Black History Month is for everybody; celebrate with a good book

By Kendal Rautzhan

Black History Month isn't just for African Americans; it's for every person of every ethnicity. It provides a catalyst to be educated on historical issues of importance.

Truly educated people have developed reasoning power, and that reasoning power allows young and old to rise above narrow-mindedness and ethnocentrism. There is no such thing as a superior or inferior ethnic, cultural, or religious group. Those that believe that are fooling themselves.

Travel along with children in books about Black History Month and watch how you both can grow.

Books to Borrow

The following book is available at many public libraries.

"The Other Side" by Jacqueline Woodson, illustrated by E. B. Lewis, Putnam, 32 pages

Read aloud: age 4 and older.

Read yourself: age 7-8 and older.

Clover lived in a yellow house. Not too far away was a long fence that stretched through the town. Clover's mama told her not to climb over the fence. White people lived on the other side and it wasn't safe. In the house beyond the fence lived a girl who looked to be Clover's age. Every morning that girl climbed up on the fence and stared over at Clover. Sometimes Clover stared back.

One day, Clover felt braver than she ever had before. She went over to the fence and the girls began to talk. The girl's name was Annie, and the two confided that their mothers had told each of them not to cross over the fence. No one ever said they couldn't sit on it, though, and the two new friends decided that was exactly what they were going to do.

Beautifully written with evocative illustrations, this is a powerful story about racial tensions and the wisdom of children.

Librarian's Choice

Library: Silver City Volunteer Library, Silver City Volunteer Fire Department, High St., Silver City

Volunteer Librarian: Quest Lakes

Choices this week: "Julie of the Wolves" by Jean Craighead George; "My Side of the Mountain" by Jean Craighead George; "A Wrinkle in Time" by Madeleine L'Engle

Books to Buy

The following books are available at favorite bookstores.

"Voyage of Midnight" by Michele Torrey, Alfred A. Knopf, 2006, 232 pages, $15.95 hardcover

Read aloud: age 10 and older.

Read yourself: age 10 Ð11 and older.

In England, 1811, Philip becomes an orphan. Forced to work under horrible conditions and live under the cruelty of Master Crump, Philip's life is nothing but suffering. When Philip learns that he has a wealthy uncle in New Orleans, he sets off to find his only living relative.

Taken in by a kind family in New Orleans that treats Philip as their own son, Philip is well fed, educated and loved. But he won't give up trying to find his uncle. When he finally does, Uncle offers him a job as surgeon's mate on his ship, the "Formidable." The ship will soon be leaving port on an important journey. Philip is overjoyed, hastily signs on, but once under sail, he learns what his uncle's trade is and the mission of the ship - Uncle is a slave trader and they are bound for Africa to collect the cargo.

Capturing a slice of the horrors of slaving ships, this well-researched work of historical fiction excels in every regard.

"The Other Mozart: The Life of the Famous Chevalier de Saint-George" by Hugh Brewster, illustrated by Eric Velasquez, Abrams, 2007, 48 pages, $18.95 hardcover

Read aloud: age 8-9 and older.

Read yourself: age 9 and older.

In 1745 on the French island of Guadeloupe in the West Indies, Joseph Bologne was born. His mother, Nanon, was a slave, and his father, Georges de Bologne-Saint-George, was a wealthy plantation owner from a prominent French family.

When Joseph was 8, his father announced he was selling his plantations and was moving to Paris with Nanon and Joseph. Georges was determined that his son would be educated as a young aristocrat, and to aid in his son's acceptance in French society, his father created a title for his son and renamed him Joseph Bologne, the Chevalier de Saint-George. Joseph excelled in all of his endeavors, but what none of them could predict at that time was that Joseph would become one of the most famous men in eighteenth-century France.

A compelling story of an incredible man, this selection is rich on many levels.

• Nationally syndicated, Kendal Rautzhan writes and lectures on children's literature. She can be reached via e-mail: kendal@sunlink.net.