Social Studies
Social Studies > anthropology
Social Studies > anthropology > daily life
Arrival, The
An amazing and complex immigration story told in a wordless format. Once you start "reading", it's hard to stop - each picture draws you to the next.
| Author: Tan, Shaun |
HSE Descriptors:
social studies
|
Arrival, The
An amazing and complex immigration story told in a wordless format. Once you start "reading", it's hard to stop - each picture draws you to the next.
| Author: Tan, Shaun |
HSE Descriptors:
social studies
|
Auld Lang Syne
Told from first person perspective, this life story of Robert Burns from childhood to adulthood highlights the poets efforts to keep alive Scottish songs and verses. Most familiar to many will be the song of the book's title.
| Author: Findon, Joanne |
HSE Descriptors:
language arts - reading
|
Barrio
Photographs present the life of Jose and his family who live in a barrio or Hispanic neighborhood in San Francisco. A glossary contains Spanish words used in the story. One reviewer felt that the glorification/simplification of the issues addressed may m
| Author: Ancona, George |
HSE Descriptors:
social studies
|
Bodies from the Ash:Life and Death in Ancient Pompeii
With the help of detailed photographs, the author describes how historical fact is established by excavating and reconstructing the volcanic site of Pompeii.
| Author: Deem, James M. |
HSE Descriptors:
science | social studies
|
Breaking Ground, Breaking Silence
In 1991, New York's long-ignored African Burial Ground was rediscovered. The description of what scientists found there and how they pieced together information about life serves as a backdrop for stories of life for African Americans in Colonial New York
| Author: Hansen, Joyce, & McGowan, Gary |
HSE Descriptors:
social studies | science
|
Calling the Doves
The author joyously recounts the songs, the food, and the love of his parents of his boyhood in a migrant Mexican family in rhythmic, lyrical language with a bilingual format. The colorful illustrations recall both Diego Rivera and Marc Chagall in their
Castle Diary: The Journal of Tobias Burgess, Page
Tobias, an 11-year-old boy, goes to serve as a page for a year in his uncle's castle in 13th Century England. Notes for the Reader contains additional historical information.
| Author: Platt, Richard |
HSE Descriptors:
social studies | language arts - writing
|
Childtimes
Three African American women, grandmother, mother, and daughter, reminisce about their childhoods.
| Author: Greenfield, Eloise & Little, Lessive Jones |
|
Dear Mr. Rosenwald
This is a fictionalized story of one community's efforts to build a school based on the historical Rosenwald schools. These schools in the American South were financed by Julius Rosenwald of Sears Roebuck and required collaboration of black and white com
| Author: Weatherford, Carole Boston |
HSE Descriptors:
social studies
|
Family Farm
Two children learn that their family is in danger of losing its farm. They devise a plan for saving it.
Fannie in the Kitchen
Accompanied by delightful Victorian-style illustrations, this biography of Fannie Farmer, the cookbook writer, is told in a storybook format with a recipe and cooking tips thrown in for good measure.
| Author: Hopkinson, Deborah |
|
God Went to Beauty School
An unusually humorous and poignant collection of poems places God in everyday situations as suggested by the title. Some devout Christians may find this book offensive for the light-hearted portrayal of God; some non-Christians may find it annoying.
Going Back Home: An Artist Returns to the South
This book is a partnership between African American artist, Michele Woods, who returned to the South and painted her family history, and author Toyomi Igus, who gave words to Woods's paintings.
| Author: Igus, Toyomi |
HSE Descriptors:
language arts - reading | social studies
|
Good Masters! Sweet Ladies!
This Newberry Award winner gives voice to residents of a medieval English village circa 1255. Poems in monologue form interspersed with explanatory passages bring the village to life. The book includes a map locating the characters in the village and an
| Author: Schlitz, Laura Amy |
HSE Descriptors:
social studies
|
Heavenly Village, The
This is subtitled "A Novel," but it's really more a loosely connected set of short stories, all of which take place in the "Heavenly Village," a place for those who have died but are not quite yet ready to leave earth behind. (Note: religious overtones, i
| Author: Rylant, Cynthia |
HSE Descriptors:
language arts - reading
|
House, House
In the late 1800's, the How brothers took photographs of houses in Hatfield, Massachusetts. Author Jane Yolen wrote text to accompany photographs of the same houses taken by her son in the 1990's. A bibliography extends the historical information.
| Author: Yolen, Jane |
HSE Descriptors:
social studies
|
Houses and Homes
A fascinating photographic collection of houses in different world cultures. The photos show how colorful diverse homes and people are. There is very little text, but the index at the end identifies the location of each home.
