Dennis B. FradinReseñas

The author uses a neutral voice to describe the extrodinary life of activism of one of America’s leading advocates of the poor. It is a very inspiring book, an easy read, and I would highly recommend it. Tragically it is out of print.

This one educates about the Fugitive Slave Act, while showing the power of coming together with others to stand up for what's right.

The School Library Journal lists this title for Grades 3-6. The writing style is narrative and easy to understand. However the text itself is is printed against the textured background of the painted illustrations, which make it more difficult to read, especially on the darker pages. The back matter includes an author's note that also lists some of his sources. The illustrations are oil paintings which look like a product of the age and include a few diagrams to further illustrate the scientific ideas mentioned in the text. This is the only picture book biography of Copernicus that I am aware of and it does a good job of introducing his life and ideas.

Independent Reading Level: Grades 4-8
Awards: none for this particular book; however, Fradin did win an ABC Choice reward and an IRA Teacher's Choice Award for his contributions to Children's nonfiction.

From Amazon description:
The acclaimed civil rights leader Ida B. Wells (1862-1931) is brought vividly to life in this accessible and well-researched biography. Wells was a founder of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), and she helped black women win the right to vote. But what she is most remembered for is the success of her lifelong crusade against the practice of lynching--called by some "our nation's crime"--in the American South. She fought her battle by writing and publishing countless newspaper articles and by speaking around the world. Her outspokenness put her in grave danger many times over, but she would not be silenced, and today she is credited with ending lynching in the United States. Her story is one of courage and determination in the face of intolerance and injustice. AFTERWORD, BIBLIOGRAPHY, INDEX.

7/8/22

Reading Level: 4th-8th grades
Awards: N.A.

Biography of 19th century Frenchman who as a boy created a system by which the blind could read.

Great overview! I just wish they had covered the few who participated but didn't sign. But I still loved it.

Loved it! Just enough of an overview to give you a taste of the incredible spirit they had. Each person was given individual treatment that highlighted an original trait/hobby/statement. Well done!

This gripping biography of a free African American from New York who was kidnapped into slavery for 12 years in the South, includes primary sources and dialogue from his memoir that provide riveting details of his experience. Author’s Note, Timeline, Bibliography, Index.

In this New True Book, readers explore the first moonwalks of Project Apollo as they learn about the importance of these missions to the exploration of space. Illustrated with color photographs and drawings, the reader finds a brief history of flight and the use of rockets and probes to learn about space. Following a detailed look at the Apollo 11 mission, readers investigate what might be next in man’s exploration of space.

With a larger type and simple language, the book is appropriate for readers ages seven through ten [grades two through four] as well as for any young reader interested in the exploration of space and man’s missions to the moon.

Topics include Our Nearest Neighbor in Space, Planning the First Moon Walk, The First Moon Walk, Later Moon Walks, What Was Learned?, and Future Voyages to Other Worlds. A glossary [Words You Should Know] follows the text.

Highly recommended.

00014912

00014899

00014904

jB

jB

On a night in January in 1856, John Price and his cousin and friend took 2 horses from their masters barn and rode to the Ohio River. They knew that if they could cross to the other side, they would be in Ohio where slavery was outlawed. While in Ohio, they met an elderly Quaker who took these 3 slaves into his house and sheltered them for 2 weeks. After the 2 weeks, the group of 3 split up and traveled separate ways. They gained help from Quakers by turning their homes into Underground Railroad "stations" that were located about every 10 miles.This is a suspenseful yet fascinating story about John Price and his want for freedom.

In July of 1804, enemies Alexander Hamilton and Aaron Burr engaged in an illegal pistol duel. Though their upbringings were similar and the two men had a lot in common, envy and rivalry caused tension that led to the death of Hamilton as a result of the scheduled duel. A good follow up activity would be comparing and contrasting the two men and looking for events that led to the duel.

Dennis Fradin takes the most deadly duel in American history and makes it a child-appropriate retelling. Hamilton and Burr have a long history of political conflict. They were aides to George Washington and even opposing lawyers to each other. Once Burr tries to run for office, Hamilton spreads lies about him to prevent his election. The second time he does this, Burr challenges him to a duel.

He tries to compare their childhoods to make them sound similar, but it feels like a stretch besides them both being orphans. Though he blames both parties, it feels like Hamilton is put in a worse light than Burr. Some of the text, as well, is confusing. Sentences get italicized in odd places. When "Burr wrote a parting letter to his daughter, Theo," I was expecting the letter to come next. However, the very next sentence is in italics, reading "Early the next morning, oarsmen row Hamilton and Burr across the Hudson from New York City to Weehawken in separate boats."

Overall, an effective history book for younger readers. The art helps tell the story and children will have an easy time reading the deadliest duel in America.½

Published in 1999, this is an unusual good book on the question of life on Mars. It's larger format, and physically well constructed, with excellent glossy sewn pages, and numerous black and white illustrations, as well as a number of color plates.

I've read many books on Mars by now, and it is remarkable how the same illustrations are repeated in book after book. Presumably some NASA artist painted them expressly for redistribution.

The book itself is well written by someone who is genuinely interested in Mars and has been viewing Mars and speculating about Mars since his early teens. It sticks to the significant pop-culture references, and shows how books, radio, and movies of the time, reflected what was believed about Mars by scientists of the day (at least some of them).

It covers much astronomical observation, Mariner flybys, the Viking landing, and the Pathfinder mission, as well as many planned missions that never made it. It predates the MSL mission, Spirit and Opportunity, by several years.

It discusses the significance of life on Mars to our conclusions about life on other planets. It gets wildly speculative in its discussion of the future of Mars colonization, and a little silly.

Great non-fiction that follows up and reinforces what Jackson feels he knows from listening to the Hamilton! soundtrack. A great bibliography that will be going on our library hold list!

Surprising stories of amazing discoveries.

Witness to Disaster

The illustrations and text vividly render the events of the Boston "Massacre" of 5 March 1770 for an ideal audience of first- through fourth-graders. What is particularly useful about Fradin's book is that he highlights potentially troublesome words for students in bold print and then includes a glossary in the back of the book. His handling of the historical details is also refreshing. For instance, Fradin points out that political leaders such as Samuel Adams knew that what transpired at the Customs House was neither a massacre nor wholly perpetrated by British trooops. The famous engraving of the event made by Paul Revere was sheer propaganda, as Fradin points out (without using the word "propaganda").