Author: Anastasia Suen

Women’s Art Work: More than 30 Female Artists Who Changed the World
by Sophia Bennett (Author) and Manjit Thapp (Illustrator)

Booktalk: This collection celebrates the creativity of women in more than 30 biographies, investigating their practices and exploring their contributions to the art world. Readers will learn about a diverse group of innovators like Frida Kahlo, Cindy Sherman, Ana Mendieta, Lubaina Himid, Cao Fei, and the Guerrilla Girls. From early pioneers to today’s most radical creators, these women have overcome obstacles, broken boundaries, and enriched our understanding of what art is and can be. With a glossary of art terms, a timeline of major milestones, and sidebars, this highly illustrated book also features original interviews with living artists–including Yayoi Kusama, Lorna Simpson, and Rachel Whiteread.

Snippet:
DORIS SALCEDO:
Born 1958

In the vast Turbine Hall of the Tate Modern, a long, dark scar runs along the floor. It is all that remains of an extended crack that was made in concete: a work by Doris Salcedo called Shibboleth. Like a rift made by an earthquake, it was designed to be a simple, stark reminder of the impact of grief and loss.

It’s Nonfiction Monday!

Copyright © 2020 Anastasia Suen All Rights Reserved.

Hello, friends!

You are invited to add your blog post about children’s literature to our end-of-the-month carnival round-up.

For the April 2020 Carnival of Children’s Literature, we’re looking for blog posts about children’s literature written by parents, educators, librarians, and children’s book authors, illustrators, and reviewers.

After one of our hosts approves it (yes, there will be a time-delay so we’re not posting spam) this end-of-the month carnival round-up will link back to your blog so everyone can read your post!

When children’s book author and (Here in the Bonny Glen) blogger Melissa Wiley hosted the very first Carnival of Children’s Literature in February 2006, it was an end-of-the month round-up of blog posts about children’s literature written by children’s book authors, illustrators, and reviewers as well as parents, educators, and librarians. The Blog Carnival software created the links (back to each blogger’s site) AND saved all of them in one place that everyone could see.

In 2010, Melissa handed the hosting duties over to me. Fast forward ten years. Last week I realized that my search for software that worked like our original (and now broken) Blog Carnival software was in something I used everyday — Facebook! A Facebook “Community” page can create the links (back to each blogger’s site) AND save all of them in one place that everyone can see.

So with Leo (our Library Lion mascot) and the help of my wonderful #kidlit blogger co-hosts: A Field Trip Life, Good Reads with Ronna, Randomly Reading, and The Book of Life, we are rebooting the #kidlitcarnival on April 28. Can you join us?

Copyright © 2020 Anastasia Suen All Rights Reserved.

We Are Power: How Nonviolent Activism Changes the World
by Todd Hasak-Lowy (Author)

Booktalk: In an age when armies are stronger than ever before, when guns seem to be everywhere, how can people confront their adversaries without resorting to violence themselves? Through key international movements as well as people such as Gandhi, Alice Paul, Martin Luther King, Cesar Chavez, and Václav Havel, this book discusses the components of nonviolent resistance. It answers the question “Why nonviolence?” by showing how nonviolent movements have succeeded again and again in a variety of ways, in all sorts of places, and always in the face of overwhelming odds. The book includes endnotes, a bibliography, and an index.

Snippet: History is more than wars and violence.

In fact, history has more often been forged through conflicts of a different sort, when huge numbers of people banded together to fight and sacrifice for their side, without ever joining a conventional army or resorting to violence. Incredible individuals–who were not politicians or generals–led these movements.

It’s Nonfiction Monday!

Copyright © 2020 Anastasia Suen All Rights Reserved.

World’s Best (and Worst) Creepy Critter Jokes
by Jessica Rusick (Author)

Booktalk: How do fleas travel? They itch-hike! And what is a mouse’s favorite game? Hide and squeak! Kids can read these jokes — and make up new ones!

Snippet:

It’s Nonfiction Monday!

Copyright © 2020 Anastasia Suen All Rights Reserved.

Know any parents teaching school at home due to the pandemic?
Share my makerspace (DIY) articles published by the American Library Association.

Home, Sweet Home
by Moira Butterfield (Author) and Clair Rossiter (Illustrator)

Booktalk: If you think about your home — what is it like? Does it have walls and a roof? A front door and a kitchen? But not all homes are the same. Explore homes from around the world — and through time!

Snippet:

It’s Nonfiction Monday!

Copyright © 2020 Anastasia Suen All Rights Reserved.

Everest: The Remarkable Story of Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay
by Alexandra Stewart (Author) and Joe Todd-Stanton (Illustrator)

Booktalk: In the late morning of May 29th 1953, the sun was shining brightly on the roof of the world, a gentle breeze was blowing and two men were there to witness it for the first time ever . Their names were Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay and the roof of the world was Everest. This is the story of how two very different yet equally determined men battled frost-biting temperatures, tumbling ice rocks, powerful winds and death-defying ridges to climb the world’s highest mountain.

Snippet: What made Hillary and Tenzing’s achievement all the more remarkable was that they had triumphed where so many others had failed before. Climbers had been trying to reach the top of Everest for more than thirty years.

A huge amount of time, effort, and money –not to mention national pride– had been invested in these attempts. Despite this, each one had ended in disappointment, and some even in death.

See the book trailer.

It’s Nonfiction Monday!

Copyright © 2020 Anastasia Suen All Rights Reserved.

Easter (Spot Holidays)
by Mari Schuh (Author)

Booktalk: This search-and-find book invites young readers to look for new vocabulary words and pictures while giving simple facts about the Christian holiday of Easter and the way people celebrate it.

Snippet:

It’s Nonfiction Monday!

Copyright © 2019 Anastasia Suen All Rights Reserved.

Planes (Easy to Draw)
by Mark Bergin (Author)

Booktalk: Follow the steps from simple shapes to the completed drawing. Simple step-by-step picture instructions show how to draw a variety of planes in 2-D from a glider to a seaplane.

Snippet: Use a pencil to draw the shapes of your plane. Any mistakes you make can be easily erased, as can any construction lines that are left over at the end of your drawing.

It’s Nonfiction Monday!

Copyright © 2020 Anastasia Suen All Rights Reserved.

Know any parents teaching school at home due to the pandemic?
Share these Makerspace (DIY) projects for kids.

Let’s Explore Bread! (Food Field Trips)
by Jill Colella (Author)

Booktalk: Naan, sourdough, rye, pita . . . bread takes different flavors and forms all around the world. Experiment with yeast to learn why it makes breads rise, see how to knead bread, and follow a simple recipe to make your own loaf.

Snippet:

It’s Nonfiction Monday!

Copyright © 2020 Anastasia Suen All Rights Reserved.

Equality’s Call: The Story of Voting Rights in America
by Deborah Diesen (Author) and Magdalena Mora (Illustrator)

Booktalk: The founders of the United States declared that consent of the governed was a key part of their plan for the new nation. But for many years, only white men of means were allowed to vote. Learn all about the history of voting rights in the United States — from our nation’s founding to the present day.

Snippet:

It’s Nonfiction Monday!

Copyright © 2020 Anastasia Suen All Rights Reserved.