If America Were a Village
Smith uses the a village of 100 people to represent the 306 millions living in the US today. Facts and illustrations create a snapshot of who we are and what we do. This book helps to define America's diversity by shrinking it to a village of 100 people
| Author: Smith, Davei J |
HSE Descriptors:
math | social studies | language arts - writing
|
In Nueva York
This collection of short, interlocking stories depicts life in one of New York City's Puerto Rican communities.
| Author: Mohr, Nicholasa |
HSE Descriptors:
language arts - reading
|
In the Days of the Vaqueros
Russell Freedman has created another interesting non-fiction book, this time on the vaqueros, who were the forerunners of cowboys. As usual, the author illustrates his essays with paintings, archival photographs and includes useful resources in a bibliog
| Author: Freedman, Russell |
HSE Descriptors:
social studies
|
Mama Provi and the Pot of Rice
Mama Provi lives on the first floor of an apartment building and her granddaughter, Lucy, lives on the eighth floor. When Mama Provi heads up with a pot of arroz con pollo to comfort Lucy (who has chicken pox), a simple pot of chicken and rice is transfo
| Author: Rosa-Casanova, Sylvia |
|
Maritcha: A Nineteenth Century American GIrl
Based on an unpublished memoir, this picture book tells the story of daily life for a middle-class African American girl in New York in the 19th century. Maps and photographs illustrate the story.
| Author: Bolden, Tonya |
HSE Descriptors:
social studies
|
Matilda Bone
Sometime in medieval Europe, a sombre-minded priest leaves a 14-year-old orphaned girl to be a bonesetter's apprentice. She reads and writes Latin but knows very little about the world and the people in it.
| Author: Cushman, Karen |
HSE Descriptors:
social studies
|
Momma, Where Are You From?
When a young girl asks her mother where she comes from, she receives a loving description of her hard-working childhood in the segregated South told in rich, rhythmic language with lush illustrations.
| Author: Bradby, Marie |
HSE Descriptors:
social studies
|
On the Go
A simple text and photographs from around the world tell how people move and carry things from place to place.
Out of the Dump: Writings and Photogrpahs by Children from Guatemala
Approximately 1500 people, most children, live in a dump at the center of Guatemala City. In 1991 Nancy McGirr began a photography project with about 2 dozen children. She provided cameras; the children photographed their world. In 1993 Kris Franklin bega
| Author: Franklin, Kristine, & McGirr, Nancy (Eds.) |
HSE Descriptors:
social studies
|
Persepolis I: The Story of a Childhood
In this first of two volumes about the author's life, Satrapi tells of her childhood and coming of age in Iran during the Islamic Revolution and the Iran/Iraq war.
| Author: Satrapi, Marjane |
HSE Descriptors:
social studies | language arts - writing
|
Raising Yoder's Barn
After a fire destroys Yoder's barn, the Amish community gathers to build a new one. The gorgeous illustrations extend the reader's view of Amish life. One reader found a "blackface" depiction of a boy, dirty from the ashes, negatively suggestive.
| Author: Yolen, Jane |
HSE Descriptors:
social studies
|
Shutting Out the Sky
Subtitled "Life in the Tenements of New York, 1880-1924,," the chapters in this book offer information and perspectives on all aspects of immigration and life in NYC. Photographs and text document the experiences of five individuals from Belarus, Italy, L
| Author: Hopkinson, Deborah |
HSE Descriptors:
social studies
|
Silent Music
A young boy in present-day Baghdad learns Arabic calligraphy to distract him from the bombing of his city. The gorgeous illustrations invite the reader to learn to write the Arabic words for "war" and "peace." An author's note gives the historical backg
| Author: Rumford, James |
HSE Descriptors:
social studies
|
Song Shoots Out of My Mouth, The
This is an exciting collection of vibrantly illustrated poetry about music--classical, jazz, gospel, blues, opera, marching band. Backnotes extend learning about music, artists, and key works.
| Author: Adoff, Jaime |
HSE Descriptors:
language arts - reading
|
Stranded at Plimoth Plantation 1626
This is the fictitious journal of a 13-year-old orphan stranded at Plimoth (sic) Plantation. Bowen constructed the 80-page journal from historical records and illustrated the words with marvelous woodcuts. The end pages too feature fascinating maps. Te
| Author: Bowen, Gary |
HSE Descriptors:
social studies
|
Tai Chi Morning: Snapshots of China
The travel journal and poems of the author and the travel sketches of the illustrator combine to depict China a decade ago.
