The Amazing Age of John Roy Lynch

Ages 7 to 10

A unique biography of a remarkable Reconstruction figure

John Roy Lynch spent most of his childhood as a slave in Mississippi, but all of that changed with the Emancipation Proclamation. Suddenly people like John Roy could have paying jobs and attend school. While many people in the South were unhappy with the social change, John Roy thrived in the new era. He was appointed to serve as justice of the peace and was eventually elected into the United States Congress.

This biography, with its informative backmatter and splendid illustrations, gives readers an in-depth look at the Reconstruction period through the life of one of the first African-American congressmen.

Purchase The Amazing Age of John Roy Lynch  at Amazon, Christianbook.com, Eerdmans, or your local  bookstore.

A Bird or Two

Ages 5-11
Full-color Illustrations Throughout

Greens greener than apples, yellows more yellow than lemons. . .

In the brilliant sun of Nice, France, Henri Matisse painted the brightest, boldest colors he could imagine. Joyfully he painted everywhere and everyone. Enchanted and with a light heart, he painted all the time.

A Bird or Two introduces young readers to the beloved painter Henri Matisse. Bijou Le Tord’s delightful illustrations capture the vivid colors of Matisse, and her poetic words sing to the music of his pictures.

C. S. Lewis

Ages 10 & up
58 Black-and-white photographs

Step through the other side of the wardrobe and meet the creator of the Chronicles of Narnia — the man whose rich imagination and deep faith made this fantasy series a favorite for generations.

This reformatted photo biography, with more than 50 photographs, tells the story of C. S. Lewis’s life and work, from his boyhood in Belfast, Ireland, where he and his brother created their first imaginary world in an attic hideaway, to Lewis’s adult years as a renowned scholar and beloved author.

Purchase C.S Lewis The Man Behind Narnia  at Amazon,  Eerdmans, or your local  bookstore.

Do You Have a Dog?

Ages 4-8
Full-color illustrations throughout
Lexile: AD640L

This follow-up to Do You Have a Cat? introduces readers to a whole new collection of historical figures — Admiral Richard Byrd, Jackson Pollack, Annie Oakley. Eileen Spinelli’s whimsical, rhyming text and the colorful and energetic paintings of Geraldo ValTrio help bring these dog owners to life.

Purchase Do You Have a Dog?  at Amazon, Christianbook.com, Eerdmans, or your local  bookstore.

Dorothy Day

Ages 10 & up
78 Black-and-white photographs

his fascinating biography chronicles the life of Dorothy Day, known the world over as the leader of the Catholic Worker Movement. Guided by a strong commitment to social justice and by deep religious ideals, Dorothy Day dedicated her life to the service of others. Deborah Kent here recounts the trials and triumphs of Dorothy Day’s life, detailing her role as the founder of The Catholic Worker newspaper, as the founder of numerous “houses of hospitality” that provided food and shelter to the destitute, and as the champion of causes that helped those in need.

Eva’s Story

Ages 14 & up

People around the world know the tragic story of Anne Frank, the teenage girl who lost her life in a concentration camp during the Holocaust. But most people don’t know about Eva Schloss, Anne’s playmate and posthumous stepsister. Though Eva, like Anne, was imprisoned in Auschwitz at the age of 15, her story did not end there. Together with her mother, Eva endured daily degradation and countless miseries at the hands of the Nazis. She was freed in 1945, but it would be decades before Eva was able to share her survivor’s tale with the world.

Concluding with new discussion questions and a revealing interview with Eva, this moving memoir recounts—without bitterness or hatred—the horrors of war, the love between mother and daughter, and the strength and determination that helped a family overcome danger and tragedy.

The Fantastic Jungles of Henri Rousseau

Ages 5-9
Full-color Illustrations throughout
Lexile: AD800L

Henri Rousseau wanted to be an artist. But he had no formal training. Instead, he taught himself to paint. He painted until the jungles and animals and distant lands in his head came alive on the space of his canvases.

Henri Rousseau endured the harsh critics of his day and created the brilliant paintings that now hang in museums around the world. Michelle Markel’s vivid text, complemented by the vibrant illustrations of Amanda Hall, artfully introduces young readers to the beloved painter and encourages all readers to persevere despite all odds.

Kids can add their own personal touch with a coloring page. Crayons not included.

