

Highlights of 2020: This Year’s Best Books

Peachtree Publishing Company — Fri, 11 Dec 2020 18:30:59 +0000

This may have been a year of uncertainties, but we’re so excited to close out 2020 by celebrating some truly incredible books. Join us in honoring all our books that earned starred reviews and a place on some wonderful best books lists this year!

Arlo the Lion Who Couldn’t Sleep
by Catherine Rayner

★ “Spellbinding…alluringly tranquil… Gentle and gorgeous.” —Kirkus Reviews, STARRED REVIEW

Eek! A Noisy Journey from A to Z
by Julie Larios
illustrated by Julie Paschkis

★ “An absolute zoo of an ABC book—in the best possible way.” —Kirkus Reviews, STARRED REVIEW

Hat Tricks
by Satoshi Kitamura

★ “Dynamic, fun-filled, imaginative, and ideal for participatory reading aloud.” —Kirkus Reviews, STARRED REVIEW

Madeline Finn and the Therapy Dog
by Lisa Papp

★ “A beautifully designed introduction to the lives of therapy dogs and how much work goes into becoming one.” —School Library Journal, STARRED REVIEW

Bo the Brave
by Bethan Woollvin

★ “A great book to delve into what heroes are made of. Highly recommended for elementary libraries.” —School Library Journal, STARRED REVIEW

Life in a Frozen World
by Mary Batten
illustrated by Thomas Gonzalez

★ “Informative…fascinating… The text makes a compelling case for understanding and caring about Antarctica.” —School Library Journal, STARRED REVIEW

The Society of Distinguished Lemmings
by Julie Colombet

★ “Even the most rule-bound reader will be cheered up by these stodgy lemmings.” —Kirkus Reviews, STARRED REVIEW

William Still and His Freedom Stories
The Father of the Underground Railroad
by Don Tate

Kirkus Reviews Best Picture Book Biography of 2020

Chicago Public Library’s Best of the Best Books of 2020

BCALA 2020 Best of the Best Booklist

★ “Brings deserved attention to the life of a man who dedicated himself to recording the lives of others.” —Kirkus Reviews, STARRED REVIEW

★ “An illuminating picture book biography of a lesser-known hero.” —Publishers Weekly, STARRED REVIEW

★ “Inspirational.”—School Library Journal, STARRED REVIEW

Amphibian Acrobats
by Leslie Bulion
illustrated by Robert Meganck

Denver Public Library’s Best and Brightest Children’s Poetry of 2020

★ “A completely satisfying package… Child readers and educators will find themselves enthralled by short, punchy poems and the science behind them.” —Kirkus Reviews, STARRED REVIEW

★ “Once again, Bulion awes—and ewws—readers with facts disguised as fun.”—Booklist, STARRED REVIEW

The Candy Mafia
by Lavie Tidhar
illustrated by Daniel Duncan

★ “It won’t take a detective to spot Willie Wonka, as well as Sam Spade, hidden in the tongue-in-cheek caper’s literary DNA.” —Booklist, STARRED REVIEW

Entertaining Books and Activities for Toddlers and Pre-K Readers

Peachtree Publishing Company — Wed, 18 Mar 2020 16:00:01 +0000

There are a few different approaches readers can take when it comes to social distancing. For many introverted readers, social distancing means continuing on with about the same schedule we had before. For little readers, however, social distancing is going to take a little more time and effort to get through. So, for those in need of entertaining activities and exciting adventures, we’ve got some great book and activity pairings for you.

Hat Tricks
Written and illustrated by Satoshi Kitamura

From renowned author and illustrator Satoshi Kitamura, this humorous story is a delightful choice for read alouds with plenty of opportunity for participation from your young audience.

Recreate some of Hattie’s magic at home with these activities!

One Fox
A Counting Book Thriller
Written and illustrated by Kate Read

This surprisingly simple counting book with a gripping tale has a hugely satisfying ending that’s sure to delight. Another great choice for early education and read-alouds while you’re at home.

Check out these fun, fox-filled storytime activities!

Spring Babies
Written by Kathryn O. Galbraith
Illustrated by Adela Pons

Featuring diverse characters and highlighting concepts like shapes and repetition, books in the Babies in the Park series will encourage an appreciation of nature and outdoor imaginative play for young readers stuck at home.

Engage your senses and celebrate the seasons with these toddler-size activities!

