Get A Life Check A Biography Out Of Your Local Library For Inspirational Summer Reading
One of the sweetest sights of summer is a child curled up with a good book. Public libraries encourage this wholesome and academically valuable pursuit by offering summer reading clubs. Part of the allure is the prizes, but the biggest prize must certainly be the great stories that will be etched into memories of childhood summers.
Most kids head first for the fiction shelves to find a good story. Steering them gently toward some wonderful biographies might inspire them to explore a new source of good stories.
“Leonardo da Vinci,” by Diane Stanley
Perhaps the world should be thankful that Leonardo was an illegitimate child. If his father, a leading citizen of Vinci, had married his mother, Leonardo probably would have been taught Latin and geometry, and been sent to the University of Florence. He probably would have become a notary like his father.
Instead, lacking the proper social position, he had a simple country education. He spent much of his time with his gentle Uncle Francesco exploring his own interests and the countryside around his grandfather’s farm, where he may have developed his lifelong passion for the natural world. Denied the noble professions, he was apprenticed to a famous artist. It soon became clear that he was gifted.
And of course, his interests and contributions to world knowledge eventually extended far beyond art. “Leonardo” is the newest biography by Stanley, who frequently collaborates with her husband, Peter Vennema. Her other work includes remarkable biographies of Charles Dickens, Cleopatra, Shakespeare and Queen Elizabeth I of England. These books have the appearance of beautiful picture books, but they are also full of text.
Stanley has the ability to describe the essence of a life and place it within a historical context, employing fascinating details and a lively, concise writing style. Not an easy feat - any writer knows that writing short is difficult. And the illustrations are gorgeous. Adults will also find these biographies enjoyable and informative. Readers of this column might remember that this versatile artist-author has also just published a funny and original fairy tale sequel, “Rumplestiltskin’s Daughter,” which also will make great summer reading. (Morrow, 48 pgs., ages 7 and up, $16)
“Wilma Unlimited: How Wilma Rudolph Became the World’s Fastest Woman,” by Kathleen Krull
Have a box of tissues nearby. The story of Wilma Rudolph’s triumph over polio is moving and inspiring. At birth, Wilma’s odds of survival were small. In 1940, a newborn weighing just over 4 pounds didn’t have much of a chance, especially one born in a black community in rural Tennessee. But most babies didn’t have 19 older brothers and sisters to watch over them. Most babies didn’t have a mother who knew home remedies and a father who worked several jobs …. Most babies weren’t Wilma Rudolph.
Scrappy Wilma became one of the most energetic kids in the neighborhood, despite a tendency to have serious bouts with every childhood illness. When she was nearly 5, she became especially sick. The diagnosis was scarlet fever and polio, and one of Wilma’s legs was rendered nearly useless.
It’s an amazing story. The girl and her mother traveled 50 miles twice a week to the nearest hospital that would treat black people. By sheer force of will, Wilma taught herself to walk without her brace. Then she ran. She played high school basketball. At age 20, Wilma became the first American woman to win three gold medals at a single Olympics.
The illustrator is David Diaz, who won the 1995 Caldecott Medal for illustrating “Smoky Night.” His style is distinctive and fascinating: bold stylized paintings mounted atop background photographs. (Harcourt Brace, 48 pgs., ages 5 and up, $16)
“Young Mozart,” written and illustrated by Rachel Isadora
This amazing child began teaching himself clavier at age 3. By age 4, he was composing complicated concertos. At 7, his father discovered Wolfgang had also taught himself to play the violin. This book concentrates on the childhood of the great composer, but also tells of his work as an adult, and of his early death, probably from kidney disease.
The brief anecdotal text is written with younger children as its intended audience. The sweet watercolors by Isadora, a Caldecott honoree, will also appeal to preschool and early elementary-aged children. (Viking, 32 pgs., ages 3 and up, $14.95)
“Lives of the Athletes: Thrills, Spills (and what the neighbors thought),” by Kathleen Krull
The fourth in a fine series of biography collections, “Lives of the Athletes,” is another winner by Krull and illustrator Kathryn Hewett. Krull’s brief profiles of 12 legendary athletes contain important information, as well as unusual details. Some of her choices are inevitable, such as Babe Ruth. Others are more unusual, such as surfer Duke Kahanamoku.
Readers will learn that basketball star Pete Maravich was a picky eater, and his good luck charm was a pair of old, baggy gray socks, which he laundered himself and wore in every game. Ice skater Sonja Henie developed 19 types of spins, and was a millionaire by age 26. Other profiles include Pele, Arthur Ashe, Babe Ruth, Wilma Rudolph, Red Grange, Sir Edmund Hillary and Bruce Lee. Hewett’s trademark caricatures are bursting with personality. The other books in the “Lives of” series include biographies of writers, artists and musicians. (Harcourt Brace, 96 pgs., ages 8 and up, $19)
“Lou Gehrig: the Luckiest Man,” by David Adler The author of the popular Cam Jansen series has produced a moving picture-book biography of one of the truly good men of baseball. Through eight years of grade school, Gehrig was never absent. In 14 years as first baseman for the New York Yankees, he was dubbed “The Iron Horse,” and he never missed a game.
On his 36th birthday, Gehrig was diagnosed with a rare and deadly disease of the central nervous system. He faced that battle with characteristic bravery and determination. The acrylic paintings by Terry Widener are reminiscent of ‘20s-style art. Widener is a longtime baseball fan and collector. His well-researched illustrations for this book include the many uniform changes made by the Yankees during the Gehrig years. (Harcourt Brace, 32 pgs., all ages, $15)
Need more ideas? Here’s a brief list of other worthwhile biographies for children. Your librarian will have even more suggestions:
“Margaret, Frank and Andy: Three Writers’ Stories,” by Cynthia Rylant. Beautiful to look at and beautifully written, this small book profiles Margaret Wise Brown, L. Frank Baum and E.B. White. (Harcourt Brace, 56 pgs., all ages, $15)
“Saint Francis,” written and illustrated by Brian Wildsmith. A well-known illustrator produced this gorgeous picture book. (Eerdmans, 36 pgs., all ages, $20)
“Anastasia’s Album: The Last Tsar’s Youngest Daughter Tells Her Own Story,” by Hugh Brewster. Filled with photographs, many taken by Anastasia herself, this is the story of a very famous Russian family. (Hyperion, 64 pgs., ages 10 and up, $17.95)
“Starry Messenger: Galileo Galilei,” by Peter Sis. More gorgeous paintings, straightforward text and handwritten notes by the artist-author portray the life of the Renaissance scientist. (Farrar, Straus, Giroux, 32 pgs., ages 6 and up)
“The Life and Death of Crazy Horse,” by Russell Freedman. The latest book by a masterful history writer for older children. Look also for his biographies of Abraham Lincoln (which won the Newbery Award), Eleanor Roosevelt, Franklin Roosevelt and the Wright Brothers. (Holiday House, ages 10 and up, $19.95)
“Walt Disney: Young Movie Maker,” by Marie Hammontree. This is one of many in the “Childhood of Famous Americans” series. Covered in distinctive red, white and blue and available widely in paperback, the fictionalized biographies include Clara Barton, Harry S. Truman, Paul Revere, Langston Hughes and scores more. Many of us loved these books, or others like them when we were children. Some that were written years ago have been updated for today’s children. (Aladdin Paperbacks, 192 pgs., ages 8-12, $4.99)