Eight Days: A Story of Haiti - Edwidge Danticat - Alix Delinois

Eight Days: A Story of Haiti by Edwidge Danticat illus. by Alix Delinois
The first three words that come to my mind when I think of Eight Days are healing, survival and hope. I think its the perfect first picture book after the earthquake in Haiti that killed many and forced the Island to rebuild. Rather than focus on loss, Danticat writes about a boy who is saved thanks in part to his imagination.

The story begins with 7 yr old Junior being pulled from the rubble eight days after the earthquake. Though Junior's body was trapped his mind was free, and each day he did something new. Junior tells the people assembled at his rescue what he did on each day.

Junior is having fun most days with best friend Oscar or his sister Justine. Though on the 5th day Oscar went to sleep and never woke up. "That was the day I cried"

I was touched by that line. Its not often boys are seen crying in books. I think Eight Days is quietly beautiful. Its also gorgeous. Delinois illustrations are simply wonderful. The colors are Haiti.

The note from the author in the back, is a must read for adults.

The earthquake on January 12, 2010, dramatically change their lives. Many watched loved ones die. Others, like Junior, were stuck in the rubble of their homes and were rescued several days later. Yet in spite of everything, Haiti's children still dream. They laugh. They live. They love."

There's so much more, including the fact that nearly half of Haiti's population is under fifteen. Danticat wrote Eight Days for the children. Though adults will take something away from it as well. Eight Days will touch your heart.

Scholastic the publishers of Eight Days are donating $10,000 to the International Rescue Committe (IRC). Click on the link and check it out. You can also make a donation of your own. Or simply buy a copy of Eight Days.

An NPR interview with the author

Danticat also has an adult novel coming out Sept 21 called Create Dangerously an excerpt

"Create Dangerously is an eloquent and moving expression of Danticat's belief that immigrant artists are obliged to bear witness when their countries of origin are suffering from violence, oppression, poverty, and tragedy."

Interview with Jen Cullerton Johnson

Seeds of Change by Jen Cullerton Johnson, is a wonderful picture book biography on Wangari Maathai. My review I loved it so much, I reached out to author who was kind enough to agree to do an interview.

Hi, Jen and welcome. Can you tell us a little about yourself?
I live and teach Spanish in Chicago. I just started a new teaching job at Simpson Academy for Young Women.

I also teach composition at St. Augustine College. When I am not teaching, I love to hang out
with my friends and family, especially my son Nico. We like to sail, ride our bikes,
and go to used books stores.

Who is Wangari Maathai?
Wangari Maathai is a woman, an African, a mother, a grandmother, a scientist, an environmentalist, a sister, a Kikuyu, a leader, a daughter, a Kenyan, a reader,
a writer, and most importantly a human being who knows we are all connected
no matter if we are plant, animal or human.

Wangari Maathai’s achievements have widened the road for women and Africans. Wangari’s life is an amazing life of “firsts”. She was the first East African woman ever to earn her PhD, an
advance degree in science. She was the first African woman ever to win the Nobel Prize. She was the first woman to organize young poor women to 30 millions plant trees in her home country of Kenya.

Have you ever planted a tree?
Yes! Yes! Yes! I love planting seeds and saplings. I hope all of your readers will plant a tree. There is a little trick to planting trees. When you buy a tree, there are always directions that come with how to plant the tree. I follow those directions. But I do two things differently.

First when you dig the whole, make sure it is wide enough and deep enough. I always try and put a little compost in the hole to give the tree some boost. Finally when the tree is planted and the dirt covers up the roots, I say a few words of thanks to the tree and to life for connecting me to the earth. I know it sounds sappy but I feel like the trees I have planted have heard me. All of them thrive! If you don’t believe try it yourself!

I've never planted a tree but I've said words of thanks to a few. So if that's sappy I am right there with you.

How many times have you read Dr. Maathai memoir, Unbowed?
I read Unbowed four times. The first two times I read her memoir for pleasure. I love Wangari’s cadence. She has such a graceful yet powerful way of stringing together words. I read the book two more times for research and once before I wrote the book and then afterwards to double-check my facts.
What amazes me is how Wangari spoke to many different kinds of people from poor women to presidents, school children to ambassadors. Her words inspired all around her to action. You can feel her persistence and commitment in her speeches. Her words moved me from a passive watcher to an active doer.