Stanley’s Toolbox
Written and illustrated by William Bee

An early introduction to the practical function of tools commonly found at home, this board book will appeal to the very youngest tool-loving fans. If Stanley is a hit, don’t miss the rest of the Stanley series (there are board books and picture books!).

Check out this activity sheet, and help Stanley and Little Woo put their tree house together!

Am I Yours?
Written and illustrated by Alex Latimer

This fun and unique tale will keep dinosaur lovers and fans of Are You My Mother? enthusiastically following along and guessing who is inside the shell.

Keep the dinosaur fun going with this fun activity sheet!

Printable CLAUDE Coloring Book Pages!

Peachtree Publishers — Tue, 08 Apr 2014 17:17:00 +0000

Question: What is the most fun thing in the world that doesn’t directly include reading?

Answer: Coloring in the illustrations from your favorite picture book.

Before you start typing horrified comments, hear me out.

When I was in second grade, my school library was giving away old books. We all know, getting a free book is great any day, but this was no ordinary time…

This was in the glory days of gel pens.

You remember, right? Showing up to school with that rolling backpack filled with Lisa Frank folders and a 45,832 pack of gels… Yeah, the 90’s were awesome.

Anyway, while I would normally cringe at the thought of defacing a book, these books were sad. Their plastic covers were yellowing, they were stamped with a scarlet DISCARD. I wanted to rescue them and make them beautiful again. So I adopted my orphan book specifically because it was filled with black and white line-drawing illustrations–perfect for coloring with gel pens.

You know which books also have excellent gel pen-ready illustrations?

While I wouldn’t dare take a writing implement of any kind to the pages of Alex T. Smith’s cheeky stories, I would make you printable coloring pages 🙂 Yep, everybody’s favorite posh pup is yours for the coloring.

Just click the link below, download, and color away! If you’re feeling really ambitious, snap a picture and tweet it at us ( @PeachtreePub ).

Enjoy!

Download your FREE printable coloring book pages from Claude at the Beach!

Pick up a copy of Claude at the Beach at your local bookstore, and visit Alex T. Smith‘s website to see his other fabulous work!

Gordon vs. the Writing Assignment

Peachtree Publishers — Mon, 31 Mar 2014 16:00:00 +0000

As part of his Grand Prize, Gordon’s story is being published today on the blog! We’re all quite impressed with his imagination and how much fun he had with his story; we think you will be too 🙂 Enjoy!

Gordon vs. the Writing Assignment

Gordon was just sitting down at his desk at school when his teacher asked him to write a story for her. He said, “Oh, I don’t have anything to write. This is going to be so hard. I’ll just sit here and try to think of something.” He puts his head on his desk. All of a sudden the bell rings. He jumps on his bike and rides it toward home and then things start to get weird. Rocks start shooting out of trees. He sees fireworks blasting (p.s. it is not the Fourth of July). He goes straight home.

Weird things are happening there too! His Mom has elephants on her head. His Dad is throwing the chair, his sister is throwing sandwiches at him, and a giant chicken is attacking him. They finally let him sit down and read a book. Then things start getting weird again. The characters from Gordon’s books start to jump out at him. Some of his books have dragons in them and instead of shooting fire they shoot spikes. He runs for his life. He gets on his bike and drives off but as he drives away the bike changes into a rocket ship and by the time he stops it he is at Mars.

An Alien starts to chase him. He gets into a space suit he found on a hook next to the door and goes out the back door. The Alien starts chasing him again. The Alien chases him for an hour and then the Alien is out of breath. It walks to its home and Gordon walks back to the rocket ship and flies home. When he lands he sees there is a tiny bomb in this rocket ship. He has one second and then he suddenly wakes up.

He is at school where he can write his story very quickly.

He has a story to write! Hurray!

The End

Gordon, the winner of Mrs. Burke’s You vs. Who? contest, is in second grade.

You vs. Who? Contest & Giveaway

Peachtree Publishers — Fri, 07 Mar 2014 16:03:00 +0000

Greetings, denizens of the blogiverse!

Since the title of Teacher of the Year was bestowed upon me, I’ve received a number of inquiries on an array of subjects.

What is my first name? What activities are best for fourth graders? Did I suffer any lasting effects from the flying sneaker incident? How is my snap so impressively loud?

I’ve been asked to answer a few of those questions here today.

The snap, I’m afraid, is one of the most fiercely guarded secrets of the Empire—Mrs. Burke’s Empire, that is. The technique was passed down in a sacred trust from my mother, and I couldn’t possibly divulge it here.

