A jam-packed compendium of holiday information.
It’s time to celebrate!
Grouped by themes such as “Welcoming the New Year,” “Celebrations of Nature,” “For the Dead,” and “Carnivals,” this treasure trove, translated from Polish, provides information about customs, costumes and masks, foods, and stories and will inspire schools, libraries, and communities to learn more. Additional resources will be needed (cookbooks with holiday recipes, photographs of clothing and masks, picture books retelling the legends mentioned, and, of course, memories from those who celebrate these holidays), but this is a wonderful, albeit dense, starting point. It should be used section by section, like a reference book, when readers want to know more about a particular holiday. (Unfortunately, it lacks an index and bibliography.) Europe (especially Eastern Europe, home of the author and illustrator) and Asia receive somewhat more coverage than other regions, but the book is nevertheless inclusive; it examines Juneteenth—which was recently made a federal U.S. holiday—Pride Month, and South Africa’s Youth Day, which has since become known as the Day of the African Child. Important celebrations from major religions are featured, among them Diwali, Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr, and St. Jordan’s Day. Readers will find plenty of noteworthy and useful material, accompanied by stylized, vivid, folk art–esque illustrations.
A jam-packed compendium of holiday information. (Nonfiction. 7-12)Pub Date: Sept. 10, 2024
ISBN: 9780735845701
Page Count: 184
Publisher: NorthSouth
Review Posted Online: June 15, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 15, 2024
A good if limited starting guide.
Author Leavitt presents all the components of doing research into family history with easy-to-follow directions for a successful project.
The volume begins with clear definitions about genealogy and why it is important to study. It moves on to give practical tips on getting started and how to map a family tree. It introduces young readers to the important documents that can assist in gathering family facts and describes the information they provide. It gives solid directions for setting up interviews with family members and how to reach out to those who are far away. This is followed up with strategies for using online resources, including warnings on how to stay safe on social media. The work of tracing ancestors from their countries of origin can be daunting, but Leavitt gives some help in this area as well and explores the role geography can play in family stories. There is good advice for collecting oral histories, and the chapter on exploring “The Way They Were” will appeal to many, as will the concluding chapters on family reunions and keeping in touch. All of this is presented in an encouraging, upbeat tone. Sidebars, charts, illustrations, and photographs add to the accessibility. The major drawback is that it assumes a known biological lineage with heterosexual parentage; there is no mention of the unique issues adopted children and nontraditional families might have in trying to put some of the instructions into practice. A short section addresses the challenges that face African-American descendants of enslaved people.
A good if limited starting guide. (resources, index) (Nonfiction. 8-12)Pub Date: Oct. 10, 2017
ISBN: 978-1-4549-2320-6
Page Count: 128
Publisher: Sterling
Review Posted Online: Sept. 17, 2017
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 1, 2017
An empowering choice.
Shamir and Faulkner take readers on a trip through various moments in U.S. history as they explore the democratic process.
The text begins in 1884, when a young man rides for hours to deliver his local ballot box in the state of Nebraska. The book then jumps in nonlinear fashion from key moment to key moment, explaining its importance: Native Americans were granted citizenship in 1924 (their status as members of sovereign nations goes unmentioned); the emergency number 911 was created in 1968; George Washington was the only presidential candidate ever to run unopposed. The information is divided into general paragraphs that begin with a question and text boxes that supply trivia and provide additional context to the paragraphs. Children’s and teens’ roles are often cited, such as their participation in the civil rights movement and the lowering of the voting age from 21 to 18. The information ranges from national elections to local, expanding on what can be done on a national level and what can occur locally. Along the way, Faulkner includes a diverse mixture of citizens. A range of ethnic groups, minorities, and people of various body sizes and abilities are included, making the book visually welcoming to all readers. An early image depicting a blind woman with both guide dog and cane appears to be the only visual misstep. The backmatter includes a timeline and sources for additional reading.
An empowering choice. (Informational picture book. 7-12)Pub Date: Aug. 28, 2018
ISBN: 978-1-5247-3807-5
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Philomel
Review Posted Online: June 24, 2018
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 15, 2018
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