Thursday, January 30, 2020

MULTI-CULTURAL CHILDREN'S BOOK DAY: Earthwaves by Michael Smith Illustrated by Gayle Garner Roski

https://amzn.to/31gUxKD
EARTHWAVES
Written by Michael Smith
Illustrated by Gayle Garner Roski
ISBN: 978-1949567106
Publisher:
East West Discovery Press
Manhattan Beach, California
Genre: Traditional Navigation,
            Islands of the Pacific
            Ocean Travel

"How many coconuts will we bring," I ask. 

"As many as will fit in that part of the canoe," Grandfather replies. But Grandfather has something else on his mind. He looks up in the night sky and points to a bright star. "Just like a star is a tiny dot in the big sky, our island is a tiny dot in the big ocean." 

He looks down at me. "Akela, when we take off on this voyage, we must go exactly the right way or we will miss our destination..."

Akela wells with excitement as he prepares alongside his grandfather for an exciting but uncertain journey to a neighboring island. Where will their canoe take them -- the endless sea, a friendly island or an unfriendly one? Young Akela, taught by his Grandfather, uses the world to navigate their fate.

REVIEW: While the publisher suggests this for all ages, older picture book readers or newer independent readers not ready for long novels may enjoy this unusual voyage across the ocean with its not often highlighted place and time. Filled with interesting early navigational facts.

BOOK DESCRIPTION: Set in the 1500s, Earthwaves reveals the fascinating and little-known culture of the Pacific Islander seafarers, whose wayfinding techniques began thousands of years ago. It takes more bravery to stay alive without compasses and charts. It takes wisdom passed down from generation to generation.

PURCHASE HERE: https://amzn.to/31gUxKD

This blog is celebrating MULTI-CULTURAL CHILDREN'S BOOK DAY - January 31, 2020 #READYOURWORLD.


MULTI-CULTURAL CHILDREN'S BOOK DAY: Mamie On the Mound: A Woman In Baseball's Negro Leagues

https://amzn.to/2GJcCHx
TITLE: Mamie on the Mound: A Woman In Baseball's Negro Leagues
AUTHOR: Leah Henderson
ILLUSTRATOR: George Doutsiopoulos
CAPSTONE EDITIONS: A Capstone Imprint


Mamie Johnson stepped on the mount to pitch in one of her first Negro League games. She knew she was ready. She was the first female pitcher in professional baseball. Even if others doubted a woman could pitch to the fellas, she didn't. 
     "How do you expect to strike anyone out and you're not as big as a peanut?" an opposing batter yelled. 
    Only 5 feet 4 inches tall and barely 120 pounds, Mamie smirked. 
    STRIKE ONE...
    STRIKE TWO...
    STRIKE THREE...
    The batter found himself back on the bench quickly, but the name Peanut stuck. And on that day in 1953, another individual realized not to underestimate Mamie "Peanut" Johnson. 


JACKET COPY: Mamie Peanut Johnson was born to play baseball. While she may have looked small and slight, her pictching arm packed a whole lot of power. Mamie's dream was to play professional baseball but she was rejected by the whites-only All-American Girls Professional Baseball League due to the color of her skin. When Mamie finally got the chance to face the men in baseball's Negro's leagues, the pop of her fastball hitting the catcher's mitt announced that she deserved a place on the mound.

REVIEW: This is such an awesome and inspiring tale of "she persevered." Of talent. Of the need for us all to be able to play in the sandbox together and look at what's inside of us, our hearts. I just loved so much about this book -- Little Mamie's big personality, the author's writing, the illustrator's active and engaging art. This is honestly, a perfect book for today and I am thankful to have had the pleasure to read and review it and to share it with others. ALL STARS <3

PURCHASE HERE: https://amzn.to/2GJcCHx

THIS BLOG IS PARTICIPATING IN MULTI-CULTURAL CHILDREN'S BOOK DAY -
January 31, 2020.