When she said Hajabee, Let’s work together, I understood it didn’t just mean turning off a light or recycling a water bottle but being aware of my actions and how my actions impact the world around me. I wanted readers to “hear Wangari”. I decided I would take every opportunity to use Wangari’s own words, so when the book is read, it feels as if Wangari Maathai is the room since the words belong to her.

I loved the direct quotes. The reader isn't just learning about Wangari Maathai they are hearing her as well.

With only 40 pages, you've managed to share many facts about Dr. Maathai

How did you decide what to keep and what to leave out?
Wangari Marathi’s life had many challenges. For example, she was thrown in jail for planting trees. My editor Jennifer Fox at Lee & Low never hesitated. She never doubted that telling the truth was important to telling Wangari’s story. There is a line in Seeds of Change that says,

“One day while she was out planting a tree, some wealthy businessmen paid corrupt police officers to arrest Wangari.”

This is a tricky line with big implications. But Lee & Low did not shy away from the truth, but like the life of Wangari Maathai, they stood firm.

I will always be grateful to them for their deep respect for story and truth telling.

Seeds of Change does its best to include the highlights of Wangari’s extra ordinary life. There are a few other great books written about Wangari that deal with only her involvement with the Green Belt Movement and planting trees.

I wanted readers to see a deeper side to Wangari—from when she was a girl wanting to go to school to when she stood to give her speech in Oslo.

All the things you just mentioned are the reasons why Seeds of Change stands out amongst the other children's biographies about Dr. Maathai.

A good picture book biography is all about balance between facts and readability. You've managed to get it just right.

What was your initial concern, facts or readability?
I don’t think I thought in those terms. What first drew me to writing about Wangari Maathai's life was not the fact that she planted 30 million trees in Kenya but her persistence to find solutions for difficult problems. How do you conquer poverty without destroying the land? How do you preserve the land without disempowering the poor?

Wangari took these two complicated issues, poverty and the environment, and found her own answer. Wangari taught poor women a very specific skill; how to plant a tree. By doing so the women planted trees all over Kenya, creating what looked like green belts across the land. The powerful image of green growing again in Kenya gave birth to the name Green Belt Movement.

A movement, that thrives today as an international organization for the environment and the rights of the disempowered. I wanted Seeds of Change to reflect that fusion on passion and practice.

Young people are smart. They understand how facts and storyline weave together. I was aiming for truth and with truth no matter how difficult or strange, comes beauty –or at least that’s what the Irish poet Yeats seems to think.

This is the first time I've ever had the urge to read Yeats.

Can teachers still get a free Skype Author talk or 1/2 off an school visit, if they purchase Seeds of Change?

You bet. I love to visit schools. I like to have the students write about nature and then together go out and plant a tree in solidarity of the Green Belt Movement. As an educator, I know budgets have been cut and funding is low. If teachers or students buy a copy of the book, I will give them half off a school visit.

But if you want to know a little secret, Skype visits are even better. All you need is an internet connection and a computer with a video on it. It's a low cost but high tech way to connect

I enjoy Skype visits and my author talks are free! If you want to try one, just go to my website for more information.

I’d like to say thanks for this inteview. Doret’s passion for books and her desire to represent all readers-- no matter their race, creed, or gender—is like Wangari’s idea small as a seed that reaches the highest sky! 30 million planted trees. 30 million inspired readers!

30 million readers or 3. I may have inflated my visitor numbers a tad to get Jen to agree to do this interview. Though seriously I enjoyed Jen's answer as much as Seeds of Change. Her passion shines through. I love authors who are truly committed to telling stories they care deeply about.

Lee&Low the publishers of Seeds of Change are currently having a back to school sale All books are 21% off and free when you spend $20 or more

Black Jack: The Ballad of Jack Johnson - Charles R. Smith Jr. - Shane W. Evans

Black Jack: The Ballad of Jack Johnson by Charles R. Smith Jr. illus by Shane W. Evans

Smith tells the story of Jack Johnson the first Black Heavyweight champion of the world in verse.

Before Jack Johnson becomes the champion, he's a regular guy. Smith does a very good job of letting the reader know who Jack Johnson is outside of the ring. Jack Johnson the boxer was determined to get the opportunity to prove he was the best in the ring.

