Heroes - Lives to Learn From
May
Hope & Joy Wonder Imagination
May
Hope & Joy Wonder Imagination
Beatrix Potter 1866-1943
Imagination
Beatrix Potter had one! A marvelous imagination, that is. The prolific author of the Tales of Peter Rabbit was raised with her brother by artistically gifted parents in the English countryside and spent summers in the Lake District in northwest England, where she immersed herself in the wonders of nature. Beatrix lacked child friends, but adored her pets, was attentive to the mice and rabbits around her, and was a keen student of botany from an early age. She was initially drawn to the field of mycology, the study of fungi. Her precise and colorful renderings of mushrooms (now at the Armitt Museum and Library in Ambleside) impressed peers, and are still used by mycologists to identify fungi. But in that field, her gender and amateur status worked against her.
Potter had, however, a life-long fascination with fairy tales, and her storied career in children's literature began with a letter to entertain the sick child of a dear friend. Potter (who did not marry until her late 40s) ran out of news to share with little Noel, and penned the story of Flopsy, Mopsy, Cotton Tail, and Peter Rabbit to amuse him (1900). His mother suggested the tale would make a good book. Beatrix turned her hand to illustration and a star was born! This month, 120 years after the initial book's publication, we celebrate Beatrix Potter. We showcase her not simply for having the imagination to create a fanciful world of animal heroes and heroines (27 stories in all). We celebrate her for combining fact and wonder, the common and the extraordinary, the known and the mysterious, in such a way as to create deeper beauty and truth. The artfully written and beautifully illustrated Peter Rabbit tales, beloved by children for generations, are not just whimsy. They lend hope and a sense of the world's inherent order to children everywhere. Potter's was an imagination that stepped outside reality to make the world a better place.
The books we feature below focus on various aspects of Beatrix's amazing life and imagination -- from youthful naturalist to writer and illustrator and ultimately to sheep breeder and conservationist.
Imagination
Beatrix Potter had one! A marvelous imagination, that is. The prolific author of the Tales of Peter Rabbit was raised with her brother by artistically gifted parents in the English countryside and spent summers in the Lake District in northwest England, where she immersed herself in the wonders of nature. Beatrix lacked child friends, but adored her pets, was attentive to the mice and rabbits around her, and was a keen student of botany from an early age. She was initially drawn to the field of mycology, the study of fungi. Her precise and colorful renderings of mushrooms (now at the Armitt Museum and Library in Ambleside) impressed peers, and are still used by mycologists to identify fungi. But in that field, her gender and amateur status worked against her.
Potter had, however, a life-long fascination with fairy tales, and her storied career in children's literature began with a letter to entertain the sick child of a dear friend. Potter (who did not marry until her late 40s) ran out of news to share with little Noel, and penned the story of Flopsy, Mopsy, Cotton Tail, and Peter Rabbit to amuse him (1900). His mother suggested the tale would make a good book. Beatrix turned her hand to illustration and a star was born! This month, 120 years after the initial book's publication, we celebrate Beatrix Potter. We showcase her not simply for having the imagination to create a fanciful world of animal heroes and heroines (27 stories in all). We celebrate her for combining fact and wonder, the common and the extraordinary, the known and the mysterious, in such a way as to create deeper beauty and truth. The artfully written and beautifully illustrated Peter Rabbit tales, beloved by children for generations, are not just whimsy. They lend hope and a sense of the world's inherent order to children everywhere. Potter's was an imagination that stepped outside reality to make the world a better place.
The books we feature below focus on various aspects of Beatrix's amazing life and imagination -- from youthful naturalist to writer and illustrator and ultimately to sheep breeder and conservationist.
Saving the Countryside: The Story of Beatrix Potter and Peter Rabbit. Linda Marshall. Illustrated by Ilaria Urbinati. Little Bee Books, 2020. (K-3) This lovely and often humorous picture book charts Beatrix Potter's early years as an aspiring naturalist, shows how they contributed to her Peter Rabbit tales, and her late-life work to conserve the English countryside.
Beatrix Potter, Scientist. Lindsay Metcalf. Illustrated by Junyi Wu. Albert Whitman & Co, 2020.(K-3)
This book captures the naturalist and botanist Beatrix Potter. It is a welcome complement to books that focus on the Tales of Peter Rabbit. Quality imagination springs from a keen understanding of what is, and Potter dedicated much of her life to understanding the workings of nature. 
