Sacajawea: Her True Story

Today is National Native American Heritage Day and in celebration, I'm reviewing
Sacajawea: Her True Story, the story of Sacajawea.

Sacajawea was a Shoshone Indian/Native American who assisted the explorers Lewis and Clark on their expedition, which was at the request of President Thomas Jefferson. Sacajawea's story is important for children to know, because no matter what negative events came her way, Sacajawea always stayed strong. Her story is an amazing story of courage and strength in the face of hardship, at a time when women had very little rights.

Sacajawea grew up in the Shoshone reservation Northwest of Canada, but she was kidnapped by an enemy Indian tribe as a teenager, and grew up as a captive. She was later bought by a French fur trader named Toussaint Charbonneu, who took her as his wife. Charbonneu and Sacajawea moved to North Dakota where they met Lewis and Clark, who asked Charbonneu to join their group of explorers. Charbonneu joined the group, who became known as the Corps of discovery, but the group of men had to wait until the Spring to begin their expedition. During this time, Sacajawea gave birth to a son named  Jean Baptiste, who was  nicknamed "Pomp."

When Spring arrived, the men set off to explore, but realized that they would need horses to go up and over the mountains. The only horses available on the mountain were owned by Shoshone tribe. Sacajawea was the only one who knew the Shoshone language, and they would need her to translate for them, so with her son on her back, Sacajawea traveled with Charbonneu, Lewis and Clark to Shoshone territory.

Throughout their travels to the Shoshone territory, Sacajawea showed wisdom, courage and strength that the men themselves did not display. She prevented supplies from being lost when their boat was tipped over; she kept her group from drowning during a flash flood while exploring a deep ravine, ans she told Lewis and Clark about peace signs to wear on their face, which allowed Lewis and Clark to communicate with Shoshone women who got the word to their chief that the group wanted to buy horses. Sacajawea did all of this while carrying her infant son on her back.

It is very possible that without Sacajawea and her resourcefulness, Lewis and Clarke may not have survived their expedition. Sacajawea's story is one that both boys and girls can appreciate because it is both a story of adventure, as well as one of bravery and courage. Sacajawea's legend is honored today by a golden dollar coin.

*NOTE: Sacajawea: Her True Story is a Penguin for Young Readers Level 4 book for fluent readers. It has great illustrations and language that is understandable for children ages five years and older. However, for children younger than eight years-old, it is best read by a parent, as the reading level is best suited for children who have fluent reading skills.

Sacajawea: Her True Story

Author: by Joyce Milton

Illustrator: Shelly Hehenberger 

Grace for President

Girls rock! Do you agree? If so, you will love the picture book Grace for President, that teaches children not only about the election process, but to be ambitious and believe that they can achieve anything they set their minds to!

Grace for President, begins with an innocent question from a young student and turns into a race for school president!  In school one day, Grace is shown a large poster featuring all of the past U.S. presidents, and she notices that none of them are women. Grace then asks her teacher "Where's the women?" - to which her teacher responds, informing Grace that there's never been a female president, which bothers Grace, who then decides she will run for class president! Grace wants to show her classmates that women can be president too! Besides, how hard can it be? Or so Grace thinks to herself.

The next day, its announced that Grace has an opponent from another class - one who happens to be the Spelling Bee champion, AND captain of the soccer team. Grace realizes running for president won't be as easy as she thought, but she doesn't let it discourage her and presses on, working hard to win the election. She does doing everything from handing out cupcakes to joining the school safety squad and creating a school beautification committee.

Grace for President is an absolute treat of a picture book for many reasons. It's simplistic style of educating children about politics in a way they can understand and can relate to. It's non-preachy lesson, and fun illustrations featuring diverse children of all races and every skin shade. And most importantly, it encourages young girls and children in general to be ambitious through a fun civic lesson that has the reader wondering what will happen next! If you find these ideals important, purchase Grace for President today!

