friday's five, nonfiction notes

I'll be the first to admit that I often struggled as a preschool teacher to incorporate nonfiction into my storytimes. It's easy to include the books in a classroom, especially in areas of the classroom like the block area or dramatic play, but I found it harder to use them as read alouds. I imagine other teachers and caregivers are better at it than me, but I did enjoy sharing nonfiction books on a more one-on-one basis with children or at least in small groups. I've been seeking out some titles at the library lately, and I chose this handful because they represent people and pieces of history that don't get a ton of attention in picture book format.

I hope you enjoy!

1. Pride: The Story of Harvey Milk and the Rainbow Flag written by Rob Sanders and illustrated by Steven Salerno

A fabulous introduction to the Gay Rights Movement, this nonfiction picture book speaks in plain and straightforward terms perfect for young elementary school aged children. Harvey Milk's work is highlighted here especially his desire to create a symbol to unite people searching for equality regardless of sexuality. The history of the Rainbow, or Pride, Flag is presented with a couple mentions of Gilbert Baker the artist who designed the flag. (Bonus book: check out more about Baker in Sewing the Rainbow: A Story about Gilbert Baker!)

2. The Roots of Rap: 16 Bars on the 4 Pillars of Hip-Hop written by Carole Boston Weatherford and illustrated by Frank Morrison

"Dropping, scratching, beat juggling/matching wax on wheels of steel.
Wordplay, rhyming, triple-timing, keepin' the lyrics real." 
Can you name another picture book focused on the history of rap and hip-hop? I couldn't, so it was exciting to browse through this one. Props are given to the many different forces that came together in the formation of a new kind of music, from 70s rappers to the Jamaican deejays remixing in reggae, and more. Name-dropping big artists into a rhyme itself, this book features amazingly gorgeous illustrations including one of Queen Latifah that made me gasp with its realism.

3. Planting Stories: The Life of Librarian and Storyteller Pura Belpré written by Anika Aldamuy Denise and illustrated by Paola Escobar

While I knew that an ALA award is named in her honor, I'm embarrassed to admit that I really knew nothing about Pura Belpré's life story, which is incredibly inspiring and something that should be more well-known! Bringing Puerto Rican folktales to audiences in NYC and beyond, Belpré worked tirelessly to help Puerto Ricans feel welcomed and represented in library settings. This book gorgeously portrays her life's work in inviting and celebratory illustrations. What an amazing woman!

4. Leontyne Price: Voice of a Century written by Carole Boston Weatherford and illustrated by Raul Colón

Here's one that represents a complete learning experience for me, because I had never even heard of Leontyne Price before seeing this book on the library shelf! Following in Marion Anderson's footsteps, but an amazing performer and trailblazer in her own right, Price was the first black opera singer to perform on tv in the U.S., which brought her into the homes of people who otherwise wouldn't have likely seen her ever perform. Her childhood and her pursuit of a music education is described here, as well as the heights of her career. After reading, be sure to share a clip of Price performing with your young readers!

5. Let 'Er Buck: George Fletcher, the People's Champion written by Vaunda Micheaux Nelson and illustrated by Gordon C. James

To say that I knew nothing about this topic entirely, let alone George Fletcher, the man profiled in this book, would be an understatement. But, I found this entire book fascinating, because Fletcher was clearly a person who followed his passion. I can't say that I learned much in school about black people's experiences in the West in the late 1800s and early 1900s, and I imagine this remains true to history curriculum in schools today. The focus of this story is on one competition that Fletcher participated in, and the response of the crowd to the inevitable injustice he faced from the judges. There is a plethora of information in the notes at the end of the book, including a very helpful glossary of "Rodeo and Western Words". This unique nonfiction picture book was absolutely intriguing to me!


Look how much we all can learn from picture books!