Number Two

Ask Albert Einstein by Lynne Barasch. (Frances Foster Books/Farrar, Straus and Giroux; 32 pages; ISBN: 0374304351; Ages: 4-8.)

This is a fictionalized account of actual events. A little girl writes to Albert Einstein asking him to help her sister solve a math problem. Woven throughout the story are details about Einstein and his life in America.

The Quiltmaker's Journey by Jeff Brumbeau; Illustrated by Gail de Marcken. (Orchard Books/Scholastic; 56 pages; ISBN: 0439512190; Ages: 9 and up.)

In this prequel to The Quiltmaker's Gift, readers learn about the early life of the seamstress and how it came to be that she lived her life making "gifts of warmth and hope" for those in need.

The vivid, vibrant watercolor illustrations are a delight.

The Little, Little House by Jessica Souhami. (Frances Lincoln; 32 pages; ISBN: 1845071085; Ages 4-8.)

In this Jewish folktale from Eastern Europe, Joseph and his family are "jammed and crammed, . . . squashed and squeezed" in their tiny house. Not to worry, though, Aunty Bella has a solution.

The story works well as a read-aloud. Additionally, you may want to use it in conjunction with Kumak's House: A Tale of the Far North by Michael Bania which tells a similar tale. Students could then compare and contrast the two tales.

A Dangerous Engine: Benjamin Franklin from Scientist to Diplomat by Joan Dash; Illustrated by Dusan Petricic (Francis Foster Books/Farrar, Straus and Giroux; 256 pages; ISBN: 0374306699; Ages: 9 and up.)

Any book by Joan Dash is well worth a read, and this one is no exception. Here Dash illuminates the life and times of Benjamin Franklin, a true Renaissance man. Readers learn of his early foray into the science of electricity as well as his life as a foreign diplomat. Well-written and full of illustrative anecdotes and details.

American Heroes by Marfé Ferguson Delano. (National Geographic; 240 pages; ISBN: 0792272080; Ages: 9 and up.)

From Pocahontas to The Wright Brothers to Daniel K. Inouye, readers will find brief biographies of fifty of our nation's historical heroes. The book is extremely well-designed and illustrated. An excellent choice for history buffs as well as student researchers.