Grace for President

Author: Kelly DiPucchio

Illustrator: Leuyen Pham

Available at: Teaching for Change bookstores, Amazon.com

Room on the Broom

The witch had a cat and a hat that was black

and long ginger hair in a braid down her back...

How the witch wailed and how the cat spat 

when the wind blew so wildly it blew off the hat!

Grab your imaginary broom and hop on for a fun ride with a witch, a cat, a bird and more in Room on the Broom. You and the children in your life will love this fun, rhythmic tale of a witch who finds unlikely friends during a ride on her magic broom.

While flying on her broom, the wind blows wildly and the witch loses her hat. After which a fun adventure ensues where she meets an unlikely bunch of friends, including a dog and a frog, whose mishap leads them to a scary dragon that wants to eat the witch for lunch! How the five friends scare away the dragon will leave children giggling and wanting more.

What makes this bestselling book exceptional is not just it's genius rhythmic prose and adorable illustrations, but its wonderful lesson of the importance of friendship and helping others. This wonderful story is one for Halloween lovers and any child who loves magical stories with fun, quirky characters. 

Room on the Broom

Author: Julia Donaldson

Illustrator: Axel Scheffler

Halloween ABC

The rumpled rabbit is ready to rest, the spooky skeleton is sleepy.

The tiny tiger is terribly tired - from too much trick-or-treating!

Does  your little one love Halloween? If so, they'll love Halloween ABC from a Little Golden Book. This adorable picture book teaches kids the alphabet in a fun way with illustrations of children going trick-or-treating, dressed in various costumes, from ballerina and a cowboy to a dentist, dinosaur and kangaroo. The book not only teaches children their ABCs, it also teaches them about animals they may not have ever seen or heard of, including an iguana, kangaroo and a yak .If your little one hasn't yet decided what he or she wants to be for Halloween, this is a great book that will give them many fun, cute ideas.

This book is also worth reading for two more reasons: it reminds kids of the importance of brushing and to not eat too much candy as they can get sick, AND it features a great representation of children of several races and cultures, promoting unity in friendship. 

The cute illustrations, along with the fun Halloween story, non-preachy lessons, and an ending that has the children getting ready for bed makes Halloween ABC a great book any young child would love. It's also a great book to help put your little one to sleep after a fun night of trick-or-treating. 

Halloween ABC

Author: Sarah Albee

Illustrator: Julia Woolf

Available at: www.amazon.com. 

Gazpacho for Nacho

September is Hispanic Heritage Month and to celebrate, won't you read this delightful story to your little one! Gazpacho for Nacho is a fun and educational picture book that children and adults alike will love. It is about a picky little boy named Nacho, who wants only to eat a certain food - Gazpacho, a cold tomato-based vegetable soup that originated in Andalucia, Spain.

The story begins with Nacho refusing to eat anything but Gazpacho - not meat, not fish, not even helado (ice cream)! He wants to eat Gazpacho all the time - for lunch and dinner and even for breakfast! He even tells him mother that he thinks leche (milk) and churros, a Latino pastry is for the burros (donkeys)!

Nacho's mother eventually gets fed up with Nacho's pickiness and takes Nacho to the market where she introduces him to all the veggetables that go into making Gazpacho, so that Nacho can help her to make the soup, because she's worn out from making it all the time by herself. The trip to the market brings on a love of other vegetables by Nacho, which helps him to realize that there is more to life than Gazpacho. Once he's back at home cooking Gazpacho with his mother, Nacho also realizes that he enjoys cooking!

Gazpacho for Nacho is a fun picture book to read to a child who wants to learn Spanish, and features a Spanish-English glossary at the back of the book to help parents and children who need assistance pronouncing the Spanish words. It is also a great book for parents dealing with a stubborn child that wants only to eat certain food.

The illustrations by Carolina Farias, are simply beautiful, adding to the book's humorous and fun rhyming prose. Gazpacho for Nacho is sure to be enjoyed by children and parents of all cultures. It's positive, promotes healthy eating, as well as mother and son time, and will keep you smiling throughout.