Becoming Beatrix. Amy O'Quinn. Chicago Review Press,2022. (3-6)
An older child's biography with the tagline "Beatrix Beyond the Bunnies." O'Quinn presents Potter as an insatiable auto-didact. She became a writer but was also a curious naturalist, farmer, entrepreneur and conservationist. |
Beatrix Potter and Her Paintbox. David McPhail. Henry Holt, 2015 (1-2)
A young child's look at how Beatrix Potter became the accomplished artist that she was. The illustrations in the book mirror Potter's style, immerse the child in the English countryside, and inspire love of nature. 
The Tale of Beatrix Potter. Sharon Schonfeld. Penguin Young Readers, 2016. (1-3)
A young reader's biography of Potter, following her early talent for drawing, love of nature, and persistence in getting the Tale of Peter Rabbit published. 
Beatrix Potter: Drawn to Nature. Annemarie Bilclough. Rizzoli Electa, 2022. (5-6 to adult)
An exquisite presentation of more than 200 of Potter's watercolor illustrations contextualized and emphasizing Potter's love of nature. 
The Complete Tales of Beatrix Potter's Peter Rabbit. Beatrix Potter. Racehorse, 2018. (K-3)
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Mary Anning 1799 – 1847 Wonder
A life to learn from, paleontologist Mary Anning was a self-taught wonder. As the daughter of a British cabinetmaker on England's southwestern coast, young Mary loved hunting for fossil remains with her family. Her home in Lyme Regis yielded rich rewards. The area was noted for its Blue Lias and Charmouth Mudstone Cliffs, which after winter storms exposed "curios," interesting fossil remains ranging from ammonites to belemnites. Her brother Joseph found a noteworthy four-foot skull, but it was twelve-year-old Mary, who dug up the first intact Ichthyosaur skeleton. At age twenty-four, she unearthed an entire Plesiosaur skeleton -- both of these remains of the Jurassic period (200 million years ago). At a time when scholars were just beginning to grapple with pre-historic time, Mary pioneered, reading every scientific paper she could find and copying many of them by hand. She set up a shop to sell her finds and developed friendships with some of the world's leading paleontologists. Because she was a woman (and of working class origins), Mary Anning was not even considered for membership in British geological societies, but she nonetheless became famous for her work. Our biographies below spotlight her wonder, perseverance, resourcefulness, and just plain hard work in the face of lots of adversity.
A life to learn from, paleontologist Mary Anning was a self-taught wonder. As the daughter of a British cabinetmaker on England's southwestern coast, young Mary loved hunting for fossil remains with her family. Her home in Lyme Regis yielded rich rewards. The area was noted for its Blue Lias and Charmouth Mudstone Cliffs, which after winter storms exposed "curios," interesting fossil remains ranging from ammonites to belemnites. Her brother Joseph found a noteworthy four-foot skull, but it was twelve-year-old Mary, who dug up the first intact Ichthyosaur skeleton. At age twenty-four, she unearthed an entire Plesiosaur skeleton -- both of these remains of the Jurassic period (200 million years ago). At a time when scholars were just beginning to grapple with pre-historic time, Mary pioneered, reading every scientific paper she could find and copying many of them by hand. She set up a shop to sell her finds and developed friendships with some of the world's leading paleontologists. Because she was a woman (and of working class origins), Mary Anning was not even considered for membership in British geological societies, but she nonetheless became famous for her work. Our biographies below spotlight her wonder, perseverance, resourcefulness, and just plain hard work in the face of lots of adversity.
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Dinosaur Lady: The Daring Discoveries of Mary Anning. Linda Skeers. Illustrated by Mata Alvarez Miguens. Sourcebooks Explore, 2020. (1-4)
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The Dog Who Dug For Dinosaurs. Shirley Raye Redmond. Illustrated by Simon Sullivan. Simon Spotlight, 2004. (1-3)
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Rare Treasure: Mary Anning and Her Remarkable Discoveries. Don Brown. HMH, 1999. (2-3)
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Mary Anning and the Sea Dragon. Jeannine Atkins. Illustrated by Michael Dooling. CreateSpace, 2012. (1-4)
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Fossil Hunter: How Mary Anning Changed the Science of Prehistoric Life. Cheryl Blackford. HMH, 2022. (5-6)
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Wonder and Joy - Jane Goodall (1934)
Can a toy portend the future? Jane Goodall, the world's leading expert on chimpanzees might say "yes." As a child in London, Jane received not a teddy bear, but a stuffed chimpanzee from her parents. "Jubilee" (pictured here) evoked in her both wonder and joy. She developed a strong curiosity about animals and Africa, and in 1957 headed off to Kenya to learn more about both. Befriended by archaeologist Louis Leakey and supported by her mother, young Jane went on to Tanzania (Gombe Stream National Park) to study chimpanzees in the wild. She observed their human-like behavior, documenting their social bonds, emotions and personalities, and doing enough path-breaking research to earn her a slot in a Ph.D. program at Cambridge University in the heavily male field of primatology. Jane Goodall has returned to Africa to study time and again. Her wonder and open-mindedness have allowed her to assess aspects of chimp behavior never before revealed (for example, how chimps do armed conflict....). She has spent the last sixty years helping human beings learn about the surprising social and family life of our primate cousins. And through it all, Dr. Goodall has been (to co-opt C.S. Lewis) surprised by joy. Her profound love of learning and love of life shines through in every interview. Below we feature some excellent children's books introducing them to this gentle but fearless trail-blazer in primatology and anthropology.
