Doreen RappaportResenhas

A big, beautiful biography of astronaut Ellen Ochoa. Fairly comprehensive for a picture book biography, and with wonderful full-bleed illustrations of Ellen's childhood and career (including a fun one of her brushing her teeth upside down on the Discovery).

Back matter includes an author's note, illustrator's note, timeline of important events, selected bibliography, and source notes.

Independent reading level ages 9+ Grade 4-5
Randolph Caldecott Medal 2002
Notable Children's Books 2002
A 2002 Coretta Scott King Illustrator Honor Book
Jane Addams Children's Book Awards for Picture Book
2002 Bryan Collier, Doreen Rappaport

Prince Rakoto of Madagascar is very young when his father, the king, passes. As his first act as king, Rakoto orders the court doctor, magician, and councilor in turn to bring his father back. Finally he turns to the Wise Woman who tells him a story about why people die and do not return. He goes on to become a loving and just ruler.

Wonderful picture book that highlights Helen Keller. This book has it all! It mentions her accomplishments while discussing how she overcame her challenges of being deaf and blind. Young readers will enjoy this uplifting and inspiring story that is beautifully written and easy for students to understand.

Not a read aloud book, despite the simple looking text. This book is very heavy and dark, both in content and in illustration. I liked the content and it portrayed a very wonderful and brave woman in American history, but I would hesitate to recommend it to a young audience.

I love a book that is a biography and includes words from the person. This one is very good, with powerful, striking illustrations.

A vivid telling of a larger-than-life man.

EducatingParents.org rating: Approved
Still under review

Jacques and his parents are hiding in Nazi-occupied France during World War II, pretending to be Catholics. On the first night of Passover, Jacques and his father elude Nazi soldiers to gather with other Jews and celebrate the Seder in secret. For this book, Doreen Rappaport researched the lives of resistance fighters and Jews in hiding: brave men and women who managed to survive one of the darkest times in history with their faith intact. Emily Arnold McCully's intense and respectful paintings illuminate the perils of a turbulent time and the triumphs of a resilient people.

A beautifully illustrated book which highlights Eleanor Roosevelt's life from her childhood wherein she was born into a life of priviledge, though as she proved, it is true that money cannot buy happiness. Treated with cruelty by her beautfiul, high-society mother, she was consistently called her ugly and stupid. She carried this and felt ugly and thought she would never belong. She overcame the death of her mother and her much loved father, and pushed herself to overcome the negativety and nastiness to become one of the best-known First Ladies of the United States.

Her future husband, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, was drawn to her intelligence and innter beauty. They were married and became parents of five children. She suppored her husband throughout his presidencies, and after he contracted polio, she became his right and left hand. She traveled world wide, was at the forefront of American civil rights, and was a strong advocate of the poor and needy.

After FDR died, she continued to be a strong advocate of making the United States well known world wide. President Harry Truman appointed her to the United Nations. After two years of service, the committee framed a declaration of rights for people throughout the world. Stating "All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights." Eleanor continued to represent the down-trodden and poor throughout her life. A strong advocate for civil rights and equality for all, she was quoted as saying "Decent housing is a basic human right that society is morally and politically obligate to provide all of its citizens.".""Very early I knew there were men and women and children who suffered."

She personally responded to thousands and thousands of letters received. Her high energy level enabled her to travel the world while making America better.

She continues to amaze me and I read many books both written by her, and biographies about her.

A book about Martin Luther King Jr

This book is recommended for intermediate students. This book depicts the life of MLK and focuses on the Montgomery Bus Boycott and the March on Washington. In my future classroom, this book could be used as a way to begin a class discussion about else they know or introduce the children to the civil rights movement.

Brief quotes from speeches, Bible, signs, and more, with dramatic illustrations. Emphasis on King’s childhood and adult spirituality. Includes author’s and illustrator’s notes, timeline, and “additional books and web sites”.

I love the story of Helen Keller. The art in this is beautiful as well as the story.

This picture book illustrates the great attributes and accomplishments of Martin Luther King Jr. and his work in the Civil Rights Movement. The book emphasizes the power and importance of King's words, and how the language we use has the power to create change and spread love. This book would be a great introduction to Martin Luther King Jr. without too intense of details for students Kindergarten through 2nd or 3rd grade.

Read author’s note.

Read around MLK day. Great civil rights conversation starters.

When Martin Luther King attended church listening to his father's preaching, he vowed that he too would use big words when he grew up, and he also longed to be a preacher just like his father, and to fight for what was right!

This book begins with December 1955 when a dressmaker named Rosa Parks said NO! NO to the nasty treatment by white people who demanded they could take her seat and she could stand. This lead to a major 381 day fight for the freedom to be treated just like everyone else. Through rain, snow, cold, sleet and heat, thousands of black people marched until they had the right to sit on the bus!

This book follows Martin's marches for the right to ride the bus, the right to vote, and the right to learn how to use big words.

In 1964 Martin won the Nobel Peace Prize with his wife proudly by his side.

Sadly, tragically, when Martin fought with the Memphis, Tennessee garbage workers who were on strike for better treatment and larger payment. While there, he called to a friend who was below in the balcony. A shot was heard. This shot killed a brave, caring and sincere man!

He, and many others fought for their well-deserved rights!

Beautifully illustrated, and lovingly told, this is a book for all!½

Caldecott Honors Award Winner

Independent Reading Level: Grades K-7
Awards: Jane Addams Children's Book Award (2002)
Caldecott Medal (2002)

A great and insightful story about an influential character in Black history.

Great as a first Douglas Bio for kids. Each page includes a related quote from Douglas, which made this a unique biography that richly emphasized his determination and amazing experience.

Great as a first Douglas Bio for kids. Each page includes a related quote from Douglas, which made this a unique biography that richly emphasized his determination and amazing experience.

A very good informational book that can be read by children. This book did a good job at setting the information on a kid level.

Quotes. Award winner.