Author: Tracey C. Kyle
Illustrator: Carolina Farias

B is for Bulldozer: A Construction ABC

I spy an I beam made out of steel,

and a Jackhammer making a noise you can feel.

Hear that Ka-boom? What a loud sound!

Look! That huge Loader scoops dirt from the ground.

Is your little one fascinated by big trucks and construction sites? If so, he or she will love B is for Bulldozer: A Construction Alphabet, a wonderful book that teaches children the alphabet by referencing construction site tools!

This adorable board book, also available in paperback, explains what asphalt is as well as a crane and a forklift, as well as their functions and so much more! For example, it explains why a hard hat is important, the name of that noisy and vibrating tool called a jackhammer, and what mallets and a loader is.

What I like most: the book is that it features diverse characters, including ones of different races, and doesn't just limit the characters to males; it includes a female welder, making it even more educational and inclusive. It's a book that can be enjoyed by both young boys and girls and children of color who don't often see themselves in picture books. For me, that makes it an A+.

B is for Bulldozer: A Construction ABC

Author: June Sobel

Illustrator: Melissa Iwai

Available at: Target, Amazon

Dancing in the Wings

Sassy makes her mark in this lovable story that proves when you aren't afraid to be yourself and go after your dreams, they can come true! Dancing in the Wings is a wonderful picture book by actress, dancer, and writer Debbie Allen, with equally wonderful illustrations by Kadir Nelson.

Since she could walk, all sassy wanted to do was dance. Unfortunately, she has unusually long legs and large feet, and is constantly teased by her big brother, who calls her "Big Foot. "She also gets teased by her fellow ballet dancers who one day call her "Tyrannosaurus."

Despite being the butt of jokes from others, Sassy pushes toward her dream of being a dancer - with the support of her mother and her Uncle Red who encourages Sassy to focus on how her differences can help her; such as her ability to jump higher and spin faster than anyone else in her ballet class.

Sassy takes Uncle Red's advice when she hears that a famed ballet instructor is going to come to her ballet class to choose one dancer for a prestigious summer dance festival in Washington, DC. At first, Sassy is worried that she is too awkward and would never be chosen, but then she remembers Uncle Red's advice, puts on her brightest leotard, and auditions for the spot in the dance festival - and is chosen to participate. Throughout the story, you are cheering for Sassy and the ending is so feel-good, you don't want the story to end.

Dancing in the Wings is a great story with a great message: Don't be afraid to be yourself AND when you're confident and do your best, you can make your mark on the world.  The book is a great story for a child who loves to dance but also for every child who has ever felt like they don't fit in. Sassy's story is also for any child who has dared to dream to make their mark on the world - whatever that dream may be.

Good Night Sleep Tight: What a Wonderful Flight

Vrooom! Hummm! Nnneeaoowww! What's that sound? It's Fire Plane Jake, Passenger Carrier Clay and others in the wonderful picture book  Goodnight Sleep Tight: What a Wonderful Flight by Louise Lintvelt. Take a fun ride and learn all about the different roles that various aircraft play.

If your little one talks of being a future pilot, he or she will love will love "Goodnight." Not only does it teach children about different types of aircraft, it does so with fun, whimsical rhyme and sound.

"Goodnight" tells the story of four different types of aircraft including carrier planes, but also aircraft that children may not often hear about, such as rescue helicopters and crops dusters. In a fun educational style, "Goodnight" tells the stories of the various jobs that aircraft perform, from putting out fires and carrying patients to hospitals, to helping to fertilize crops.

In addition to being a great book to teach children about the many uses of aircraft,  Goodnight Sleep Tight: What a Wonderful Flight is the perfect picture book for bedtime, sleepovers, or any time of the day for young children who love watching planes, helicopters or other types of aircraft. Available on Amazon.com, iTunes or Google Play.