Cesar Chavez

October 15, 2020
Grades 1-3 The Beginner Biography series (4 new titles) welcomes another worthy set of Americans to its ranks with these latest volumes for primary-grade readers. Cesar Chavez introduces the Mexican American advocate for farm workers' rights, highlighting how he and Dolores Huerta formed the United Farm Workers of America and how Chavez later led a protest march on behalf of grape pickers. Each of these volumes progresses sequentially from its subject's childhood to his or her death. Color illustrations and the occasional photo complement the reader-friendly text, which consists of short paragraphs and Good to Know fact boxes; the latter often impart historical context, such as the internment of Japanese Americans and the tragedy of the Trail of Tears. A time line recaps the big dates in each person's life, followed by a glossary, further reading, and an index. Best for larger collections.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2020, American Library Association.)

November 1, 2020

K-Gr 2-These titles provide basic biographical information. Cesar Chavez helped form the United Farm Workers labor union and advocated for better working conditions. Sequoyah created an alphabet for the Cherokee people. Daniel Inouye, an American World War II hero of Japanese ancestry, became a successful United States senator. Maria Tallchief, whose father was a member of the Osage Nation, became prima ballerina of the New City Ballet. The texts stick to the basics: when and where the subjects were born, their background, and what made them famous. There is no in-depth exploration of their lives, and the sentences are simple. The illustrations are colorful, but there are only a few small photos among the drawings. VERDICT Though this series highlights fascinating subjects, the narratives are not very engaging. Browsers are unlikely to check out; report writers will look elsewhere.

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