Actually, I suppose I could, but my hood of ninjas would instantaneously escort every person reading this post to a remote island surrounded by man-eating octopi. I doubt the secret of the snap would do you much good in such an exile.

Activities, however, I am happy to share!

1. Plays:

Each year, the citizens of Mrs. Burke’s Empire perform a play. I’m not given to bragging, but this year’s—The Sorcerer’s Castle—might be this director’s masterpiece. I’ve found that my students learn quite a bit about themselves when they’re forced to play someone else.

2. Writing:

I suggest having your students write about their own experiences.

Here’s a prompt that works well with my own students: You vs. Who?

Students must write a story about a time they faced some sort of obstacle. Stories can be silly or serious; true or fictional; about school, home, or extra-curriculars! Give it a title like Suzie Rice vs. The Vacuum of Suction Destruction or Mrs. Burke vs. The Slippery Ramen Noodle.

3. Contests:

When all other hope is lost and mutiny seems inescapable, make it a contest. In fact, let’s do just that!

Have your child, student, or library patrons answer the You vs. Who? prompt.

You (the teacher, librarian, parent, etc.) must send the stories to the folks at Peachtree Publishers via e-mail or snail mail before the deadline. (See details below.)

Win a glorious prize and bring honor to your own empire!

CONTEST DETAILS

PRIZE: Peachtree Publishers is giving away ten (10) Charlie Bumpers prize packs!

Nine winners will receive one (1) hardcover copy of Charlie Bumpers vs. The Teacher of the Year, and one (1) galley of Charlie Bumpers vs. The Really Nice Gnome (April 2014!).

One Grand Prize winner will receive one (1) hardcover copy of Charlie Bumpers vs. The Teacher of the Year, one (1) hardcover copy of Charlie Bumpers vs. The Really Nice Gnome, and one (1) Audio Book CD of Charlie Bumpers vs. The Teacher of the Year (performed by author and Grammy Award-winning recording artist, Bill Harley!).

To enter: Students must write a story about a time they faced some sort of obstacle like Charlie does. Adult must send the stories in to Peachtree Publishers via e-mail or snail mail. Stories can be silly or serious; true or fictional; about school, home, or extra-curriculars!

E-mail Address:

publicity(at)peachtree(dash)online(dot)com

Snail Mail Address:

Peachtree Publishers

Publicity Dept.

1700 Chattahoochee Ave.

Atlanta, GA 30318

DEADLINE: Contest ends March 26, 2014, at 11:59 pm EST

OPEN TO: US Addresses Only

Peachtree Love

Peachtree Publishers — Thu, 20 Feb 2014 20:12:00 +0000

Ah, romance. It’s a beautiful thing, isn’t it?

For kids, though, love and romance are big concepts associated with deep emotions that they may not be ready to tackle.

But self-respect, self-acceptance, and self-love? Those are seeds that can be planted early.

Below are 3 fantastic titles (with sneak peaks of 2 not yet published titles & a look inside one that you can borrow from your local library today!) with themes of finding value in yourself.

PLUS, because we forgot to send you roses on Valentine’s Day, we’re doing a giveaway! (Details below.)

Churchill’s Tale of Tails

Churchill the pig has lost his tail.

In an effort to replace it, Churchill tries on all sorts of other options, but none is quite right.

His tail isn’t as grand as the peacock’s or as bold as the tiger’s, but it’s the one that suits him best.

When kids are first sorting out who they are, they play dress up, they experiment, and despite who they choose to make themselves into, it’s good to remind them that they are special just as they are.

Lost for Words

Tapir is in search of his voice.

He’s discouraged when he can’t write the way his friends can.

Realizing that he’s different is hard for Tapir, but, instead of giving up or thinking of himself as inferior, he starts looking for something he is good at.

He soon discovers that he doesn’t need words to express himself as beautifully and thoughtfully as anyone else.

Penguin’s Hidden Talent

Penguin wants to be a part of the talent show, but he doesn’t have the flashy gifts that belong on stage.

Instead, he helps organize the production.

It’s not until his friends attempt to throw him a party (and botch it!) that Penguin realizes his knack for organization is a talent in itself.

Some kids have less dazzling—but no less impressive—talents; they’re organized or they’re great at listening or they’re a stellar student. Not everyone can star in the show, but there would be no show without someone to run it.

Food For Thought

By starting early and instilling values of self-respect and confidence, and celebrating the differences that make us unique, we can help cultivate a kinder generation—one that’s compassionate towards others and gentler on the person in the mirror.

