Fabulous February

February is a marvelous month. It’s chockfull of all kinds of celebrations and holidays. And happily, there are lots of books for young readers to enhance and extend them.

There’s African American History Month (opens in a new window)which can be celebrated by reading about distinguished leaders like Coretta Scott King. Stunning illustrations by award-winning Kadir Nelson (opens in a new window) add even more drama to the poetry of Ntozake Shange in Coretta Scott (opens in a new window) (Katherine Tegen/HarperCollins).

Another recent biography celebrates a less well known African American trailblazer, Edna Lewis. Edna was the child of an emancipated slave who grew up in Freetown, Virginia, where the seasons provided the taste of the kitchen — experiences that she took with her to become an early female and celebrated chef.

Her story is told in Bring Me Some Apples and I’ll Make You a Pie (opens in a new window) by Robbin Gourley (Clarion), a lively book told in rhythmic language and jaunty illustrations. A photograph of the adult Edna Lewis and some of her tasty-sounding recipes takes this engaging book into the family kitchen as well as in a classroom (math activities come from cooking; other curriculum might include seasons and growing cycles, not to mention women’s history and African American history).

And it’s always time to celebrate families with Eloise Greenfield’s Brothers and Sisters: Family Poems (opens in a new window) with realistic illustrations by Jan Spivey Gilchrist Amistad/HarperCollins).

And this February two famous men celebrated their 200th birthdays on February 12: Abraham Lincoln and Charles Darwin. There are lots of books about Lincoln (opens in a new window) and a few recent books for young readers about Darwin. What Darwin Saw: The Journey That Changed the World (opens in a new window) by Rosalyn Schanzer (National Geographic) is a rich look at Darwin’s long journey and can be read on several levels because of its rich text an handsome illustrations.

Now all we need to finish out the February celebration is a snow day or two!