Her Right Foot

Written by: Dave Eggers
Illustrated by: Shawn Harris

A great story about The Statue of Liberty's right foot, specifically how it has escaped from chains and is on the move and it's toward the sea.  Eggers makes kids and adults think about what this means.  When you see The Statue of Liberty most of the time you do not see her foot, but it is a truly important part of what she represents.  

Frida Kahlo and her Animalitos

Written by: Monica Brown
Illustrated by: John Parra

Brown writes about Frida's many artistic qualities through the animals she had, such as mischievous like her monkeys, and thoughtful like her fawn.  The book also covers her blue house and how Frida and the animals enjoyed and lived within its walls.

Muddy: The Story of Blues Legend Muddy Waters

Written by: Michael Mahin
Illustrated by: Evan Turk

Mahin writes about Muddy Water's life and how he became the blues sensation that he is, from his life as a child to when he moved to Chicago to become part of a vibrant music scene, making a new sound to capture the struggling times.  Mahin's words and Turk's pictures go a long way to evoke the sense of blues that Muddy Waters is famous for.

Blue Sky White Stars

Written by: Narvinder Naberhaus
Illustrated by: Kadir Nelson

Naberhaus writes sparse poetic words about various elements of America that correspond with the same elements of the flag which Nelson then brings to life in the illustrations such as white rows of clouds over the western frontier landscape and the white rows of stripes on the flag.  The book offers a lot to discuss.  The words are very powerful but limited, most pages have only two words, giving a lot of room for reflection and interpretation.

She Persisted: 13 American Women Who Changed the World

Written by: Chelsea Clinton
Illustrated by: Alexandra Boiger

Clinton writes brief biographies about 13 women who made an imprint on the world for numerous reasons from breakthroughs in science to humanitarian efforts.  She also balances the women based on where they are from, including women from all ethnic and socioeconomic backgrounds.

Town is by the Sea

Written by: Joanne Schwartz
Illustrated by: Sydney Smith

Schwartz writes about life for a coal miner's child and what the life is like visually.  There is a very big focus on the sea and how the miners work under the sea.  The book explores all of the sounds, sights, smells and feelings from morning when the father is already gone to when he finally comes home in the evening after a long day at work. 

Baabwaa & Wooliam

Written by: David Elliott
Illustrated by: Melissa Sweet

Elliott writes in a fairytale-like soft quality explaining the story in a matter of fact way that children will appreciate.  He tells the story of two intellectual sheep and the rambunctious wolf and how they meet and how they get to know each other and eventually become friends.