Category Archives: Non-Fiction

Feb18

Black History: Slavery

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Black History: Slavery

Heart and Soul

Featured Book: Heart and Soul Sometimes history can be overwhelming for me. It’s hard to keep the people and places and dates straight. I really like Heart and Soul because the history unfolds like a story. In fact, the book is written like an old lady talking. It’s like listening to your Grandmother explain it.

This is the kind of book that makes you proud to be a part of your country and it doesn’t matter if you are black or white or young or old. Our country is only 236 years old. That’s a baby country. And in that time we have worked through some struggles that could have ended really badly. Instead, we have struggled together to work out our differences and find common ground and build a life together.

This book shows how a country can go from thinking a black person was property to having a black president. It explains how changes were slowly made to help make that happen. It doesn’t say the job is done, but it shows how we got to where we are today. And it has the BEST paintings. Author: Kadir Nelson

More websites and books about slavery in America:

Indiana Websites

Heart and Soul 2011 Stolen into Slavery 2012 Slavery in America 2012 I Lay My Stitches Down 2012
Words Set Me Free 2012 Underground 2011 No More! Moses
Chains Elijah of Buxton Henry's Freedom Box Jefferson's Sons 2011

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Feb14

Candy Bomber – Staff Recommend

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Candy Bomber – Staff Recommend

“World War II was over, and Berlin was in ruins. US Air Force Lieutenant Gail Halvorsen knew the children of the city were suffering. They were hungry and afraid. The young pilot wanted to help, but what could one man in one plane do?” Author: Michael Tunnel

In 1948, a single man was the inspiration for a USAF-led operation to drop candy behind enemy lines in post-WW II Germany. Lieutenant Gail Halvorsen came to be known as “Uncle Wiggly Wings” to the children and families in West Berlin. Deeply touched by the German children who survived the Allied bombing, Halvorsen resolved to drop chocolate and chewing gum to them during his regular flights with “Operation Vittles.” Beginning by asking his buddies to donate their personal candy rations, his efforts morphed into an all-out effort supported by the military and embraced by the American populace. Lt. Halvorsen continued his career with the Air Force after returning to the United States. When he returned to Berlin in 1970 as the Commander of the Air Force Base, he received many invitations to dinner from those who were now grown up. This rich historical story sheds a sweet light on how a caring person can inspire others to reach out to those who are suffering. Readers will be charmed by the pictures and illustrations that accompanied the letters of appreciation written by the children.

Recommended by: Roberta Ash, Eagle Branch Library

More Staff Recommends

More stories about anonymous benefactors gifting strangers – pay it forward!:
Mercedes and the Chocolate Pilot Silver Packages Boxes for Katje The Carpenter's Gift
The Quiltmaker's Journey The Quiltmaker's Gift
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Feb11

Black History: Cowboys, Pioneers & the West

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Black History: Cowboys, Pioneers & the West

Bad News for Outlaws

Featured Old West Marshall: Bass Reeves Bass Reeves grew up as a slave in Texas. Even as a young boy he was good with a gun. His master used to take him to shooting contests to show him off. One night though, when Bass was a young man, he and his master got in a fight and Bass punched his owner. Hitting a white man was punishable by death – so Bass ran, and he ran as a fast and as far as he could – all the way to Indian Territory in the West.

The frontier wasn’t called the Wild West for nothing. It was rough country with outlaws roaming around. The West was a great place for bad guys to hide. In 1875 the government hired 200 deputy marshals to help bring order to the frontier and Bass Reeves was one of them. He was also the best one. He could fight and he could shoot when he had too, but mostly, he was smart. He was also known for his honesty and integrity. One time, he had to arrest his own son! Author: Vaunda Micheaux Nelson

The Legend of Bass Reeves

Another great book about Bass is The Legend of Bass Reeves. Gary Paulsen, the author of this book, calls it “the true and fictional account of the most valiant marshal in the West.” Mr. Paulsen adds a little here and there to fill in the places where history left gaps…but for the most part, this is the story of Bass the real guy – the first African-American U.S. Deputy Marshal west of the Mississippi – and this was in the 1870s! Bass became a legend, even in his own time. Some outlaws turned themselves in once they heard it was Bass that would be looking for them! Bass Reeves – an American original!

More websites and books about African Americans in the Old West:

Best Shot in the West Black Indians a Hidden Heritage 2012 African Americans in the Old West Bill Pickett rodeo ridin cowboy
Black Frontiers Buffalo Soldiers and the American West Going Home to Nicodemus Hurry Freedom
Ain't Nothing But a Man

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Feb8

Here Come the Girl Scouts! – National Girl Scout Cookie Day!

