Books show how adversity is overcome
The last stanza of Robert Frost's poem, "The Road Not Taken," lends itself beautifully to what it can mean to make a choice many would not dare to:
"I shall be telling this with a sighSomewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I -I took the one less traveled by,And that has made all the difference."Last week we addressed books on courage and adapting to change. In a similar vein, today's reviewed books address how courage is necessary when faced with adversity, and what it takes to persevere.Excellent books with important messages. Ask your librarian to guide you in the direction of others.
The following book is available at many public libraries.<B>"The Librarian of Basra: A True Story from Iraq"</B> written and illustrated by Jeanette Winter, Harcourt, 32 pages; read aloud: age 4 and older; read yourself: age 7 to 8 and older.Alia Muhammad Baker was the librarian of Basra, Iraq. The 30,000 books in her library were more precious to her than mountains of gold. Many came to her library to learn and discuss matters of the world and of the spirit. But war was raging and Alia worried her books would be destroyed.Alia asked the governor for permission to move the books to a safe place, but he refused. With the help of Alia's neighbors and friends, the community pulled together to secretly save the cherished books.A true story, this remarkable book bears testimony that despite adversity, people throughout the world respect knowledge and will risk their lives to protect their literature and the freedom their books provide.
<B>Library:</B> Mars Public Library, 107 Grand Ave., Mars<B>Library Director:</B> Mary Jo Simons<B>Children's Librarian:</B> Joyce Pappert<B>Choices this week: "Pinkalicious"</B> by Victoria Kann; <B>"Chocolate Island"</B> by Karen Dolby; <B>"Bit by Bit"</B> by Steve Sanfield
The following books are available at favorite bookstores.<B>"Testing the Ice: A True Story About Jackie Robinson"</B> by Sharon Robinson, illustrated by Kadir Nelson, Scholastic, 2009, 40 pages, $16.99 hardcover; read aloud: age 6 to 7 and older; read yourself: age 8 to 9 and older.Jackie Robinson was a courageous man. When Branch Rickey told Robinson he could get him into the Brooklyn Dodgers as the first black man to play baseball in the Major League, Rickey asked Robinson if he had the guts to endure the insults and threats that were certain to come his way, and if could he control his temper throughout it all. Robinson's answer was yes.After a difficult start followed by an outstanding career, Robinson retired from baseball to spend more time with his family.In everything Robinson was faced with, he never chose the easy path. Rather, he courageously chose the right path, including making sure the ice was safe for his children and their friends to skate on, even though Robinson couldn't swim.A wonderful, inspiring story perfectly balanced with rich illustrations, this selection will resonate with readers long after the last page.<B>"Mahtab's Story"</B> by Libby Gleeson, Allen & Unwin, 2009 (first U.S. release), 186 pages, $9.99 paperback; read aloud: age 9 and older; read yourself: age 10 to 11 and older.Herat, Afghanistan, is the only home Mahtab has ever known. Now, the Taliban has made life dangerous and intolerable, and Mahtab and her family must flee their homeland and put as much distance between the Taliban and themselves as possible.The journey is unbearably hard. Hidden in a closet inside a truck, the family moves as concealed cargo. At any time they could be discovered by the Taliban and in all likelihood, killed.Once the family reaches Pakistan, further complications arise that threaten their safety. Mahtab's father hastens to Australia, promising to send for his family once he has secured a new life for them there. But much time passes, and Mahtab, her mother and two siblings slip away in the night to try and find Mahtab's father.Arriving cold, tired and hungry in Australia, the family can't find Mahtab's father, and are sent to a detention camp where they wait for endless months to learn their fate.An extraordinary novel based on a true story, this selection portrays what it is like to be a refugee, forced from your own country to seek safety, and the enormous adversity that must be faced in that process.Nationally syndicated, Kendal Rautzhan writes and lectures on children's literature. She can be reached via e-mail: kendal@sunlink.net.