With Love. Jane Goodall. Illustrated by Alan Marks. Mineditions, 2014. (K-2)
Beautifully illustrated stories of individual chimps and how they interact with the family group. 
The Chimpanzee Family Book. Jane Goodall. Photos by Michael Neugebauer. Simon and Schuster, 1989. (3-4)
Beautiful photos of Jane Goodall’s family of Chimps. She shares her observations of daily life and the role of different family members in a very engaging way. 
DK Life Stories: Jane Goodall. Libby Romero. Illustrated by Charlotte Ager.
DK Children, 2019. (2-6) 126 pgs. 
Untamed: The Wild Life of Jane Goodall. Anita Silvey. Nat’l Geo Kids. 2015. (3-6)
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Jane Goodall: A Champion of Chimpanzees. Sarah Albee. Illustrated by Gustavo Mazali. Harper Collins, 2020. (K-3)
The Story of Jane Goodall: A Biography Book for Young Readers. Susan B. Katz. Rockridge Press, 2020. (3-4) This biography follows Jane from her love of animals at an early age to finding her calling in Africa, working with chimpanzees. It shows Jane still pursuing her love of animals at age 85, by lecturing and fund raising for their habitats.
My Life with the Chimpanzees. Jane Goodall. Aladdin, 1996 (3-6) 160pgs.
Autobiography for youngsters detailing Jane Goodall’s extraordinary career. 
Girls Who Looked Under Rocks. Jeannine Atkins. Illustrated by Paula Conner. Dawn Publications, 2011. (5-6) The stories of 6 pioneering women scientists, including Jane Goodall.
Available on Epic! |
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Heroes of Hope
This month, as we fight our own battle against the pandemic that imprisons many of us in our homes, let's turn for inspiration to two great icons of hope: Great Britain's Winston Churchill and America's Franklin Delano Roosevelt. Leaders during World War II, our last great, high-stakes battle against a seemingly insuperable foe, they kept the flame of hope alive for their countrymen and indeed, for a groaning world. |
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Winston Churchill became Prime Minister of Great Britain at an age when most men would be retiring. His long study and deep understanding of history, his engagement in the political life of his nation, and his extraordinary facility with words made him Britain's irreplaceable man in World War II. When England stood alone against Hitler, he was at his most eloquent, calling for sacrifice, perseverance and hope.
Children's authors: we are still waiting for a WONDERFUL (picture book) biography of Winston Churchill. The pickins' are slim! 
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Franklin Delano Roosevelt really was raised with a silver spoon in his mouth. Born to one of America's most affluent and prestigious families (a cousin of Theodore Roosevelt), the handsome, Harvard-educated FDR ended up fighting his own battle with polio early in his career, remaining crippled for life, but not allowing his disability to define his destiny. Known for his cocky "Happy Days Are Here Again" campaign during the Great Depression, he experimented with new ideas, was the nation's reassurance in radio Fireside Chats and a beacon of hope for the U.S. and the world in World War II.
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Franklin and Winston: A Christmas that Changed the World. Douglas Wood. Illustrated by Barry Moser. Candlewick, 2011. (3-6) Hope, Justice, Friendship
This extraordinary picture book chronicles a friendship that (as the title indicates) changed the world, and much for the better. Two men of hope, courage and action, Franklin Delano Roosevelt and Winston Churchill embodied the best of their nations. This unusual dual biography recounts British Prime Minister Churchill's December 1942 crossing of the Atlantic to strategize with his American counterpart and soon-to-be friend, President Franklin Roosevelt. Churchill's mother was American, and he had a special fondness for the nation he was about to visit, but it was Franklin's spark, savvy and his shared commitment to international liberty that cemented the friendship. Together they not only inspired their citizens, but forged the greatest military alliance in history, drew up a charter for a new United Nations, appointed joint Chiefs for operations, and planned for the liberation of more than 30 nations under the yoke of tyranny. Because of the subject matter and amount of text, this is an older children's picture book.