"But what Jack wanted most was to be a great man, so he challenged the times. But it was Jack who was challenged when he faced the color line."

At the time fighting was segregated but that didn't stop Johnson.

"So Jack chased the champ, from fight to fight, challenging Jim Jeffries to prove his might."

I was really looking forward to reading Black Jack. My expectation build up kept me from enjoying this one has much as I would've liked. I am a fan of Evan's style, Olu's Dream was one of my favorite picture books last year. In the case of a Jack Johnson biography, I would've liked more realistic illustrations of the fighter.

Though Black Jack wasn't for me, I think young readers will really enjoy it. There is a lot of movement in Smith's lyrical and visual text. Evan's draws Johnson in such a way that he comes across as smooth and strong. He appears larger than life, which is very appropriate for this biography. Smith includes additional information about Jack Johnson once the ballad is over

Smith and Evans talking about Black Jack @ publishers weekly

On Sale Now : New Releases

From North to South/Del Norte al Sur by Rene Colato Lainez illus by Joe Cepeda

The Tortoise or the Hare by Toni Morrison and Slade Morrison illus by Joe Cepeda

Rubia and the Three Osos by Susan Middleton Elya illus by Melissa Sweet

Eight Days : A Story of Haiti by Edwidge Danticat illus by Alix Delinois - This is such a beautiful book. Will review very soon. Scholastic is donating $10,000 to International Rescue Committee in conjunction with the release of Eight Days

Dave The Potter: Artist, Post, Slave by Laban Carrick Hill illus. by Bryan Collier - I can't wait to read this one. cover. This is Hill's first non fiction children's book, since the Harlem Stomp which was so freaking good. It looks like Collier threw down hard with the cover, its gorgeous

Red Zone by Tiki Barber and Rondi Barber

The Adventure of Ook and Gluk, Kung Fu Caveman of the Future by Dav Pilkey - This book was released a few weeks back. I thought about listing it didn't, I figured everyone would know about Pilkey. But Gluk has a sweet Afro and he's on the cover.

Bobby The Brave (Sometimes) by Lisa Yee, illus by Dan Santat. This is the second book in the Bobby Ellis Chan series. I loved the first one.

Payback Time by Carl Deuker - Just in time for football season and it features a diverse cast. Will review soon. I liked it a lot.

Wanting Mor by Rukhsana Khan - paperback release, my review

Flygirl by Sherri Smith - paperback release,my review Amazon has the release date as Sept. 16 but its already in stock in store. So check your local bookstore.

Soul Enchilada by David Macinnis Gill paperback release

Side by Side/ Lado Lado by Monica Brown - Joe Cepeda

Side by Side/ Lado a Lado by Monica Brown illus by Joe Cepeda

This is the story of Dolores Huerta and Cesar Chavez. The two worked together to help farmworkers fight for their rights. In 1967 Huerta and Chavez cofounded the United Farm Workers Union. Since its Labor Day, I thought this would be a very fitting book to review.

There are a few children's biographies on Cesar Chavez. Though as far as I know this is the first one that pertains to Dolores Huerta. This is Brown's fifth bilingual picture book biography. The first that features two influential people in history. She did a wonderful job with the layout. It opens with the reader being introduced to a young Dolores on one page and a young Cesar on the other.

Brown continues this alternating telling, so the reader learns about the early years of Huerta and Chavez equally. Until the day the two finally meet. From that point on Side by Side is about what they accomplished together.

"When the growers and the politicians wouldn't listen, Cesar stopped eating for thirty-six days so that others would understand how important it was to protect the workers. When their bosses bullied them, the workers used to say, "we can't do it. we can't win." But with the help of Dolores, they began to chant, "Si, se puede! Yes, we can"!

Brown has mastered the art of making facts readable and enjoyable. Joe Cepeda's artistic style is a perfect fit for Side by Side. I love this collaboration.* Brown includes a note for parents in the back, with additional information. This is a must add to any library.

I''ve linked this post to non fiction Monday. The round up this week can be found at The Miss Rumphius Effect

*I am still convinced Brown has an illustrator fairy. She's always paired with the perfect artist. Cross posted at Color Online.