Penny's Reviews and Chat: April 2018

Tuesday, April 17, 2018

MIDNIGHT TEACHER, LILLY ANN GRANDERSON AND HER SECRET SCHOOL REVIEW

Midnight Teacher

Lilly Ann Granderson and her Secret School

by Janet Halfmann

Illustrated by London Ladd

Midnight Teacher, Lilly Ann Granderson and her Secret School, by Janet Halfmann, illustrated by London Ladd, is an important true story of a slave who dedicated her life to educating fellow slaves. Lilly Ann Granderson secretly taught many slaves to read and write before and after the Civil war. It was a daring and risky undertaking, so it was done at night. Even though they risked severe punishment by being beaten, Lilly Ann Granderson and her students felt it was worth the risk to become educated and have a chance for a better life and even the ability to escape to freedom in the North.

Ms. Halfmann put a lot of careful research into bringing this story to students, teachers, and librarians. At the back of the book is an Afterword about accomplishments directly attributable to Lilly Ann Granderson’s teaching and efforts to establish schools; plus, there’s information on the lives and contributions of her descendants. Ms. Halfmann has included several excellent Selected References for further reading and study.

This is a great historical addition to classrooms and school libraries to show how important literacy and education are to people’s lives, especially to people like Blacks and other minorities who have constantly been denied equal educational opportunities throughout their history in America. Midnight Teacher is highly recommended for students, teachers, and librarians. Lee and Low Books list this book for reading level grade 2 to 6. The detailed illustrations by artist London Ladd clearly show and clarify what is happening in Lilly Granderson’s story, which helps lower grade students to visualize and better understand the seriousness of that period in history.

Information on talented children's author, Janet Halfmann is at http://www.janethalfmann.com/

Information on artist London Ladd is at https://www.londonladd.com/

Reviewed by:

Penelope Anne Cole

Children’s Author, Writer, Poet, and Reviewer

SLO Night Writers Golden Quill Non-Fiction Finalist 2017

Tri-Valley Writers Conference 2017 Prose Award

San Mateo County Fair Short Story Award 2017

Award Winning Author of Magical Matthew, Magical Mea,
Magical Mea Goes to School, Magical Max and Magical Mickey, and

Magical Max and Magical Mickey’s Big Surprise

In and Out, All ‘Round About – Opposite Friends

What’s for Dinner? and ¿Qué vamos a comer?

For Halloween: Ten Little Tricksters and Diez pequeños bromistas

My Grandma and Me Coloring Book

Monday, April 9, 2018

JAMIE'S DREAM REVIEW

Jamie's Dream

by Susan Berger and Christopher Corbin

Jamie’s Dream, by Susan Berger and her son Christopher Corbin, is illustrated by Kim Sponaugle. It’s a perfectly delightful children’s picture book. The message is uplifting, the prose is fun and repetitive, which kids enjoy as much as rhyming books. The artwork is whimsical and conveys the fun, happy, magical mood of this book.

The story begins with Jamie waking up from a great dream and smelling French toast. He wants to find a way to share his dream with his mother. He puts on his lucky purple socks and knows he’s going to have a good day. His day continues to be good through school with a gold star. While walking home after school, he meets a talking unicorn who takes him on his quest to buy a dream for his mother. Can Jamie really buy a dream? You’ll have to get the book and then you’ll find out, like Jamie, “Seeing is believing and believing is seeing.”

I highly recommend this sweet book to children ages 5 to 8. It’s a feel good story that children will enjoy reading with their mothers. It shows a child’s love for his mother and a mother’s love for her child. It’s a good way for parents and teachers to show children that having a positive attitude, sharing special moments, and caring for others returns as much to the giver as to the receiver.