There are picture books that take a moment in history that I have a basic understanding of and expand it to the point that I realize that I know very little about that moment. That was the case with What… Read More ›
primary sources
Picture Books and Primary Sources: Diana’s White House Garden by Elisa Carbone
In my state, Missouri, the Missouri Association of School Librarians has book awards for K-12 students. When the list for their picture book award, the Show Me Award, contains a picture book that focuses on an actual event or individual,… Read More ›
Picture Books and Primary Sources: Strong as Sandow by Don Tate
My students love the extraordinary. That is why I knew they would enjoy Strong as Sandow by Don Tate. Tate tells the story of Eugen Sandow, once known as the strongest man on earth. It also tells a story of… Read More ›
Pairing Picture Books and Primary Sources: Sit-In: How Four Friends Stood Up by Sitting Down by Andrea Davis Pinkney
When I read a historically based picture book, I am often amazed at how the author and illustrator can take a moment in history and explore it in just thirty-two short pages. The best of these stories help me feel… Read More ›
Picture Books and Primary Sources: Crossing Niagara: The Death-Defying Tightrope Adventure of the Great Blondin by Matt Tavares
Political cartoons used as primary sources can be difficult for students to understand. Cultural references that they may not be aware of can be mixed with political references. These can be confusing without the proper context. I came across one… Read More ›
Pairing Picture Books and Primary Sources: Mailing May by Michael O. Tunnell
As I’m home over the summer, I often see the mail carrier delivering the mail. The daily visits reminded me of the book Mailing May by Michael O. Tunnell. Based on a true story that took place in 1914, May… Read More ›
Pairing Picture Books and Primary Sources: Dorothea Lange: The Photographer Who Found the Faces of the Depression
One aspect of primary sources that I enjoy is the perspective that the creator of the item brings to the source. Some formats of primary sources lend themselves to pointing out perspective. A letter or diary entry can easily reveal… Read More ›
Pairing Picture Books and Primary Sources: Soldier Song: A True Story of the Civil War by Debbie Levy
Like many of you, I love picture books. But there is one type of picture book that holds a special place in my heart: the nonfiction picture book. That’s probably because I’m also a lover of history, and many of… Read More ›
An Extraordinary Experience at the Library of Congress
Meet Tom Bober, an elementary librarian at R.M. Captain Elementary School in Clayton, Missouri, a small city bordering St. Louis. Tom returned to his school library this fall after serving as one of the two Teachers-in-Residence at the Library of… Read More ›