Waiting Out the Storm, by JoAnn Early Macken. Candlewick: $15.99. Each day this week, the media has posted pictures and stories of yet another funeral at Sandy Hook. Teachers and parents across the country pause and listen and pray for the families and that this…
Category: Environment
STRONG DEAF
Imagine writing a book with two main characters who cannot speak. Sign language is their language of communication. The older sister is deaf; the younger sister is not. STRONG DEAF by Lynn McElfresh gives the reader a realistic – and…
Self-discovery happens when war comes home
Personal Effects (Candlewick) by E. M. Kokie $16.99 It’s so easy to overlook war when it’s across an ocean, or on a different continent, or on the other side of the world. It’s easy to look past the reality that…
JOSEPH BRUCHAC! TELLER OF TALES
Joseph Bruchac! Teller of Many Tales Joseph Bruchac has celebrated many Native Americans through his award-winning books – well over one hundred! He writes for all ages and all people. He writes fiction and nonfiction, songs, and poetry. His books…
BEAUTY BESIDE ME
Have you ever listened to a book read in Navajo? Probably not. What a special gift to give a child, to hear a story told in both Navajo and English. BEAUTY BESIDE ME, STORIES OF MY GRANDMOTHER’S SKIRTS is a…
ZITKALA-SA, AUTHOR, MUSICIAN, AND ACTIVIST
Native American Month To continue honoring Native American Month I will highlight books written by or about Native Americans . Last week I wrote about one of 20th Century’s most amazing athletes, Jim Thorpe. My next choice is to re-look…
AMERICAN INDIAN HERITAGE MONTH & 20th Century’s Greatest Athlete
From all of us at The Pirate Tree to all of you, sincere wishes for a healthy and joyous Thanksgiving and holiday season. May we see and celebrate the kindness of others. May we surprise a friend or stranger with…
Zarr’s How To Save a Life offers a look at the complexity of creating family
How to Save a Life by Sara Zarr (Little, Brown Books for Young Readers) $17.99 In this stunning novel of family, loss and love, Sara Zarr dismantles the clichéd image of adoption in which a birth mother saves a couple…
National Adoption Month begins with Two Classic Stories of Adoption
Today begins the first day of National Adoption Month but November is also Native American Heritage month. To honor both of these significant social justice events, writers for The Pirate Tree will be focusing on adoption…
Halloween
Halloween is almost here. A holy evening of remembering the dead, of stopping to pause and reflect. Here on Pirate Tree I would like to remember those who have died because of social injustices and to reflect on books that…