This extraordinary picture book chronicles a friendship that (as the title indicates) changed the world, and much for the better. Two men of hope, courage and action, Franklin Delano Roosevelt and Winston Churchill embodied the best of their nations. This unusual dual biography recounts British Prime Minister Churchill's December 1942 crossing of the Atlantic to strategize with his American counterpart and soon-to-be friend, President Franklin Roosevelt. Churchill's mother was American, and he had a special fondness for the nation he was about to visit, but it was Franklin's spark, savvy and his shared commitment to international liberty that cemented the friendship. Together they not only inspired their citizens, but forged the greatest military alliance in history, drew up a charter for a new United Nations, appointed joint Chiefs for operations, and planned for the liberation of more than 30 nations under the yoke of tyranny. Because of the subject matter and amount of text, this is an older children's picture book.
Who Was Winston Churchill? Ellen Labrecque. Penguin, 2015. (2-6) Hope, Courage
This is a fine (112 page) introduction to Churchill for older children, written with verve energy and intelligence. The "Who Was" series is uneven in its quality: this book is not. It captures Churchill's privileged youth, his struggles in school, his late-life political rise, and the many exploits that prepared Winston Churchill for the mission of his life: defeating Nazism and tyranny. |
Who Was Franklin Delano Roosevelt? Margaret Frith. Illustrated by John O'Brien. Turtleback, 2010. (2-6) Hope
A slender readable chapter book that provides a comprehensive introduction to FDR, which also places strong emphasis on his relationship with Winston Churchill. Complemented by an excellent timeline. |
War Dogs: Churchill & Rufus. Charlesbridge, 2016. Kathryn Selbert. (1-4) Hope, Friendship
Meet Winston Churchill through the eyes of his dog Rufus. Often compared to a bull dog himself and dubbed "Pug" by his wife, the British Prime Minister's chosen companion was a brown poodle named Rufus. Rufus leads us through Churchill's routine in the dark days of World War II and makes the leader accessible to young children. The work is charmingly illustrated and amply complemented by quotations from Churchill's own correspondence. |
First Dog Fala. * Elizabeth Van Steenwyk. Illustrated by Michael Montgomery. Peachtree Publishing, 2008. (K-3) Friendship, Hope, Loyalty
FDR's constant companion in the 1940s was "Murray the Outlaw of Falahill," nicknamed "Fala." Fala gets first billing in this book, and dog-lovers won't be disappointed, but this is a wonderful picture book introduction to wartime president Franklin Delano Roosevelt with vibrant illustrations that echo the work of Thomas Hart Benton. The story captures the joy of their friendship and the high stakes world of FDR and all America at that time.*Available on Epic! |
A Boy Named FDR: How Franklin Delano Roosevelt Grew Up to Change America. Kathleen Krull. Illustrated by Steve Johnson. Knopf, 2013. (1-5) Hope, Compassion
This short chapter book provides an inspiring introduction to the President who led America through the Great Depression and World War II. Krull focuses on FDR's privileged boyhood (his high spirits and cheerful disposition), early career and moves on to his battle with polio, and how it prepared him to confront hardship. It stops short of the Depression and World War II years but clearly portrays our only four-term president as a man of compassion and hope.
This short chapter book provides an inspiring introduction to the President who led America through the Great Depression and World War II. Krull focuses on FDR's privileged boyhood (his high spirits and cheerful disposition), early career and moves on to his battle with polio, and how it prepared him to confront hardship. It stops short of the Depression and World War II years but clearly portrays our only four-term president as a man of compassion and hope.
Nice Work, Franklin! Suzanne Tripp Jurmain. Illustrated by Larry Day. Dial Books, 2016. (2-5) Hope, Courage
A buoyant and uplifting biography of the man who inspired his fellow countrymen while he led them through hard times. Jurmain, the author of Worst of Friends (about Adams and Jefferson) delivers a tour de force for Franklin Delano Roosevelt -- a man who man who overcame personal tragedy (polio), a crippling disability, and never lost heart. He led America through the Great Depression and World War II with his signature "Happy Days Are Here Again" approach. The illustrations are lively if not always true to life...