That’s what our giveaway contest is all about. Here’s what you must do to enter:

Think about self-worth. What does it mean to you as an adult? What does it mean to the kids in your life (yours, your younger siblings, the kids you teach, the kids that come to your library)? What do you wish you could go back and tell yourself or your parents about self-worth?

Then talk to the kids & work together on a little (or huge!) project about positive, healthy self-love.

That’s it!

Your project can be as elaborate or as simple as you wish, and you can answer in any method you see fit. The important part is collaborating with a child (or group of kids!) to be creative. Draw us a picture like Tapir, record a fashion show like Churchill, or just write a thoughtful blog post like Penguin might—it’s all up to you and your kids!

Giveaway Details

The Prize: One winner will receive one copy each of Churchill’s Tale of Tails, Lost for Words, and Penguin’s Hidden Talent.

Eligibility: Must have a U.S. address. We cannot ship overseas or to P.O. Boxes.

Open: February 20, 2014 – March 6, 2014, 11:59 pm EST.

To Enter: Post a link to your response in any format (video, art, blog post—whatever!), on either Facebook or Twitter. In your post you must:

Include a link back to this blog post.
Tag Peachtree Publishers so we can find your post!
Use the hashtag #PeachtreeLove

Please Note: You must follow these steps exactly in order to qualify.

Happy creating!

C&N

Black History Month: Great Americans & Great Reading

Peachtree Publishers — Tue, 11 Feb 2014 17:10:00 +0000

Hello, internet friends!

Niki & Christine, here! This is the first Peachtree post of the year and the debut post of this brilliant (and oh-so-humble) blogging duo. (More on us later, but feel free to get in touch in the meantime! @PeachtreePub)

As this is our first official meeting, we don’t want to overwhelm you with the heights of awesome that ITWOPP is about reach. We’re firm believers in delayed gratification here at Peachtree, so we’ll ration out the cool beans over the next few months. But today we do have a few special treats for you!

A fabulous book trailer for The Other Side of Free (Made by the author!)
Insight into the inspiration behind & writing of The Other Side of Free (Compiled by Christine who—fun fact—was a children’s librarian in a past life.)
A roundup of excellent Peachtree titles (with Teacher’s Guides!) for use in teaching themes and events associated with Black History Month

Black History Month

February is a month we set aside to celebrate black Americans who have played significant roles in shaping their own times and the country we’ve become.

Thanks to the bravery of people like Booker T. Washington, Condoleezza Rice, Louis Armstrong, Jackie Robinson, and Barack Obama, we’ve come a long way from the 1926 origins of Black History Month. We’ve come even further since the slavery, civil war, and black oppression of the 18th and 19^th centuries.

In honor of such great American figures, and in order to pass along the hard-learned lessons of our country’s past, we’ve pulled together a few titles to share with the young (and not-so-young) readers in your life.

The Other Side of Free

Jem has escaped from slavery. Now it’s up to him to decide what he believes, who he trusts, and what freedom really means…

What was the inspiration behind Russell’s work? Christine did some digging and here’s what she found!

Krista Russell states that her book began with a relic that was discovered at St. Mose, but is now held at the Florida Museum of Natural History.

In her middle grade historical fiction novel, The Other Side of Free, Phaedra wears this relic around her neck. Such attention to detail comes from a heavily researched topic, and Russell shares both her sources in the bibliography at the end of the book, as well as a primary sources sectionon her website.

This site gives curious young readers a glimpse into primary sources such as the medallion, and how authors use them to research history. A map and glossary sound out the additional resources that support the main idea of the book and make it a great CCSS appropriate title for sixth grade.

The Roundup

Want more? Here are a few titles that highlight freedom stories, inspiring biographies, and African American history.

Ages 4 – 8

Dad, Jackie, and Me

Teacher’s Guide

It is the summer of 1947 and a highly charged baseball season is underway in New York. Jackie Robinson is the new first baseman for the Brooklyn Dodgers – and the first black player in Major League Baseball. A young boy shares the excitement of Robinson’s rookie season with his deaf father.

