I
like nonfiction books with voice. In these books the author talks to readers,
urging them to move beyond what is offered in the book and keep learning about
the subject. One book that does this is Tanya Lee Stone’s new book, The House That Jane Built, a picture
book biography of Jane Addams.
In
this book readers learn how the wealthy Jane Addams founded Hull House in one
of the poorest neighborhoods in Chicago as a way to help those in need. Here
she reached out to the community, responding to people’s pressing needs.
Addams’ work at Hull House—her selfless caring for others—is an excellent
message for children and a fine lead-in to a discussion about civic mindedness.
Yet
there is more. In an Authors Note: A
Little Bit More, author Tanya Lee Stone writes, “There is much more to know
about Jane Addams than could possibly fit in a picture book.” She urges readers
to continue to learn about Addams, especially her role as a peace activist, an
advocate for women’s suffrage, and a founding member of NAACP and the ACLU.
This
is an important message for readers. First, young readers need to know that one
picture book cannot possibly cover all the important information about a
dynamic mover and shaker like Jane Addams. There is a lot that was left out.
Anyone who really wants to understand the life of Jane Addams needs to look
further. Second, the author suggests topics to look into. Why, for example, was
Addams called “the most dangerous woman in America,” and why did the FBI keep a
file on her? The author’s note also includes several photographs of Addams. It
is not hard to locate many more. We can learn a lot more by looking at
additional photographs.
As
I said at the beginning of this post, I like a book with voice. The voice in
this author’s note is one that encourages children to join the club of people
investigating the past. That’s a much-needed voice, indeed.
No comments:
Post a Comment