Synopses & Reviews
and#160; Sarah Rector was once famously hailed as and#147;the richest black girl in America.and#8221; Set against the backdrop of American history, her tale encompasses the creation of Indian Territory, the making of Oklahoma, and the establishment of black towns and oil-rich boomtowns.
Rector acquired her fortune at the age of eleven. This is both her story and that of children just like her: one filled with ups and downs amid bizarre goings-on and crimes perpetrated by greedy and corrupt adults. From a trove of primary documents, including court and census records and interviews with family members, author Tonya Bolden painstakingly pieces together the events of Sarahand#8217;s life and the lives of those around her.
The book includes a glossary, a bibliography, and an index.
Praise for Searching for Sarah Rector
STARRED REVIEWS
"This handsome volume with its many photographs is carefully sourced and has a helpful glossary, illustration credits and index. Bolden admirably tells a complex story while modeling outstanding research strategy, as her insightful authorand#8217;s note attests."
--Kirkus Reviews, starred review
"This book will be extremely useful to teachers and librarians seeking material to align with Common Core State Standards dealing with the craft of writing of informational text."
--School Library Journal, starred review
and#160;
"Boldenand#8217;s remarks on tracking down Sarahand#8217;s story will appeal to those who enjoy untangling historical mysteries."
--The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books
Synopsis
People, children especially, have been baffled, bewildered, and even outraged by the fact that Pluto is no longer called a planet. Through whimsical artwork and an entertaining dialogue format,
Plutoand#8217;s Secret explains the true story of this distant world. Providing a history of the small, icy world from its discovery and naming to its recent reclassification, this book presents a fascinating look at how scientists organize and classify our solar system as they gain new insights into how it works and what types of things exist within it. The book includes a glossary and bibliography.
Praise for Pluto's Secret
"Pairing a lighthearted narrative in a hand-letteredand#150;style typeface with informally drawn cartoon illustrations, this lively tale of astronomical revelations begins with the search for Planet X.and#8221;
and#151;Kirkus Reviews
"This picture book offers a fresh, positive perspective on Pluto, showing that its change of status is not a demotion but a correction."
and#151;Booklist
"Light-hearted imagining of a gregarious Pluto.and#8221;
and#151;Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books
"Fun readingand#133; The book provides a factual history of our faraway 'dwarf,' and on its companion icy worlds, and on the discovery of Kuiper-like bands around other stars."
and#151;School Library Journal
Award
New York Public Libraryand#8217;s annual Childrenand#8217;s Books list: 100 Titles for Reading and Sharing 2013
and#160;
Synopsis
Gregor Mendel explains to children the theory of heredity in simple-to-understand language and examples. Regarded as the worldandrsquo;s first geneticist, Gregor Mendel discovered one of the fundamental aspects of genetic science: animals, plants, and people all inherit and pass down traits through the same process. Living the slow-paced, contemplative life of a friar, Gregor Mendel was able to conceive and put into practice his great experimentandmdash;observing yellow peas, green peas, smooth peas, and wrinkled peas to craft his theoryandmdash;years before scientists had any notion of genes. Includes an authorandrsquo;s note and bibliography.
Awards for Gregor Mendel
Orbis Pictus Honor Book
ALA-ALSC Notable Book
IRA Notable Book
AAAS/Subaru SBandF Excellence in Science Book Finalist
Synopsis
This book reveals what an exceptionally uncommon man George Washington Carver was: trailblazing scholar, innovative scientist, pioneering conservationist, and impassioned educator. It follows his life from slave and orphan to his college days as the first African American to attend Iowa State College (where he later taught), and on to his life and work in the field of agriculture. Illustrated with historical artifacts and photographs, the book traces Carverandrsquo;s life, discoveries, and legacy. Includes an afterword and bibliography.
Awards for George Washington Carver:
Orbis Pictus Honor Book
NYPL Book for the Teen Age
NAPPA Gold Award
IRA Notable
Book for a Global Society
Jefferson Cup
Norman A. Sugarman Childrenandrsquo;s Biography Award
About the Author
Tonya Bolden has written more than twenty books for children and adults. Her book Tell All the Children Our Story: Memories and Mementos of Being Young and Black in America was named a Best Book of the Year by School Library Journal. Her Wake Up Our Souls: A Celebration of Black American Artists received a starred review in Booklist magazine. Maritcha: A Nineteenth-Century American Girl was named a YALSA Best Book for Young Adults, an ALSC 2006 Notable Children's Book, a NAPPA Gold Award Winner, a CCBC Best Book of the Year, a New York Public Library Book for the Teen Age, and a Coretta Scott King Honor Book. She lives in New York City.