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Here Come the Girl Scouts! – National Girl Scout Cookie Day!

Today, February 8, 2013 is National Girl Scout Cookie Day. Girl Scouts selling cookies are all over town. Find one and stock up on some thin mints. The best kind. Obviously.

In honor of this day, here is a new biography of Juliette Gordon Low (otherwise known as “Daisy”). Juliette knew how to make things happen.

Daisy is ready for adventure and when she grows up she goes and gets it. She rides an elephant. She rides in an airplane. And when she’s done she goes home and teaches girls how to have adventures too. Daisy is Juliette Gordon Low, the founder of the Girl Scouts. She held the first meeting of the Girl Scouts on March 12, 1912 and together they discovered they could do anything!

GirlScoutKit When Juliette Gordon Low founded the Girl Scouts in 1912, the first uniforms were blue and their handbook was “How Girls Can Help Their Country.” The Girl Scouts were organized around a set of principles known as the “Girl Scout Law”: honor, loyalty, friendliness, courtesy, befriending animals, obeying orders, cheerfulness, thriftiness and cleanliness. This first aid kit and game handbook was used in 1929 one year after the group adopted a green uniform. IndyPL Digital Collections: Artifacts from the Children’s Museum of Indianapolis

GirlScoutUniformJuliette Gordon Low began the Girl Scouts based upon Sir Robert Baden-Powell’s Boy Scouts and Girl Guides program in England. Now in 90 countries, 3.6 million Girl Scouts explore the world around them developing important life skills. Beginning in 1935 any Senior Scout troop could choose to be a Mariner troop. These troops devoted time to outdoor activities including boating and camping to explore recreational and vocational activities. Much like the Boy Scout’s Sea Scouts, the program ended when girls could join the coed Sea Scouts in 1971. Instead of wearing the traditional green uniform, Mariners wore this blue uniform worn by Peoria, Illinois scout Colleen Cowan in the 1960s. IndyPL Digital Collections: Artifacts from the Children’s Museum of Indianapolis

Books:

First Girl Scout: the life of Juliette Gordon Low Junior Girl Scouts Badge Book Brownie Girl Scout Handbook
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Feb7

Black History: Athletes

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Black History: Athletes

Featured Indiana Athletes: Marshall “Major” Taylor and Oscar Robinson

Marshall

Marshall “Major” Taylor: This is the story of a young African-American boy who grew up in Indianapolis over a hundred years ago. Despite living at a time when African-Americans were often denied basic rights, Marshall Taylor became a world champion cyclist.
Marshall earned the nickname “Major” when he performed bicycle tricks as a very young boy dressed in a military style costume. When he was a teenager he stopped performing tricks and moved on to bicycle racing – and he was really, really good – world champion good! His story is inspiring because he persevered even when there were many people who didn’t want him to even be in a race, let alone win, just because he was African-American. Sometimes he rode fast just to get away from angry people chasing him! Author: Marlene Targ Brill

In Indianapolis, we have the Major Taylor Velodrome, a world-class bicycle racing track named for this cycling great. You can ride your bike and also use inline skates at the Velodrome. If you want to try riding there, it’s best if you are at least 10 years old. Call ahead and see if you can arrange a time to go try it out. And don’t forget your helmet! 3649 Cold Spring Rd., Indianapolis, IN 46222 Velodrome Phone: 317-327-8356.

Have you ever heard of Indiana’s own Olympian Oscar Robertson? In 1955 Oscar went to Crispus Attucks High School. Oscar’s team won the Indiana State Championship, becoming the first all-black school in the nation to win a state title. Robertson led Crispus Attucks to another championship in 1956. Oscar was so good he played in College and went on to win a gold medal with the US Basketball team at the 1960 Olympic Games.

Indiana Athletes

ESPN 1070 the Fan Indy’s Sports Center: Interviews One on One with Mark Montieth, host of this local radio program. He interviews important sports figures in Indiana’s history. Many of them have compelling life stories to tell, not just sports stories. Previous shows are available as podcasts. Click on “listen to the podcast” to see the full list of programs. New programs are aired Sunday mornings at 11:00am and repeated Wednesday evenings at 7:00pm.

Websites

Books

Great African Americans in Sports 2012 Fair Ball Great African Americans in the Olympics Hank Aaron Brave in Every Way
Touch the Sky Alice Coachman 2012 We Are the Ship Jesse Owens Fastest Man Alive A Nation's Hope
Jump Michael Jordan Nothing But Trouble Althea Gibson Satchel Paige Champ the Story of Muhammad Ali
Queen of the Track

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