Ages 6-10

14 Cows for America

Teacher’s Guide

In June of 2002, a very unusual ceremony begins in a far-flung village in western Kenya. An American diplomat is surrounded by hundreds of Maasai people. A gift is about to be bestowed upon the American men, women, and children, and he is there to accept it. The gift is as unexpected as it is extraordinary. A mere nine months have passed since the September 11 attacks, and hearts are raw. Tears flow freely from American and Maasai as these legendary warriors offer their gift to a grieving people half a world away. Word of the gift will travel newswires around the globe. Many will be profoundly touched, but for Americans, this selfless gesture will have deeper meaning still. For a heartsick nation, the gift of fourteen cows emerges from the choking dust and darkness as a soft light of hope—and friendship. Master storyteller Carmen Agra Deedy hits all the right notes in this elegant story of generosity that crosses boundaries, nations, and cultures. An afterword by Wilson Kimeli Naiyomah—the Maasai warrior at the center of the story—provides additional information about his tribe and their generous actions. Thomas Gonzalez’s stunning paintings, which are saturated with rich hues of oranges, browns, blues, and greens, capture the modest nobility of the Maasai people and the distinctive landscape of the African plain.

Jingle Bells

It is November 1857 in Savannah, Georgia, and the heat is stifling. Choir director James Lord Pierpont is busy writing a song for the children of the church to perform to usher in the holiday season. He is also worried. Many townspeople are angry because the congregation does not believe in slavery, and someone has thrown a brick through one of the church windows. As Mr. Pierpont sweeps up the glass from the broken window, he recalls his own Boston childhood, the sound of sleigh bells, and the fun of riding in a sleigh through the snow. Suddenly he gets an idea. A few days later – with the happy sounds of children singing and jingling bells and bags of “snow” – Mr. Pierpont introduces the delighted churchgoers to the charms of a northern Christmas!

Sweet Land of Liberty

This inspiring story of little-known civil rights champion Oscar Chapman and his role in Marian Anderson’s concert at the Lincoln Memorial reminds readers that one person can truly make a difference.

Keep On!

Teacher’s Guide

Many know the story of Robert Peary’s great 1909 expedition to reach the North Pole. Yet few people know that Peary was joined on this grueling, history-making journey by fellow explorer Matthew Henson. Henson was born just after the Civil War, a time when slavery had been abolished, but few opportunities were available for black people. Even as a child, he exhibited a yearning for adventure, and at the age of only thirteen, he embarked on a five-year voyage sailing the seven seas and learning navigation, history, and mathematics. Henson’s greatest adventure began when he accepted an invitation from Robert Peary to join his expedition to the North Pole. The team endured storms, shifting ice, wind, injuries, accidents, and unimaginable cold. Finally on April 1, Peary, Henson, and four Inuit men began the final 133-mile push to the Pole. Readers will share in the excitement and drama of this remarkable adventure as award-winning author Deborah Hopkinson pays tribute to a great but under-recognized figure from America’s past. Illustrator Stephen Alcorn’s large-format, stylized ink-and-watercolor illustrations capture all the action. Excerpts from Henson’s expedition diaries, a time line, and an epilogue place the story in its historical context.

Ages 7 – 11

A Storm Called Katrina

Louis Daniel hates it when Mama treats him like a baby. But when Hurricane Katrina blows through the Gulf Coast on a fateful August night, Louis feels like a little kid again. With no time to gather their belongings – except Louis’s beloved horn – Daddy leads the family from their home and into an unfamiliar, watery world of floating debris, lurking critters, and desperate neighbors heading for dry ground. Taking shelter in the already-crowded Superdome, Louis and his parents wait…and wait. Conditions continue to worsen and their water supply is running out. When Daddy fails to return from a scouting mission within the Dome, Louis knows he’s no longer a baby. It’s up to him to find his father – with the help of his prized cornet.

Ages 8 – 12

Crossing Jordan

Teacher’s Guide

A moving, coming-of-age story of a young white girl who overcomes family prejudice and cultural differences when she befriends a black girl in a small working-class town.

The Everlasting Now

James Longstreet Sayre, known to all as Brother, lives with his mother and sister in their well-run if run-down boardinghouse. The men who board there work for the Southern Railroad and Brother loves listening to their stories—especially to Mr. Edwards, the railroad engineer. But Brother’s life is changed forever when he meets Champion Always Luckey, a black boy his own age who has been sent from Detroit to live with his aunt, who works for Brother’s family. With Champion, Brother learns all sorts of things—how to fish, that he needs glasses, and that there are subtle and powerful rules of race and power that he’s never noticed. A child of privilege, Brother has never questioned the ways of his small southern town—but now he has reason to. Sara Harrell Banks sets her dramatic story of an adolescent friendship during a troubled, complex time in our nation’s history. Readers will be easily drawn into the action and learn a valuable lesson in Depression-era Southern history, when resources were scarce and segregation was firmly in place.