Fur, Fins, and Feathers

Ages 5 to 9

A fascinating and factual book that will delight animal lovers

Abraham Dee Bartlett knew from a young age that he wanted to spend his life working with animals. But in Victorian London, there weren’t many jobs that provided an opportunity to do that. Still, Abraham spent years gaining knowledge and pursuing his dream until he eventually became superintendent in the London Zoo. Driven by his compassion for the animals, Abraham dramatically improved the conditions of the zoo to ensure that the animals could be happy and healthy.

With engaging back matter and charming illustrations, Cassandre Maxwell’s book brings to life the little-known story of the man who helped to create the modern zoo.

Purchase Fur, Fins and Feathers  at Amazon, Christianbook.com, Eerdmans, or your local  bookstore.

Georgia’s Bones

Ages 4-10
Full-color Illustrations Throughout
Lexile: AD1020L

As a child, shapes often drifted
in and out of Georgia’s mind.
Curved and straight,
round or square,
she studied them,
and let them disappear.

Growing up on a Wisconsin farm, Georgia O’Keeffe began gathering all sorts of objects — sticks and stones, flowers and bones. Although she was teased for her interest in unique shapes and sizes, young Georgia declared: “Someday, I’m going to be an artist” — and that is exactly what she became.

Jen Bryant’s story of Georgia O’Keeffe celebrates the famous artist’s fascination with natural shapes, “common objects,” and her unusual way of looking at the world. Bethanne Andersen’s fluid, graceful illustrations capture the beauty of O’Keeffe’s work and spirit.

Purchase Georgia’s Bones  at Amazon, Christianbook.com, Eerdmans, or your local  bookstore.

I Am Marc Chagall

Ages 8-12
Full-color Illustrations Throughout

I painted my world, my life, all the things I loved, all the things I dreamed of, all the things I could not say in words. I painted my beloved Russia, my hometown Vitebsk, the Jewish neighborhood where I grew up, the way I saw everything as a child.

During prayers he would daydream; in school he was distracted; and at home he worried about what profession he should choose. But when the young Marc Chagall realized he had artistic talent, he translated his unusual way of looking at the world into color and shape.

Chagall grew up, became a painter, and traveled the world, but he never forgot about his hometown of Vitebsk, Belarus, the place that shaped his character and inspired his art.

This book, loosely based on Chagall’s autobiography, gives readers a glimpse into the early life of one of the twentieth century’s most significant painters. Landmann’s charming three-dimensional mixed- media illustration

I, Vivaldi

Ages 7-11
Full-color Illustrations Throughout
Lexile: AD570L

In this dynamic picture-book biography, told as if by Vivaldi himself, the famous musician’s energetic personality and steadfast dedication to music come alive.

Despite his mother’s vow for him to become a priest, young Vivaldi is only interested in music. He soon grows from a feisty boy who wants to play the violin into a stubborn young man who puts his musical training ahead of his studies for priesthood.

Beautiful, ornate artwork portrays the spirit and splendor of Vivaldi’s hometown, Venice. A historical note, musical score, and glossary will help readers more fully appreciate Vivaldi’s life and musical genius.

In Search of the Little Prince

Ages 7 and up

The fascinating story behind one of the world’s most beloved children’s books

For the last seventy years, The Little Prince has captured the imaginations of readers around the world. This lyrical picture book biography tells the story of its author, Antoine de Saint- Exupéry.

As a child, Antoine dreamed of flying. His dream was realized when he became a pilot, first serving France during World War I, then working as an international mail courier. As he wrote letters to his family describing the foreign countries he visited, he soon discovered that writing contained its own sense of adventure. His stories showed a childlike fascination with the world, culminating with The Little Prince, one of the best- selling books ever published.

Bimba Landmann’s biography is paired with whimsical yet profound illustrations, wonderfully capturing Saint-Exupéry’s personality. This book will give fresh insight into the life of a cherished author.

Klimt and His Cat

Ages 8-12
Full-color Illustrations Throughout

Purchase Klimt and His Cat at Amazon, Christianbook.com, Eerdmans,  or your local  bookstore.

The Life and Times of Martin Luther

Ages 7 and UP

A fascinating look at the ideas that founded the Protestant Church

Wittenberg, Germany, 1517: Martin Luther publishes 95 theses criticizing the practices of the Roman Catholic Church. With that one defiant act, a conflict begins—a conflict that will spark the Protestant Reformation and ultimately lead to the division of the Christian church.

