Access+to+Historical+People+and+Eras

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Access to Historical People and Eras

Both biography and historical accounts continue to be found in nonfiction literature. However, the past decade has offered a variety of perspectives on both people and events as well as narrowed focus on particular aspects of lives and situations in the past. Both offer a better understanding of contemporary society as readers view the past through the eyes of people who in many ways may be much like themselves. Personal connections to authentic stories create have the potential to create a sense of relevance between past and contemporary societies, which translates into why a reader might even care enough to read and learn about history. Current biographies and historical accounts provide multiple perspectives, formerly omitted individuals, and reconsidered events. “History is constantly being rewritten to reflect our current concerns,” (Zarnowski, 2008, p. 46) and that supports readers access through developing a sense of personal relevance. (Continue with book reviews.)

Books
[Ok, I just saw the edit button, so I apologize for adding a new page every time I add something. (April, don't laugh at me.:->) Here's my review of Borrowed Names, which I think I like better here than motivating formats.-Tami]
 * Noah Webster Weaver of Words by Pegi Deitz Shea would be under Access to Historical People & Eras


 * //Noah Webster: Weaver of Words//**

Noah Webster is perhaps most well known for publishing the dictionary in 1828, but after reading this book, he will be recognized and remembered for many of the other ambitions he sought after, including being a teacher in common schools and colleges, practicing law, being an editor of a newspaper, a councilman, and the founder of Amherst College. On top of that, he was a devoted husband and father of eight children. Pegi Deitz Shea with the help of illustrator Monica Vachula has created //Noah Webster: Weaver of Words//, a 2010 NCTE Orbis Pictus Honor Book, to tell the story of this amazing man. In addition to the interesting facts Shea provides about Noah Webster, there are captivating pop outs throughout the biography that offer even more attention-grabbing information about him, such as a page from his diary on October 1789. Shea also includes a chronology of Webster’s life, a bibliography of her sources, as well as a list of books and websites recommended for further reading at the end of the book.

Shea makes the life of this significant historical person accessible to the readers of today with engaging text in which personal connections can easily be made. This comprehensive biography begins with Webster as a young child and continues though the end of 1828 when //An American Dictionary of the English Language// was published. Readers will appreciate the interesting facts throughout, such as the fact that even though Webster believed that all Americans should speak the same language, he respected the many languages used in the country. Webster himself spoke over twenty languages. He also championed universal education for all Americans, including women and slaves Webster even spoke about abolishing slavery. It is through this text readers will understand that Noah Webster was a regular person that pursued big dreams.

// Borrowed Names: Mothers & Daughters //
==// What a wonderful coincidence that three remarkable women from history were born the same year. Laura Ingalls Wilder, Madam C.J. Walker, and Marie Curie were all born in 1867, a time when women were basically ignored. Not only was their birth year a concurrence, all three women had daughters that continued and contributed to their dreams. In //// Borrowed Names: Mothers and Daughters //// Jeannine Atkins writes in poetic verse, the stories of these fabulous women, written from the point of view of their daughters, Rose Wilder Lane, A’Lelia Walker, and Irène Joliot-Curie. A time line and selected biography are also included at the back of the book for those interested in more information about these women and their daughters. //== ==// Jeannine Atkins has made the authentic stories of these extraordinary women more personal by writing through the voice of each daughter’s perspective. Rose Wilder Lane, who becomes a writer, encourages her mother to change her memories into stories for the world to read. A’Lelia Walker grew up working with her mother and her million-dollar beauty domain and continued with the dream when her mother passed away. Irène Joliot-Curie wanted to be just like her mother, and she too helped injured soldiers during World War I and became a notable scientist. //== ==// Atkins has made relatively unknown women relevant in these biographies. It is through the understanding of the daughters’ viewpoint that makes Wilder, Walker, and Curie even more genuine to readers, pointing out the challenges they had to endure during these inequitable times. [This book would also fit with motivating formats, but I thought it fit more closely here.] // **//William Shakespeare: His Life and Times//** Readers will literally unlock the treasure of William Shakespeare's life in Kristen McDermott, Ph.D. and Ari Berk, Ph.D. //William Shakespeare: His Life and Times.// This biography of William Shakespeare holds readers captivated with its authentic scrapbook style. Each spread has at least one pop-out letter (which is enclosed in an envelope), note, or play program that entices readers to read even further about one of the most famous authors in English history. McDermott and Berk include actual extracts from Shakespeare's works in this recollection of his years and works as well. Though Shakespeare's works are considered notoriously challenging in the classroom, McDermott and Berk make the renowned historical author more accessible to readers by sharing interesting. noteworthy facts about him, his family and the era. Many readers will be able to make personal connections when they read excepts such as the one on school days, where he describes that he loves reading, but did not like writing. He felt more comfortable writing with his left hand, but during this time period, it was seen by the Church as being "sinister," so he made himself write with his right hand. It is through the understanding of Shakespeare's life, family, and the time that readers will become more comfortable with the celebrated plays that he wrote in the 1600s. ==