Gabriel’s Horses

In the first book of this engrossing middle-grade trilogy set during the Civil War, a young Kentucky slave dares to pursue his dream of becoming a jockey.

Gabriel’s Triumph

In the second book in the Racing to Freedom trilogy, ex-slave Gabriel faces challenges and setbacks as he pursues his dream of becoming a famous jockey.

Gabriel’s Journey

In the final book of the Racing To Freedom trilogy, ex-slave Gabriel leaves behind a successful horse racing career to join his parents at Camp Nelson, where his father is a Sergeant in the Fifth US Colored Calvary of the Union Army.

Lost Goat Lane

For Kate, being poor in a small rural Florida town means feeling ashamed and isolated. Her classmates laugh at her old clothes and worn shoes and Kate’s mother is working long hours at a dairy farm to keep food on the table. But one day, Kate meets the Wilsons, a tight knit, middle-class African-American family. Kate is particularly drawn to Ruby, the glamorous grown daughter who has returned home from New York City. As Kate begins to spend time with Ruby in town, she becomes aware of the undercurrent of discrimination and prejudice that runs through her community and the complex roles of race and class in her own relationships.

Stumptown Kid

Charlie wants two things he can’t get: to make the local Wildcats Baseball team and to have life to return to the way it was before his father died two years earlier in the Korean War. Then Charlie meets Luther, a stranger who quietly and mysteriously arrives in town and sets up camp near the river. Luther is a former Negro Baseball League player, and Charlie loves baseball. The two strike up a friendship and Luther agrees to coach Charlie’s fledgling neighborhood baseball team for a game against the Wildcats. But many of Holden’s white residents are suspicious of Luther because of his skin color. And when Charlie inadvertently reveals a secret of Luther’s, violence erupts in the town and both Luther and Charlie are drawn into serious danger.

Chasing the Nightbird

Teacher’s Guide

As the son of the famous Black Jack Valera, the best whaler on the eastern seaboard, thirteen-year-old Lucky Valera has led a charmed and happy life at sea. Following his father’s death, Lucky is kidnapped and pressed into a life of servitude by his cruel and embittered half brother, Fortuna. He immediately puts Lucky to work under harsh conditions in a textile mill and confiscates the boy’s wages. But when Lucky meets Emmeline, a spirited girl with abolitionist sympathies, and Daniel, a fugitive slave from the South, his dream for a return to his old life of freedom and the sea seems to be within reach. That is, if he and his new friends can outwit and outrun Fortuna and an enraged slave trader, both of whom will stop at nothing to get back what they believe is their rightful property.

The Other Side of Free

It is 1739. Young Jem has been rescued from slavery and finds himself at Fort Mose, a settlement in Florida run by the Spanish. He is in the custody of an ornery and damaged woman named Phaedra, who dictates his every move. When Jem sets out to break free of her will, an adventure begins in which Jem saves a baby owl, a pair of runaway slaves, and, eventually, maybe all the residents of Fort Mose. While Jem and the other characters are fictitious, the story is based on historical record. Fort Mose was the first legally sanctioned free African settlement in what is now the United States. In 1994 the site was designated a National Historic Landmark and listed on the National Register of Historic Places. In 2009, the National Park Service named Fort Mose a precursor site on the National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom.

Yours for Justice, Ida B. Wells

Teacher’s Guide

Blessed with a strong will, an eager mind, and a deep belief in the promise of freedom and justice for all, young former slave Ida never turned away from the challenges she faced. And when she became a journalist, she used her position to speak out about injustice. But Ida’s greatest challenge arose after one of her friends was lynched. How could one headstrong young woman help free America from the “shadow of lawlessness” that loomed over the country?

We’ve Got a Job

Teacher’s Guide

The 1963 Birmingham Children’s March was a turning point in American history. In the streets of Birmingham, Alabama, the fight for civil rights lay in the hands of children like Audrey Hendricks, Wash Booker, James Stewart, and Arnetta Streeter. Through the eyes of these four protesters and others who participated, We’ve Got a Job tells the little-known story of the 4,000 black elementary, middle, and high school students who voluntarily went to jail between May 2 and May 11, 1963. The children succeeded – where adults had failed – in desegregating one of the most racially violent cities in America. By combining in-depth, one-on-one interviews and extensive research, author Cynthia Levinson recreates the events of the Birmingham Children’s March from a new and very personal perspective.

Thanks for tuning in, and happy celebrating!

N & C