Talking with Tebe
Editor Lyons collected these excerpts about Clementine Hunter, considered one of America's finest folk artists, from magazine and newspaper articles and tape-recorded interviews. The artist's work illustrates the book.
| Author: Lyons, Mary E. (Ed.) |
HSE Descriptors:
language arts - reading
|
Teacup Full of Roses
Three brothers live with their mother, disabled father and aging aunt in Washington, D.C. during the Vietnam war. Paul, the oldest and his mother's favorite, returns home from another drug rehabilitation program just as Joe, the middle very responsible s
| Author: Mathis, Sharon |
HSE Descriptors:
social studies
|
Toilets, Toasters, and Telephones
Subtitled "the how and why of everyday objects," this book offers a history of everyday objects. Chapters focus on inventions for bathrooms, kitchens, cleaning, and communication. The final chapter introduces principles of industrial design.
| Author: Rubin, Susan Goldman |
HSE Descriptors:
social studies
|
Travels of Benjamin of Tudela, The
In 1159, Benjamin Tudela, a Jew, left Tudela, Spain, set off to see Jerusalem and as many places mentioned in the Bible as possible. Fourteen years later he returned to tell of his travels. The author extensively researched the period to fill in details
| Author: Shulevitz, Uri |
HSE Descriptors:
social studies
|
Uptown
Colorful collage and an easy-reading text belie a very sophisticated tour of Harlem including the Metro-North train, brownstones, shopping on 125th street, a barbershop, summer basketball, the Harlem Boys' Chois, and sunset over the Hudson River
Voices from the Fields
Photographs, poems, and interviews capture glimpses of life for today's migrant children.
| Author: Atkin, S. Beth |
HSE Descriptors:
social studies
|
Waiting for the Owl's Call
This narrative is rich in beautiful language - similes, personifications that describes the daily lives of Afghanistani children who work at rug looms looms using ancient patterns handed down from their ancestors. The narrator mentally creates new patter
| Author: Whelan, Gloria |
HSE Descriptors:
social studies
|
Waiting for the Owl's Call
This narrative is rich in beautiful language - similes, personifications that describes the daily lives of Afghanistani children who work at rug looms looms using ancient patterns handed down from their ancestors. The narrator mentally creates new patter
| Author: Whelan, Gloria |
HSE Descriptors:
social studies
|
Walking the Log
The author paints scenes and reminisces about her childhood in the turn of the century South. The books contains information about daily life, work (especially picking cotton), childhood games, family values, and the author's life long interest in art.
Way Things Never Were, The
The eight chapters of this interesting book, subtitled "The Truth About the 'Good Old Days,'" contrast life in the 50s and 60s with today. Topics addressed include communication, health, transportation, education, world events, etc. The print insets for p
| Author: Finkelstein, Norman |
HSE Descriptors:
social studies
|
Whale Port
In this book about a fictitious combination of real places, the text and colored-pencil drawings present the chronological development of a New England whaling town and its related businesses. The use of cut away art provides a glimpse inside the building
| Author: Foster, Mark |
HSE Descriptors:
social studies
|
Words West: Voices of Young Pioneers
Diary and journal excerpts and archival photographs enliven a well-written text about the Westward Movement as seen from the perspective of children. The book includes short biographies of the children who are quoted often as well as a chronology, furthe
| Author: Wadsworth, Ginger |
HSE Descriptors:
social studies
|
Year on Monhegan Island, A
Photojournalist Julia Dean chronicles a year in the life of residents of Monhegan Island, a small island off the east coast of Maine. We learn about their culture, government, and economy, as well as a bit about part-time resident Jamie Wyeth.
| Author: Dean, Julia |
HSE Descriptors:
social studies
|
Social Studies > anthropology > daily life > clothing
Girls
The subtitle, A History of Growing Up Female in America, tells it all. The 10 chapters cover history from colonial America to the Millennium. A good index and Selections for Further Reading make this a good reference text. The author selects girls from
| Author: Colman, Penny |
HSE Descriptors:
science
|
Hats, Hats, Hats
Photographs of hats worn by people around the world--hats for work, play, comfort, and show. An index gives further information about the activity depicted and the geographic location.
In the Days of the Vaqueros
Russell Freedman has created another interesting non-fiction book, this time on the vaqueros, who were the forerunners of cowboys. As usual, the author illustrates his essays with paintings, archival photographs and includes useful resources in a bibliog
| Author: Freedman, Russell |
HSE Descriptors:
social studies
|
Native Americans
Rather than focus on individual tribes, the editors chose to organize the text and illustrations by cultural topics such as dress, transportation, rituals, and livelihood. Information boxes augment the brief text, giving the appearance of an intermediate
| Author: Thomas, David & Pendleton, Lorann (Eds.) |
HSE Descriptors:
social studies
|
Shoes, Shoes, Shoes
The photographs and very simple text document the types and function of shoes throughout the world.
