Amelia Earhart

May 6, 2019
Libby (Lady Liberty) and Sam (Uncle Sam) act as historical guides and comic relief in this graphic novel biography of Amelia Earhart. From building a backyard roller coaster as a kid to working as a nurse’s aide during WWI and embarking on early flying adventures, Earhart seemed destined to become a record-breaking aviator. Buckley blends historical context and intriguing biographical details (Earhart once drove across the country with her mother), creating an appealing introduction to this larger-than-life inspiration. Tindal’s bold-lined artwork moves the story at a brisk pace with effective shifts in panel sizes and perspectives. Several pages of useful resources close this inviting series entry. Also available: Alexander Hamilton: The Fighting Founding Father!, Martin Luther King Jr.: Voice for Equality!, and Abraham Lincoln: Defender of the Union! Ages 8–12.

July 1, 2019
Grades 3-7 Bunking the notion that history is dull, these titles in the Show Me History! series (4 titles) convey the lives of notable historical figures through colorful and spirited cartoons. The young narrators are Libby, an African American Lady Liberty, and Sam, a white, patriotically attired teen who will one day be known as Uncle Sam. The books' conversational tone, with occasional surprises and humorous exchanges, describe the high and low points of each figure and his or her impact on American history. In addition, color-coded speech bubbles and stylized fonts reflect actual quotes and writings. Amelia Earhart documents the aviator's record-setting firsts, her role as a feminist, and how her disappearance continues to turn out new facts and conspiracy theories. Each biography concludes with a round-up of related individuals, a time line, a glossary, and a list of resources. This series makes history approachable and engaging, especially for reluctant readers.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2019, American Library Association.)