nonfiction Archives - Page 559 of 611

The Tragic Tale of the Great Auk
by Jan Thornhill (Author / Illustrator)

Booktalk: For hundreds of thousands of years Great Auks thrived in the icy seas of the North Atlantic, bobbing on the waves, diving for fish and struggling up onto rocky shores to mate and hatch their fluffy chicks. But by 1844, not a single one of these magnificent birds was alive.

Great Auks were pursued first by Vikings, then by Inuit, Beothuk and finally European hunters. Their numbers rapidly dwindled. They became collectors’ items — their skins were stuffed for museums, to be displayed along with their beautiful eggs.

Although undeniably tragic, the final demise of the Great Auk led to the birth of the conservation movement. Laws were eventually passed to prevent the killing of birds during the nesting season, and similar laws were later extended to other wildlife species.

Snippet:

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It’s Nonfiction Monday!

doingherbit
Doing Her Bit: A Story About the Woman’s Land Army of America
by Erin Hagar (Author) and Jen Hill (Illustrator)

Booktalk: Based on true events, this fictional story traces the history of the Women’s Land Army during World War I. Real-life “Farmerette” Helen Stevens trains to farm the land, negotiates a position for herself and other women, and does her bit for the war effort. This unique book celebrates the true grit of American men and women.

Snippet: At Helen’s farewell luncheon, her father said, “Women’s Land Army–craziest thing I ever heard. No farmer in his right mind will hire you girls.”

Helen looked right at him. “They’ll have to. With so many men working in factories or training to fight, who else will bring in the crops?”

It’s Nonfiction Monday!