We The People
American history from Colonial times to the present is presented through 65 poems about individuals--some real and some imaginary. A timeline of historic events runs across the lower part of the page and a note about writing the book appears at the end.
| Author: Katz, Bobbi |
HSE Descriptors:
language arts - reading | social studies
|
Social Studies > anthropology > daily life > food
Bread, Bread, Bread
The photos and very easy text show/tell of people eating bread all over the world.
Food
The evolution of the acquisition, distribution, and consumption of food throughout history is described in interesting text and colorful, informative illustrations. The author includes a helpful glossary.
| Author: Ventura, Piero |
HSE Descriptors:
social studies | science
|
Harvest Year
This book offers a month-by-month presentation of the regional harvesting of food in the U.S.A. with photographs, maps, and simple clear text.
Mama Provi and the Pot of Rice
Mama Provi lives on the first floor of an apartment building and her granddaughter, Lucy, lives on the eighth floor. When Mama Provi heads up with a pot of arroz con pollo to comfort Lucy (who has chicken pox), a simple pot of chicken and rice is transfo
| Author: Rosa-Casanova, Sylvia |
|
Native Americans
Rather than focus on individual tribes, the editors chose to organize the text and illustrations by cultural topics such as dress, transportation, rituals, and livelihood. Information boxes augment the brief text, giving the appearance of an intermediate
| Author: Thomas, David & Pendleton, Lorann (Eds.) |
HSE Descriptors:
social studies
|
Pearl Moscowitz's Last Stand
Pearl M., a long-time resident of her city street, refuses to let the city chop down the last gingko tree on the block. The book depicts the different ethnic groups that have moved on the street, but shows a real community of people interacting and livin
| Author: Levine, Arthur A. |
|
Social Studies > anthropology > daily life > houses
Home Place
While on a hike, a family discovers the site of a ruined house. They find a few abandoned objects and, through terse and poetic words, imagine the family who once lived there. Through superior illustrations Pinkney evokes a world that is part dream and
| Author: Dragonwagon, Cresent |
|
House, House
In the late 1800's, the How brothers took photographs of houses in Hatfield, Massachusetts. Author Jane Yolen wrote text to accompany photographs of the same houses taken by her son in the 1990's. A bibliography extends the historical information.
| Author: Yolen, Jane |
HSE Descriptors:
social studies
|
Houses
An illustrated history of the construction of houses presents interesting information about the evolution of family dwellings.
Houses and Homes
A fascinating photographic collection of houses in different world cultures. The photos show how colorful diverse homes and people are. There is very little text, but the index at the end identifies the location of each home.
If America Were a Village
Smith uses the a village of 100 people to represent the 306 millions living in the US today. Facts and illustrations create a snapshot of who we are and what we do. This book helps to define America's diversity by shrinking it to a village of 100 people
| Author: Smith, Davei J |
HSE Descriptors:
math | social studies | language arts - writing
|
Native Americans
Rather than focus on individual tribes, the editors chose to organize the text and illustrations by cultural topics such as dress, transportation, rituals, and livelihood. Information boxes augment the brief text, giving the appearance of an intermediate
| Author: Thomas, David & Pendleton, Lorann (Eds.) |
HSE Descriptors:
social studies
|
Street Through Time, A
From the Stone Age to the Modern Age, the same location is depicted on double-page layouts filled with cultural details and daily activities. Endmatter includes a time-traveling quiz and a glossary. The illustrations are visually very busy.
| Author: Millard, Anne |
HSE Descriptors:
social studies
|
Toilets, Toasters, and Telephones
Subtitled "the how and why of everyday objects," this book offers a history of everyday objects. Chapters focus on inventions for bathrooms, kitchens, cleaning, and communication. The final chapter introduces principles of industrial design.
| Author: Rubin, Susan Goldman |
HSE Descriptors:
social studies
|
Social Studies > anthropology > daily life > shoes
Elijah of Buxton
Eleven-year-old Elijah, the first to be born free in a Canadian settlement for runaway slaves at the end of the Underground Railroad, though considered "fra-gile" and talkative by adults, performs an heroic feat with his chucking stones.
| Author: Curtis, Christopher Paul |
|
January's Sparrow
After a fellow slave is beaten to death, Sadie and her family flee the plantation for freedom through the Underground Railroad. As they make a new life in Michigan, they must remain alert for the slave catchers.
| Author: Polacco, Patricia |
HSE Descriptors:
social studies
|
January's Sparrow
After a fellow slave is beaten to death, Sadie and her family flee the plantation for freedom through the Underground Railroad. As they make a new life in Michigan, they must remain alert for the slave catchers.
| Author: Polacco, Patricia |
HSE Descriptors:
social studies
|
Shoes, Shoes, Shoes
The photographs and very simple text document the types and function of shoes throughout the world.
|