A buoyant and uplifting biography of the man who inspired his fellow countrymen while he led them through hard times. Jurmain, the author of Worst of Friends (about Adams and Jefferson) delivers a tour de force for Franklin Delano Roosevelt -- a man who man who overcame personal tragedy (polio), a crippling disability, and never lost heart. He led America through the Great Depression and World War II with his signature "Happy Days Are Here Again" approach. The illustrations are lively if not always true to life...
The True Story of Fala. Margaret Suckley and Alice Dalgliesh. Black Dome Press, 2015. (3-8) Friendship, Hope, Loyalty
A reissue of the classic that introduced young readers to "a dog and his president." "Daisy" (Margaret) Suckley, friend and cousin of Franklin Roosevelt, gave him the Scottish terrier in 1940, and he became a constant companion and most photographed dog in America during World War II. FDR named him "Murray the Outlaw of Falahill" after a Scottish ancestor, a name quickly shortened to "Fala." Daisy authored the text in the 1940s and Alice Dalgliesh's charming illustrations captured the dog's hi-jinks along with photos of the time. An accessible way for children to look behind the scenes of the presidency during dark days, and to grow in admiration for the man whose hope and optimism was admired not just by humans, but by one special canine!
A reissue of the classic that introduced young readers to "a dog and his president." "Daisy" (Margaret) Suckley, friend and cousin of Franklin Roosevelt, gave him the Scottish terrier in 1940, and he became a constant companion and most photographed dog in America during World War II. FDR named him "Murray the Outlaw of Falahill" after a Scottish ancestor, a name quickly shortened to "Fala." Daisy authored the text in the 1940s and Alice Dalgliesh's charming illustrations captured the dog's hi-jinks along with photos of the time. An accessible way for children to look behind the scenes of the presidency during dark days, and to grow in admiration for the man whose hope and optimism was admired not just by humans, but by one special canine!
Hope - Eleanor Roosevelt (1884-1962)
Eleanor Roosevelt was no starry-eyed optimist, but the virtue of hope and an ethos of courage ruled her life. “Do one thing every day that scares you,” was her advice to the timid. Though she was born into a world of wealth and privilege, little Eleanor was shy and painfully conscious of “my lack of beauty.” She compensated for her shortcomings through diligent study, a keen interest in the life of her nation, and an eager will to be useful by improving the lot of the less fortunate. Eleanor was initially thrust into public life when she married Franklin Delano Roosevelt (first governor of New York and then President of the United States). As First Lady, she championed working women, wrote a weekly column advocating for the neglected, and after her husband’s death chaired the U.N. Committee that drafted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. She maintained a steadfast hope in the future and in the progress of her nation’s ideals. Two splendid books for children chronicle the life of this witness to hope. The first is a stunningly illustrated biography for young children, and the second, a nuanced, warmly told portrayal of this extraordinary woman.
Eleanor Roosevelt was no starry-eyed optimist, but the virtue of hope and an ethos of courage ruled her life. “Do one thing every day that scares you,” was her advice to the timid. Though she was born into a world of wealth and privilege, little Eleanor was shy and painfully conscious of “my lack of beauty.” She compensated for her shortcomings through diligent study, a keen interest in the life of her nation, and an eager will to be useful by improving the lot of the less fortunate. Eleanor was initially thrust into public life when she married Franklin Delano Roosevelt (first governor of New York and then President of the United States). As First Lady, she championed working women, wrote a weekly column advocating for the neglected, and after her husband’s death chaired the U.N. Committee that drafted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. She maintained a steadfast hope in the future and in the progress of her nation’s ideals. Two splendid books for children chronicle the life of this witness to hope. The first is a stunningly illustrated biography for young children, and the second, a nuanced, warmly told portrayal of this extraordinary woman.
A Picture Book of Eleanor Roosevelt. David Adler Illustrated by Robert Casilla. Holiday, 1995. (K-3)Lives to Learn From
Excellent biography for young children of one of America’s most active and intelligent first ladies. 
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Amelia and Eleanor Go for a Ride. Pam Munoz Ryan.
Illustrated by Brian Selznick. Scholastic, 1999. (K-3)Lives to Learn From Determination, mettle, and true grit characterize both Amelia Earhart and Eleanor Roosevelt, who were good friends. One night the nation’s First Lady invited the First Lady of the Skies to dinner at the White House. This is the true story of their thrilling after-dinner getaway. 
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