Book Finder

As a child, “Josef Albers saw art in the simplest things…” His interest in color and the way colors changed forever altered the way color theory was taught. The author was Albers’ neighbor as a child and provides an assessible, engaging glimpse of how one man’s vision can change the way things are viewed.

Edna Lewis grew up on a Virginia farm where she developed a deep appreciation for the rhythm of nature, the beauty in growing things, and the warmth in sharing a home cooked meal. Edna’s early life and passion led to a career as a professional chef known for preserving cooking traditions. Several recipes are included in this handsome, lively book.

A Newbery Honor book that accounts the life and musical career of the great African American vocalist, Marion Anderson, in the context of the history of civil rights in the United States.

Written in verse, this is a Pura Belpré Award-winning portrait of Juan Francisco Manzano, the poet who was born a slave in Cuba in 1797. Margarita Engle explores Manzano’s poetic interpretations of his world and what freedom really means in a slave society.

Take a journey through the life of Renaissance man Ludwig Bemelmans, author of the beloved Madeline series and accomplished painter. This book was written by his grandson, John Bemelmans Marciano, who has since continued the legacy of Madeline.

Tom Moran dreamed of seeing the western United States, painting places that were unknown to most. He was allowed to join a team of geologists heading to “the Yellowstone,” the year before it became a national park. Read about what early explorers saw and how they recorded it in picture book biography.

Many people have heard of Davy Crockett and the Alamo. But this story is based on a real but little known woman named Susanna Dickinson who survived the battle at the Alamo in San Antonio. This dramatic, illustrated story is told to engage young listeners (or readers) and bring history to life.

The Grand Canyon is a national park established in the early 20th century. At the bottom of the canyon is the remote village of Supai, accessible only by helicopter, horse, or mule. Join Anthony the Postman as he delivers the mail to his hometown on the Havasupai Indian Reservation, leading a mule train down the steep, striking canyon.

Have you ever wondered about the creator of Mickey Mouse; the man whose name is synonymous with theme parks and family films? Meet Walt Disney in this readable (though unauthorized) biography.

Ever hear of psychedelic colors? Meet Joe and Bob Switzer who invented interesting new colors — which not only defined a generation but helped save lives. Cartoon-like illustrations complement the tone of this picture book biography.

Calling the Doves is poet Juan Felipe Herrera’s story of his migrant farmworker childhood. In delightful and lyrical language, he recreates the joy of eating breakfast under the open sky, listening to Mexican songs in the little trailer house his father built, and celebrating with other families at a fiesta in the mountains. He remembers his mother singing songs and reciting poetry, and his father telling stories and calling the doves.

The lives and times of Abraham and Mary Todd Lincoln are presented through written and pictorial information in a scrapbook-like format. A well developed, tragic portrait of Mary Lincoln emerges as her life is presented beyond the assassination of the President.

Lincoln’s own words punctuate this overview of his life and times including lighter moments. Full color illustrations exaggerate Lincoln’s physical features but complement the man’s complexity.

Not only did Vinnie Ream work at the post office but was the first woman (and the youngest) commissioned to sculpt an image of Abraham Lincoln. Watercolors and documentation combine to present a portrait of an artist and the city in which she lived.

The friendship between Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass, the abolitionist who was once enslaved, is presented in richly imagined text and collage illustrations.

Luke and his father travel by buggy to pay respects to the train carrying the assassinated Abraham Lincoln from Washington, D.C., to Springfield, Illinois. Evocative text and illustration are well-researched to capture the period from a child’s point of view.

A straightforward overview of Lincoln’s life is punctuated by Lincoln’s words and commanding images. Additional resources for further reading and research are included as are sources used in this unforgettable book.

Before leaving for Ford’s Theater, Abraham Lincoln reflects on his life — his accomplishments and disappointments. Realistic illustrations reflect the serious tone of this unusual glimpse of the 16th President.

Drama abounds in what might have happened if Austin Gollaher had not pulled the young Abraham Lincoln from a swollen Kentucky creek that day in 1816. This engaging tale was inspired and expanded from a real event noted by the author.

The basic life and accomplishments of Abraham Lincoln are introduced in free verse and detailed illustrations in an open format. A concluding note provides additional information.

This is the story of librarian Pura Belpré, told through the eyes of two young children who are introduced to the library and its treasures just before Christmas. Lulu Delacre’s lovely illustrations evoke New York City at the time of the Great Depression, as well as the close-knit and vibrant Puerto Rican community that was thriving in El Barrio during this time. Bilingual Spanish-English text.

Wangari Maathai’s native Kenya was a changed land, literally blowing away because its trees and growth had been destroyed. Rather than complain, she started a reforestation effort for which she was the first African woman to receive the Nobel Peace Prize. Handsome illustrations combine with crisp text to tell the story of one person’s impact.

Self-taught artist Clementine Hunter used paint and canvas to record life in the rural south. Her work was first hung on a clothesline, much later in galleries. This attractive picture book biography concludes with an author’s note and actual images by Hunter.

Not all pirates did their dirty work on the sea and not all of them were men. The stories in history and lore of the Sea Queens are presented in an evocative format with bold illustrations, separating fact from fiction.