“Poems should feed into other poems – a needle passing a stitch through cloth.” – Gary Soto
Books
Write to Me: Letters from Japanese American Children to the Librarian They Left Behind
Illustrated by Amiko Hirao (Charlesbridge)
♥♥♥ 2020 One Book One San Diego Selection ♥♥♥
Booklist (starred review)
“. . . moving story . . . full of warmth . . . A beautiful picture book for sharing and discussing with older children as well as the primary audience.”
Publishers Weekly
“… affecting introduction to a distressing chapter in U.S. history and a brave librarian who inspired hope ….”
Kirkus
“Many pages include quotes from the children’s correspondence, now archived at the Japanese American National Museum, which testify to the power of literature to make life more bearable.”
Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Center
“Grady’s librarian expertise is evident throughout, from the black-and-white photos that begin and end her book, to her illuminating author’s note, timeline, historical overview, and additional resources that go well beyond Miss Breed’s story. Meanwhile, Japanese-born, Rhode Island School of Design-trained artist Amiko Hirao’s soft illustrations both welcome and expose, sharing experiences and bearing witness.”
A touching story about Japanese American children who corresponded with their beloved librarian while they were imprisoned in World War II internment camps.
When Executive Order 9066 is enacted after the attack at Pearl Harbor, children’s librarian Clara Breed’s young Japanese American patrons are to be imprisoned in the desert. Before they are moved, Miss Breed asks the children to write her letters and gives them books to take with them. Through the three years of their internment, the children correspond with Miss Breed, sharing their stories, providing feedback on books, and creating a record of their experiences. Using excerpts from children’s letters held at the Japanese American National Museum, author Cynthia Grady presents a difficult subject with honesty and hope.
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Bookshop | Barnes & Noble
Awards and Honors
- 2020, One Book One San Diego Children’s Book Selection.
- 2019, Jefferson Cup, Children’s Biography, Virginia Library Association.
- 2019, Social Justice Award, International Literacy Association.
- 2019, Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People, NCSS.
- 2019, Bank Street College of Education, Best Children’s Books of the Year.
- 2019, Nominated, Ezra Jack Keats Award for Picture Book Text.
- 2019, A Mighty Girl pick.
Like a Bird: The Art of the American Slave Song
Illustrated by Michele Wood (Millbrook Press/Lerner Publishing Group; ISBN: 978-1-4677-8550-1)
School Library Journal (starred review)
“This is an excellent resource for music and art teachers as well as for social studies and U.S. history lessons.”
Kirkus
“An important work that gives new life to old and important songs.”
Booklist
“Each paragraph invites readers to notice themes in the paintings . . . and raises questions to encourage critical engagement with the text.”
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Bookshop | Barnes & Noble
Awards and Honors
- NYPL’s Children’s Books 2016: 100 Books for Reading and Sharing List
- New Mexico Land of Enchantment Book Award 2017-2018
- Cooperative Children’s Book Center: CCBC Choices 2017
- 2017, Bank Street College of Education, The Best Children’s Books of the Year
I Lay My Stitches Down: Poems of American Slavery
Illustrated by Michele Wood (Eerdmans; ISBN 978-0-8028-5386-8)
Kirkus (starred review)
“A powerful grouping of thought-provoking poems and brilliantly designed paintings.”
School Library Journal (starred review)
“This ambitious work offers a bit of poetry, history, folk art, quilting, religion and more. It will definitely fill a niche in libraries.”
Horn Book
“Altogether, a stunning achievement . . . .”
The Washington Post
“. . . deeply impressive, as seamless as it is stirring.”
Washington Parent
“[A] stunning collection . . . The result is breathtaking.”
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Bookshop | Barnes & Noble
Awards and Honors
- Finalist, 2013 PEN/Steven Kroll Award for Picture Book Writing
- 2013, Bank Street College of Education, The Best Children’s Books of the Year
- 2013 NCTE Notable Children’s Books in the Language Arts
- 2013 Gold Nautilus Award
- NYPL’s Children’s Books 2012: 100 Books for Reading and Sharing List
- 2013 Notable Books for a Global Society Award
- 2013 Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People
- Capitol Choices Noteworthy Books for Children and Teens
- Cooperative Children’s Book Center: CCBC Choices 2013; Poetry Essentials
- Parent’s Choice Silver Honor
Moonstruck! Poems about Our Moon Edited by Roger Stevens; illustrated by Ed Boxall; (Otter-Barry Books; ISBN: 978-1910959787)
A young reader’ anthology of moon poems to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the first moon landing. Popular American writers of poetry for children are represented, including Eric Ode, Cynthia Grady, BJ Lee and Robert Schechter. 20 new poems about the moon from well-known and up-and-coming poets are combined with 20 classic poems with a moon theme. The classics include poems Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1807-1882) and Amy Lowell (1874-1925) and the traditional American children’s rhyme ‘The Man in the Moon’ is of course also to be found here!
The Poetry Friday Anthology for Celebrations
Edited by Sylvia Vardell and Janet Wong
(Pomelo Books; ISBN 978-1937057459)
Independent School Libraries: Perspectives on Excellence
Starred review, Booklist Online.
Essays:
“Rhythms of Story”
Language Arts, March 2011
Read PDF of article here.
“Evaluating Science Information with Thinking Routines”
Knowledge Quest, January 2010
Read PDF of article here.
“What’s in a Name?”
Language Arts, May 2010
Read PDF of article here.
