Biography Kids
"The combination of biography and Brooks' own poems makes for a strong, useful, and beautiful text . . . A solid introduction to a brilliant writer"--Kirkus. Acclaimed writer Alice Faye Duncan tells the story of poet Gwendolyn Brooks, the first Black author to win the Pulitzer Prize. SING a song for Gwendolyn Brooks.
Sing it loud--a Chicago blues. With a voice both wise and witty, Gwendolyn Brooks crafted poems that captured the urban Black experience and the role of women in society. She grew up on the South Side of Chicago, reading and writing constantly from a young age, her talent lovingly nurtured by her parents. Brooks ultimately published 20 books of poetry, two autobiographies, and one novel. Alice Faye Duncan has created her own song to celebrate Gwendolyn's life and work, illuminating the tireless struggle of revision and the sweet reward of success. Included on the Chicago Public Libraries list of Best Informational Books for Young Readers.
In this groundbreaking new series, DK brings together fresh voices and DK design values to give readers the most information-packed, visually exciting biographies on the market today. Full-color photographs of people, places, and artifacts, and sidebars on related subjects add dimension and relevance to stories of famous lives that students will love to read. Modern scholarship and a variety of narrative approaches give today's reader a chance to explore the extraordinary world of Abraham Lincoln. This new way of looking at classic subjects creates a unique reading experience that breathes life into the book-report and summer-reading repertoire.
Supports the Common Core State Standards.
Growing up in the late 19th century, Laura Wheeler Waring didn't see any artists who looked like her. She didn't see any paintings of people who looked like her, either. As a young woman studying art in Paris, she found inspiration in the works of Matisse and Gaugin to paint the people she knew best. Back in Philadelphia, the Harmon Foundation commissioned her to paint portraits of accomplished African-Americans. Her portraits still hang in Washington DC's National Portrait Gallery, where children of all races can admire the beautiful shades of brown she captured.
An inspiring children's picture book about the indomitable spirit of Jamaican six-time Olympic medal winner Shelly Ann Fraser Pryce
"Pryce, who earned her fame as an illustrious athlete before putting pen to paper, remains an influential voice for young men and women the world over...She lives the promise entrusted to her."
--Jamaica Gleaner
"A retelling of Jamaican Olympic gold medalist Shelly Ann Fraser Pryce's uplifting journey to stardom, the charming picture book encourages young readers to stay steadfast with determination to achieve their dreams."
--Island Origins Magazine
"I Am a Promise...takes readers on a journey from [Shelly Ann Fraser Pryce's] childhood to the Olympics. It's her story about dreaming big and turning those dreams into reality."
--New York Amsterdam News
"A choice pick for school and public library children's collections, highly recommended."
--Midwest Book Review
"This book, which offers material for the youngest readers and extends coverage of Jamaican track athletes beyond Usain Bolt, is a welcome addition to the sports biography bookshelf."
--Booklist
"Fraser Pryce, who grew up in Kingston, Jamaica, always loved to run. Her noticeable talent was present at an early age and was nurtured by many adults in her life. Her ability was her promise--to herself, to her family, to the people who supported her, and to the country that cheered her on as she represented Jamaica in the Olympics."
--School Library Journal
"Assisted by fellow Jamaicans Rousseau and Moss in her picture book debut, sprinter Fraser Pryce, a six-time Olympic medalist, relays her life from childhood until age 21, when she won her first Olympic gold medal...The tale...succeeds in conveying Fraser Pryce's autobiography in a compelling, conversational manner."
--Publishers Weekly
"Writing with Rousseau, Pryce offers a text that's accessible to new readers, repetition both underscoring her tirelessness and supporting decoding. Firmly outlined in black and opaquely colored, Moss' images complement this moving story while highlighting both Pryce's determination and the spirit of Jamaica, especially the support of a loving community (all depicted as black, like Pryce)...A solid addition to the early biography shelf."
--Kirkus Reviews
"A colorful children's book, chock full of vividly wonderful, bright and brilliant illustrations by Rachel Moss."
--Exclusive Magazine
"Highlights perseverance, grit, confidence, and of course the Olympics."
--Book Tastings
"Her grandmother tells her she is a promise but she doesn't understand why. As time goes on, she gets faster and begins to think of racing. Shelly Ann was the fastest woman in the world in 2012. She's a six-time Olympic medal winner. She learned she was a promise for Jamaica and the people who supported her. She also learned she was a promise to herself to do the best she can. That's a good lesson for all of us."
--Journey of a Bookseller
"Jamaica, stand up! This...picture book is something to get excited about."
--Here We Read
I Am a Promise takes readers on Shelly Ann's journey from her childhood in the tough inner-city community of Waterhouse in Kingston, Jamaica, through her development as a young athlete, to her first Olympic gold medal in the 100-meter sprint in 2008.
The story charts how Shelly Ann's commitment to hard work as well as the encouragement of loved ones helped her achieve her dreams against great odds and challenging life experiences. Most importantly, I Am a Promise encourages young readers to believe in themselves and to maximize their own promise to the world.
Meet extraordinary real-life heroines in the Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls chapter book series! Introducing stories based on the lives of extraordinary women in global history, each stunningly designed chapter book features beautiful illustrations from a female artist as well as bonus activities in the backmatter to encourage kids to explore the various fields in which each of these women thrived. The perfect gift to inspire any young reader!