This sophisticated book commemorates the 500th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation by examining the details of Martin Luther’s life and his lasting legacy.

Maria Mitchell

Ages 10 & up
49 black-and-white photographs
Lexile: 1150L

In the mid-1800s, a turbulent time when women were often thought to be unworthy of higher education, Maria Mitchell rose above the prejudices of the day to become America’s first professional woman astronomer. This exciting biography tells the story of Maria Mitchell’s life, her amazing achievements, and her faith that saw God’s handiwork in the heavens.

“Gormley successfully paints a picture of a world that failed to mold Mitchell to its standards, focusing on the telling details that bring the story to life. Inspiring and incisive.” — Kirkus Reviews

Princess Ka’iulani

Ages 10 & up
97 black-and-white photographs

Buy the ebook: Kindle | NOOK

On March 1, 1893, Princess Ka’iulani, the seventeen-year-old crown princess of Hawaii, stepped onto the pier at New York City. She was greeted by a crowd of reporters and onlookers who knew that, in many ways, she stood at a crossroads in history. Fully aware of the significance of her visit, she prayed that she could help persuade the American government to return her beautiful islands to the Hawaiian people.

This biography tells the fascinating–and little-known–story of Princess Ka’iulani’s life and courageous fight for Hawaiian independence. Using many newly translated journals and letters, Sharon Linnéa introduces young readers to the most beloved figure in Hawaiian history, and one of America’s most overlooked Christian heroines.

The Right Word

Ages 7 and up

“Words, Peter learned, were powerful things. And when he put them in long, neat rows, he felt as if the world itself clicked into order.”

For shy young Peter Mark Roget, books were the best companions — and it wasn’t long before Peter began writing his own book. But he didn’t write stories; he wrote lists. Peter took his love for words and used it to organize his ideas and find exactly the right word to express just what he thought. His lists grew and grew, eventually turning into one of the most important reference books of all time.

This book is an inviting, visually engrossing portrayal of Peter Mark Roget and the creation of the thesaurus. Readers of all ages will marvel at Roget’s life, depicted through lyrical text and brilliantly detailed illustrations. This elegant book celebrates the joy of learning and the power of words.

A River of Words

Ages 7 & up
Full-color Illustrations Throughout
Lexile: AD820L

A Junior Library Guild Selection

Willie loved to write — words gave him freedom and peace. But he also knew that he needed to earn a living, so when he grew up he went off to medical school and became a doctor — one of the busiest men in town! Yet he never stopped writing.

In this picture book biography of poet William Carlos Williams, Jen Bryant’s engaging prose and Melissa Sweet’s stunning mixed- media illustrations celebrate the amazing man whose poems about ordinary, everyday things will inspire young readers to create poems of their own.

Interview with Jen Bryant
Interview with Melissa Sweet

Saints

Ages 8 & up

The Song of Francis and the Animals

Ages 4-8
Full-color Illustrations Throughout

“Baa-baa,” sang the lamb.
“Shoo, go play,” said Francis,
but the little lamb just grinned
and trotted happily behind the man
who preached to people and dogs
and flowers and fish and frogs.

With lilting verse and playful imagery, award-winning author Pat Mora celebrates the tender relationship between the beloved saint and the animals he loved. Woodcut artist David Frampton captures the exuberant songs of Francis and the animals in charming, colorful woodcuts that underscore the harmony between humans and the natural world.

Inspired by Saint Francis’s own reverence and love for animals, this book will encourage readers young and old to join in with the clucks of the chickens, the whirring of the cicadas, and the songs of the nightingale.

Vincent van Gogh and the Colors of the Wind

Ages 7 & up

Vincent van Gogh was a complicated person. No one understood that better than his younger brother, Theo. While others saw Vincent as a madman, wandering into the fields with his canvases and paintbrushes, Theo knew that he saw the world like no one else did. And even though Vincent struggled with mental illness and poverty, Theo recognized his incredible artistic talent—as the rest of the world now does.

Inspired by Vincent van Gogh’s letters, with illustrations modeled after his famous paintings, this lyrical story provides a thoughtful and fresh look at the life of one of history’s most beloved artists.

Purchase Vincent van Gogh and the Colors of the Wind at Amazon, Christianbook.com, Eerdmans, or your local  bookstore.